Experience the ultimate joy of homemade Street Style Crispy Carnitas Tacos! This incredible recipe features succulent, juicy pork, slow-cooked to perfection with authentic Mexican spices like cumin and vibrant orange zest, then given a final, irresistible crisp under the broiler. Forget complicated culinary endeavors; this dish delivers restaurant-quality flavor with surprising ease, transforming simple ingredients into a taco night sensation your family will rave about.
The Unexpected Free Meal That Led to the Best Homemade Carnitas
Just the other day, it felt like Christmas arrived early in our mailbox. Among the usual bills and flyers, we discovered a golden ticket: a coupon from Chipotle for a free burrito, burrito bowl, or tacos. Free! Not a single catch, no minimum purchase, just pure, unadulterated free food. And to make it even sweeter, the empty house next door still gets its share of “junk” mail. Naturally, I ventured into their mailbox and claimed their Chipotle coupon as well. Double the free dinner for Shawn and me!
Armed with our two precious coupons, we set off for Chipotle, only to find ourselves in the longest line imaginable. It stretched out the door and around the corner – apparently, everyone in town had received the same generous offer. But when that Chipotle craving hits, no line is too long, especially when it’s for a free meal. To keep our five-month-old, Josh, entertained in his stroller, I handed him the coupons to hold. He looked adorable, clutching them tightly.
After a good twenty-minute wait, we were almost at the front. I reached for the coupons, only to find just one in Josh’s tiny hand. “Oh no, Josh, where did the other coupon go?” I exclaimed, instantly regretting my decision to entrust our free dinner tickets to a baby. I frantically looked down, hoping it had merely dropped to the floor. The man behind us caught my eye, a slight look of guilt on his face. He then held up the missing coupon. “I saw it on the floor,” he said with a kind smile. “I didn’t know who it belonged to. Here you go…”
What a truly kind gesture! Our free dinner was back on track, and that carnitas burrito bowl tasted exceptionally good, knowing it cost us absolutely nothing. However, as much as I appreciate a free meal, I have to admit, Chipotle’s carnitas simply don’t hold a candle to my homemade crispy carnitas. I consider myself a bit of a carnitas snob, and my recipe truly takes the crown for flavor and texture. If you’re a fan of rich, tender, and perfectly crispy pork, you’re in for a treat.
Mastering the Art of Crispy Carnitas: Slow Cooker to Broiler Perfection
The idea of making carnitas from scratch might sound intimidating or overly complicated, but I assure you, this recipe is remarkably simple. The secret lies in letting your slow cooker and oven do most of the hard work. This method ensures you achieve that melt-in-your-mouth tenderness followed by an irresistible crispy exterior without breaking a sweat in the kitchen.
I begin by placing the pork butt in the slow cooker with a harmonious blend of flavors: robust chicken broth, fresh orange halves, tangy lime juice, earthy cumin, and fragrant oregano. These ingredients slowly infuse the pork as it cooks low and slow all day long, resulting in incredibly tender, juicy, and flavorful meat that practically falls apart with a fork. The citrus not only adds a bright, authentic Mexican touch but also helps to tenderize the pork beautifully.
While you could technically stop after the slow-cooking phase and enjoy perfectly delicious, tender shredded pork, I strongly urge you not to. The true magic of carnitas, and what elevates them to an entirely different level, is the crispy finish. Crispy is always, always better when it comes to carnitas.
Once the pork is fork-tender, I carefully remove it from the slow cooker. The cooking liquid, now packed with incredible flavor, is then strained, and the solids discarded. I let the liquid settle for a few minutes, allowing any remaining fat to rise to the top so it can be easily spooned off. This rich, clarified liquid is then reduced on the stovetop until it’s concentrated by half, intensifying its savory notes. This reduced liquid is the key to moist and flavorful crispy bits.
