Authentic Mexican Carnitas Tacos
Tender slow-braised pork served in warm corn tortillas with tangy lime crema and pickled onions. This Mexican recipe, ready in about 170 minutes, pairs Pork shoulder, Olive oil, Onion for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 580 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 2 lbs Pork shoulder
- 1/4 cup Olive oil
- 1 large, diced Onion
- 4 cloves, minced Garlic
- 1 tbsp Cumin
- 1 tbsp Paprika
- 1/2 cup Orange juice
- 8 Corn tortillas
- 1/2 cup Lime crema
- 1/2 cup Pickled red onions
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Equipment for this recipe
Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.
Instructions
- Step 1: Preheat oven to 325°F (160°C). In a large oven-safe skillet, heat 1/4 cup olive oil over medium-high heat. Add pork shoulder and sear on all sides until browned, about 8 minutes.
- Step 2: Add diced onion and garlic, sauté for 3 minutes until fragrant. Stir in cumin, paprika, and orange juice. Bring to a simmer.
- Step 3: Cover the skillet, transfer to the oven, and braise for 2.5 hours until the pork is tender and shreds easily with a fork.
- Step 4: Warm corn tortillas in a dry skillet over medium heat until pliable. Divide shredded pork among tortillas, top with 2 tbsp lime crema and 1/4 cup pickled onions. Serve with lime wedges.
