Carnitas Bowl (Printable)

Tender pork carnitas over rice with beans, salsa, and avocado for a hearty customizable meal.

# What you need:

→ Pork Carnitas

01 - 1.5 lbs boneless pork shoulder, cut into large chunks
02 - 1 tsp salt
03 - 0.5 tsp freshly ground black pepper
04 - 1 tsp ground cumin
05 - 1 tsp dried oregano
06 - 0.5 tsp 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 tsp salt

→ Pinto Beans

15 - 1 can (15 oz) pinto beans, drained and rinsed
16 - 0.25 tsp ground cumin
17 - 0.25 tsp 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 it:

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. 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 with pinto beans, carnitas, salsa, avocado slices, and cilantro. Serve with lime wedges on the side.

# Helpful Hints:

01 -
  • The pork becomes so tender it falls apart with barely a whisper, a payoff that makes the slow cooking feel worth every hour.
  • It's a bowl that actually lets you decide what matters most—more salsa, less beans, extra avocado—making everyone at the table happy without fuss.
02 -
  • Don't skip rinsing the rice—it makes the difference between grains that clump together and ones that stay light and separate.
  • The slow cook time is what turns the pork into something magical, so resist the urge to rush it on high heat unless you truly need it faster.
03 -
  • If you don't have a slow cooker, braise the pork in a covered Dutch oven in a 300-degree oven for the same amount of time—it's just as tender and you'll get the same depth of flavor.
  • Broiling the shredded pork isn't optional if you love texture; those crispy edges are what make bites interesting and give you something to look forward to with each spoonful.
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