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    Home > Blog > Pork > Easy Carnitas

    Easy Carnitas

    by Jenny Park · Published: Jun 4, 2021

    Jump to Recipe
    A recipe for the juiciest, most flavorful easy Easy Carnitas! You'll love this low maintenance and delicious dish with crispy bits. Use it on tacos, nachos, tortas, burritos, soups, anything! We've provided oven instructions, how to make it in a slow cooker, AND Instant Pot, so you're covered!
    Carnitas being served with tacos and beer.
    Easy carnitas recipe in a bowl next to a plate of tacos.
    Easy carnitas recipe in a bowl next to a plate of tacos.
    Carnitas recipe in a bowl being served.
    Carnitas recipe in a bowl being served.
    Carnitas recipe with tacos.
    Easy carnitas recipe in a bowl next to a plate of tacos.

    We are totally in love with this Easy Carnitas recipe! Carnitas is one of our favorite things to make when we’re trying to feed a crowd. It’s easy to make, affordable and absolutely delicious!

    We also love carnitas so much because there are also so many different ways to use it and it freezes incredibly well, so you can make a big batch and freeze portion sized bags for quick and easy meals on busy nights!

    You can make this in the oven, a slow cooker and Instant Pot and we’ve provided cooking instructions for all the methods below!

    What are Carnitas?

    Carnitas is a Mexican dish that literally translates to “little meats”. It’s a pork dish that is slow cooked in oil or (more traditionally) lard, until fork tender, then shredded and served.

    How to Make our Easy Carnitas Recipe

    Carnitas ingredients on a kitchen counter.

    Process

    1. Preheat oven. Combine oregano, cumin, chile powder, and salt.
    Carnitas spices in a glass bowl.
    Carnitas rub in a glass bowl.
    1. Rub spice mixture evenly over pork pieces. Transfer to a baking dish.
    2. Squeeze orange juice over pork and add pieces to baking dish.
    Pork shoulder rubbed with spices in a baking dish.
    Pork shoulder in a baking dish with orange wedges to make carnitas.
    1. Add onion and cinnamon sticks to baking dish. Pour oil evenly over pork pieces.
    2. Cover with foil and bake until pork is fork tender.
    Carnitas ready to be roasted in the oven.
    Carnitas covered with foil.
    Carnitas in a baking dish to be shredded.
    1. Transfer pork to a rimmed baking sheet.
    2. Shred pork and spread into an even layer on the baking sheet.
    3. Spoon some braising liquid from the baking dish and drizzle over pork.
    4. Transfer baking sheet to broiler and broil until some of the edges get brown and crispy.
    Carnitas recipe shredded on a baking sheet.
    Carnitas on a baking sheet baked.
    1. Remove from broiler and serve.
    Carnitas recipe in a bowl being served.

    Tools You Will Need

    • cutting board
    • knife
    • measuring spoons
    • liquid measuring cup
    • 9″x13″ baking dish
    • baking sheet

    How to Make Carnitas in a Slow Cooker

    1. Keep pork butt whole.
    2. Rub spice mixture over pork and place into a slow cooker (fat cap side up).
    3. Squeeze orange juice over pork and add orange quarters, onion and cinnamon sticks.
    4. Close lid and cook over low heat for 9 hours or high heat for 6 1/2 hours.
    5. Once pork is fork tender and falling apart remove most of remaining fat cap and discard.
    6. Discard orange, onion and cinnamon sticks.
    7. Transfer pork to a rimmed baking sheet and shred using two forks.
    8. Spoon a few tablespoons of braising liquid from slow cooker over shredded pork.
    9. Place baking sheet under broiler and broil for 2 to 4 minutes or until some edges become crispy.
    10. Remove from broiler and serve.

    How to Make Carnitas in an Instant Pot

    1. Rub spice mixture over pork pieces and place into an instant pot.
    2. Squeeze orange juice over pork and add orange quarters, onion, cinnamon sticks, and 1/4 cup oil.
    3. Close lid and set vent to “Sealing” setting.
    4. Cook on “High Pressure” for 30 minutes, followed by a natural release (about 15 minutes).
    5. Discard orange, onion and cinnamon sticks.
    6. Transfer pork to a rimmed baking sheet and shred using two forks.
    7. Spoon a few tablespoons of braising liquid from instant pot over the shredded pork.
    8. Place baking sheet under broiler and broil for 2 to 4 minutes or until some edges become crispy.
    9. Remove from broiler and serve.

