Crispy Carnitas (2024)

This crispy carnitas recipe is absolutely incredible! It’s surprisingly easy to make, and the flavor will blow you away. You’ll have the most tender, juicy pork carnitas perfect for tacos, burritos, and more.

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Crispy Carnitas (1)

Carnitas (meaning “little meats”) is the Mexican version of pulled pork in America. They are unapologetically porky, juicy, and tender. Depending on where in Mexico you have them, they also have plenty of crisped-up and browned edges.

This recipe is inspired by authentic Mexican carnitas, is really easy to make. My family loves this recipe.

Crispy Carnitas (2)

Key Ingredients

  • Pork:Buy boneless or bone-in pork shoulder(it doesn’t matter which) with a good amount of fat left intact. It is the fat that keeps our pork moist and tender. This is the same cut of meat we use for our American-style pulled pork. Other names for pork shoulder are picnic roast, Boston butt, blade roast, and pork butt.
  • Salt and pepper:We don’t have a particular carnitas seasoning blend, so stick with simple salt and pepper. The pork and aromatics will provide plenty of flavor.
  • Oil:I use a high-heat cooking oil for recipe (usually avocado oil), but lard is also an option.
  • Aromatics:Inspired by authentic carnitas from central Mexico, we use fresh orange, onion, garlic, a bay leaf, and a cinnamon stick. The combination is delicious and doesn’t take over the pork’s natural flavor.

How to Make Carnitas

In Mexico, pork shoulder is slowly cooked in a big pot of lard, making it tender, moist, and rich. To make our recipe a little more home-friendly, we slowly cook our pork with a few aromatics and a few tablespoons of oil to keep it moist and tender.

I use my oven to make carnitas. However, you can also make my recipe in a slow cooker, and I have included tips in the recipe.

Season your pork with salt and pepper, then place it into a Dutch oven with the fattiest side facing up towards you. Squeeze over fresh orange juice, then scatter the oranges, onion, garlic, bay leaf, and a cinnamon stick around the pork.

Cover your pot with its lid, and then slowly bake the pork in the oven until fork tender. I use a 300°F oven, which means the pork slowly cooks for 3 to 4 hours.

Crispy Carnitas (3)

When our pork is fall-apart tender, we want to pull it into shreds. You can serve them like this or turn them into crispy carnitas (my favorite). To do it, add the pulled pork to a baking sheet and broil until crispy. It only takes a couple of minutes.

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Storing Carnitas

Homemade pork carnitas last in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. I like storing the pulled pork and the cooking liquid in separate containers so that when it comes time to reheat, I can use some liquid to moisten the pork.

You can freeze them for up to 3 months. I add the pork to one freezer-safe container and the leftover cooking liquid to another, then freeze both. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.

Reheat on the stovetop in a skillet over medium heat, adding a little reserved cooking liquid to keep them moist. Or reheat in a 350°F oven in a baking dish with a splash of cooking liquid. For crispy carnitas, after reheating, place them under the broiler (explained in the recipe below).

What to Serve with Carnitas

My favorite way to serve pork carnitas is to make tacos! I love using homemade corn tortillas, piling on the pork, and then topping with a squeeze of lime, fresh cilantro, and chopped white onion (pickled red onions are delicious, too). It’s simple and tastes incredible.

Add carnitas to burritos, bowls, tortas (Mexican sandwiches), nachos, and salads. I love serving them next to homemade Mexican rice, refried beans or homemade black beans, guacamole, and salsa. I especially love this tomatillo salsa.

Crispy Carnitas (5)

Crispy Carnitas

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How to make carnitas that are unapologetically porky, juicy, and tender with crisped-up edges. This Mexican slow cooked pulled pork is surprisingly simple to make and delicious. I use an oven, but tips for using a slow cooker are below the recipe.

