Best 8 Mexican Pulled Pork Carnitas Recipes

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Mexican pulled pork carnitas is a delectable dish that combines the flavors of traditional Mexican cuisine with the convenience of slow-cooked pulled pork. Originating in the state of Michoacán, carnitas is typically made with pork shoulder, which is braised or roasted until tender and then shredded. The resulting meat is incredibly versatile and can be used in tacos, burritos, tostadas, or simply served with rice and beans. Whether you're a seasoned home cook or a novice in the kitchen, this article will guide you through the process of creating authentic and delicious Mexican pulled pork carnitas, ensuring a flavorful and satisfying meal that will impress your family and friends.

Here are our top 8 tried and tested recipes!

EASY PORK CARNITAS (MEXICAN PULLED PORK)



Easy Pork Carnitas (Mexican Pulled Pork) image

Easy pork carnitas are sure to win you over. They come out just right - and that means crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside!

Provided by Natalya Drozhzhin

Categories     Easy

Time 5h40m

Number Of Ingredients 10

4 lb boneless pork roast
3 Tbsp fine sea salt ((or 2 1/2 tsp table salt))
1 Tbsp ground black pepper
1 tsp dried oregano
1 large onion (diced)
5 garlic cloves
4 Tbsp lime juice ((from 2 limes))
1/2 cup orange juice ((from 2 oranges))
1 cup chicken broth
2 bay leaves

Steps:

  • Pat the pork dry with a paper towel. Combine salt, pepper and dried oregano and rub pork with the seasoning.
  • In the slow cooker, add chopped onion, garlic cloves, broth, lime juice, orange juice, and bay leaves.
  • Add the pork to the slow cooker. Cook on high for 5 hours or on low for 7-8 hours.
  • Remove the pork from the slow cooker. Shredded the pork with two forks. Keep the juice.
  • To get crispy edges, transfer the shredded pork to a baking sheet. Pour ½ cup of the juices on top of the meat and broil it for 5-7 minutes, or until golden brown.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 324 kcal, Carbohydrate 5 g, Protein 52 g, Fat 9 g, SaturatedFat 3 g, Cholesterol 143 mg, Sodium 2738 mg, Fiber 1 g, Sugar 2 g, ServingSize 1 serving

PORK CARNITAS RECIPE (MEXICAN PULLED PORK)



Pork Carnitas Recipe (Mexican Pulled Pork) image

Braised and broiled to crispy and tender perfection, this Mexican Pulled Pork will quickly become a family favorite dinner. These pork carnitas are a hands-down winner.

Provided by Chew Out Loud

Categories     Main Dish

Time 3h5m

Number Of Ingredients 12

1 3.5 to 4 lb boneless pork butt, fat trimmed to 1/8 inch thick, and cut into 2-inch chunks
1 brown onion (peeled and halved)
2 whole bay leaves
1 tsp dried oregano
2 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp garlic powder
table salt and ground black pepper to taste
2 cups water
2 TB juice from 1 fresh lime
1 medium orange (quartered)
18-20 6 inch corn tortillas, warmed
Optional garnishes: lime wedges

Steps:

  • Adjust oven rack to lower middle position. Preheat oven to 300F.
  • Combine pork, onion, bay leaves, oregano, cumin, garlic, 1 1/2 tsp table salt, 1 tsp pepper, water, and lime juice in a large Dutch oven Liquid should barely be covering the meat. Juice the orange in a bowl and add both the juice and orange remnants to the pot. Bring mixture to simmer over medium high heat, stirring occasionally. Cover pot and transfer to oven. Cook until meat is soft and is fork tender, about 2 1/2 hours, stirring meat around once during cooking.
  • Remove the pot from oven. Transfer pork to a bowl with slotted spoon. Remove orange halves, onion, and bay leaves from the liquid and discard. Do not skim fat from liquid. Place pot over high heat and simmer liquid, stirring often, about 10-12 min. You should end up with 1 cup of reduced liquid. Turn oven to broil.
  • Shred pork roughly; not too finely. Fold in the reduced liquid, season with salt and pepper to taste. Spread pork in even layer on rimmed baking sheet. Place sheet on an upper rack and broil until top of meat is well browned but not charred. Edges should be slightly crisp. 5-7 in. Serve immediately with your choice of garnishes and warm corn tortillas.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 183 kcal, Sugar 4.3 g, Sodium 218 mg, Fat 4.7 g, SaturatedFat 1.3 g, Carbohydrate 9.5 g, Fiber 0.8 g, Protein 25.9 g, Cholesterol 75.4 mg, ServingSize 1 serving

CARNITAS (MEXICAN SLOW COOKER PULLED PORK)



Carnitas (Mexican Slow Cooker Pulled Pork) image

Recipe VIDEO above. Spiciness: Not at all. Scale recipe using Servings slider.These carnitas capture that elusive combination of flavourful, juicy AND crispiness. Pan frying to get the golden bits is not optional! Broiling/grilling will not produce the same results. Stuff them in tacos for an authentic Carnitas Tacos experience, see notes for other uses! FAQ below recipe.

