15 Best Pork Cut For Carnitas

What should I make for dinner tonight? This might just be the number one question that we ask ourselves almost daily over here.

Then you have come to the right place, we have rounded up 15 best pork cut for carnitas that we have shared over the years.

Plus, there is such a variety of flavours in these recipes, so you are sure to find something for you. Most of these recipes are quick and easy ones made especially for busy weeknights.

15 Best Pork Cut For Carnitas

Pork Carnitas (Mexican Slow Cooker Pulled Pork)

10 hr 10 min

Boneless pork butt, orange juice, mexican coke, garlic, bay leaves

5.0113

Cafe Delites

Easy Carnitas Recipe

4 hr 5 min

Instant pot, pork shoulder, lime juice, chili powder, sea salt

4.4437

Isabel Eats

Crispy Slow Cooker Carnitas

6 hr 10 min

Boneless pork roast, adobo sauce, garlic, chili powder, chicken stock

4.982

Gimme Some Oven

Authentic Pork Carnitas – Mexican Slow Cooked Pulled Pork

3 hr

Boneless pork butt, orange, lime juice, bay leaves

5.041

My Kitchen Escapades

Pork Carnitas

4 hr

Pound pork shoulder, spent, red pepper flakes, garlic, black pepper

4.4165

Jo Cooks

Pork Carnitas

10 hr 15 min

Boneless pork shoulder, ribs, orange, olive oil, garlic

4.4255

Food Network

Quick Pork Carnitas Tacos

25 min

Pork tenderloin, low carb, orange juice, brown sugar, pico de gallo

5.04

Diethood

Pork Loin Carnitas

3 hr 10 min

Pork loin, orange, adobo sauce, lime, olive oil

5.02

Cook the Story

Easy Pork Carnitas

30 min

Pound pork tenderloin, orange juice, lime juice, garlic, chili powder

4.933

Damn Delicious

The BEST Carnitas (Slow Cooker Pulled Pork)

8 hr 10 min

Boneless pork shoulder, orange, jalapeno, chili powder, black pepper

5.050

Downshiftology

Authentic Carnitas Recipe + Video

2 hr 30 min

Boneless pork shoulder, salsa verde, refried beans, brown sugar, corn tortillas

5.012

Kevin Is Cooking

Pork Carnitas – Slow Cooker

8 hr 10 min

Boneless pork shoulder, cilantro lime rice, orange juice, de gallo, red pepper flakes

5.059

Belly Full

Slow Cooker Mexican Pork Carnitas Tacos

6 hr 5 min

Pork shoulder roast, jalapeno, oranges, garlic, chipotle powder

5.014

House of Yumm

Easy Carnitas Recipe

3 hr 45 min

Pork shoulder roast, dutch oven, chicken broth, lime juice, garlic

5.038

Baking Mischief

Pork Carnitas (Mexican Crispy Pulled Pork)

2 hr 30 min

Lb pork shoulder, bacon fat, oranges, cinnamon stick

4.52

Curious Cuisiniere

12 Related Question Answers About Best Pork Cut For Carnitas

What cut of pork is used for carnitas?

Can I use pork loin instead of pork shoulder for carnitas?

Most typically, people use pork shoulder to make carnitas because of the fat content. Pork loin comes from the side of the rib and is much learner than a pork shoulder. I love to roast pork loin, but I really like using it for carnitas because you get a meatier texture.

What cut of pork is best for shredding?

Can pork loin be used instead of pork shoulder?

Can I substitute pork loin with pork shoulder and vice versa? Due to the different texture and flavor between pork loin and pork shoulder, it is not good to replace one for another in most cooking recipes.

Can I use pork tenderloin for carnitas?

CRISPY PORK CARNITAS INGREDIENTS

Pork tenderloin – You can also use pork shoulder or butt. I used the tenderloin to keep the fat lower. Orange – The fresh, sugary juices help pack the carnitas with incredible flavor and crisp them up!

What is the difference between pulled pork and carnitas?

Pulled pork is meat from a pig (typically from the shoulder region) that has been slow-cooked until it’s easy enough to shred, whereas carnitas (meaning “little meats”) is a version of pulled pork that’s often fixed with Mexican spices (or simply salt).

Can I shred a pork loin?

The low temperature and slow, long cooking process also make the oven pork loin meat easy to shred as it tenderizes over the hours.

Will a pork tenderloin shred?

Pork tenderloin is lean so low and slow is not needed. If you “overcook it” a bit in a moist environment it will shred easily. The amount of moisture in the tenderloin (usually a moist meat) would be about the right about to moisturizer it at the end of cooking.

Can I use pork tenderloin for pulled pork?

What is the best cut of meat for pulled pork? Pork shoulder or pork butt are often used for pulled pork. You can also use pork tenderloin (like this recipe) for a leaner cut of meat!

Is Boston butt the same as pork shoulder?

Both come from the shoulder of the pig, but pork butt is higher on the foreleg, while pork shoulder is farther down. As relatively tough and fatty cuts, both benefit from long, slow cooking methods such as roasting, stewing, and braising. But the cuts are different enough that we generally prefer pork butt.

What makes the best pulled pork?

When it comes to pulled pork, most experts agree that the pork butt, also known as the Boston butt, is the best choice due to its tenderness, texture, and flavor. If you can’t find a Boston butt, the picnic shoulder is the next best option.

Is pork picnic the same as pork shoulder?

Pork shoulder is also called pork picnic shoulder and is found directly below the pork butt on the animal. This sub-primal cut runs from the bottom of the pork butt to the top of the front leg hoof. As opposed to the pork butt, this is a well-used muscle on the pig, making it a more dense and tough piece of meat.