Next, the shredded pork is tossed with this concentrated liquid and spread evenly onto a baking sheet. Here’s where the broiler works its wonders. For just 10-15 minutes, the high heat transforms the moist pork edges into glorious, golden-brown crispy bits. The trick is to resist the urge to turn the carnitas; this ensures that one side gets perfectly charred and crisp while the other remains incredibly juicy and tender. This dual texture—a crispy exterior giving way to a succulent interior—is what makes these carnitas truly exceptional.
Serving Your Homemade Street Style Crispy Carnitas Tacos
These carnitas are absolutely divine served in classic street-style tacos. My last trip to Mexico ingrained in me the beauty of simplicity: warmed tortillas, a generous pile of tender, crispy carnitas, a sprinkling of finely chopped white onion, fresh cilantro, and a squeeze of fresh lime juice. When the carnitas themselves are bursting with this much flavor, you don’t need much else to create a truly memorable taco.
The vibrant freshness of the onion, cilantro, and lime perfectly complements the rich, savory pork, creating a balanced and utterly addictive bite. You can also customize your tacos with your favorite salsa, a dollop of guacamole, or a sprinkle of cotija cheese, but honestly, the pure flavor of the carnitas shines brightest with minimal additions. These tacos are not just a meal; they’re an experience, a journey to the heart of authentic Mexican street food right in your own kitchen.
Street Style Crispy Carnitas Tacos
4 people
30 mins
8 hrs
8 hrs 30 mins
These Street Style Crispy Carnitas Tacos feature tender, juicy pork slow-cooked in a crockpot with authentic Mexican flavors of cumin and orange, then broiled for just 15 minutes to achieve an irresistible crispy texture.
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Ingredients
- 4- pound boneless pork butt, also called pork shoulder, huge fat caps cut away, cut into 2″ chunks (I get my pork from ButcherBox, which I highly recommend)
- ½ yellow onion, skin removed, cut into 2 equal halves
- 1 orange, cut in half
- 2 cups chicken stock
- 2 tablespoons lime juice, from 1 or 2 limes
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 2 bay leaves
- Warmed tortillas, chopped white onion, chopped cilantro and lime wedges for serving
Instructions
- In your slow cooker, combine the cut up pork butt, onion, orange, chicken stock, lime juice, cumin, oregano, salt and pepper. Stir to combine and cover. Cook over low for 6-8 hours, or high for 4-6 hours.
- Gently remove the cooked pork butt from the slow cooker; it will be very tender. Transfer it to a plate, and break each chunk in half with a fork.
- Strain the cooking liquid from the slow cooker. Discard the solids (onion, orange halves, bay leaves). Allow the cooking liquid to sit for 5 minutes, then carefully spoon the fat off the top. Boil the cooking liquid over high heat until it is reduced by half to about 1 cup.
- While the cooking liquid is reducing, turn your broiler on High with the oven rack in the middle position. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper for easy cleanup.
- In a medium size mixing bowl, add the shredded carnitas meat and toss thoroughly with the reduced cooking liquid. Transfer the meat to the parchment-lined baking sheet, spreading it in an even layer.
- Broil for 10-15 minutes until the meat is crispy and golden brown. There’s no need to turn it; this ensures one side gets perfectly crispy while the other remains juicy. Remove it from the oven and allow it to cool for a minute or two before serving.
- Serve the crispy carnitas meat in warmed taco tortillas, topped with fresh chopped onion and cilantro, and a generous squeeze of lime juice.
Total Carbs: 34.6g
Protein: 57.2g
Fat: 11g
Fiber: 4.7g
Net Carbs: 30g
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More Delicious Taco Recipes You’ll Love
If you’re a fan of these crispy carnitas, you’ll surely enjoy exploring more taco creations. Here are a few other beloved recipes that bring diverse and exciting flavors to your table:
Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken Tacos
Tropical Coconut Shrimp Tacos
Chicken Tacos with Cilantro Lime Ranch Dressing
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