Cast Iron Carnitas – Pulled Pork Tacos

Pork carnitas: the perfect pulled pork. So flavorful and moist that it’s a shame to put a sauce on it. Perfect in a tortilla or on a bun. This recipe can be achieved with a pot and a baking pan, but I found it a perfect recipe for a dutch oven and a large 12″ cast iron pan.

Equipment I use:

Enamel Dutch Oven

Lodge 12 inch Skillet

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Cast Iron Carnitas

For tacos, for sandwiches, for rice bowls. These carnitas can do no wrong.

5 from 1 vote

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Prep Time 30 minutes mins

Cook Time 3 hours hrs 10 minutes mins

Total Time 3 hours hrs 40 minutes mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine American, Mexican

Servings 10 tacos

Equipment

• Dutch oven
• Cast-iron skillet

Ingredients

  

• ¼ cup vegetable oil
• 4 lb pork butt chopped into large chunks
• 3 Tbsp kosher salt
• 1 yellow onion medium, chopped
• 4 cloves garlic crushed
• 3 Tbsp lime juice
• 1 Tbsp chili powder
• ½ tsp cumin
• ½ tsp dried oregano
• 48 oz chicken broth

Instructions

 

• Heat oil in a Cast Iron Dutch Oven oven on high heat.
• Season chopped pork with the kosher salt. Place in dutch oven and brown all sides. (10-15 minutes)
• Add onion, garlic, lime juice, and spices to the dutch oven. Add the chicken broth (pork should be almost completely submerged).
• Bring the chicken broth to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for 2 1/2 hours. Pork should be fall apart tender.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• Transfer your pork to a large cast iron skillet, and begin to shred (see note). Save the cooking liquid.
• Bake 30 minutes, taking it out at the 10 and 20 minute time points to baste with cooking liquid and shred further.
• Serve with rice, tacos, and garnishes to taste.

Notes

• You don’t want to over-shred the pork initially. Doing several stages of shredding and basting will allow for the perfect combination of browning and moisture.
• This recipe freeze-dries very well for later re-hydrating. A camping favorite at my house.
• Want to use up that tasty broth leftover after baking? Try out my Garbanzo Pozole!

Keyword carnitas, pork, pulled pork, tacos