Recipes

Carnitas Recipe: Braised Pork Shoulder With Crisp Edges

A home recipe for carnitas calls for braising 4 pounds of pork shoulder with lime, chili powder, oregano and cumin for about 2 1/2 hours, then baking it at 400 F for 30 minutes, basting with reserved cooking liquid, until the meat is tender and browned. The recipe yields 12 servings and lists 250 calories, 19 grams of fat, 2 grams of carbohydrates and 16 grams of protein per serving.

Rip Moss • Published: 2026-09-30 Updated: 2026-09-30

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Pork shoulder braised with lime and spices, then baked until fall-apart tender with crisp edges, is the method behind a home carnitas recipe that serves 12. The recipe specifies 15 minutes of prep and 3 hours 30 minutes of cooking, for a total time of 3 hours 45 minutes.

The ingredient list calls for 4 pounds of pork shoulder cut into several large pieces, 1/4 cup vegetable oil, 3 tablespoons kosher salt, 1 chopped onion, 1 crushed clove of garlic, 3 tablespoons lime juice, 1 tablespoon chili powder, 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano, 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin, and 4 cans (14.5 ounces each) of chicken broth. The finished carnitas are served with warm tortillas and salsa.

Browning, Braising and Baking

To begin, heat the vegetable oil in a large Dutch oven over high heat. Season the pork pieces with salt, arrange them in the pot, and cook until browned on all sides, about 10 minutes. Stir in the onion, garlic, lime juice, chili powder, oregano and cumin, pour in the chicken broth, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until the pork is very tender, about 2 1/2 hours.

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Transfer the pork to a large baking sheet and reserve the cooking liquid. Drizzle a small amount of the liquid over the pork and lightly season with salt. Bake until browned, about 30 minutes, drizzling more cooking liquid every 10 minutes and using two forks to shred the pork as it browns. Serve hot.

The recipe lists nutrition facts per serving of 250 calories, 19 grams of fat, 2 grams of carbohydrates and 16 grams of protein.

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