Latin American Mexican Main Dishes Pork Pork Carnitas 4.9 (578) 455 Reviews 77 Photos Mexican carnitas made with pork shoulder, braised with lime and spices for a delicious, distinctive flavor, then baked until fall-apart tender with crisp edges. I get requests from friends and family to make this pulled pork recipe repeatedly. Serve with warm, fresh tortillas and salsa. Submitted by Nette Updated on November 1, 2023 Tested by Allrecipes Test Kitchen Tested by Allrecipes Test Kitchen The Allrecipes Test Kitchen staff are a team of culinary pros who make and vet recipes using only equipment you'd find in a home kitchen. Staff credentials vary but include training at the Culinary Institute of America; kitchen stints in fine dining restaurants; and countless hours in the test kitchen itself. Meet the Allrecipes Test Kitchen Save Rate Print Share 77 77 77 77 77 Prep Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 3 hrs 30 mins Total Time: 3 hrs 45 mins Servings: 12 Jump to Nutrition Facts This pork carnitas recipe creates tender, flavorful, and absolutely irresistible shredded pork every time. What Is 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. Learn more: Everything You Need to Know About Carnitas How to Make Carnitas You'll find a detailed ingredient list and step-by-step instructions in the carnitas recipe below, but let's go over the basics: Pork Carnitas Seasoning Pork shoulder is extra flavorful thanks to kosher salt, a chopped onion, fresh garlic, lime juice, chili powder, dried oregano, and ground cumin. In addition to the pork shoulder and seasonings, you’ll need vegetable oil and chicken broth to make carnitas. How to Make Pork Carnitas Here’s a brief overview of what you can expect when you make these homemade carnitas: Brown the pork shoulder on all sides in a Dutch oven. Add the remaining ingredients and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook until tender. Transfer the meat to a baking sheet, drizzle with cooking liquid, and season with salt. Bake in the oven, drizzle with cooking liquid often, until the meat is browned. What to Serve With Carnitas Carnitas can be served as an entree with side dishes or as a filling for tacos, burritos, or enchiladas. Explore our entire collection of Mexican Side Dishes for delicious inspiration. Here are a few of the recipes you’ll find: Quick and Easy Refried Beans Mexican Rice Mexican Corn on the Cob (Elote) How to Store Carnitas Store your leftover carnitas in an airtight container in the refrigerator for about three days or in the freezer for about three months. Allrecipes Community Tips and Praise “An absolute hit with everyone I've served this to,” says Not Chef Jeff. “I don't change a thing other than tossing in some extra garlic because there's no such thing as too much garlic.” “Outside of my favorite Mexican food restaurant, these are the best pork carnitas I've had,” raves Amy Buettner. “Follow the instructions. Don't skimp on cooking time. Definitely use cast iron with a tight fitting lid.” “The only change I made was I used a Crock-Pot for the first cooking,” according to rogersnan. “I cooked it on low for 8-9 hours. They turned out so tender and flavorful.” Editorial contributions by Corey Williams Ingredients ¼ cup vegetable oil 4 pounds pork shoulder, cut into several large pieces 3 tablespoons kosher salt 1 onion, chopped 1 clove garlic, crushed 3 tablespoons lime juice 1 tablespoon chili powder ½ teaspoon dried oregano ½ teaspoon ground cumin 4 (14.5 ounce) cans chicken broth Directions Gather all ingredients. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios Heat vegetable oil in a large Dutch oven over high heat. Season pork shoulder pieces with salt, then arrange in the Dutch oven. Cook until browned on all sides, about 10 minutes. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios Stir in onion, garlic, lime juice, chili powder, oregano, and cumin. Pour in chicken broth; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until pork is very tender, about 2 1/2 hours. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Transfer pork shoulder to a large baking sheet; reserve cooking liquid. Drizzle a small amount of cooking liquid over pork pieces and lightly season with salt. Bake pork in the preheated oven until browned, about 30 minutes. Drizzle more cooking liquid every 10 minutes; use two forks to shred pork as it browns. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios Serve hot and enjoy! DOTDASH MEREDITH FOOD STUDIOS I Made It Print Nutrition Facts (per serving) 250 Calories 19g Fat 2g Carbs 16g Protein Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label Nutrition Facts Servings Per Recipe 12 Calories 250 % Daily Value * Total Fat 19g 24% Saturated Fat 6g 30% Cholesterol 63mg 21% Sodium 2072mg 90% Total Carbohydrate 2g 1% Dietary Fiber 0g 1% Total Sugars 1g Protein 16g 32% Vitamin C 3mg 3% Calcium 23mg 2% Iron 1mg 6% Potassium 252mg 5% * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs. ** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data. (-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption. Powered by the ESHA Research Database © 2018, ESHA Research, Inc. All Rights Reserved