5 from 14 votes
Carnitas Tacos with Slow Cooked Pork
This recipe for Carnitas Tacos uses slow-cooked pork shoulder seasoned with cinnamon, chili, cumin, and garlic, cooked until tender and shredded. The meat pairs with a bright shredded cabbage slaw seasoned with orange zest and juice. Served in toasted tortillas with avocado, cilantro, queso fresco, and lime, this creates flavorful tacos with a balance of rich, spicy pork and fresh accompaniments.
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
4 hrs 25 mins
Total Time
4 hrs 30 mins
Servings:
12
Calories:
444 kcal
Course:
Main Course
Cuisine:
Mexican
Ingredients
- 4 lbs pork shoulder Cut into 4-inch chunks and trimmed of excess fat. Keep the skin if you can get it!, boneless
- salt
- 2 tablespoons neutral cooking oil generic cooking oil
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- 2 bay leaf
- 5 cloves garlic (sliced)
- 1 red cabbage shredded, small head
- 1 orange juiced and zested, small
- olive oil
- flour tortilla toasted, or corn tortilla
- avocado chopped
- cilantro
- queso fresco
- lime wedges
Instructions
- Rub the pork thoroughly with salt. In a large ovenproof pot or Dutch oven, heat the oil over medium high heat and sear the pork in batches until it’s browned on all sides.
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Add all the pork back into the Dutch oven, along with the spices, bay leaves, and garlic, and cover the meat 2/3 of the way up with water. Cover and bring to a boil on the stove. Once boiling, place the Dutch oven into the oven uncovered. Cook 3 ½ to 4 hours, checking the pork every hour (give it a stir and add more water if the pot starts drying out), until the pork is tender and falling apart.
- Toss the shredded cabbage with orange juice, orange zest, olive oil, and salt to taste. To serve, take a toasted tortilla shell and add some of the carnitas, cabbage slaw, avocado, cilantro, and queso fresco. Serve with a squeeze of lime.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- Each serving is approximately two tacos for portion control.
Nutrition Information
Calories
444kcal
(22%)
Carbohydrates
32g
(11%)
Protein
40g
(80%)
Fat
18g
(28%)
Saturated Fat
4g
(20%)
Cholesterol
96mg
(32%)
Sodium
757mg
(32%)
Potassium
963mg
(20%)
Fiber
7g
(28%)
Sugar
3g
(6%)
Vitamin A
610IU
(12%)
Vitamin C
30.4mg
(34%)
Calcium
121mg
(12%)
Iron
2.6mg
(14%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 12 Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 444
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 444kcal | 22% |
| Carbohydrates | 32g | 11% |
| Protein | 40g | 80% |
| Fat | 18g | 28% |
| Saturated Fat | 4g | 20% |
| Cholesterol | 96mg | 32% |
| Sodium | 757mg | 32% |
| Potassium | 963mg | 20% |
| Fiber | 7g | 28% |
| Sugar | 3g | 6% |
| Vitamin A | 610IU | 12% |
| Vitamin C | 30.4mg | 34% |
| Calcium | 121mg | 12% |
| Iron | 2.6mg | 14% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.