Makes 8 cups

Watch Us Make the Recipe

You Will Need

4 pounds (1800g) pork shoulder with the fat left on, use bone-in or boneless

2 teaspoons fine sea salt

1 teaspoon ground black pepper

3 tablespoons avocado oil or melted pork lard

1 medium orange, halved, or 2 use clementines

Half large onion, quartered

5 cloves garlic

1 bay leaf

1 cinnamon stick, broken in half

Directions

  • Cooking the Pork
  • 1Adjust an oven rack towards the lower third of the oven. Preheat the oven to 300°F (150°C).

    2Season the pork on all sides with the salt and pepper.

    3Add one tablespoon of the oil to a wide, heavy-bottomed, oven-safe pot (like a Dutch oven). If you do not have a Dutch oven, see the tips below.

    4Place the seasoned pork in the pot with the fattiest side facing up. Squeeze the oranges over the pork and place them around it. Scatter the onion, garlic, cinnamon stick, and bay leaf around the pork.

    5Drizzle the remaining two tablespoons of oil over everything.

    6Cover the pot with its lid and slowly bake in the oven until the pork is fork tender, 3 to 3 ½ hours.

  • Shredding the Pork
  • 1Transfer the pork to a cutting board and cool until you can handle it. Pull the pork with forks or your fingers. Depending on your preference, you can separate the meat into larger chunks or smaller shreds.

    2Discard the bone (if there is one), any connective tissue, and larger clumps of fat. I like leaving a few smaller bits of fat.

    3Strain the cooking liquid and save it. Discard the onion, oranges, and spices.

    4Store the carnitas and cooking liquid in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

  • Serving
  • 1Spread the shredded carnitas on a baking sheet and pour enough of the saved cooking liquid to moisten them. If your cooking liquid has solidified, rewarm some of it in a small saucepan before adding it to the pork.

    2Set an oven rack 4 to 5 inches below the broiler and turn it on.

    3Slide the pork underneath and broil until the pork crisps and caramelizes, 2 to 5 minutes. As you broil, stir once or twice, and keep a close eye on them, as they can burn or smoke quickly.

    4Serve carnitas in tacos, burritos, salads, rice, or with your favorite sides.

Adam and Joanne's Tips

  • No Dutch oven: Cut the pork into 2-inch chunks and arrange it in a large baking dish. Place the other ingredients around it, and then cover the dish with aluminum foil.
  • Slow cooker carnitas: Season the pork and place it fat-side-up in your slow cooker. Squeeze over the orange and scatter the orange halves, onion, garlic, cinnamon stick, and bay leaf around the pork. Drizzle over the oil, close the lid and cook on LOW for 8 hours or HIGH for 4 hours. When the carnitas are fork-tender, shred them and then crisp them up using your broiler (as explained in the recipe).
  • The nutrition facts provided below are estimates.

Nutrition Per Serving Serving Size 1/8 of the recipe (about 1 cup) / Calories 353 / Total Fat 12.9g / Saturated Fat 6.6g / Cholesterol 136mg / Sodium 705.2mg / Carbohydrate 5.2g / Dietary Fiber 1g / Total Sugars 2.4g / Protein 51.6g

AUTHOR: Adam and Joanne Gallagher

Crispy Carnitas (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between pulled pork and carnitas? ›

Pulled Pork. Both carnitas and pulled pork are cooked slowly for several hours, and great to make in the slow cooker or instant pot. Unlike pulled pork, however, carnitas are finished by roasting the meat in the oven until browned and crisp.

What is a carnitas? ›

Carnitas (which means "little meats" in Spanish) is a Mexican dish. It consists of pork that is simmered or braised with seasonings and fat until it's tender enough to be shredded. The shredded meat is then roasted until it's brown and crispy.

Are carnitas usually fried? ›

Carnitas, literally meaning "little meats", in Mexican cuisine, is a dish made by braising, simmering and frying pork in its own fat, lard or cooking oil.

What is the difference between carnitas and chicharron? ›

Also known as carnitas in Guatemala, these refer to a meatier part of the pork rind. Where a chicharrón is, strictly speaking, skin and fat, carnitas denotes skin with some meat as well. (In other places, carnitas generally refers to fried pork meat without skin or a stew-like dish made from it.)

