Pork Carnitas
Carnitas in Mexico.jpg by Tomascastelazo · CC BY-SA 4.0
Pork Carnitas is a mouthwatering Mexican-inspired dish featuring tender, flavorful shredded pork that's perfect for tacos, burritos, or bowls. Slow-cooked to perfection with aromatic spices, this recipe delivers authentic, juicy carnitas with crispy edges for a delightful feast.
Ingredients
- 3 lbs pork shoulder (pork butt), cut into large chunks
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 orange, juiced and zested
- 1 lime, juiced
- 2 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 bay leaf
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- Fresh cilantro for garnish
- Tortillas for serving
Instructions
- 1
Season the pork shoulder chunks with salt, pepper, cumin, chili powder, and garlic. Set aside.
- 2
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat and sear the pork pieces until browned on all sides, about 5-7 minutes.
- 3
Transfer the seared pork to a slow cooker. Add chopped onion, garlic, orange juice and zest, lime juice, bay leaf, and chicken broth.
- 4
Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours, until the pork is tender and easy to shred.
- 5
Remove the pork from the slow cooker and shred it with two forks. Discard the bay leaf.
- 6
Optional: For crispy edges, spread the shredded pork on a baking sheet and broil in the oven for 3-5 minutes until edges are crispy.
- 7
Serve hot with warm tortillas, garnished with chopped cilantro. Enjoy!