Provided by Nagi | RecipeTin Eats

Categories     Slow cooking

Time 6h15m

Number Of Ingredients 10

2 kg / 4 lb pork shoulder (pork butt) (, skinless, boneless (5lb/2.5kg bone in) (Note 1))
2 1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp black pepper
1 onion (, chopped)
1 jalapeno (, deseeded, chopped)
4 cloves garlic, minced
3/4 cup juice from orange (2 oranges)
1 tbsp dried oregano
2 tsp ground cumin
1 tbsp olive oil

Steps:

  • Rinse and dry the pork shoulder, rub all over with salt and pepper.
  • Combine the Rub ingredients then rub all over the pork.
  • Place the pork in a slow cooker (fat cap up), top with the onion, jalapeño, minced garlic (don't worry about spreading it) and squeeze over the juice of the oranges.
  • Slow Cook on low for 10 hours or on high for 7 hours. (Note 2 for other cook methods)
  • Pork should be tender enough to shred. Remove from slow cooker and let cool slightly. Then shred using two forks.
  • Optional: Skim off the fat from the juices remaining in the slow cooker and discard.
  • If you have a lot more than 2 cups of juice, then reduce it down to about 2 cups. The liquid will be salty, it is the seasoning for the pork. Set liquid aside - don't bother straining onion etc, it's super soft.

Nutrition Facts : ServingSize 205 g, Calories 578 kcal, Carbohydrate 1.7 g, Protein 45 g, Fat 42 g, SaturatedFat 15 g, Cholesterol 173 mg, Sodium 616 mg, Sugar 0.5 g, UnsaturatedFat 23.1 g

PORK CARNITAS (MEXICAN SLOW COOKER PULLED PORK)



Pork Carnitas (Mexican Slow Cooker Pulled Pork) image

Crispy Pork Carnitas (Mexican Slow Cooked Pulled Pork) is a winner! The closest recipe to authentic Mexican Carnitas (NO LARD), with a perfect crisp finish!

Provided by Karina - Cafe Delites

Categories     Dinner

Time 10h10m

Number Of Ingredients 11

4 pounds (or 2 kg) skinless, boneless pork butt (or shoulder)
3-4 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon pepper
1 tablespoon dried oregano ((or Mexican oregano))
1 tablespoon ground cumin
1 large brown or white onion (, cut into wedges)
8 cloves garlic (, smashed)
2 limes (, juiced)
2 large oranges (, juiced (or 3/4 cup natural orange juice))
3/4 cup coke ((Original or Mexican coke is ideal)*)
2 bay leaves

Steps:

  • Rinse and pat dry pork with a paper towel.
  • In the bowl of a 6-quart slow cooker, add pork, salt, pepper, oregano, cumin, onion, garlic, lime juice, orange juice, coke, and bay leaves.
  • Cover and cook on low heat setting for 8-10 hours, or high heat for 5-6 hours (until the meat falls apart).
  • Remove pork and shred with two forks (DO NOT DISCARD THE LIQUID!)

Nutrition Facts : Calories 228 kcal, Carbohydrate 7 g, Protein 28 g, Fat 8 g, SaturatedFat 3 g, Cholesterol 90 mg, Sodium 282 mg, Fiber 1 g, Sugar 3 g, ServingSize 1 serving

CARNITAS RECIPE (MEXICAN PULLED PORK)



Carnitas Recipe (Mexican Pulled Pork) image

This Mexican pork carnitas recipe is the real deal with tender pork shoulder cooked low and slow in lard, easy to make and delicious, the way it should be!