    Make Ahead and Freezing Instructions

    Make Ahead

    Prepare carnitas as instructed until fork tender. Allow carnitas to cool then transfer to an airtight container with 1 cup of liquid. Refrigerate carnitas for up to 3 days.

    When ready to use transfer carnitas to a rimmed baking sheet and shred using two forks. Spoon about 1/2 cup liquid over shredded pork (if liquid has solidified, gently heat back to a liquid on stovetop or in microwave) and broil on high for 4 to 5 minutes or until heated through and crispy edges form.

    Freezing

    Make carnitas as instructed until fork tender. Allow carnitas to cool then transfer to an airtight container with 1 cup of liquid. Alternatively, you can freeze portioned sized bags or containers of pork. Freeze carnitas for up to 3 months.

    When ready to use transfer carnitas container to refrigerator and thaw overnight. Once thawed, transfer carnitas to a rimmed baking sheet and shred using two forks. Spoon about 1/2 cup liquid over shredded pork (if liquid has solidified, gently heat back to a liquid on stovetop or in microwave) and broil on high for 4 to 5 minutes or until heated through and crispy edges form.

    If thawing and reheating smaller portion sizes, shred thawed pork and toss together with a couple tablespoons of reserved liquid. Place a large sauté pan over high heat. Add 1-3 teaspoons oil to pan and sear carnitas for a few minutes until heated through and crispy edges form.

    Carnitas being served with tacos and beer.

    Carnitas Serving Suggestions

    Carnitas can be served in a variety of ways and we’ve listed some of our favorites below!

    • Stuffed into Arepas
    • In tacos, burritos and quesadillas
    • In a torta
    • On a pizza
    • On Chilaquiles
    • In pupusas

    More Easy Mexican Recipes You Will Love

    • Carne Asada
    • Chorizo Molotes
    • Carne Asada Torta
    • Chipotle Chicken Nachos
    • Chilaquiles
    • Mexican Shrimp Cocktail
    Carnitas recipe with tacos.

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    Carnitas recipe in a bowl next to a plate of tacos.

    Easy Carnitas

    5 from 2 votes
    PRINT RECIPE Pin Recipe
    A recipe for the juiciest, most flavorful easy Easy Carnitas! You'll love this low maintenance and delicious dish with crispy bits. Use it on tacos, nachos, tortas, burritos, soups, anything! We've provided oven instructions, how to make it in a slow cooker, AND Instant Pot, so you're covered!
    RECIPE BY Teri & Jenny
    Prep Time: 5 minutes mins
    Cook Time: 3 hours hrs 5 minutes mins
    Total Time: 3 hours hrs 10 minutes mins
    Servings: 6

      INGREDIENTS  

    • 1 tablespoon Mexican oregano (Italian oregano is fine)
    • 1 tablespoon cumin
    • 2 teaspoons chile powder
    • 2 teaspoons salt
    • 4 pounds boneless pork shoulder, cut into 4 inch cubes
    • 1 orange, quartered
    • 1/2 yellow onion, quartered
    • 2 cinnamon sticks
    • 1/4 cup neutral oil

      INSTRUCTIONS  

    • Preheat oven to 325˚F.
    • In a small bowl combine oregano, cumin, chile powder, and salt.
    • Rub spice mixture evenly over pork pieces. Transfer to a baking dish.
    • Squeeze orange juice over pork and add pieces to baking dish.
    • Add onion and cinnamon sticks to baking dish. Pour oil evenly over pork pieces.
    • Cover tightly with foil and bake for 2 1/2 to 3 hours or until pork is fork tender and falling apart.
    • Remove pork pieces from baking dish and transfer to a rimmed baking sheet.
    • Shred pork and spread into an even layer on the baking sheet (removing any large chunks of fat). Spoon a couple tablespoons braising liquid from the baking dish and drizzle over shredded pork.
    • Transfer carnitas to broiler and broil for 3 to 4 minutes or until some of the edges get brown and crispy.
    • Remove from broiler and serve.

