Best 6 Double Pork Carnitas Recipes

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Carnitas, a traditional Mexican dish, is a delectable pork dish that tantalizes taste buds with its succulent flavors and tender texture. Originating in the state of Michoacan, carnitas has gained immense popularity worldwide, becoming a staple of Mexican cuisine. This versatile dish can be enjoyed in various forms, from tacos and burritos to tortas and enchiladas. Prepared using high-quality pork shoulder, carnitas is slow-cooked in its own juices and seasoned with an array of aromatic spices, resulting in fall-off-the-bone meat that simply melts in your mouth. Explore our carefully curated collection of carnitas recipes, ranging from classic double pork carnitas to tantalizing carnitas tacos and mouthwatering carnitas bowls. Each recipe provides step-by-step instructions, ensuring a hassle-free cooking experience. So, gather your ingredients, fire up your kitchen, and embark on a culinary journey to savor the authentic taste of Mexican carnitas.

Here are our top 6 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



Pork Carnitas image

Provided by Ree Drummond : Food Network

Categories     main-dish

Time 1h25m

Yield 4 to 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 18

2 tablespoons vegetable oil
One 3-pound boneless pork shoulder, cut into 1 1/2-inch cubes
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 medium yellow onions, halved and sliced
2 poblano peppers, seeded and ribs removed, sliced
1 tablespoon dried oregano
2 teaspoons ground cumin
2 teaspoons ancho chile powder
3 cloves garlic, minced
One 12-ounce can lemon-lime soda
1 large orange, zested and juiced
Warm corn or flour tortillas
Store-bought peach salsa
Easy Queso, recipe follows
Fresh cilantro leaves
1 pound queso blanco-style processed cheese, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
One 10-ounce can hot diced tomatoes and chiles
One 8-ounce jar diced pimientos, not drained

Steps:

  • Set a multi-cooker to the Saute setting and add the oil.
  • Sprinkle the cubed pork generously with salt and pepper. Sear the pork in batches on all sides until well browned. Remove to a plate, add the onions and poblanos and cook, stirring frequently, until softened, about 3 minutes. Add the oregano, cumin, chile powder and garlic and continue to cook for an additional minute.
  • Add the lemon-lime soda and orange zest and juice. Return the pork pieces and any liquid that is on the plate to the multi-cooker. Cover and position the vent to the Sealing setting. Set the multi-cooker for High Pressure, use the Manual button to adjust the cook time to 25 minutes and cook. When the time is up, allow the multi-cooker to sit for an additional 10 minutes.
  • Preheat the broiler.
  • Carefully release the remaining pressure by switching the vent to Venting. Let the steam vent until the float valve has dropped, then remove the lid. Remove the pork mixture with a slotted spoon to a baking sheet and shred the pork with 2 forks.
  • Place the baking sheet under the broiler and crisp the carnitas for 2 to 3 minutes. (Watch carefully to prevent burning.) Remove from the oven, ladle some of the juices from the pot over the carnitas and carefully toss. Serve alongside the warm tortillas with peach salsa, Easy Queso and fresh cilantro leaves.
  • Combine the cheese, the whole can of tomatoes and chiles and the jar of pimientos with their liquid in a saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until the cheese is fully melted, 5 to 7 minutes.

CRISPY PORK CARNITAS



Crispy Pork Carnitas image

There's nothing like carnitas. Cubes of fragrantly spiced pork are slowly cooked in lard until they're crispy on the outside while at the same time remaining soft and succulent inside. Bust some up on a warm tortilla, drizzle with braising liquid, top with a little salsa, onion, and cilantro, and you're probably enjoying the world's best taco.

