What is the secret to good carnitas?

I've made carnitas many times using a completely different method and it turned out pretty good. But it is important to note that the traditional way to make carnitas is by slow cooking it in lard . I think it also gives it a more authentic taste. Seasoning- Salt, Mexican oregano, cumin, & black pepper.

What's carnitas in English?

Carnitas, literally meaning " little meats ", is a dish of Mexican cuisine that originated in the state of Michoacán. Carnitas are made by braising or simmering pork in oil or preferably lard until tender.

Why do you put orange juice in carnitas?

The orange juice in the cooking liquid provides acidity that helps break down the meat so it's extra tender and juicy .

Why do people put co*ke in carnitas?

The soda really tenderizes the meat and in the case of the Dr. Pepper, was sweeter than co*ke. I ended up keeping some of the pork aside before putting the bbq sauce on - it tasted so good just as it was.

What is carnitas seasoning made of?

Ingredients. Salt, Spices (Including Cumin, Chipotle Pepper, Paprika), Onion, Garlic, Sugar, Yeast Extract, Citric Acid, Extractives of Paprika, Extractives of Black Pepper, Extractives of Cumin, Extractive of Lime, Extractives of Cilantro, Extractives of Garlic, and Natural Flavor (Including Mesquite Smoke).

Why do Mexicans eat carnitas?

A Dish for Festive Occasions Carnitas is associated with festive occasions, and it's usually consumed during weekends, particularly on Sundays, the traditional “mercado”, or marketplace, day in Mexico.

How do Mexicans eat carnitas?

Carnitas are so versatile, you can fill any burrito, taco, quesadilla OR use them as a topping for Nachos! Include them in a salad like this Chipotle Carnitas Salad! Serve them with the typical onion/cilantro topping typically seen served on Mexican food trucks OR a good Guacamole or Pico De Gallo!

How do you keep carnitas from drying out?

For our carnitas, we want the temperature of the confit cooking fat to be about 200°F (93°C) or a little higher . At this temperature, we won't be drying out the surface of the meat cubes while we heat their centers.

Why do you add milk to carnitas?

Adding the oranges is very much like braising pork Cuban-style for the traditional cubano sandwich. The milk acts as a tenderizer , a secret I learned while growing up watching dad make his carnitas which, by the way, were always exceptionally tender.

How do restaurants cook carnitas?

They are braised until they are fall apart tender. Then they get roasted in the oven to make the outside crisp . So part of them should be soft, and part of the outside should be crusty. Some recipes don't crisp up the meat at the end but authentic carnitas should be crispped.

How do you make carnitas not dry?

Just go for water, then. Water and a touch of neutral flavoured vegetable oil or lard or suet if you have any of those . And don't overdo the water, just sprinkle a few spoonsful and keep the meat covered. Another alternative is to add a bit extra water and then cook off the water when you're ready to serve.

Chicken Carnitas {Quick & Easy Sheet Pan Recipe}

THIS POST IS SPONSORED BY
ALDI, who I’m thrilled to partner & share with you all throughout 2021. ALDI is my favorite one-stop-shop for dinner any night, but especially taco night! All thoughts & opinions are my own.

Everything you love about carnitas…in 30 minutes or less!

I’ve been on a serious Mexican food kick lately. Whether we’re ordering tacos from our favorite neighborhood spot or DIY-ing it at home, carnitas is always a go-to. After all, it’s hard to beat the succulent, rich flavor of pork that cooks low & slow. When carnitas cravings don’t happen with much foresight, though, it creates quite the dinnertime conundrum. That’s exactly how this Chicken Carnitas recipe came to be.

I’m honestly a little giddy about this recipe because it’s so good. It replicates the flavors & textures of traditional pork carnitas, with a dramatically reduced cook time thanks to chicken!

The chicken gets that signature carnitas flavor from a quick & zippy citrus marinade & here’s the kicker – it’s an easy & healthy sheet pan dinner that bakes up in less than 20 minutes. Plus, it’s super versatile. You can make chicken carnitas tacos, burritos, burrito bowls, taco salads, nachos, tostadas…anything!

Best yet, everything you need to make a chicken carnitas feast is available at ALDI! ALDI is my favorite one-stop-shop for dinner any night, but even more so on taco night. They carry everything you need for an amazing chicken carnitas tacos spread – chicken, beautiful winter citrus (which is used in the carnitas marinade, but you can also use it to make a seriously good winter citrus pico de gallo), tortillas, & toppings a-plenty – & it’s all available at the best prices.

this Recipe for Later!

Next time you’re at ALDI (or next time you place a curbside or Instacart order online!), be sure to grab all of your favorite taco fixings, because these are guaranteed to be a new taco night fave! ♡ Read on to learn more about these Chicken Carnitas orjump straight to the recipe& get cookin’!

Wait, what are chicken carnitas?

Carnitas directly translates to “little meats,” but most commonly refers to the Mexican pulled pork we all know & love. Originating in Michoacan, Mexico, carnitas is traditionally made by braising or roasting pork shoulder. While the ingredients used in carnitas vary by region, the resulting dish is always succulent, juicy, fall-apart tender perfection.

