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Crispy pork carnitas on a white platter garnished with chopped cilantro.
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4.23 from 18 votes

Crispy Pork Carnitas Recipe

Slow oven roasted marinated pork cubes with a crispy caramelized crust. Rich, moist, flavorful and so tender it melts in your mouth!
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time3 hours 20 minutes
Marinade Time12 hours
Total Time3 hours 35 minutes
Course: Main, Main Course, Pork
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: carnitas, crispy, pork
Servings: 8
Calories: 357kcal
Author: Brad Harris

Equipment

  • Baking Sheet

Ingredients

  • 4-5lb pork butt or shoulder, cut into 2" cubes

Marinade

  • 2 oranges juice of fresh
  • 2 limes juice of fresh
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 10 garlic cloves , peeled and cracked
  • 1/2 cup fresh cilantro , chopped
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 2 teaspoons black pepper fresh ground

Instructions

  • Cut the pork butt into 2" cubes. Place in a large zip-top bag or bowl.
  • Mix together the orange juice, lime juice, olive oil, garlic cloves, cilantro, cumin, salt, and pepper.  Pour over the pork and massage or stir to cover thoroughly with the marinade. Refrigerate for at least 12 hours.
  • Preheat the oven to 275F degrees. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with heavy-duty aluminum foil.
  • Place the pork in a single layer on the baking sheet. Cover with foil and slow roast for 2 hours.
  • Increase the oven temperature to 300ºF.
  • Remove the foil and continue to cook another 45 minutes to one hour, until the pork is fork tender.
  • Once the pork is falling apart tender, drain the juices from the baking pan. Broil until desired crispiness is acquired. For us, it’s about 5-8 minutes.
  • Serve with flour tortillas and your favorite toppings.

Notes

  • Don't trim the fat, you want the fat to help keep the meat moist during the long slow cooking process.
  • Marinating the meat helps infuse those Mexican flavors you expect from pork carnitas.
  • You can shred the pork if you like, but this cubed method is how we enjoy carnitas the most!
  • Skip the tortillas and this is a low carb/keto meal.
     

Nutrition

Calories: 357kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 43g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 135mg | Sodium: 730mg | Potassium: 873mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 150IU | Vitamin C: 24mg | Calcium: 63mg | Iron: 3mg