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5 from 1 vote

Smoked Carnitas

This Smoked Carnitas is a delicious way to enjoy smoked pork. The shredded pork is delicious served with tacos, burritos and more.
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time4 hours
Let Rest15 minutes
Total Time4 hours 35 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: Smoked Carnitas
Servings: 6
Calories: 328kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Preheat the smoker to 250°F.
  • In a small bowl, mix the ground cumin, chili powder, dried oregano, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper to create a dry rub.
  • Rub the pork shoulder chunks with the dry rub, ensuring the meat is evenly coated.
  • In a large cast iron skillet or disposable aluminum pan, heat the vegetable oil over medium-high heat on the stovetop. Add the seasoned pork chunks and sear them on all sides until browned. Remove the pork from the skillet and set it aside.
  • In the same skillet, sauté the chopped onion and minced garlic until softened.
  • Place the seared pork, sautéed onion, and garlic in the smoker-safe pan. Pour the orange juice, lime juice, and chicken broth over the pork.
  • Cover the pan with aluminum foil and transfer it to the preheated smoker. Smoke the pork for 3-4 hours, or until the meat is tender and easily pulls apart with a fork.
  • Once the pork is fully cooked, remove the pan from the smoker and let the pork rest for 10-15
  • minutes.
  • Using two forks, shred the pork into smaller pieces.
  • Serve the smoked carnitas in warm corn tortillas, garnished with freshly chopped cilantro and your choice of toppings.

Notes

- For even more flavor, you can marinate the pork shoulder with the dry rub and let it chill in the fridge overnight before smoking. This helps the spices really soak into the meat, making it more flavorful.
For crispier carnitas, transfer the shredded pork to a baking sheet and broil in the oven for 5-10
minutes until the edges are golden and crispy.

Nutrition

Calories: 328kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 37g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 124mg | Sodium: 542mg | Potassium: 770mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 346IU | Vitamin C: 22mg | Calcium: 62mg | Iron: 3mg