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Crispy pork carnitas tacos with purple onion, cilantro, and lime on corn tortillas

Pork Carnitas Tacos

Slow-cooked fall-apart tender pork broiled until the edges are irresistibly crispy and piled into warm corn tortillas with white onion, cilantro, and lime. Taco night just got legendary.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 8 hours 10 minutes
Total Time 8 hours 25 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Mexican
Calories: 380

Ingredients
  

  • For the Carnitas
  • 3-4 lbs pork shoulder bone-in or boneless, cut into 3 to 4-inch chunks
  • 1 large orange juiced — keep the juiced halves
  • 2 limes juiced
  • 5 cloves garlic smashed
  • 1 white onion quartered
  • 1 tablespoon ground cumin
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • 2 teaspoons dried oregano
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 bay leaf
  • For Serving
  • 16 small corn tortillas
  • 1 white onion finely diced
  • 1 large bunch fresh cilantro
  • 2 limes cut into wedges
  • your favorite salsa or tomatillo sauce

Method
 

  1. Combine all dry spices and rub generously over every surface of the pork chunks — do not be shy with the seasoning.
  2. Place seasoned pork in the slow cooker. Add smashed garlic, quartered onion, orange juice, lime juice, the squeezed orange halves, and bay leaf.
  3. Cook on LOW for 8 to 10 hours or HIGH for 4 to 5 hours until pork falls apart completely when pressed with a fork.
  4. Remove pork to a large cutting board. Shred with two forks discarding any large pieces of fat. Reserve about 1/2 cup of the cooking liquid.
  5. Spread shredded pork in an even layer on a large rimmed baking sheet. Drizzle 3 to 4 tablespoons of reserved cooking juices over the top.
  6. Broil on high heat for 3 to 5 minutes until the edges are dark brown and caramelized. Watch very carefully — this can go from perfect to burnt in under a minute. Toss the pork gently and broil another 2 to 3 minutes for extra crispy bits if desired.
  7. Warm corn tortillas directly over a gas flame or in a dry skillet. Build tacos with crispy carnitas, diced white onion, fresh cilantro, a squeeze of lime, and salsa.

Nutrition

Calories: 380kcalCarbohydrates: 28gProtein: 28gFat: 16gSaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 95mgSodium: 580mgPotassium: 520mgFiber: 3gSugar: 2g

Notes

The broiling step is what makes carnitas extraordinary — do not skip it. Watch carefully under the broiler at all times. Carnitas keeps refrigerated up to 5 days and is incredible all week in tacos, burritos, quesadillas, nachos, and rice bowls.

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