One Pot Carnitas: Your New Go-to Weeknight Meal

A glorious recipe you can master with simple ingredients and a slow cooker.

Do you feel overwhelmed trying to do it all? Are you over your local take-out options? This carnitas recipe is for you. In just one pot, you'll have a hearty, delicious meal of Mexican-inspired pulled pork ready in a few hours. This dish is a set-it-and-forget-it cookery concoction. The best part? Minimal effort and mess. Just dice an onion and jalapeno, brown cubed pork shoulder, toss in some spices and orange juice, stock and cover, and simmer. The intoxicating aroma will fill your kitchen as the pork becomes fall-apart tender. Shred it with two forks, serve it on tortillas or rice, and you'll be transported to carnitas heaven with each savory, citrusy bite. Your belly will be happy, your kitchen will still be clean, and you'll be satisfied with the money you save from ordering out.

Pork shoulder is a relatively affordable cut of meat, so this is way more budget-friendly than resorting to take-out and probably more belly-friendly, too. (Way to watch the waistline!) With a bit of planning ahead, this carnitas recipe is your new go-to for a no-fuss weeknight fiesta.

Planning:

This recipe is quick and easy; you can prep this in the morning while making your coffee and leave it to simmer all day while you are at work. To make life even easier, prep the diced onion, jalapeno, and pork the night before and refrigerate until needed.

What Are Carnitas and Why Make Them?

Carnitas are Mexican braised pork that's shredded and crispy. Why make carnitas at home? Several reasons:

• Carnitas are delicious. The meat becomes fall-apart tender and develops an incredibly rich, savory flavor from spices like cumin, garlic, and citrus juice.

• They're budget-friendly. Pork shoulder, the cut typically used, is an inexpensive cut of meat that yields a lot and is full of flavor.

• Carnitas are perfect for feeding a crowd or meal prepping. You'll end up with pounds of meat that freezes well for up to three months.

• It's a one-pot wonder. Toss everything into a Dutch oven, braise for a few hours, and you'll have a flavorful filling or topping for tacos, salads, burritos, nachos, and more.

Special Equipment

A crock pot, aka slow cooker. Ideally, one that you can start on the stovetop and transfer to the crockpot base. Most modern slow cookers have this feature or the sauté feature built-in. I recently upgraded to a slow cooker with a cast-iron base because my former crockpot had a nonstick surface, and I typically do not cook in any nonstick pans...that sounds like a topic for a future blog post.

Ingredients You'll Need

For authentic carnitas, you'll want boneless pork shoulder (also called Boston butt), onion, jalapeno, orange juice, cumin (I love the Siete brand carnitas packet for this), salt and pepper. Additionally, plan for any items with which you plan to serve the carnitas. I recommend your favorite tortillas, diced onion, and cilantro for simplicity. But you can get very creative here-go for larger tortillas, add some cheese and make quesadillas, craft a burrito with your favorite filling, swap out the tortillas for corn chips and make nachos, or even go carb-free and make this as a base for a fantastic bowl and load it with lettuce, cheese and your favorite salsa.

Let's talk pork, onions, and more...

Pork Shoulder

Pork shoulder is a relatively tough and inexpensive cut of meat layered with fat from the pig's shoulder region. You may also see this cut labeled as pork butt or Boston butt, but this is shoulder meat. Pork shoulder might start as a fatty, tough cut of meat, but cook it for a few hours, and it will be tender and juicy and fall apart with the touch of your fork. Pork shoulder is an incredibly forgiving cut of meat. It becomes more tender as it cooks and benefits from a lengthy cooking time, so you won't need to worry about it even if it stays on the heat a few minutes too long.

Onion

Onions are a staple in many kitchens. My pantry is rarely without them. It's no secret onions add flavor. They are sweet and savory and add a layer of flavor to dishes. They are relatively affordable and accessible to procure, as you will find them in most produce departments. Additionally, they are rich in antioxidant compounds and packed with nutrients that benefit many systems in our bodies.

Jalapeño

Like onions, the chilis add flavor (including capsicum- heat). They also have nutritional value and are full of vitamin C, among other vitamins and minerals such as B6, K1, potassium, copper, and vitamin A.

Orange Juice

Orange juice helps tenderize the pork, adds sweetness, and complements the other spices in the dish, balancing the flavor. I have read countless traditional grandma-used-to-make recipes, many of which call for oranges in some variation.