      NOTES  

    How to Make Carnitas in a Slow Cooker

    1. Keep pork butt whole.
    2. Rub spice mixture over pork and place into a slow cooker (fat cap side up).
    3. Squeeze orange juice over pork and add orange quarters, onion and cinnamon sticks.
    4. Close lid and cook over low heat for 9 hours or high heat for 6 1/2 hours.
    5. Once pork is fork tender and falling apart remove most of remaining fat cap and discard.
    6. Discard orange, onion and cinnamon sticks.
    7. Transfer pork to a rimmed baking sheet and shred using two forks.
    8. Spoon a few tablespoons of braising liquid from slow cooker over shredded pork.
    9. Place baking sheet under broiler and broil for 2 to 4 minutes or until some edges become crispy.
    10. Remove from broiler and serve.

    How to Make Carnitas in an Instant Pot

    1. Rub spice mixture over pork pieces and place into an instant pot.
    2. Squeeze orange juice over pork and add orange quarters, onion, cinnamon sticks, and 1/4 cup oil.
    3. Close lid and set vent to “Sealing” setting.
    4. Cook on “High Pressure” for 30 minutes, followed by a natural release (about 15 minutes).
    5. Discard orange, onion and cinnamon sticks.
    6. Transfer pork to a rimmed baking sheet and shred using two forks.
    7. Spoon a few tablespoons of braising liquid from instant pot over the shredded pork.
    8. Place baking sheet under broiler and broil for 2 to 4 minutes or until some edges become crispy.
    9. Remove from broiler and serve.

    Make Ahead and Freezing Instructions

    Make Ahead

    Prepare carnitas as instructed until fork tender. Allow carnitas to cool then transfer to an airtight container with 1 cup of liquid. Refrigerate carnitas for up to 3 days.
    When ready to use transfer carnitas to a rimmed baking sheet and shred using two forks. Spoon about 1/2 cup liquid over shredded pork (if liquid has solidified, gently heat back to a liquid on stovetop or in microwave) and broil on high for 4 to 5 minutes or until heated through and crispy edges form.

    Freezing

    Make carnitas as instructed until fork tender. Allow carnitas to cool then transfer to an airtight container with 1 cup of liquid. Alternatively, you can freeze portioned sized bags or containers of pork. Freeze carnitas for up to 3 months.
    When ready to use transfer carnitas container to refrigerator and thaw overnight. Once thawed, transfer carnitas to a rimmed baking sheet and shred using two forks. Spoon about 1/2 cup liquid over shredded pork (if liquid has solidified, gently heat back to a liquid on stovetop or in microwave) and broil on high for 4 to 5 minutes or until heated through and crispy edges form.
    If thawing and reheating smaller portion sizes, shred thawed pork and toss together with a couple tablespoons of reserved liquid. Place a large sauté pan over high heat. Add 1-3 teaspoons oil to pan and sear carnitas for a few minutes until heated through and crispy edges form.
    Calories: 491kcal Carbohydrates: 6g Protein: 69g Fat: 20g Saturated Fat: 4g Trans Fat: 1g Cholesterol: 181mg Sodium: 952mg Potassium: 1243mg Fiber: 2g Sugar: 3g Vitamin A: 277IU Vitamin C: 12mg Calcium: 69mg Iron: 4mg
    CUISINE: Mexican
    KEYWORD: mexican pulled pork, oven, slow cooker
    COURSE: dinner, lunch, Main Course

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    June 4, 2021 / 1 Comment

    About Jenny Park

    Jenny Park is half of Spoon Fork Bacon. She is also a food stylist and recipe developer. One of her favorite foods is donuts. #sfbJENNY

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    June 4, 2021 / 1 Comment

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    1. brian

      June 05, 2021 at 11:22 pm

      5 stars
      Excellent carnitas, and so easy in the Instant Pot! I’m a tough judge on carnitas, and this recipe checks all the boxes. I followed it exactly and wouldn’t change a thing. Moist, delicious mix of sweet and savory ,and ready scary fast. Five minutes in the broiler is essential for the carmelized crispiness. Killer tacos with these carnitas.

      Reply

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