Carnitas
Tender, juicy, and crispy homemade carnitas made from scratch with simple ingredients. Perfect for tacos, tostadas, burritos, and more!
Ingredients
- 3 pounds pork butt cut into 2-inch pieces
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 2 teaspoons salt
- ½ large onion large diced
- 6 cloves garlic crushed
- As Needed water
Instructions
- Season the pork pieces all over with the salt and pepper.
- Heat a large dutch oven or pot over medium high heat. Add in the olive oil and begin browning the meat, working in batches if needed. Do not over crowd the pan, the meat will steam instead of brown.
- Once all of the meat is browned add in the onion and garlic. Cover the meat ½ way with water. Bring to a simmer, cover and cook for 1 ½ hours.
- After 1 ½ hours, remove the lid and continue simmering (uncovered) on low for 1 hour or until the meat is tender and the liquid has evaporated. The fat that has rendered from the meat should be left.
- Remove the pork and shred. Add back to the pot and turn the heat to medium. If there is not enough rendered fat left in the pot, you can add in oil as needed.
- Crisp up the pork until it reaches your desired crispness. Enjoy!
Notes
- Take the time to brown each piece of meat and let the fat render for the best flavor.
- Allow the water to fully evaporate, leaving the fat behind in the bottom of the pan.
- Add the shredded pork back in and let it crisp up in all that rich, flavorful fat. This is where the magic happens.