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Weeknight • Pork

Crispy Baked Pork Carnitas Bowls

Enjoy unbelievably tender, crispy pork carnitas at home, easily baked in the oven and perfect for versatile bowls.

Prep
20 min
Cook
180 min
Servings
6
Level
Weeknight
Crispy Baked Pork Carnitas Bowls

Missing those incredible, crispy-edged carnitas from your favorite taqueria? Good news: you can achieve that same mouth-watering texture right in your own kitchen with this simple baked method! This recipe yields unbelievably tender, juicy pork with those coveted crispy bits, making it perfect for filling tacos, burritos, or vibrant grain bowls.

Ingredients

Yield: 6 servings

For the Carnitas

  • 3 lbs boneless pork shoulder (pork butt), cut into 2-inch chunks
  • 1 large orange, halved
  • 1 medium onion, quartered
  • 4 cloves garlic, smashed
  • 2 tsp dried oregano
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • 1 tsp salt
  • ½ tsp black pepper
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • ¼ cup lard or olive oil, for crisping (optional)

For Serving (optional)

  • Warm tortillas or rice
  • Pico de gallo or salsa
  • Avocado or guacamole
  • Chopped cilantro
  • Lime wedges

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Preheat oven to 300°F (150°C). Place pork chunks in a large oven-safe Dutch oven or a large roasting pan with a lid.

  2. Step 2

    Add orange halves (squeezing juice over the pork first), onion quarters, smashed garlic cloves, dried oregano, ground cumin, salt, and pepper to the pot. Pour in the chicken broth.

  3. Step 3

    Cover the pot tightly with a lid or aluminum foil. Braise in the preheated oven for 2.5 to 3 hours, or until the pork is fork-tender and easily shreds.

  4. Step 4

    Remove the pot from the oven. Carefully remove the orange and onion pieces. Using two forks, shred the pork directly in the pot, mixing it with the cooking liquid. The pork should be falling apart.

  5. Step 5

    Increase oven temperature to 400°F (200°C). Remove the lid from the pot. If desired, you can scoop out some of the excess cooking liquid to reduce sogginess, leaving about 1/2 cup to moisten the pork. For extra crispiness, you can drizzle 1/4 cup of melted lard or olive oil over the shredded pork.

  6. Step 6

    Return the uncovered pot to the 400°F oven and bake for 30-45 minutes, stirring every 10-15 minutes, until the pork edges are beautifully browned and crispy. If you want maximum crispiness, you can spread the shredded pork onto a baking sheet and broil for a few minutes, watching carefully to prevent burning.

  7. Step 7

    Serve the crispy carnitas hot with your favorite toppings and sides like warm tortillas, rice, pico de gallo, avocado, and fresh cilantro.

Tips

  • The key to tender carnitas is low and slow cooking; don't rush the braising step.
  • The orange juice helps tenderize the meat and adds a subtle citrus note that's classic in carnitas.
  • Leftover carnitas are amazing in breakfast burritos, salads, or even on pizza!

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