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 mins
Cook Time3 hours hrs 20 minutes mins
Marinade Time12 hours hrs
Total Time3 hours hrs 35 minutes mins
Course: Main, Main Course, Pork
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: carnitas, crispy, pork
Servings: 8
Calories: 357kcal
Author: Brad Harris
- 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
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.
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Don't trim the fat, you want the fat to help keep the meat moist during the long slow cooking process.
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Marinating the meat helps infuse those Mexican flavors you expect from pork carnitas.
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You can shred the pork if you like, but this cubed method is how we enjoy carnitas the most!
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Skip the tortillas and this is a low carb/keto meal.
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