Servings
Font
Back
0 from 0 votes

Pork Carnitas

These Crispy Pork Carnitas are seriously bursting with flavor yet so simple to make! This is the meat you want for your tacos, burritos, sandwiches, you name it. It’s to die for!

Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
3 hrs 20 mins
Total Time
4 hrs
Servings: 10
Calories: 254 kcal
Course: Main Course , Dinner
Cuisine: Mexican

Ingredients

  • 4 pound pork shoulder (aka pork butt), bonless
  • 1 onion peeled and halved
  • 3 cloves garlic crushed
  • 2 medium oranges juiced and keep the spent halves
  • 2 limes juiced and keep the spent halves
Dry Rub
  • 1½ teaspoon salt
  • ¾ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon cumin ground
  • 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 1 teaspoon oregano dried

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Preheat the oven to 300℉.
  2. In a small bowl, combine all the dry rub ingredients together.
  3. Place the pork shoulder in a large Dutch oven or an oven safe pot and rub the dry rub all over the pork on all sides.  Throw in the onion, garlic juice from the oranges, limes and the spent orange and lime halves.
  4. Cover the pot and place it in the oven. Bake for 3½ hours until the meat is tender and shreddable.
  5. Remove the meat from the pot and place it on a baking sheet. Using two forks shred the meat into small pieces. There should be about 1½ cups of liquid left in the pot. Ladle about 1 cup of that liquid all over the shredded pork.
  6. Place the meat under the broiler, for about 5 to 10 minutes. Half way through turn them over with a spatula to crisp up on both sides. You can crisp them up 450℉ for about 30 minutes, especially if your oven doesn’t have a broiler.
  7. Serve hot on tortillas, burritos, tamales, sandwiches, etc.

Notes

  • Cooking: To speed up the cooking process you can cut the pork shoulder into 4-inch chunks. This will save about an hour from the cooking process.
  • Pork Carnitas In the Instant Pot: Place the pork shoulder in the instant pot along with the juice, lemon and lime halves. Add another cup of water/broth to the pot. Set the Instant Pot to the Meat/Stew setting and set the timer to 90 minutes.
  • Once the Instant Pot cycle is complete, wait until the natural release cycle is complete, should take about 15 minutes. Follow the manufacturer’s guide for quick release, if in a rush. Carefully unlock and remove the lid from the instant pot. Using a slotted spoon, transfer all the pork to a baking sheet and shred with two forks. Follow the instructions in the recipe to finish crisping up the pork.
  • Pork Carnitas in the Slow Cooker: Find the recipe here.
  • Leftovers: Store them in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 to 4 days. 
  • Freezing: Let the carnitas cool to room temperature. Place them in an airtight container or a freezer bag and place in the freezer. It will last anywhere from 4 to 6 months in the freezer. To reheat, thaw in the fridge overnight.
  • Place them on a baking sheet and reheat in the oven at 400℉ for about 15 to 20 minutes or until heated through.

Nutrition Information

Serving 1serving Calories 254kcal (13%) Carbohydrates 6g (2%) Protein 41g (82%) Fat 6g (9%) Saturated Fat 1g (5%) Cholesterol 108mg (36%) Sodium 451mg (19%) Potassium 774mg (22%) Fiber 1g (4%) Sugar 3g (6%) Vitamin A 125IU (3%) Vitamin C 18.9mg (21%) Calcium 35mg (4%) Iron 1.9mg (11%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 10Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 254

% Daily Value*

Serving 1serving
Calories 254kcal 13%
Carbohydrates 6g 2%
Protein 41g 82%
Fat 6g 9%
Saturated Fat 1g 5%
Cholesterol 108mg 36%
Sodium 451mg 19%
Potassium 774mg 16%
Fiber 1g 4%
Sugar 3g 6%
Vitamin A 125IU 3%
Vitamin C 18.9mg 21%
Calcium 35mg 4%
Iron 1.9mg 11%

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