Provided by Chef John

Categories     Main Dish Recipes     Pork     100+ Pulled Pork Recipes

Time 3h55m

Yield 6

Number Of Ingredients 10

3 pounds boneless pork butt (shoulder)
8 cloves garlic, peeled
¼ cup olive oil
1 orange, juiced, orange parts of peel removed and sliced into thin strips
1 tablespoon kosher salt
2 bay leaves, torn in half
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon ground cumin
¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon Chinese 5-spice powder

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 275 degrees F (135 degrees C).
  • Remove fat from pork; cut pork meat into 2-inch cubes and roughly chop fat.
  • Mix pork, garlic, olive oil, orange peel, orange juice, salt, bay leaves, black pepper, cumin, cinnamon, and 5-spice powder together in a bowl until pork is coated completely. Transfer mixture to a 9x13-inch baking dish. Place baking dish on a baking sheet and cover baking dish tightly with heavy-duty aluminum foil.
  • Bake in the preheated oven until pork is fork-tender, about 3 1/2 hours.
  • Set oven rack about 6 inches from the heat source and preheat the oven's broiler.
  • Transfer meat to a colander set over a bowl. Remove garlic, bay leaves, and orange peels from baking dish and pour accumulated juices from the baking dish over meat in colander into the bowl. Return meat to the baking dish and drizzle accumulated juices over each piece of meat.
  • Cook meat under the preheated broiler for 3 minutes. Drizzle more accumulated juices over meat and continue broiling until crispy, 3 to 5 minutes. Transfer pork to a serving plate and drizzle more accumulated juices over the top.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 317.4 calories, Carbohydrate 2.1 g, Cholesterol 89.2 mg, Fat 22.6 g, Fiber 0.4 g, Protein 25.5 g, SaturatedFat 6 g, Sodium 1036 mg, Sugar 0.1 g

DOUBLE-PORK CARNITAS



Double-Pork Carnitas image

It's worth seeking out pork belly for the amazing texture it lends, but if you can't get it, substitute with another pound of shoulder.

Provided by Rick Martinez

Categories     Bon Appétit     Dinner     Pork     Braise     Taco     Sugar Conscious     Paleo     Dairy Free     Wheat/Gluten-Free     Peanut Free     Tree Nut Free     Soy Free     No Sugar Added

Yield 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 6

3 pounds boneless pork shoulder (Boston butt), cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces
1 pound pork belly, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 cup homemade chicken stock or low-sodium chicken broth
1 tablespoon (heaping) kosher salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Warm corn tortillas, chopped white onion, lime wedges, sliced avocado, dried oregano, chopped cilantro, and shredded cabbage (for serving)

Steps:

  • Place pork shoulder, pork belly, stock, salt, and pepper in a large heavy pot; cover and bring to a boil over medium-low. Reduce heat and simmer until pork is tender and shreds easily, about 2 hours. Uncover; cook 10 minutes to reduce liquid (but not completely). Remove from heat.
  • Transfer half of pork and pan juices to a large skillet, preferably nonstick, and cook over high until liquid evaporates and pork begins to fry in its rendered fat. Fry, stirring occasionally and pressing on pork with spoon to break up, until browned and just beginning to crisp, 10-15 minutes. Most of the pieces should be bite-size with some smaller shredded and super-crisp bits in the mix. Using a slotted spoon, transfer to a paper towel-lined baking sheet. Cover with foil to keep warm and moist. Repeat with remaining pork.
  • Serve carnitas with tortillas, onion, limes, avocado, herbs, and cabbage.
  • Do Ahead
  • Pork can be braised (do not fry) 3 days ahead. Cover and chill.

PORK CARNITAS



Pork Carnitas image

Many find carnitas a little dry or flavorless. These have a great, distinctive flavor and are requested by friends and family over and over. Serve with warm, fresh tortillas and salsa.

Provided by Nette

Categories     World Cuisine Recipes     Latin American     Mexican

Time 3h45m

Yield 12

Number Of Ingredients 10

¼ cup vegetable oil
4 pounds pork shoulder, cut into several large pieces
3 tablespoons kosher salt
1 onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, crushed
3 tablespoons lime juice
1 tablespoon chili powder
½ teaspoon dried oregano
½ teaspoon ground cumin
4 (14.5 ounce) cans chicken broth

Steps:

