Jul 13 2026

Carnitas Recipe

Time3h
Serves8

Adobo pork

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Ingredients

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Meat

Spices and Seasonings

Others

Method

Preparation

  1. 1

    Prepare the Pork

    Trim excess fat from the pork shoulder and cut it into large chunks.

  2. 2

    Mix the Spices

    In a small bowl, combine cumin, oregano, chili powder, garlic powder, salt, black pepper, and cinnamon. Mix well.

  3. 3

    Season the Pork

    Rub the spice mixture all over the pork chunks, ensuring they are evenly coated.

Cooking

  1. 4

    Sear the Pork

    In a large skillet or Dutch oven, heat a tablespoon of oil over medium-high heat. Add the seasoned pork chunks and sear on all sides until browned, about 5-7 minutes.

  2. 5

    Add Aromatics

    Chop the onion and garlic cloves. Once the pork is browned, remove it from the skillet and set aside. In the same skillet, add onion and garlic, and sauté until fragrant, approximately 2-3 minutes.

  3. 6

    Deglaze and Add Liquid

    Pour in the orange juice, lime juice, and chicken broth to deglaze the skillet, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom. Bring to a simmer.

  4. 7

    Cook the Pork

    Return the pork to the skillet. Cover and reduce heat to low. Let it simmer for 2-3 hours, or until the pork is fork-tender.

  5. 8

    Shred the Pork

    Once cooked, remove the pork from the skillet and shred it using two forks. Return the shredded pork to the skillet and mix it with the juices.

  6. 9

    Crisp the Carnitas (Optional)

    For crispy carnitas, spread the shredded pork on a baking sheet and broil in the oven for 5-10 minutes until the edges are crispy.

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