{"id":1875,"date":"2026-05-10T21:05:37","date_gmt":"2026-05-10T21:05:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wordpress.cherrychapters.com\/theflavorindex\/?p=1875"},"modified":"2026-05-10T21:05:38","modified_gmt":"2026-05-10T21:05:38","slug":"pork-carnitas-tacos-crispy-juicy-pure-magic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wordpress.cherrychapters.com\/theflavorindex\/2026\/05\/10\/pork-carnitas-tacos-crispy-juicy-pure-magic\/","title":{"rendered":"Pork Carnitas Tacos: Crispy, Juicy, Pure Magic"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Carnitas means “little meats” in Spanish. It’s pork shoulder slow-cooked until it falls apart, then crisped until the edges are golden and crunchy. Two textures. One glorious taco.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This recipe works in a slow cooker, Instant Pot, or Dutch oven. Make a big batch. Tacos for days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
3 lbs pork shoulder (pork butt), cut into 2-inch chunks<\/li>\n\n\n\n
1 onion, quartered<\/li>\n\n\n\n
6 cloves garlic, smashed<\/li>\n\n\n\n
1 orange, juiced (throw the spent halves in too)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
1 lime, juiced<\/li>\n\n\n\n
1 teaspoon dried oregano<\/li>\n\n\n\n
1 teaspoon ground cumin<\/li>\n\n\n\n
1 teaspoon salt<\/li>\n\n\n\n
\u00bd teaspoon black pepper<\/li>\n\n\n\n
2 bay leaves<\/li>\n\n\n\n
1 cup chicken broth (or water)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
For Serving:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
Corn or flour tortillas<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Diced onion, chopped cilantro, lime wedges, salsa, hot sauce<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Step-by-Step Instructions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Step 1: Cook the Pork<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n
Place pork, onion, garlic, orange juice, lime juice, oregano, cumin, salt, pepper, bay leaves, and broth in a slow cooker, Instant Pot, or Dutch oven.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Slow cooker:<\/strong> Low for 8-10 hours or high for 5-6 hours.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Instant Pot:<\/strong> High pressure for 45 minutes + natural release (15 minutes).<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Dutch oven:<\/strong> 300\u00b0F for 3-4 hours until fork-tender.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
Step 2: Shred the Pork<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n
Remove pork from cooking liquid. Shred with two forks. Discard bay leaves and orange halves.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Save about \u00bd cup of the cooking liquid.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
Step 3: Crisp the Carnitas (Crucial Step)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n
Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add a drizzle of oil or some of the pork fat.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Spread shredded pork in an even layer. Don’t stir for 2-3 minutes\u2014let it get crispy and brown.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Flip and crisp the other side. Add a splash of reserved cooking liquid to keep it moist.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
Step 4: Warm the Tortillas<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n
Heat tortillas in a dry skillet, microwave (30 seconds between damp paper towels), or directly over a gas flame.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
Store carnitas in an airtight container with some cooking liquid for up to 5 days. Re-crisp in a skillet before serving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Freezing:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Freeze shredded carnitas (before crisping) for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge. Crisp in a skillet when ready.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pro Tip:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Don’t skip the crisping step. That’s what makes carnitas magical. Soft pork is fine. Crispy pork is unforgettable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Leftover Ideas:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Carnitas bowls (rice, beans, avocado). Carnitas nachos. Carnitas burritos. Carnitas omelets. You can’t mess this up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Slow-cooked pork that’s tender, then crisped up in its own fat. Pile onto warm tortillas with onions, cilantro, and salsa. Your taco Tuesday just leveled up.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2006,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[73],"tags":[1489,1490,1492,1491,1488,1494,1493],"class_list":["post-1875","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-quick_meals","tag-carnitas-tacos","tag-crispy-pork-tacos","tag-instant-pot-carnitas","tag-mexican-pulled-pork","tag-pork-carnitas","tag-slow-cooker-carnitas","tag-taco-recipe"],"yoast_head":"\n
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