Jul 14 2026
Restaurants›La Mesa Mexican Restaurant›Carnitas Recipe

Carnitas Recipe

Inspired by La Mesa Mexican Restaurant
Time5h
Serves6

Shredded, braised pork cooked Michoacan style topped with pico de gallo

Jump to Recipe

Was this page helpful?

Help improve this recipe for others.

Send this recipe to your inbox.

We'll email it straight to you - plus weekly cooking inspiration.

Ingredients

Some product links may be affiliates. If you buy through them, you're supporting the site and Pekin may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Carnitas Ingredients

Method

Cooking Directions

  1. 1

    Prepare the Marinade

    In a large bowl, combine the orange juice, lime juice, minced garlic, cumin, oregano, salt, and pepper. Mix well.

  2. 2

    Marinate the Pork

    Cut the pork shoulder into large chunks and add it to the marinade. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight.

  3. 3

    Cook the Pork

    Preheat your oven to 300°F (150°C). Place the marinated pork in a large Dutch oven or oven-safe pot. Add the chopped onion and bay leaves on top of the pork. Cover with a lid and cook in the oven for 3-4 hours, or until the pork is fork-tender.

  4. 4

    Shred the Pork

    Remove the pork from the oven and let it cool slightly. Using two forks, shred the pork into bite-sized pieces.

  5. 5

    Crisp the Carnitas

    Optional: For crispy carnitas, spread the shredded pork on a baking sheet and broil for 5-7 minutes, until the edges are crispy.

  6. 6

    Serve

    Serve the carnitas topped with pico de gallo, and enjoy with tortillas or rice.

More from La Mesa Mexican Restaurant