Recipe Atlas
← Back to Mexico

Carnitas

Mexico

Carnitas, meaning 'little meats', hails from the state of Michoacán, traditionally slow-cooked in large copper pots until deeply tender.

Pork slow-cooked until meltingly tender, then crisped until the edges turn deliciously golden — a beloved Mexican filling for tacos and burritos.

Authentic Mexico Carnitas recipe
Prep
15 mins
Cook
3 hrs
Difficulty
Medium
Calories
395 kcal
Serves
6
Calories are an estimate based on ingredients used

Ingredients

2kgpork shoulder, cubed
1orange, halved
4garlic cloves
1onion, quartered
2 tspcumin
1 tsporegano

Method

1

Place pork, orange, garlic, onion and spices in a large pot with enough water to just cover.

2

Simmer gently for 2.5-3 hours until the pork is completely tender and falling apart.

3

Drain, reserving some liquid, then shred the pork.

4

Crisp the shredded pork under a hot grill or in a hot pan until the edges turn golden and slightly caramelised.

Chef's Tip

The final crisping step is essential — it's what transforms simple braised pork into proper carnitas.

Couldn't load comments right now — please refresh.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Some recipe photos courtesy of Openverse and Wikimedia Commons contributors, used under Creative Commons licenses.
Recipe Atlas
© 2026 Recipe Atlas. All rights reserved.Celebrating food from every corner of the world.