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+ servings
5 from 1 vote
Carnitas Tacos
Carnitas Tacos
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
2 hrs
Total Time
2 hrs 15 mins
 

Carnitas tacos are simple and amazing bites of pure flavor! The pork is fall apart tender with soft flour shells and loads of toppings. 

Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: Carnitas Tacos, Tacos
Servings: 8 tacos
Calories: 646 kcal
Author: Jeanie and Lulu's Kitchen
Ingredients
FOR THE CARNITAS
  • 1 dash olive oil
  • 1.5 pounds pork shoulder
  • 1 whole onion peeled and diced
  • 1 clove garlic peeled and minced
  • 1 sprig fresh rosemary leaves finely chopped
  • 1 tablespoon fresh cilantro roughly chopped
  • 1 cup hard apple cider
  • 1/2 cup chicken stock
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
  • 1 pinch salt
  • 1 pinch black pepper
  • 1 dash worcestershire sauce
  • 2 whole bay leaves
FOR ASSEMBLING THE TACOS
  • 8 whole soft taco shells
  • sliced avocado as needed
  • extra sharp cheddar cheese as needed
  • salsa as needed
  • lime wedges as needed
Instructions
  1. Heat the olive oil in a large dutch oven over high heat. Sear the pork shoulder on all sides to let it brown. It does not need to be completely cooked through at this point, just brown on the outside. Add the onion, garlic, rosemary and cilantro and let them get fragrant for a minute. Then pour in the hard apple cider and chicken stock.
  2. Season the mixture with the chili powder, pumpkin pie spice, salt and pepper. Add the Worcestershire sauce and the bay leaves last. Let the mixture come to a boil and reduce it to a simmer. Cover the dutch oven and let the pork cook for 2 hours to become fall apart tender and super flavorful. When it's done, remove the dutch oven from the heat and let it rest for 5 minutes. Then transfer it to a cutting board and discard the bones and fat back. Any remaining liquid can also be discarded, as well as the bay leaves. Shred the pork with two forks.
  3. Time to assemble the tacos! Warm up the taco shells in a dry cast iron skillet for just 30 seconds on each side. Fill each taco shell with the desired amount of carnitas. Then top them as desired with avocado, cheese and salsa. Serve them with lime wedges and squeeze the fresh lime juice onto the tacos to really wake them up. Enjoy!
Nutrition Facts
Carnitas Tacos
Amount Per Serving (2 tacos)
Calories 646 Calories from Fat 353
% Daily Value*
Fat 39.2g60%
Saturated Fat 12.2g76%
Cholesterol 120mg40%
Sodium 699mg30%
Potassium 139mg4%
Carbohydrates 35.2g12%
Fiber 15g63%
Sugar 8.1g9%
Protein 35.2g70%
Calcium 20mg2%
Iron 2.2mg12%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.