The Best Smoked Carnitas Recipe: [COMPLETE GUIDE]

Smoked pork carnitas offers a non-traditional way to enjoy scrumptious carnitas. The slow smoke guarantees rich, mouthwatering pork with crisp edges that you will enjoy with your friends or family members.

To make juicy smoked carnitas, cook it low and slowly over pecan wood or apple wood. The best way to shred the meat is to use shredding claws. Use the claws to dig into the smoked meat and slowly twist it, pulling it into juicy strings. While pecan wood is the best for this particular recipe, you should be free to use your favorite woods as long as they won’t be too strong.

When making carnitas, one of the best ways to enhance its flavors is to adjust the seasoning. Adding cayenne pepper, chipotle peppers, or hot sauce and incorporating herbs such as ground coriander will see you intensify its flavor. Stay tuned to the end and enjoy the fantastic Mexican-inspired flavors.

What Is Carnitas?

The term carnitas describes a traditional Mexican dish comprising shredded pork that is slow-cooked to become tender and juicy. It is then sliced and cooked over high heat to make it crispy and more delicious. You can top your already mouthwatering carnitas with chopped onion, frijoles refritos, and cilantro before serving it in tortillas to make tostadas, tacos, or quesadillas.

What is the best meat cut for carnitas? Although any cut can do fine, the pork butt obtained from the upper part of the shoulder is the best part to try out. The pork butt is rich in fat and marbling, making it have a unique flavor when used in the preparation of carnitas. The low and slow cooking technique breaks down the collagen in the cut to make it tender and delicious.

Smoked Carnitas Recipe

Use this recipe to make juicy smoked pork carnitas over pecan wood. You can serve the tender shredded pork in your choice of quesadillas, tacos, or even a nacho topping.

Ingredients and Equipment

• Pecan smoking wood
• Aluminum pan
• Cast iron skillet
• Aluminum foil

Marinade

• Vegetable oil
• A sliced orange
• Salt
• Limes

Seasoning

• Dark brown sugar
• Salt
• Chill powder
• Granulated onion
• Cinnamon
• Cumin
• Mexican oregano
• Black pepper

Instructions

1. Marinate The Pork

Ensure that you marinade it to infuse a tasty flavor to your pork cut. When marinating the pork, you can use a large zip-top bag or a food-safe container. Sprinkle the meat with salt, orange, and lime juice. Refrigerate the marinated meat for 12 hours.

2. Preheat The Smoker

After marinating and refrigerating your meat for 12 hours, preheat your smoker to 225 degrees Fahrenheit. You can use pelican wood or your favorite wood for smoking, depending on your taste and preference.

3. Season The Meat

Remove the pork from the marinade and pat it gently to eliminate excessive liquids. Combine all the seasoning ingredients in a large bowl. Before you start the seasoning, drizzle the pork with some oil and ensure that you spread it all around. Proceed to season the pork on all sides.

4. Smoke

Place the pork on your preheated smoker and close the lead. For the best results, let it cook for 5-6 hours or until it attains an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

5. Prepare To Braise

Transfer the smoked pork into an aluminum pan and pour some reasonable amount of oil on it. Put bay leaves on top and cover tightly with a foil.

6. Braise The Pork

Increase the heat of your smoker to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and place the covered pan inside before closing the lid. Allow the meat to cook for another 3-4 hours or until it attains an internal temperature of 203 degrees Fahrenheit.

7. Rest And Shred

Let the meat rest at room temperature for about an hour before commencing the shredding. Shred the meat removing fat and large bone, and discard the bay leaves. Do discard the liquid in the aluminum pan as you will require it in the next step.

8. Crisp The Pork

Preheat the cast iron skillet to a medium temperature. Drizzle the skillet with 1-2 tablespoons of the cooking oil and cook the shredded pork for 2-3 minutes while occasionally flipping to guarantee an even browning.

9. Enjoy

Serve your delicious carnitas immediately on nachos, burritos, or even plain. It all depends on how you want to enjoy it.

Authentic Smoked Carnitas Recipe

While making mouthwatering carnitas is pretty easy, the numerous recipes online can easily confuse you into making the wrong dish. Therefore, whenever you are ready to make your carnitas, ensure that you have access to an authentic smoked carnitas recipe like the one above. Generally, an authentic smoked carnitas recipe should guide you to;

• Crisp in Batches – You deal with large pork if you prepare your carnitas for many people. Do the last crisping in batches to ensure you get a delicious crispy meal.
• Keep dishes to aluminum – Aluminum foil pans work the best in offering mouthwatering carnitas.
• Reserve the Cooking Liquid – When braising the pork, you will get delicious juices on the skillet. The juices are delicious, and you should use them to keep the pork tasty.

How To Make Smoked Carnitas

Whether an experienced barbecue enthusiast or a beginner, making smoked carnitas is a simple process that should not give you a hard time. The procedure comprises a few straightforward processes that include;

• Marinating the pork
• Preheating the smoker to 225 degrees Fahrenheit
• Seasoning the pork with salt and your favorite seasoning
• Smoking
• Braising the pork
• Resting and shredding
• Crisping the pork

In addition to understanding the steps to follow when cooking carnitas, you also need to be familiar with some pro tips to put into consideration which comprise;

• Ensuring that you do not skip broiling the smoked carnitas as it guarantees flavorful char and texture
• Letting the pork rest for about an hour before shredding to prevent the juices from escaping
• Using pecan or apple wood for the best results
• Buy the best quality rub for a delicious flavor. Alternatively, if you know how to make your dry rub, ensure it is of the best quality.
• Freshly squeezed limes and oranges to get the juice you need to make a great meal.

How To Make Carnitas Out Of Smoked Pork Butt

The process is straightforward if you already have smoked pork butt and want to make carnitas. Here are the steps to follow to make carnitas out of smoked pork butt;

• Shred the smoked butt. Alternatively, you can chop the smoked butt
• Place the shredded smoked butt on a sheet pan in a single layer
• Take a large bowl and mix lime juice, orange juice, cumin, salt, and mince garlic to make a sauce
• Pour the sauce on your shredded butt and stir to coat evenly

Cook the

• Cook on a medium-hot skillet for about 25 minutes, stirring until it becomes crispy
• Garnish with cilantro
• Serve however you want; it can be with tortillas and favorite toppings.

How To Choose The Best Smoking Woods

Besides ensuring that you choose the best cut of pork for delicious carnitas, you also need to make sure that you select the suitable wood. How you are going to smoke the pork will have a significant impact on the quality of the end product.

To make the best carnitas, you must settle for mild smoking woods with a subtle fruit aroma. The idea behind the type of wood you choose is to complement the natural flavor of the pork. Applewood or pecan are excellent for smoking delicious pork. If you do not have access to those iconic two, you can try out peachwood, orange, or maple.

Avoid strong woods such as hickory or mesquite, as they are likely to overpower your pork and interfere with its delicious flavor.

Conclusion

Making juicy smoked pork carnitas is easy if you have the necessary tools and are ready to follow the correct instructions. The best way to shred your smoked pork for excellent carnitas is to use a pair of shredding claws. Further, do not forget to use suitable wood, pecan, or applewood.