Carnitas Bowl Mexican Pork (Printer-Friendly)

Tender slow-cooked pork served over fluffy rice with pinto beans, fresh salsa, and creamy avocado for a vibrant, satisfying meal.

# What You'll Need:

→ Pork Carnitas

01 - 1.5 lbs boneless pork shoulder, cut into large chunks
02 - 1 teaspoon salt
03 - 0.5 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
04 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
05 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
06 - 0.5 teaspoon smoked paprika
07 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
08 - 0.5 onion, chopped
09 - 1 orange, juiced
10 - 1 lime, juiced
11 - 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth

→ Rice

12 - 1 cup long-grain white rice
13 - 2 cups water
14 - 0.5 teaspoon salt

→ Pinto Beans

15 - 1 can (15 ounces) pinto beans, drained and rinsed
16 - 0.25 teaspoon ground cumin
17 - 0.25 teaspoon chili powder
18 - 0.25 cup water

→ Toppings

19 - 1 cup fresh tomato salsa
20 - 1 large ripe avocado, sliced
21 - 0.25 cup chopped fresh cilantro
22 - 1 lime, cut into wedges

# How To Make:

01 - In a slow cooker, combine pork shoulder, salt, pepper, cumin, oregano, smoked paprika, garlic, onion, orange juice, lime juice, and chicken broth. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours or on high for 4 hours, until pork is very tender and easily shreds. Shred pork with two forks. For crispy edges, transfer shredded pork to a baking sheet and broil for 5-7 minutes until browned.
02 - Rinse rice under cold water until water runs clear. In a medium saucepan, combine rice, water, and salt. Bring to a boil, then cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer for 15 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand, covered, for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork.
03 - In a small saucepan, combine pinto beans, cumin, chili powder, and water. Simmer over medium heat for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until heated through.
04 - Divide rice evenly among four bowls. Top each bowl with pinto beans, carnitas, salsa, avocado slices, and cilantro. Serve with lime wedges on the side.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The pork gets so impossibly tender that it practically melts on your tongue, no fancy butcher skills required.
  • You can prep everything in advance and assemble bowls in minutes when hunger strikes, making weeknight dinners feel way less stressful.
02 -
  • Don't cut your pork shoulder into tiny pieces—large chunks stay juicier and more forgiving during those long hours of cooking, plus they shred into better texture at the end.
  • If your slow cooker runs hot, check the pork after 6 hours instead of waiting the full time, because overcooked carnitas turns into something closer to pulled pork, which isn't bad but isn't what you're aiming for.
03 -
  • Save the cooking liquid from your carnitas and freeze it—it's liquid gold for soups or for reheating carnitas later, and it keeps them from drying out.
  • Juice your lime wedges right at the table and let people control how much brightness they want, because lime is personal and what tastes perfect to you might be too much for someone else.
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