This Carnitas Recipe is amazingly juicy braised pork that has been cooked till it’s disintegrate tender, and shredded with scrumptious spices. Serve this pork shoulder recipe as a submitting for tacos, burritos, or as a taco salad! I give directions for the Immediate Pot Carnitas, gradual cooker Carnitas, and oven.

These Carnitas are very easy to make. You’ll be able to have them in your chosen cooking vessel in about 10 minutes. Then it’s only a ready recreation for them to get juicy and tender and make your entire home scent like succulent pulled pork. Then the carnitas are crisped up and stuffed in a taco or burrito bowl…does life get any higher? I do not assume so.
What’s carnitas?
Carnitas is a traditional Mexican shredded pork shoulder recipe. It’s sometimes cooked in confit, which is a shower of melted fats. Historically that will be a melted pot of lard which makes for amazingly tender carnitas. I do know that’s not simple to return by, an enormous pot stuffed with melted lard, so most People go for a neater model. That may be both an Immediate Pot, gradual cooker, or Dutch oven.
Components wanted
This part explains how to decide on the perfect elements for this carnitas recipe, what each does within the pork shoulder recipe, and substitution choices. For the printable recipe, see the recipe card beneath.
4-5 pound pork shoulder, lower into massive chunks
1 grapefruit, zested and juiced
½ onion, sliced
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon dried oregano
2 teaspoons floor cumin
1 teaspoon chili powder
¼ teaspoon floor cinnamon
1 bay leaf
3 teaspoons kosher salt
lime juice and chopped cilantro for serving
Methods to make Immediate Pot Carnitas
This part explains easy methods to make these pork carnitas step-by-step. For a full printable recipe, gradual cooker and oven directions, see the recipe card beneath.
Step 1 – Strain prepare dinner. Add the entire elements, besides lime juice and cilantro, to the liner of the moment pot. Combine nicely. Place the lid, be certain that it’s set to sealing. Cook dinner excessive strain for 35 minutes. After the timer goes off, let the strain launch naturally.

Step 2 – After the strain releases, take away the lid and use a slotted spoon to take away the pork shoulder from the liquid and onto a 13×9 rimmed baking sheet. Pre-heat your broiler.

Step 3 – Shred and crisp the meat. Utilizing 2 forks or tongs, shred the meat and take away any massive chunks of fats. Place the meat below the broiler and let the meat get brown and crispy, about 5-8 minutes. Watch intently so the carnitas don’t burn. Serve this pork recipe with lime juice and chopped cilantro.

Serving options for pork carnitas
My dilemma is all the time what to do with all of this leftover juicy pork shoulder recipe. You’ll be able to solely make tacos on Tuesday, proper?! Properly, I’ve give you some low carb concepts over time that do not embody lettuce cups. Go forward and thank me now.
- Pork carnitas on prime of cilantro lime cauliflower rice
- You will get slightly extra fancy and have carnitas blended with cheese and stuffed into zucchini boats
- Carnitas, avocado, a runny egg, YUM!
- Cloud bread, mashed avocado, carnitas, cotija cheese, cilantro and lime juice
- Pork nachos with carnitas!
- Simply carnitas. These are so good, they want no accompaniments.
Storage directions for this carnitas recipe
Retailer: These carnitas will hold within the fridge for as much as 4 days in an hermetic container.
Re-heating: To reheat the pork carnitas, Warmth slightly oil in a skillet over excessive warmth. Add the carnitas to the pan, being cautious to not overcrowd the pan. Let brown for a couple of minutes, then flip and proceed browning for 1 minute extra. Serve. If the meat appears slightly dry, add slightly hen broth to the pan and let it soak into the meat, then let it brown.
Freeze: Place cooked and cooled carnitas in an hermetic, freezer secure container and freeze for as much as 3 months. When able to eat, let thaw utterly and warmth utilizing the re-heating technique above.
Instruments to make these carnitas simpler
Rimmed baking tray – These multi-purpose sheet pans are a few of my most used kitchen instruments. They’re good for roasting, baking cookies, or sheet pan meals.
Immediate Pot – You do not want a flowery Immediate Pot to make Immediate Pot carnitas. That is the one I’ve and it has served me for years.
Sluggish Cooker – In case you want your carnitas in a gradual cooker, this one I’ve linked additionally has a browning perform which I discover tremendous useful.
Extra Pork Recipes
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Carnitas – The Final Pork Shoulder Recipe
This Carnitas Recipe is amazingly juicy braised pork shoulder that has been cooked till it’s disintegrate tender, and shredded with scrumptious spices. Function a submitting for tacos, burritos, or as a taco salad! I give directions for the Immediate Pot Carnitas, gradual cooker Carnitas, and oven.
PRINT RECIPE PIN RECIPEServings: 8
Energy: 393kcal
Components
- 4-5 pound pork shoulder ,lower into massive chunks
- 1 grapefruit ,zested and juiced
- ½ onion ,sliced
- 4 garlic cloves ,minced
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 2 teaspoons floor cumin
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- ¼ teaspoon floor cinnamon
- 1 bay leaf
- 3 teaspoons kosher salt
- lime juice and chopped cilantro for serving
Directions
Immediate Pot Carnitas
Add the entire elements, besides lime juice and cilantro, to the liner of the moment pot. Combine nicely. Place the lid, be certain that it’s set to sealing. Cook dinner excessive strain for 35 minutes. After the timer goes off, let the strain launch naturally.
After the strain releases, take away the lid and use a slotted spoon to take away the meat from the liquid and onto a 13×9 rimmed baking sheet. Pre-heat your broiler.
Utilizing 2 forks or tongs, shred the meat and take away any massive chunks of fats. Place the meat below the broiler and let the meat get brown and crispy, about 5-8 minutes. Watch intently so they don’t burn. Serve with lime juice and chopped cilantro.
Sluggish Cooker Carnitas
Add the entire elements, besides lime juice and cilantro, to the liner of the gradual cooker. Combine nicely. Place the lid and prepare dinner on low for 8 hours. Use a slotted spoon to take away the meat from the liquid and onto a 13×9 rimmed baking sheet. Pre-heat your broiler.
Utilizing 2 forks or tongs, shred the meat and take away any massive chunks of fats. Place the meat below the broiler and let the meat get brown and crispy, about 5-8 minutes. Watch intently so they don’t burn. Serve with lime juice and chopped cilantro.
Oven Baked Carnitas
Preheat the oven to 325F. Add the entire elements, besides lime juice and cilantro, to a big Dutch Oven pot with a lid. Combine nicely. Place the lid. Bake within the oven for two hours or till the pork is fork tender and shreds simply. Use a slotted spoon to take away the meat from the liquid and onto a 13×9 rimmed baking sheet. Pre-heat your broiler.
Utilizing 2 forks or tongs, shred the meat and take away any massive chunks of fats. Place the meat below the broiler and let the meat get brown and crispy, about 5-8 minutes. Watch intently so they don’t burn. Serve with lime juice and chopped cilantro.
Jennifer’s ideas
Servings: 8
Diet per serving
Energy: 393kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 36g | Fats: 24g
Diet is supplied as a courtesy solely. Please re-calculate by yourself with the elements and quantities you used for essentially the most correct knowledge.