Why do you put orange in carnitas? ›

Why do you put orange juice in carnitas? The acidity of orange juice helps to break down the meat so it's meltingly tender and shreddable and adds flavor depth to the cooking liquid.

What is carnitas seasoning made of? ›

The seasoning in carnitas typically includes a blend of spices such as cumin, oregano, paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder. These spices are combined with citrus juices like orange and lime to enhance the flavor of the pork.

How do Mexicans eat carnitas? ›

Most Mexicans eat their carnitas in tacos, although this may vary depending on the state. What all Mexicans seem to agree on is that carnitas is better consumed with sauces and condiments. Cilantro, onion, cheese, lime and “pico de gallo” are some of the usual additions to your carnitas taco.

Why is carnitas so good? ›

Carnitas is Mexico's version of pulled pork, slow cooked in lard (pork confit) with traditional Mexican flavors. When done right, this dish is juicy & tender on the inside, and crispy on the outside.

Is carnitas like al pastor? ›

Carnitas, carne asada, and al pastor are all authentic Mexican dishes. Carnitas is made with pork that has been braised or slow-cooked until it's fork-tender. Carne asada is made with beef that has been grilled to perfection. Al pastor is made with pork that has been grilled and then sliced off the spit.

Why add milk to carnitas? ›

As the water and orange juice evaporate, lots of tiny bubbles break the surface. Then, milk joins the party. The enzymes in the milk tenderize the pork, a secret I learned while watching Dad make his carnitas. Next comes the optional beer, which gives the pork another layer of flavor.

Can carnitas be overcooked? ›

Can you overcook carnitas in slow cooker? Any cut of meat can become overcooked, even in the crockpot. Avoid cooking this pork carnitas recipe for longer than the times listed below, or the meat will end up tough and chewy.

How do you eat carnitas traditionally? ›

The most common way to eat carnitas is by making a taco. If you are served carnitas along with tortillas on the side, take the tortillas and heat them up a bit. Then, take some of the carnitas and place it in the tortilla. Next, add some additional toppings like lime juice, onions, cilantro, and salsa.

What is a crispy pork skin called? ›

Pork rinds is the North American name for fried or roasted skins of pigs. Pieces of fried meat, skin, or membrane produced as a byproduct of rendering lard are also called cracklings.

Is carnitas the same as birria tacos? ›

The word “carnitas” means “l*ttle meats” in Spanish. These three dishes are very similar, but have some differences. Barbacoa can be either shredded or chopped, birria is usually shredded and served with a sauce or broth, and carnitas is usually chopped.

Is chicharon crispy or crunchy? ›

Chicharon, a crispy and flavorful Filipino snack, has become an integral part of the country's culinary landscape. This deep-fried delight, known for its irresistible crunch and savory goodness, is more than just a snack — it's a cultural icon that has evolved over the years.

What cut of meat is best for pulled pork? ›

What is the best cut of meat for pulled pork? Pork shoulder is ideal for pulling purposes. It has an optimum fat content that yields to create tender, melty meat, but it's essential you cook it slowly to allow the protein to break down properly.

What are the two types of pulled pork? ›

Customary bar-b-que Pulled Pork: Slow-cooked pork shoulder or butt, commonly prepared with a dry rub, and afterward covered in bar-b-que sauce. It's not unexpected served on a bun with coleslaw. 2. Carolina Pulled Pork: A Carolina-style variety includes a vinegar-based sauce with a tart and somewhat hot flavor.

Is shredded pork and pulled pork the same? ›

Pulled pork is just shredded pork that has been traditionally smoked or slow-cooked to achieve a soft texture.

What is the best substitute for pulled pork? ›

Whether you use Tofu, Mushrooms, or Jackfruit, if it's seasoned well and drenched in BBQ sauce, it's gonna be GOOD! One of the first vegan meats I remember trying was a Pulled Pork sandwich made with Jackfruit.

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