Provided by Mike Hultquist

Categories     Main Course

Number Of Ingredients 12

1-1/4 cup pork lard (or use vegetable oil)
3-1/2 pound pork shoulder (cut into chunks)
½ onion
1 cup whole milk
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup orange juice (or more as desired)
1 bay leaf
1/4 cup chopped Mexican oregano
Zest of 1 orange
Salt and pepper to taste
Corn or flour tortillas
Salsa + Fixings ((I'm using chopped onion, serranos, cilantro, lime, avocado, queso fresco, salsa verde, red chili flakes))

Steps:

  • Heat the lard (or oil) in a large pot or Dutch oven to medium heat. Add the pork and onion and cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, to brown the meat. Reduce heat to cool slightly.
  • Remove the onion and add the milk, water, orange juice, orange zest, herbs, and salt and pepper.
  • Reduce heat and simmer for 3-4 hours, or until the liquid in the pot has evaporated and the pork is fork tender - lard/milk should bubble, but not boil - do not exceed 250 degrees F.
  • Remove the pork and shred as desired. Serve with tortillas for the best carnitas tacos ever!

Nutrition Facts : Calories 111 kcal, Carbohydrate 3 g, Protein 8 g, Fat 7 g, SaturatedFat 2 g, TransFat 1 g, Cholesterol 25 mg, Sodium 36 mg, Fiber 1 g, Sugar 2 g, UnsaturatedFat 5 g, ServingSize 1 serving

THE CARNITAS RECIPE(MEXICAN PULLED PORK)



The Carnitas Recipe(Mexican Pulled Pork) image

Went to a buddy's house awhile back and he made this for a tailgate party and after the first bite I knew what I had to do. So I got to it and bribed his daughter to steal me the recipe. Sadly many Bothans died to bring me this information. So don't make their sacrifice a wasted one.

Provided by Dan K.

Categories     Pork

Time 4h10m

Yield 10 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 10

5 lbs pork butt
1 large onion
4 garlic cloves
2 serrano peppers
1 cup orange juice
dry rub seasonings
1 tablespoon dried oregano
2 teaspoons cumin
2 tablespoons kosher salt
1 1/2 teaspoons black pepper

Steps:

  • Alright first thing you got to do is rinse off and dry your pork butt and trim any excess fat hanging off of it and the fat cap to less then half an inch most of the time it is already done but if not that is what you are looking for.
  • Mix up the dry rub I will put it in a shaker to make it easier to coat the butt. this would be a good time to chop up your choppables. Most of the time I slice the onion and Serranos then mince or press the garlic really this is your choice don't think it batters much but I will leave that up to you.
  • Rub the pork butt with olive oil and coat with all the dry rub make sure to work it into the meat and get into the crevasses.
  • Place the pork butt in a crock pot throw the onions garlic and Serrano peppers on top.
  • Pour the orange juice over the top toss on the lid and let her cook.
  • Ok let me throw this out there if you do not own a crock pot or yours is not big enough to fit a 5 or six pound pork butt you could either throw this together in a Dutch oven or if you don't have that either, which by the way you should they make great family heirlooms, use a roaster and put in the oven pre-heated to 275 degrees ferinheit.
  • Now we wait should take about 4 hours on high or 8 hours on low in the crockpot. In the oven should take about 5 hours you could shave that time down by raising the heat but I wouldn't it's worth the wait, if you decide to up the heat don't go past 325 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Trick time the thing that makes for getting this right isn't waiting a certain amount of time. You will know it is done when you can grab the bone in the center of the pork butt and when you give it a twist I comes right out of the meat easy and clean. That's all you need to know not to every under or over cook a pork but again.
  • When the bone comes out clean remove the meat from the crock pot/ Dutch oven/ roaster and wrap up tight in foil to rest for at least half an hour and you can comfortably handle the pork bare handed. This is the time to shred the pork.
  • Now what makes this so good is after the pork is shredded heat some oil in a pan and fry up the pork to get it crisp splash it with the drippings from the pan from time to time really adds good flavor. Throw this on a good roll and skip the BBQ sauce instead throw some Pico De Gallo and some avocado on top.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 526.1, Fat 35.8, SaturatedFat 12.4, Cholesterol 149.7, Sodium 1535.7, Carbohydrate 5.1, Fiber 0.6, Sugar 2.8, Protein 43.1

MEXICAN PULLED PORK-CARNITAS(ATK)



Mexican Pulled Pork-Carnitas(ATK) image

Make and share this Mexican Pulled Pork-Carnitas(ATK) recipe from Food.com.

