Smoked Pork Carnitas
Crispy shredded pork makes these easy Smoker Pork Carnitas perfect for tacos, salads and more!
Servings: 12
Calories: 193kcal
Ingredients
- 3-4 pounds boneless pork shoulder
- 2 Tablespoons canola oil or olive oil
- 12 ounces Mexican beer
- ½ cup fresh orange juice about 3 oranges juiced
- ½ cup fresh lime juice about 3 limes juiced
- 5 garlic cloves minced
- 1 yellow onion sliced
- Chopped fresh cilantro to garnish optional
Rub
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
Serving Suggestions
- Warm corn tortillas chopped onions, chopped cilantro, avocado, salsa, pico de gallo, crumbled Queso Fresco, lime wedges, etc.
Instructions
- Preheat the pellet grill to 225 degrees Fahrenheit. Put the beer, orange juice, lime juice and garlic into a large grill safe disposable pan. Add thinly sliced onions to the pan.
- Brush pork with olive oil, completely covering.
- In a mixing bowl combine the rub ingredients. Rub all over the pork.
- Place the seasoned pork in the pan.
- Cook on a preheated pellet grill for 4-5 hours or until it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Carefully remove the pan from the grill and place pork shoulder on a cutting board. Cut the meat into 2-3 inch pieces, being sure to keep the pieces evenly sized. Return the pork chunks to the pan.
- Cover the pan with aluminum foil and return to the pellet grill. Turn the temperature up to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and cook for about 2 hours until the meat reaches an internal temperature of 195 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Remove the tinfoil from the pan and allow the meat to rest for about 30 minutes.
- Take pork out of the pan, reserving the juices in the pan, and shred the pork.
- After the pan of juices has set, skim off the fat from the top and remove any fat from the pan.
- Next, drizzle some olive oil in a cast iron skillet. Heat the pan on your stove top over medium-high heat or place it back on the smoker at a temperature of 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
- When the oil is hot, place the smoked pulled pork along with a couple Tablespoons of reserved juices in the skillet. Cook until the bottom of the meat is browned. Serve with tortillas and toppings.
Notes
FRIDGE: Place leftovers in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
FREEZER: Store leftovers in a freezer bag or airtight container and keep in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw completely before reheating.
Nutrition
Calories: 193kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.03g | Cholesterol: 68mg | Sodium: 457mg | Potassium: 506mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 133IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 24mg | Iron: 1mg