🌮🔥 Mexican Carnitas – Crispy, Juicy & Packed with Flavor! 🇲🇽
If you’re craving authentic,
melt-in-your-mouth Mexican carnitas, this recipe is for you! Slow-cooked,
tender pork with crispy edges, bursting with rich flavors—perfect for tacos,
burritos, or nachos! Made with simple ingredients and cooked to
perfection, this dish will bring the taste of Mexico right to your kitchen! 🌶️🍽️
🌟
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
✅ Juicy & Crispy –
Perfectly tender inside, crispy outside! 🔥
✅ Authentic Flavor – Classic Mexican spices & citrus-infused pork.
🌮
✅ Versatile – Use in tacos, burritos, salads, or rice bowls! 🍚
✅ Easy to Make – Minimal prep, slow-cooked magic! 🕰️
✅ Meal Prep Friendly – Make ahead & freeze for later! ❄️
🥘
Ingredients (Serves 6-8)
- 4 lbs pork shoulder (boneless or bone-in) 🐖
- 1 tbsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tbsp ground cumin
- 1 tbsp oregano
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp chili powder
🌶️
- 1 onion (quartered)
- 4 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 orange (juiced, plus peel) 🍊
- 1 lime (juiced)
🍋
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 2 bay leaves
🍃
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
(for crisping up at the end)
👨🍳
Step-by-Step Instructions
1️ Prepare
the Pork
- Cut pork into large chunks.
- Season well with salt, pepper, cumin, oregano,
paprika, and chili powder.
2️ Slow Cook
for Maximum Tenderness
🔥
Stovetop or Slow Cooker Method:
- Place pork in a large pot or slow cooker.
- Add onion, garlic, orange juice + peel, lime juice,
chicken broth, and bay leaves.
- Cover and cook low & slow:
- Slow Cooker:
8 hours on LOW or 4-5 hours on HIGH.
- Stovetop:
Simmer on low for 2.5-3 hours, covered.
- Pork should be fall-apart tender when done! 🥩
3️ Shred
& Crisp Up the Carnitas
- Remove pork from the pot and shred with two forks.
- Crispy Option:
Heat 1 tbsp oil in a pan, add shredded pork, and sear for 2-3
minutes per side for crispy edges! 🔥
4️ Serve
& Enjoy! 🌮
- Garnish with fresh cilantro, chopped onions, and a
squeeze of lime.
- Serve in warm tortillas, over rice, or in burrito
bowls! 🍚🌮
💡
Pro Tips for the Best Carnitas
✔
Use pork shoulder – it has the right fat content for juicy carnitas. 🐖
✔ Don’t skip the citrus!
Orange and lime juice add authentic Mexican flavor. 🍊
✔ For extra crispiness, broil in
the oven for 5 minutes after shredding. 🔥
✔ Double the batch – leftovers
freeze well for future tacos! ❄️
✔ Pair with salsa verde,
guacamole, or pico de gallo for extra flavor! 🥑
❓
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I make carnitas in an Instant
Pot?
A: Yes! Pressure cook on HIGH for 35 minutes, then natural release for
15 minutes.
Q: What’s the best way to store
& reheat carnitas?
A: Store in the fridge for up to 4 days, or freeze for up to 3 months.
Reheat in a pan for crispy texture.
Q: What are the best toppings for
carnitas tacos?
A: Try onions, cilantro, cotija cheese, avocado, pickled onions, or
jalapeños! 🌶️🥑
🎉
Final Thoughts
This Mexican Carnitas recipe
is juicy, crispy, and packed with incredible flavor. Whether you serve
it in tacos, burritos, rice bowls, or nachos, this dish is guaranteed to
be a hit! Perfect for meal prep, family dinners, or taco night! 🌮🔥
👉 Try it today and let me
know how it turns out! 🍽️✨
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