Carnitas Bowl Mexican Pork (Printable)

Tender slow-cooked pork over fluffy rice with beans, salsa, and creamy avocado for a satisfying Mexican-inspired meal.

# Ingredient List:

→ Pork Carnitas

01 - 1.5 lbs boneless pork shoulder, cut into large chunks
02 - 1 tsp salt
03 - 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
04 - 1 tsp ground cumin
05 - 1 tsp dried oregano
06 - 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
07 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
08 - 1/2 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 - 1/2 tsp salt

→ Pinto Beans

15 - 1 can (15 oz) pinto beans, drained and rinsed
16 - 1/4 tsp ground cumin
17 - 1/4 tsp chili powder
18 - 1/4 cup water

→ Toppings

19 - 1 cup fresh tomato salsa
20 - 1 large ripe avocado, sliced
21 - 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
22 - 1 lime, cut into wedges

# How-to Steps:

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.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • The pork becomes so tender it practically dissolves on your tongue, and you get those crispy charred bits if you broil them right.
  • Everything can be prepped ahead, which means you're really just assembling a restaurant-quality meal on a busy weeknight.
  • It's the kind of customizable dish where everyone at the table builds their own adventure, piling on as much salsa or avocado as they want.
02 -
  • Don't skip the broiling step if you want that restaurant quality texture, because crispy pork edges are what separates good carnitas from unforgettable ones.
  • The salsa and avocado stay fresher and taste brighter if you add them right before eating, not hours ahead of time when they'd turn brown and tired.
03 -
  • Buy your avocado slightly under-ripe and it'll be perfect by the time you're ready to eat, which solves the entire problem of mushy or brown fruit.
  • Keep the citrus juice separate until the last moment before cooking so you can taste as you go and adjust the seasoning to your preference.
Go Back