Ingredients
Scale
- 4 to 5 pounds boneless pork shoulder or pork butt
- ½ cup fresh orange juice (from 2 medium oranges)
- ¼ cup fresh lime juice (from 2 limes)
- 3 cloves garlic (crushed)
- 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 dried bay leaves
- charred corn tortillas
- pico de gallo, lime wedges, chopped fresh cilantro, shredded cabbage, guacamole, pickled red onions, sour cream or crema
Instructions
- In a small bowl or measuring cup, whisk together the orange juice, lime juice, garlic, salt, cumin, oregano, paprika, and black pepper to make marinade.
- Trim excess fat from the pork and cut it into 2-inch chunks.
- Place the pork chunks in a 6-quart slow cooker. Pour the marinade over the pork and stir to coat evenly. Nestle in the bay leaves.
- Cover and cook on Low for 8 hours, or High for 4 hours, until the pork is fork-tender and easy to shred.
- When you’re almost ready to serve, preheat the broiler and line a baking sheet with foil.
- Transfer the pork to the sheet pan with a slotted spoon. Shred with two forks and spread into an even layer. Drizzle with a small amount of the cooking liquid (½ to 1 cup).
- Broil for 5 to 7 minutes, watching closely, until the edges are browned and crisped to your liking. (Skillet option: Crisp shredded pork in a hot cast iron skillet with a drizzle of oil over high heat for 5 to 6 minutes, stirring once or twice for crispy edges.)
- Serve carnitas hot in warm corn tortillas with your favorite toppings, or use in burritos, bowls, salads, nachos, or quesadillas.
Notes
For extra flavor, use fresh herbs as a garnish.
Feel free to customize toppings to suit your taste preferences.
Broiling the pork adds a delicious crispy texture that enhances the dish.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 330
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 860mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 5g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 36g
- Cholesterol: 110mg
Nutritional information is an estimate. The nutritional values for your final dish may vary based on measuring differences and products used.