Provided by Coppercloud

Categories     Pork

Time 3h20m

Yield 6 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 10

3 -4 lbs boneless pork shoulder, whole
1 small onion, Quartered
1 orange, Quartered
2 tablespoons lime juice, Fresh Squeezed
2 bay leaves
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground Mexican oregano
2 cups water

Steps:

  • Preheat your oven to 300°F Trim the pork roast to remove most of the fat (leave some on); cut into 2″x2″ cubes. Place into an oven safe saucepan or Dutch oven along with the onion, orange, lime juice, bay leaves, salt, pepper, cumin, oregano, and water. Place on the stove over medium-high heat and bring up to a full simmer, stirring occasionally. Place a lid on the saucepan and move it to the middle lower rack of your oven. Bake at 300F for 2 hours, or until pork is fork tender (if you poke it with a fork, it easily slides off the fork). Remove the pan from the oven and turn the oven to broil. Using a slotted spoon, move the pork into a bowl and strain the liquid, placing it back into the pan for a glaze. Reduce the liquid over medium-high heat until the liquid reduces to about one cup.
  • Using two forks, pull each chunk of pork into two pieces, placing them back into the bowl. Toss with the reduced glaze to coat all pieces evenly; season with salt and pepper to taste. Place a baking rack onto a rimmed cookie sheet or a baking pan with raised sides (to contain any liquids). Place pork chunks onto the baking rack so that the juices will drip onto the baking sheet, about 1″ apart. Put the baking sheet back into the oven on the lower-middle rack and allow to broil for 5-8 minutes, or until the meat starts to crisp on the top. Remove from the oven, flip all pork pieces, and place back in the oven to broil for an additional 5-8 minutes on the second side, or until edges are crisp but not burned.
  • Remove the meat from the oven. Squeeze some fresh lime juice over the top and give it a sprinkle of salt. Serve with warm flour tortillas, guacamole, minced red onion, cilantro, salsa and sour cream. The result: pulled pork so tender it melts in your mouth, with crispy broiled edges that will make your heart sing. The addition of fresh lime juice and salt at the end really perks it up. Leftover pork (if there is any) would be awesome as a filling for enchiladas, tamales, or burritos.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 593.1, Fat 46, SaturatedFat 15.9, Cholesterol 161.2, Sodium 545.6, Carbohydrate 4.6, Fiber 1, Sugar 2.6, Protein 38.4

SLOW COOKER MEXICAN PORK CARNITAS



Slow Cooker Mexican Pork Carnitas image

This is a shredded spin on carnitas. In Spanish, carnitas means "little meats." The traditional Mexican dish is typically made from pork, but can also be made from beef. This is a slow-cooked version of the otherwise braised or slow-roasted techniques. Once shredded, the meat is often served with cilantro, onion, salsa, guacamole, refried beans, and tortillas. Serve over cabbage slaw in a soft tortilla.

Provided by clifford

Categories     World Cuisine Recipes     Latin American     Mexican

Time 6h25m

Yield 8

Number Of Ingredients 15

1 (32 fluid ounce) container chicken stock
1 (3 pound) pork loin, or more to taste
3 tablespoons adobo seasoning
2 tablespoons ground cumin
1 tablespoon ground black pepper
1 tablespoon ground paprika
1 large white onion, diced
2 tablespoons chipotle paste
2 bay leaves
1 (14 ounce) can fire-roasted diced tomatoes
6 cloves garlic, minced
2 limes, halved
3 tablespoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 cup fresh cilantro

Steps:

  • Turn a large slow cooker to High. Pour chicken stock into the cooker and place pork loin in the center. Season pork with adobo, cumin, pepper, and paprika. Place onion, chipotle paste, and bay leaves in the stock around the pork. Place tomatoes and garlic on top of the pork, and squeeze limes directly over top, allowing pulp to fall into the slow cooker. Sprinkle with cinnamon and cloves.
  • Use a spoon to baste stock over the pork loin, then sprinkle entire surface evenly with cilantro.
  • Cover and cook on High until pork is slightly pink in the center, about 6 hours. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 145 degrees F (63 degrees C). Use a fork to shred pork.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 266.2 calories, Carbohydrate 12.1 g, Cholesterol 82.2 mg, Fat 11 g, Fiber 4.5 g, Protein 31 g, SaturatedFat 3.8 g, Sodium 607.9 mg, Sugar 1.6 g

Tips:

  • Use a good quality pork shoulder, also known as pork butt, for the best results.
  • Score the pork shoulder to help the seasonings penetrate.
  • Use a Dutch oven or slow cooker to cook the pork for tender and flavorful results.
  • Add a variety of spices and seasonings to the pork for a delicious flavor profile.
  • Cook the pork until it is fall-apart tender.
  • Shred the pork and serve it with your favorite toppings, such as tortillas, salsa, guacamole, and sour cream.

Conclusion:

Mexican pulled pork carnitas is a delicious and versatile dish that can be enjoyed in a variety of ways. Whether you are making tacos, burritos, or nachos, this flavorful pork is sure to be a hit. So next time you are looking for a crowd-pleasing meal, give Mexican pulled pork carnitas a try.

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