Pork Carnitas

This Dutch oven carnitas recipe is requested by friends and family repeatedly. Many find carnitas a little dry or flavorless, but these have a great, distinctive flavor. Serve with warm, fresh tortillas and salsa.

• Preparation Time: 15 mins
• Cooking Time: 3 hr
• Total Time: 3 hr 15 mins
• Calories: 250 Calories

Ingredients

• ¼ cup vegetable oil
• 1 onion, chopped
• ½ teaspoon dried oregano
• 4 (14.5 ounce) cans chicken broth
• ½ teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• 1 clove garlic, crushed
• 3 tablespoons lime juice
• 3 tablespoons kosher salt
• 4 pounds pork shoulder, cut into several large pieces

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).

Step 2

Heat vegetable oil in a large Dutch oven over high heat. Season pork shoulder pieces with salt, then arrange in the Dutch oven. Cook until browned on all sides, about 10 minutes.

Step 3

Stir in onion, garlic, lime juice, chili powder, oregano, and cumin. Pour in chicken broth; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until pork is very tender, about 2 1/2 hours.

Step 4

Transfer pork shoulder to a large baking sheet; reserve cooking liquid. Drizzle a small amount of cooking liquid over pork pieces and lightly season with salt.

Step 5

Bake pork in the preheated oven until browned, about 30 minutes. Drizzle more cooking liquid every 10 minutes; use two forks to shred pork as it browns.