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Authentic Pork Carnitas Recipe

A close-up shot of a bowl filled with tender and crispy pork carnitas, ready to be served.
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Make tender, flavorful pork carnitas with crispy edges, perfect for tacos, burritos, or bowls. This slow-cooked Mexican pulled pork is a crowd-pleaser.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 3–4 pounds pork shoulder (Boston butt), cut into 2-3 inch chunks
  • 1 large onion, quartered
  • 4–6 cloves garlic, peeled
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 cup water
  • 1/2 cup orange juice (from about 1 orange)
  • 2 tablespoons lard or vegetable oil (optional, for crisping)

Instructions

  1. Place pork chunks in a large pot or Dutch oven. Add the quartered onion, garlic cloves, oregano, cumin, salt, and pepper.
  2. Pour in the water and orange juice. The liquid should come about halfway up the sides of the pork.
  3. Bring the liquid to a simmer over medium-high heat, then reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and let it cook for 2.5 to 3 hours, or until the pork is very tender and easily shreds with a fork.
  4. Remove the pork from the pot using a slotted spoon and place it on a cutting board. Discard the onion and garlic from the cooking liquid.
  5. Shred the pork using two forks.
  6. For crispy carnitas: Heat lard or oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the shredded pork in a single layer (you may need to do this in batches). Cook for 5-7 minutes per side, until golden brown and crispy.
  7. Alternatively, spread the shredded pork on a baking sheet and broil for 3-5 minutes, watching carefully to prevent burning, until edges are crisp.
  8. Serve your crispy pork carnitas immediately in tacos, burritos, or bowls.

Notes

  • For extra flavor, you can add a bay leaf to the cooking liquid.
  • If you don’t have orange juice, you can use water or chicken broth.
  • Leftover carnitas can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in a skillet or oven to crisp them up again.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://kingscook.com/pork-carnitas-recipe/