Jun 09 2026
Restaurants›Baja Joe's›Carnitas Recipe

Carnitas Recipe

Inspired by Baja Joe's
Time3h
Serves6

Pork simmered in spicy red guajillo chile sauce.

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Ingredients

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Meat

Spices

Sauce

Extras

Method

Preparation

  1. 1

    Prepare the Pork

    Cut the pork shoulder into large chunks, about 2 inches each. Season the pork evenly with salt, black pepper, cumin, oregano, and garlic powder. Let it marinate while you prepare the sauce.

Sauce Preparation

  1. 2

    Prepare the Guajillo Sauce

    Remove the stems and seeds from the guajillo chiles. In a dry skillet over medium heat, toast the chiles for about 2-3 minutes until fragrant. In a blender, combine the toasted chiles, tomatoes, onion, garlic, chicken broth, and apple cider vinegar. Blend until smooth.

Cooking

  1. 3

    Simmer the Pork

    In a large pot or Dutch oven, add the marinated pork and pour the guajillo sauce over the top. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat, then reduce the heat to low. Cover and let it cook for about 2-3 hours or until the pork is fork-tender.

  2. 4

    Shred the Pork

    Once the pork is tender, remove it from the pot and let it cool slightly. Shred the pork using two forks. Return the shredded pork to the pot and stir to combine with the sauce.

Serving

  1. 5

    Serve the Carnitas

    Serve the carnitas with warm corn tortillas, lime wedges, and chopped cilantro. Enjoy!

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