Easy Pork Carnitas

User Reviews

4.3

9 reviews
Good
  • Prep Time

    20 mins

  • Cook Time

    2 hrs 20 mins

  • Total Time

    2 hrs 50 mins

  • Servings

    8 large servings

  • Calories

    200 kcal

  • Course

    Dinner

  • Cuisine

    Mexican

Easy Pork Carnitas

Tender, juicy, and crispy, this is my Pork Carnitas recipe! Marinated, cooked then crisped, enjoy with a tortilla or freeze for later!

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Ingredients

Servings
  • 3 pounds pork shoulder boneless
  • salt to taste
  • 3 navel oranges juiced (you want at least 1/2 a cup, but more is fine)
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons cumin
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 tablespoon fresh garlic minced
  • 2 tablespoons canola oil
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 2 cups chicken broth
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Instructions

Marinating the Pork

  1. Cut pork shoulder into large 2-3 inch chunks. Sprinkle with salt, to taste. Set aside. Wash oranges.
  2. Stir orange juice together with cumin, onion powder, cinnamon and garlic. Pour marinade over pork and stir to coat evenly. Seal meat and marinade in an airtight container with tight-fitting lid and refrigerate 2-6 hours. Save orange rinds for cooking.

Cooking Carnitas

  1. In a large dutch oven or oven-safe pot, heat canola oil over medium high heat. Sear meat on all sides until browned. Remove meat and pour in broth to deglaze pan. Add in bay leaves, seared meat, orange rinds and marinating liquid. Cover, bring to boil and reduce to simmer. Cook on the stove for 1 1/2-2 hours or until meat is very tender and falling apart. Alternately, you can braise in the oven covered with a lid for 2-3 hours at 275 degrees.
  2. Once meat is fully cooked, remove from cooking liquid and shred, discarding any large pieces of fat or gristle. Serve as is or crisp up with the broiler or using a pan.

Crisp your Carnitas

  1. For pan cooking, add 1 tablespoon of canola oil to a cast iron or nonstick skillet. Swirl oil around to coat the bottom. Cook meat until it's as crispy as you'd like. For crisping with the broiler, preheat broiler to high. Spread shredded carnitas on baking sheet and broil until meat is as crispy as you'd like.
  2. Serve carnitas in tacos, burritos or however you like.

Pressure Cooker Directions

  1. Marinate the meat as recipe states above. Brown the marinated meat in batches in canola oil using the BROWN/SAUTE function. Remove meat and pour in broth to deglaze pan. Add in bay leaves, seared meat, orange rinds and marinating liquid. Add lid and twist to lock. Close pressure valve. Change to MEAT/STEW function and cook on high pressure for 35 minutes. After time is up, quick-release pressure. Shred meat and crisp if desired. Serve.

Nutrition Information

Show Details
Calories 200kcal (10%) Carbohydrates 3g (1%) Protein 21g (42%) Fat 11g (17%) Saturated Fat 3g (15%) Cholesterol 70mg (23%) Sodium 295mg (12%) Potassium 434mg (12%) Fiber 1g (4%) Sugar 2g (4%) Vitamin A 43IU (1%) Vitamin C 16mg (18%) Calcium 30mg (3%) Iron 2mg (11%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 8large servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories 200 kcal

% Daily Value*

Calories 200kcal 10%
Carbohydrates 3g 1%
Protein 21g 42%
Fat 11g 17%
Saturated Fat 3g 15%
Cholesterol 70mg 23%
Sodium 295mg 12%
Potassium 434mg 9%
Fiber 1g 4%
Sugar 2g 4%
Vitamin A 43IU 1%
Vitamin C 16mg 18%
Calcium 30mg 3%
Iron 2mg 11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

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Overall Rating

4.3

9 reviews
Good

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