Spices

Spices add flavor and aroma. Here, the main spice cumin is the dried seed of cuminum cyminium, a parsley family member. Cumin (pronounced kyoo.muhn) is used in many cuisines worldwide. It has a warm, earthy flavor.

Garlic is part of the allium family and is used in many types of cuisine. It has an intense flavor and has been known to have some health benefits.

Stock

Stock adds flavor and moisture. I always have some on hand.

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Ingredients:

• 3 pounds boneless pork shoulder, cut into stew size cubes (1-2 inches).

• 3 Tablespoons of olive oil (Or other preferred cooking oil)

• 1 medium onion, diced

• 1 jalapeno, diced (seeds or no seeds, see note above)

• 1 packet of Siete carnitas seasoning (1.29 oz/ 36.7 grams) If you do not have this, substitute 1 teaspoon of cumin, 1/2 teaspoon of onion powder, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder and a bay leaf

• 2 oranges, juiced.

• 1 cup of beef or chicken stock

• Salt and pepper to taste

• Optional garnishes: tortillas, cilantro, lime wedges, avocado, salsa, rice, corn, beans, lettuce, whatever you like or where your creativity takes you. Garnish as desired to make your carnitas complete. See serving ideas for inspiration.

Method:

• Dice an onion and jalapeno. (Add in or remove the seeds based on how hot (spicy) you are going for. Feel free to get creative and use other chilis, such as serrano or poblano.

• Cut the pork into 2-inch cubes—season generously with salt and pepper.

• In the base of the crockpot, heat three tablespoons of olive oil over medium-high heat.

• Sauté the onion and garlic until transparent and softened, about five minutes. *If your crockpot cannot start on the stovetop and move to the cooker base, I highly recommend sautéing the onions and jalapenos and browning the meat traditionally in a Dutch oven or sauté pan and then transferring to the slow cooker.

• Once the onion and jalapenos are softened, add the seasoned pork. Brown the pork on all sides until the meat has a nice brown caramelization.

• Add spices, orange juice, and stock. Set the crockpot to cook on high for four hours.

• Cover and reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer until the pork is very tender, 4 hours. Most slow cookers will default to "keep warm" after the cooking time has lapsed, making this ready to eat when you get home.

• At this point, the meat should be practically falling apart. I use a wooden spoon to break apart the meat for a shredded consistency. Alternatively, you may use two forks to shred the pork. Serve the carnitas in tortillas, on nachos, or on their own with your favorite toppings.

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Serving Ideas for Carnitas

Carnitas are so versatile—there are endless ways to serve and enjoy them. Here are a few of my favorites:

Tacos

No surprise here. Warm tortillas piled high with carnitas, salsa, cilantro, and your favorite toppings like guacamole, cheese, or lettuce are a classic for a reason. Have all the fixings set out and let everyone assemble their perfect taco.

Quesadillas

Place carnitas, cheese, and veggies like bell peppers and onions on a tortilla and fold it in half. Cook in a hot skillet with some oil until the cheese is melted. Cut into wedges and serve with salsa, sour cream, or hot sauce on the side.

Burritos

Roll carnitas, rice, beans, salsa and toppings of your choice into a large flour tortilla. Burritos also freeze great for up to 3 months—perfect for meal prep.

Salads/Bowls

A crisp salad is a light and refreshing contrast to rich carnitas. Try a Mexican-style salad with romaine, black beans, corn, avocado and a citrus vinaigrette.

Nachos

Pile carnitas onto tortilla chips with melted cheese, black olives, jalapeños and green onions. Broil until bubbly, then top with sour cream, salsa and sliced radishes or cilantro. Serve the nachos immediately.

Soups and Stews

Add carnitas to posole, chili, or tortilla soup for a heartier meal. Or make carnitas and vegetable soup by simmering carnitas with diced veggies like zucchini, bell peppers, corn and tomatoes in broth. Season with chili powder, cumin, oregano and lime juice.

The possibilities are endless. Get creative and try carnitas in sandwiches, hash, stuffed peppers or lettuce cups. However you serve them, your carnitas will be the star of the show. Leftovers (if there are any!) also make great snacks, so keep some in the fridge for whenever hunger strikes.

Conclusion

So there you have it - the recipe for an easy one-pot carnitas feast. With just a few minutes of prep, you'll have a meal ready in a few hours that will fill your home with the intoxicating aroma of home-cooked awesomeness. Your family and friends won't believe you created an authentic Mexican treat with such little effort. Dishes like these are handy to have in your playbook when you are looking to create something that is nourishing with little effort, channeling your inner goddess, and won't break the bank. Happy Cooking!