Dutch Oven Carnitas (Mexican Pulled Pork)

Dutch Oven Carnitas are wonderful to have on hand for a variety of meals — tacos, sandwiches and sliders, burritos — the sky’s the limit! Enjoy the deep aroma of Mexican spices that will waft through your kitchen as it cooks. Also called Mexican pulled pork, it’s tender and juicy, and is the ultimate make-ahead meal to try now.

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Why We Love Dutch Oven Carnitas

1. It has fantastic slow roasted flavor.

Every carnitas recipe varies a bit, and it’s important to note that ours is Mexican-inspired. Traditional recipes include orange zest, bay leaf, and Mexican oregano. We prefer to let the pork be the star of the show by highlighting its rich flavor with just a few seasonings.

2. It’s easy to make.

While this isn’t necessarily a “set-it-and-forget-it” recipe, it comes pretty darn close. All you have to do is load up your Dutch oven with the ingredients, and then check in on it a few times over the course of 5 hours.

For a more hands-off pork dinner, make our recipe for slow cooker teriyaki ribs.

3. Great for meal prepping.

Want to get ahead for the week on a Sunday afternoon? Pulled pork shoulder is ideal! It reheats beautifully.

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions

• Pork Shoulder – You’ll need a 4-pound boneless pork shoulder for oven roasted carnitas. Alternatively, you could also use a type of pork butt called Boston butt.
  
• Montreal Steak Seasoning – We almost always have this seasoning blend on hand at home. You could substitute it with an all-purpose seasoning, or make your own by combining garlic powder, onion powder, and salt.
  
• Beef Broth – You need to add some liquid to the pot so that your Dutch oven carnitas don’t dry out while they cook. Vegetable broth works, but the flavor of the meat won’t be quite as rich.
  
• Olive Oil – This is for searing the pork shoulder before roasting it. Avocado oil is another good choice.
  
• Ground Chili Powder – Here’s where the heat comes in! If you like things extra spicy, you can use ground ancho chile or cayenne pepper.

Carnitas FAQ

Ways to Use Mexican Pulled Pork

There are so many delicious ways to use shredded carnitas meat!

Use the pulled or shredded pork as a topping for tater tot tachos, or a filling for burritos or street tacos. 

If you’re craving a Mexican-inspired pulled pork sandwich, we have great recipes for homemade hamburger buns and sourdough rolls.

Honestly, you can use it as a filling for any type of sandwich, taco, and burrito, or as a topping on a fresh salad. It also tastes great paired with our avocado crema or Instant Pot black beans. Don’t be afraid to get creative!

Dutch Oven Carnitas Recipe Tips

This meal is pretty straight-forward and easy to make, but we do have a few tips to ensure the best results.

1. Be generous with the seasonings before searing.

You’ll be applying seasoning to the roast before searing, and then another layer of Mexican spices goes over the seared pork shoulder.

2. Don’t skip the searing.

Before you place your Dutch oven carnitas in the oven for slow roasting, you need to sear the meat on all sides. This helps lock in all of those precious juices and flavors, which ensures perfectly juicy, tender pork.

3. Check on the carnitas as they cook.

It’s important to take a look at the pork shoulder after about 2 ½ hours of cooking. Make sure that it isn’t burning or drying out; if the liquid level looks low, add a bit more broth to the Dutch oven.

4. Check the internal temp and tenderness before shredding.

The roast should be perfectly tender and ready to go after about 5 hours. Pork is safe to eat when the internal temperature reaches 145°F., but it isn’t tender enough for shredding until it reaches about 190°F.

Use two large forks or meat shredding claws to pull the meat apart (where the name Mexican pulled pork comes from) before serving or storing it for later.

TFN Pro Tip
For crispy carnitas, you can broil the shredded carnitas meat on a sheet pan for about 5 minutes before serving.

Storing and Reheating

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator, where they will keep for 3-4 days.

You can also freeze carnitas for future meals. Place the meat in an airtight, freezer-safe container and store it in the freezer. It will keep for up to 3 months! 

To reheat, simply use the microwave or your stovetop. If you want to reheat large quantities, you can place the carnitas on a baking sheet and heat in the oven.

If working from frozen, be sure to let the meat thaw in the fridge overnight for the best results.

Enjoy this Mexican-inspired meal, and please leave a comment and rate the recipe to let us know what you think of it.

This post, first published in April 2018, was updated with new content in April 2023.