Pork Carnitas Recipe

Crispy pork carnitas are slow cooked with spices and a bit of citrus zest until the pork shoulder becomes tender and succulent. The pork is pulled and crisped on the outside for the perfect filler for tortillas or topper for burrito bowls!

What is Carnitas?

Pork carnitas is tender slow-cooked pork that is shredded and crisped before serving. The word actually means “little meat” (but there’s nothing small about the huge flavor you’ll get from this recipe)!

The first time I ever tasted pork carnitas was when my friend Mary from Barefeet in the Kitchen made these amazing carnitas! I think we stood at the stove and ate 3/4 of the recipe right off the pan. So good!

Traditionally, Mexican pork carnitas are braised in a bucket of lard but since I don’t often have a bucket of lard kicking around, this recipe cooks meat in broth, citrus juices, herbs and spices.

Pork for Carnitas

Carnitas meat is best when made from a pork shoulder roast. Tough and flavorful, this economical cut of meat takes especially well to braising on low heat in the slow cooker. After several hours, the fat has dissolved and the pork becomes fall apart tender.

A pork tenderloin is great for making roasted or grilled pork tenderloin but it’s not ideal for slow cooking in this recipe as it’ll dry out.

How to Make Carnitas

This is an easy meal to make, but takes planning, like most slow cooker meals. But I promise, carnitas are well worth the wait! Here’s how to make the best ever slow cooker carnita recipe:

• Prep: Use a vegetable peeler to peel strips off the oranges/lime. Add this to the slow cooker in place of the whole rind for great flavor without the bitter pith (the white part of the orange peel). Brown the pork (this adds more flavor) and add to the slow cooker with all of the other ingredients.
• Shred: When the meat is fork-tender, pull into small chunks.
• Crisp: The magic of carnitas lies in the crisp. After pulling the pork, crisp the pieces.
  • Broil: Spread the shredded meat on a cookie sheet broil until the edges are deep brown and crispy.
  • Stove Top: Add a bit of olive oil to a hot pan and add pork. Do not stir until browned and crisp on one side.
  • Air Fryer: If you have an airfryer, 4-6 minutes at a high temperature (425°F) will produce the perfect crisp.

Instant Pot Pork Carnitas

Proceed as directed in the recipe, increasing the broth by 1/2 cup. If browning the pork in the Instant Pot, be certain to deglaze very well before pressure cooking. If you have little brown bits left on the bottom of the IP, you risk getting the dreaded burn notice.

Cook the pork chunks on high pressure for 30 minutes. Allow for natural release 15 minutes. Broil/crisp as directed.

To Serve Carnitas

Ladle on some more of the pot juices and serve with corn tortillas and a variety of toppings.

A fun way to serve crispy carnitas tacos is to place a variety of toppings on the table and let everyone pick and choose at will. Include bowls of shredded lettuce, chopped cilantro, sour cream, pico de gallo and shredded cheese.

Serve this easy dish alongside cilantro tomato rice or on top of Cilantro Lime Rice with a side of Mexican Grilled Corn. Add in a spoonful of Homemade Guacamole and you’ve got the perfect tableside fiesta!