It's hard to believe I went until age 22 without falling in love with Slow Roasted Pork Carnitas. Never fear, we've made some changes since then and these Slow Roasted Pork Carnitas are now one of our favorite little indulgences. This is the type of recipe that you can make and then use for multiple nights for a variety of dishes!! Who can say no to that?
Table of Contents
Why I Love This Recipe
The pork shoulder gently cooks for 3 hours and when it's done, it literally melts in your mouth. Insanely tender and even more delicious with the addition of a little guacamole, it makes for a 100% satisfying meal. Add a skinny margarita and you couldn't pay me enough to share!
You could use this carnitas recipe and throw it into tacos, nachos, quesadillas, or any other application you deem fit. You honestly couldn't go wrong!
Ingredients & Substitutions
- Boneless pork shoulder cut into 2 inch cubes
- Orange Juice
- Lime Juice
- Chipotle salsa
- Kosher salt plus more to taste
- Pico de Gallo
- Guacamole
- Charred Small Flour Tortillas
- Chopped Onions and Cilantro
- Freshly shredded Cheddar Cheese
How to Make
Place the pork in a large dutch oven with the orange juice, lime juice, salsa and salt. Add enough water to barely cover the meat. Bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce heat to medium low and simmer with the lid on for 2 hours, at which point the pork should be falling apart to the touch.
Turn the heat up to medium high, and continue to cook the pork for 45 minutes, uncovered, stirring every once in a while, until all the liquid has evaporated and the pork fat as been rendered.
Parts of the pork should be caramelized and golden brown. Remove the dutch oven from the stove and adjust seasoning as needed. Serve immediately or let cool and store in an airtight container for 4 days in the fridge
Tips & Tricks
This recipe is super straight forward! If you prefer a tomatillo salsa to a chipotle salsa, please feel free to make that substitution! And if you want to make your own, the recipes for both are linked above. But if not, feel free to use store bought as that's easier and 95% of the time exactly what I do too!
FAQ's
What kind of meat is carnitas?
Pork. Specifically the Pork Butt of Pork Shoulder
What is difference between pulled pork and carnitas?
Pulled pork is typically made from pork shoulder, slow-cooked until tender and then shredded. Carnitas, on the other hand, is a Mexican dish made from pork shoulder or butt that is braised or simmered until it becomes tender and then shredded or chopped.
What is carnitas vs barbacoa?
Carnitas is a Mexican dish made from braised or simmered pork, typically seasoned with spices such as garlic, cumin, and oregano. Barbacoa, on the other hand, is a traditional Mexican style of cooking meat, often beef or lamb, that is slow-cooked until tender.
How do you serve Carnitas?
Carnitas is traditionally served in tacos or burritos with toppings such as onions, cilantro, salsa, and lime.
Similar Recipes
Slow Roasted Pork Carnitas
Ingredients
- 3 pounds boneless pork shoulder cut into 2 inch cubes
- ½ cup fresh Orange Juice
- ¼ cup fresh Lime Juice
- 10 oz chipotle salsa
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt plus more to taste
For Serving
- pico de gallo
- guacamole
- charred tortillas
- chopped onions and cilantro
- freshly shredded cheese
Instructions
- Place the pork in a large dutch oven with the orange juice, lime juice, salsa and salt. Add enough water to barely cover the meat. Bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce heat to medium low and simmer with the lid on for 2 hours, at which point the pork should be falling apart to the touch.
- Turn the heat up to medium high, and continue to cook the pork for 45 minutes, uncovered, stirring every once in a while, until all the liquid has evaporated and the pork fat as been rendered.
- Parts of the pork should be caramelized and golden brown. Remove the dutch oven from the stove and adjust seasoning as needed. Serve immediately or let cool and store in an airtight container for 4 days in the fridge
Notes
Nutrition Information
For another great comforting pork recipe, check out my Pulled Pork Sliders
Photo by Matt Armendariz / Food Styling by Adam Pearson / Recipe by What’s Gaby Cooking
Carnitas are such a favorite of mine at restaurants...don't know why I've never made them. Need to make your delicious sounding recipe!! Looks so yummy!
pork carnitas are sooo delicious! this looks like an incredibly easy and tasty recipe
ooooh yeah! amazing!
One of my favorite meals. The meat looks fantastic with all those crispy bits.
Will definately try this! Sounds and looks so good! Yum
Plan to make this this weekend. Any recommendations on chipotle salsa? Sacrilege I know, but bottled would be easier, unless I can add chipotle sauce to salsa. 🙂
I use the one from trader joes! Or the one on my website https://whatsgabycooking.com/homemade-salsa/
These look amazing, Gaby! I'm craving these!!!
Have you ever made them in the crock pot??
Mmmmm this looks good. Jorge and I love carnitas. I need to make this for him 🙂 Seems so easy!
OMG this is amazing, I love what a simple recipe this is, too! I will definitely be trying this in the crock pot asap!
oh yum! I can't believe that I've never had carnitas - gonna have to change that 🙂
Just made this for dinner last night - it were perfect for tacos! I actually used a crockpot but it worked out great!
yay!! so glad you liked it! carnitas are the best
Just made these. They are AMAZING Gaby! I ended up making them on an open face corn tortilla. so good and easy!
How many servings and does this make? And the serving size? (Approximate is fine!)
Gaby, Your recipes sound wonderful, and your photography is gorgeous. I enjoy reading and viewing them. Thank you!