Dutch Oven Carnitas

"Slowly roasting pork shoulder in zesty spices with a touch of citrus in a cast iron Dutch oven yields tender, flavorful Mexican pulled pork. Serve the crispy Dutch oven carnitas in warm corn tortillas, on a fresh salad, alongside chips and guac, or on a bed of easy Spanish rice. Why You’ll Love this Recipe: - Easy. This is essentially a set-it-and-forget-it meal, since the oven does all of the work. Season the meat, roast it for a few hours, and then it will be so tender that it practically falls apart on its own. The crispy carnitas are succulent and juicy with minimal effort! - Flavorful. This Mexican pulled pork is full of flavor, thanks to the zesty seasoning blend and the fresh citrus juices. Cubing the pork before cooking allows more of the meat to contact the seasoning and to crisp in the pot, which gives the dish even more great flavor and texture. - Tender and Juicy with Crispy Edges. Thanks to the slow roasting process and the marbled meat, the pork becomes tender and juicy as it cooks in the Dutch oven. The heat of the cast iron caramelizes the sugars in the rub and orange juice, creating crispy edges on the meat. This eliminates the need to crisp the pork in a skillet or in the oven after shredding (as typically required for an authentic carnitas recipe). It’s the perfect texture with less work!"

Preparation Time15 min

Cooking Time3 hr 30 min

Cooking MethodOven