  • Heat the vegetable oil in a large Dutch oven over high heat. Season the pork shoulder with salt, then arrange the pork in the Dutch oven. Cook until browned on all sides, about 10 minutes. Add the onion, garlic, lime juice, chili powder, oregano, and cumin. Pour in the chicken broth, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and continue to simmer until pork is very tender, about 2 1/2 hours.
  • Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
  • Transfer the pork shoulder to a large baking sheet, reserving the cooking liquid. Drizzle with a small amount of the reserved cooking liquid and lightly season with salt.
  • Bake the pork in the preheated oven until browned, about 30 minutes. Drizzle more of the cooking liquid on the meat every 10 minutes, and use two forks to shred the meat as it browns.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 249.8 calories, Carbohydrate 2.3 g, Cholesterol 62.5 mg, Fat 19.1 g, Fiber 0.4 g, Protein 16.2 g, SaturatedFat 5.9 g, Sodium 2072.3 mg, Sugar 1.1 g

CARNITAS



Carnitas image

Carnitas (or "little meats") are a traditional Mexican dish of cubed pork shoulder braised with spices and citrus until tender. Fresh orange, crushed garlic, earthy oregano and aromatic cinnamon and bay leaf create a rich and fragrant braising liquid that imparts its savory flavors into the pork as it cooks. There's very little hands-on work involved, and the carnitas can be made a day ahead. Store the pork in the liquid overnight, then gently reheat before serving. A final finish under the broiler creates a golden, crispy exterior on the meat.

Provided by Kay Chun

Categories     dinner, meat, tacos, main course

Time 3h

Yield 4 to 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 11

3 pounds pork shoulder, cut into 2-inch chunks
1 tablespoon kosher salt (such as Diamond Crystal), plus more for seasoning
1 teaspoon black pepper, plus more for seasoning
1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano
1 navel orange, quartered
1 white onion, quartered
7 garlic cloves, crushed
1 cinnamon stick, broken into 2 pieces
1 bay leaf (dried or fresh)
1/4 cup neutral oil, such as safflower or canola
Warmed tortillas, chopped white onion, chopped cilantro, sliced avocado and lime wedges, for serving

Steps:

  • Heat oven to 350 degrees. In a large Dutch oven, combine pork, 1 tablespoon salt, 1 teaspoon pepper and the oregano, and toss to evenly coat the meat in the spices. Squeeze orange juice all over the pork and add the juiced orange quarters to the pot. Add onion, garlic, cinnamon stick and bay leaf, and toss until well incorporated, nestling everything in an even layer. Drizzle oil evenly over the meat. Cover and braise in oven until pork is tender, about 2 1/2 hours, stirring once halfway through the cooking.
  • Heat broiler to high, setting a rack 6 inches from the heat source. Transfer pork to a rimmed baking sheet and shred the meat. Strain juices from the pot through a fine-mesh sieve into a small bowl, pressing on the solids; discard solids. Skim fat from top and reserve the juices.
  • Broil pork until golden and crisp in spots, about 4 to 5 minutes. Transfer carnitas to serving plates and drizzle with some of the reserved juices. Serve warm with tortillas and toppings of choice.

Tips:

  • For the most authentic carnitas, use a combination of pork shoulder and pork belly. Pork shoulder is leaner, while pork belly is fattier, and the combination of the two results in tender, juicy meat with a crispy exterior.
  • Be sure to score the pork before cooking. This will help the meat to cook evenly and will allow the flavors of the marinade to penetrate deeply.
  • Don't overcrowd the pot when cooking the pork. If you do, the meat will not brown properly and will be more likely to stew than to crisp up.
  • Cook the pork until it is fall-apart tender. This will take about 2-3 hours, depending on the size and thickness of the meat.
  • Once the pork is cooked, remove it from the pot and let it rest for 10-15 minutes before shredding. This will help the meat to retain its juices.
  • Serve the carnitas with your favorite toppings, such as salsa, guacamole, sour cream, and cheese.

Conclusion:

Carnitas is a delicious and versatile dish that can be enjoyed in a variety of ways. Whether you serve it in tacos, burritos, or simply on its own with your favorite toppings, carnitas is sure to be a hit.

With a little planning and effort, you can easily make carnitas at home. Just be sure to follow the tips above and you'll be rewarded with a dish that is sure to impress your family and friends.

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