Mexican Carnitas Recipe
Slow-cooked until tender and packed with bold citrus and spice, these Mexican carnitas feature juicy pork shoulder braised with onion, garlic, orange, lime, cumin, oregano, and a Mexican-style lager. The result is flavorful, melt-in-your-mouth pork that’s perfect for tacos, burrito bowls, nachos, or sandwiches. Finish with your favorite toppings like sliced jalapeños, avocado, red onion, and cheese for a fresh, customizable meal.
Savory Mexican seasoned pulled pork carnitas slow-cooked in flavorful citrus and Mexican lager beer braising liquid. Perfect for tacos, carnitas bowls, and more.
Take advantage of the HOT sale on pork shoulder at Safeway and make this carnitas recipe, perfect to feed a crowd.
Carnitas are an easy recipe to make for a crowd as most of the cooking is done in the slow cooker.
Ingredients in Carnitas
- Pork shoulder – A well-marbled cut that becomes incredibly tender and juicy when slow-cooked, making it the ideal choice for authentic carnitas.
- Yellow onion – Adds natural sweetness and depth of flavor as it cooks down with the pork.
- Fresh orange – Infuses the pork with bright citrus notes while helping tenderize the meat during cooking.
- Lime – Balances the richness of the pork with fresh acidity and classic Mexican flavor.
- Cumin – Brings warm, earthy notes that are a hallmark of traditional carnitas seasoning.
- Dried oregano – Adds a savory, herbaceous flavor that complements the citrus and spices.
- Salt – Enhances the natural flavors of the pork and seasonings.
- Pepper – Provides mild heat and aromatic depth.
- Garlic cloves – Fresh minced garlic delivers rich, savory flavor that develops beautifully during slow cooking.
- Mexican-style lager beer – Adds subtle maltiness and helps create a flavorful braising liquid while keeping the pork moist and tender.
- optional toppings – jalapeno, avocado, sliced red onion, cheese
Mango Salsa – Optional
- Mango – Sweet, juicy mango provides a tropical flavor that pairs beautifully with savory pork.
- Red bell pepper – Adds crisp texture, vibrant color, and natural sweetness.
- Jalapeno – Delivers a fresh kick of heat without overpowering the salsa.
- Cilantro – Contributes bright, citrusy herbal notes that bring all the flavors together.
- Lime Juice – Adds fresh acidity that enhances both the sweetness of the mango and the richness of the carnitas.
- Salt and pepper – Simple seasonings that balance and elevate the fresh ingredients.
How to Make Mexican Pulled Pork Carnitas
The pork shoulder should be cooked low and slow in the braising liquid so that it can be shredded easily with two forks. You can either use a slow cooker, the oven or the instant pot. Cooking instructions for each are provided below. I prefer to do it in the slow cooker as that is easiest for me, but you can follow whichever method you prefer.
Generously season the pork shoulder with salt, pepper, dried oregano, and cumin.
Place a layer of sliced onions on the bottom of the slow cooker. Add the seasoned pork shoulder. Top with additional onions. Add the orange quarters, lime and the can of beer.
Top with the lid and cook on low heat for 10 – 12 hours.
Once the pork is cooked, remove the bone, if there is one, also remove the orange and lime pieces from the slow cooker. Shred the pork with two forks.
Preheat the oven to 350° F.
This step is optional – but highly recommended. Place the pulled pork onto a baking sheet, reserving the juices in the slow cooker. Cook the pork for about 10 minutes, just until it’s crispy on top. Place into a serving platter and pour the reserved juices back over the top.
Serve with charred corn or flour tortillas, avocados, queso fresco, fresh red onion, and a fresh mango salsa if desired.
Additional Pork Recipes:
Slow Cooker Pulled Pork With Spicy Slaw Using Santa Maria Seasoned Pork Roast
Instant Pot Country Style Ribs Recipe
8 Delicious Ways to Cook a Pork Shoulder
Ingredients
Carnitas Mexican Pulled Pork
- 3 lbs. pork shoulder
- 1 medium yellow onion thinly sliced
- 1 orange quartered
- 1 lime halved
- 2 teaspoons cumin
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 2 teaspoons pepper
- 4 garlic cloves minced
- 1 can of beer preferably a Mexican style lager
- optional toppings - jalapeno avocado, sliced red onion, cheese
Mango Salsa - Optional
- 1 mango diced
- 1/2 cup diced red bell pepper
- 1 tablespoon diced jalapeno
- 1 tablespoon cilantro minced
- juice of a lime
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Generously season the pork shoulder with salt, pepper, dried oregano, and cumin.
- Place a layer of sliced onions on the bottom of the slow cooker. Add the seasoned pork shoulder. Top with additional onions. Add the orange quarters, lime and the can of beer.
- Top with the lid and cook on low heat for 10 - 12 hours.
- Once the pork is cooked, remove the bone, if there is one, also remove the orange and lime pieces from the slow cooker. Shred the pork with two forks.
- Preheat the oven to 350° F.
- This step is optional - but highly recommended. Place the pulled pork onto a baking sheet, reserving the juices in the slow cooker. Cook the pork for about 10 minutes, just until it's crispy on top. Place into a serving platter and pour the reserved juices back over the top.
- Serve with charred corn or flour tortillas, avocados, queso fresco, fresh red onion, and a fresh mango salsa if desired.
What to Serve with Carnitas
The carnitas are a meal in themselves with the tortillas, but you could serve with Spanish rice, black beans, homemade salsa, or a salad. You can
Black Bean & Roasted Corn Salsa
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