Jul 14 2026
Restaurants›Mezcal Tequila Kitchen›Traditional Carnitas Recipe

Traditional Carnitas Recipe

Inspired by Mezcal Tequila Kitchen
Time8h 20m
Serves6

slow-roasted pork, diced onion, cilantro, fresh lime

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Ingredients

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Meat

Toppings

Method

Preparing the Pork

  1. 1

    Season the Pork

    Rub the pork shoulder with salt, black pepper, cumin, and oregano. Make sure to cover all sides for even seasoning.

  2. 2

    Prepare the Garlic

    Mince the garlic cloves and set them aside.

  3. 3

    Combine Ingredients

    In a large slow cooker, combine the seasoned pork, minced garlic, orange juice, and lime juice. Stir to mix well.

Cooking the Carnitas

  1. 4

    Slow Cook the Pork

    Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4 hours, until the pork is tender and easily shredded.

  2. 5

    Shred the Pork

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

Preparing Toppings

  1. 6

    Chop Onion and Cilantro

    Finely chop the medium onion and cilantro leaves. Set aside for serving.

  2. 7

    Prepare Lime Wedges

    Cut the lime into wedges for serving.

Serving

  1. 8

    Assemble the Dish

    Serve the shredded carnitas on a platter, topped with chopped onion, cilantro, and lime wedges on the side.

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