Dutch Oven Carnitas Recipe

Looking for a different way to prepare pork while camping? Try out this Dutch Oven Carnitas recipe.

Pork Carnitas in a Dutch Oven with Citrus slices

We have another great recipe for you today. It is a Mexican pulled pork, aka carnitas.

Carnitas means “little meats” and is a popular meat used in pork tacos, enchiladas, burrito bowls, or other Mexican food. We like carnitas tacos with corn tortillas topped with chopped red onion, pico de gallo with fresh cilantro, sour cream, and hot sauce.

Like our Dutch Oven Wet Tacos, this pork carnitas recipe is a little more involved than our usual recipes. Preparation is still relatively easy, but the cooking time is long. You will find that the extra step is well worth the effort.

Dutch Oven Carnitas

You and your family will love this recipe because it:

  • is made from an inexpensive cut of pork
  • goes together easily
  • gives off the best aroma
  • taste delicious
  • is an alternative to the same old camping dinners

You will enjoy eating this shredded meat on a flour tortilla or top of a rice bowl.

Pork Carnitas Ingredients

The following ingredients are used in this easy carnitas recipe.

  • Boneless pork shoulder
  • Mexican carnitas spice blend*
  • Bacon
  • Onion
  • Salsa
  • Beer
  • Oranges
  • Lemons or Limes

*You can purchase a Street Taco Carnitas Seasoning Mix or make your own. I used ground cumin, chipotle chili powder, dried Mexican oregano, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and ground black pepper as seen in this Carnitas Seasoning Mix recipe.

Dutch Oven Carnitas Ingredients

How to Make Carnitas in a Dutch Oven

The cooking process steps for this recipe are:

  1. Rub the roast with the carnitas seasoning blend
  2. Cook the chopped bacon and onions in the bottom of the Dutch oven
  3. Brown the sides of the pork roast in the bacon grease
  4. Pour the salsa and beer over the roast
  5. Add sliced oranges and lemons to the pot
  6. Cover and cook for 20 minutes per pound

Detailed directions are found at the bottom of this post.

Pork Carnitas in a Dutch Oven with pulled pork in a pan and tacos

Best Cut of Meat for Dutch Oven Carnitas

The preferred cut of pork for this recipe is Boston Butt. This fatty pork comes from the shoulder and not the rear of the pig. Pork loin does not work for this recipe because it is too lean.

A pork butt might come with pork pieces wrapped in an elastic band, which you cut away before cooking. Just make sure to rub seasoning and brown all sides of all the pieces.

I do the meal prep at home by rubbing the seasoning on the pork in my kitchen and then storing it in an airtight container in my cooler to take to the campground.

Use of Lard or Bacon?

Traditionally, lard is used in homemade carnitas. This recipe uses bacon instead.

Cut the bacon into bite-size pieces and cook it in the cast iron pot along with the chopped onion. Do not drain the bacon grease for best results.

Recipe Liquids

The liquids in this recipe not only provide the moisture to cook the meat, but they also add a lot of flavor. Salsa, beer, and the orange juice from the citrus provide amazing flavors.

If you do not want to use beer, chicken broth is a great alternative. The first time I made this recipe, the heat was too high, and the liquid evaporated. I have adjusted the recipe since then.

Dutch Oven Cooking Tip

Since this is a long cook, you will need to prepare a lot of coal briquettes. The target temperature is 325°. A 10-inch cast iron oven will need approximately 19 coals, and a 12-inch will need 23.

Coals will die out and lose their heat, so prepare more coals to add or substitute when needed.

Mexican Pork made in a Dutch Oven

Recipe Adaptations

While we made this carnitas recipe in a large Dutch oven while camping, it can be made in a slow cooker or instant pot at home.

Pork in an Instant Pot
Cook the bacon and onions at the bottom of the pot in saut mode. Brown the pork in cooked bacon and onion. Add the remaining ingredients. Hit the cancel button, put the lid on the IP in sealing mode, and cook on high pressure for 60 minutes.
Pork in an Instant Pot
Cook the bacon and onions in the bottom of the pot in Saute mode. Brown the pork in cooked bacon and onion. Add the remaining ingredients. Hit the cancel button, put the lid on the IP in sealing mode, and cook on high pressure for 60 minutes.

Either of these appliances will produce very moist pork because it sits in the cooking liquid. Remove the pork with a slotted spoon. Shred and place the pork in a large baking sheet pan, and put it under a broiler for 3-5 minutes to create crispy carnitas.

Mexican pulled pork in a foil pan with a Dutch oven and tacos

Whichever method you choose to prepare this Dutch Oven Carnitas recipe, you will love the results. You might create the best tacos you have ever had.

More Dutch Oven Main Dishes

Yield: 3-5 pounds

Carnitas Dutch Oven Recipe

close up of Dutch Oven Carnitas

This Dutch Oven Carnitas recipe is easy to make. Use it to make street tacos or burritos on your next camping trip. It can also be made at home in a slow cooker or pressure cooker.

Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Additional Time 40 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 10 minutes

Ingredients

  • 3-5 pound boneless pork butt
  • 2-3 TBSP of Mexican carnitas spice blend
  • 1 pound of bacon
  • 2 onions
  • 1 jar salsa (16 oz)
  • 1 can of beer (24 oz)
  • 2 oranges
  • 2 lemons

Instructions

  1. Prepare charcoal briquettes for a 325° bake. Dutch Oven Temperature Chart
  2. Rub the pork roast with the carnitas seasoning mix.
  3. Chop the bacon and onion and cook in the bottom of the Dutch oven.
  4. Brown all the sides of the pork in the bacon grease.
  5. Add pork to the pot.
  6. Cover the meat with the salsa and beer.
  7. Slice the oranges and lemons/limes and add to the pot.
  8. Cover and cook for 20 minutes per pound. Add time as necessary. The pork is done when it easily shreds.
  9. Remove the coals, shred the pork, pour off the liquid, and let it crisp up in the hot oven for a few minutes.



Notes

Recipe Adaptations

Crock Pot Carnitas: Do steps 3 & 4 above in a hot skillet. Brown the pork in the skillet, then transfer the ingredients to the crock. Pork cooks in a slow cooker for 1 hour per pound on high and 2 hours per pound on low.

Instant Pot Carnitas: Do steps 3 & 4 above in the bottom of the pot on Saute mode. Brown the pork in cooked bacon and onion. Hit the cancel button, put the lid on the IP in sealing mode, and cook on high pressure for 60 minutes.

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