So, what are chicken carnitas, then? This recipe draws inspiration from the flavors & textures of traditional pork carnitas. Chicken thighs soak up a fresh & zippy citrus marinade & bake on a sheet pan until completely juicy & tender. Since chicken is so much leaner than pork, chicken carnitas cook up much faster than pork carnitas, which is great for busy weeknights, & I promise they deliver big flavor, too!

This easy chicken dinner starts with a quick carnitas marinade.

The zippy, citrusy marinade is what makes this chicken carnitas recipe shine. It’s made with just a handful of simple ingredients & it’s so easy to throw together, but it adds so much bright flavor to the chicken.

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You will need….

Chicken– You canuse either chicken thighs or chicken breastsfor these chicken carnitas. Since they’re baked & broiled for a crispy finish, I prefer using thighs since they’re a little more forgiving & don’t dry out easily. If you choose to use breasts, either pound them out flat or butterfly them by slicing them in half lengthwise. This helps to ensure they cook evenly & quickly, creating juicier chicken carnitas.
Citrus– True to pork carnitas, the base of this chicken carnitas marinade is a combination of fresh orange & fresh lime. Use both the zest & juice for maximum flavor.
Aromatics– Namelygarlic, jalapeno, ground cumin, & dried oregano. Pretty simple!
Olive oil– Just the littlest bit brings it all together.

Suggested marinating time ⇢ Due to the amount of citrus in the carnitas marinade, you won’t want to let the chicken marinate for too, too long. Aim for at least 20 minutes & no more than 8 hours.

How to make chicken carnitas:

The beautiful thing about this chicken carnitas recipe? It’s some straight-up sheet pan magic. Once the chicken has marinated, a sheet pan does the rest of the work!

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Here’s how it happens…

Transfer the chicken to a sheet pan: Transfer the marinated chicken to a quarter baking sheet. Be sure to drain & discard any excess marinade so the chicken roasts evenly.
Bake: Pop the pan in the oven & bake until the chicken is just nearly cooked through. It takes about 15-18 minutes depending on the thickness of your chicken.
Shred the chicken into bite-sized pieces. My favorite trick for the easiest shredded chicken is a trusty stand mixer. The paddle attachment does all the work & creates perfectly pulled chicken.
Broil for crispy chicken carnitas: Place the shredded chicken back on the sheet pan & pop it under the broiler for a few minutes, until the edges are browned & crispy. Easiest carnitas ever!

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How to serve carnitas:

Aside from its ease & flavor, the one thing you’ll love most about this chicken carnitas recipe is its versatility. You can build any of your favorite Mexican & Tex-Mex dishes around them – chicken carnitas tacos, burritos, burrito bowls, taco salads, nachos, tostadas…you name it!

My go-to is a hybrid chicken carnitas taco salad-meets-burrito bowl situation. Pile your favorite salad greens in a bowl with rice or quinoa, black beans, crispy chicken carnitas, & whatever other toppings you love most.

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A few toppings ideas to get you started:

Salsa– The Specially Selected Salsas at ALDI are amazing!
Queso fresco or shredded pepper jack, or sour creamoryogurtfor extra tang. If you want a fun dairy-free sauce, trycashew crema– we have an original, a smoky chipotle, & a cilantro lime versionhere on PWWB!
Fresh veggies– Thinly slicedjalapeno, finely dicedred onion, halved or quarteredcherry tomatoes, radish matchsticks, etc.
Slicedavocado, or a big ol’ dollop ofguacamole!
Loads of fresh lime juice & finely chopped cilantro
& so on…

Take it over the top with Winter Citrus Pico de Gallo…

If you really want to take your chicken carnitas dinner over the top, you have to try Winter Citrus Pico de Gallo. While developing these chicken carnitas, I played around with the idea of swapping fresh tomatoes with beautiful winter citrus in a quick & fresh pico, & it turned out too good not to share!

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Winter Citrus Pico de Gallo ⇢ Peel, segment, & roughly chop 2 Cara Cara oranges & 1 grapefruit. Finely dice 1/2 red onion & 1 medium jalapeño. Add everything to a small bowl with a handful of roughly chopped cilantro. Stir & season with freshly squeezed lime juice, salt & ground black pepper to taste. Prep it while the chicken is in the oven & serve with your chicken carnitas – easy!

…& to really make an occasion out of it, don’t forget the chips, whip up a batch of guac, & make yourself a quick Paloma! Taco night perfection!

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I can’t wait for you to try this easy Chicken Carnitas recipe. We’re seriously obsessed, & I know you will be too. If you do give it a try, be sure to let me know! Leave a comment with a star rating below. You can also snap a photo & tag @playswellwithbutteronInstagram. I LOVE hearing about & seeing your PWWB creations! Happy cooking! ♡

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Easy Sheet Pan Chicken Carnitas

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 21 reviews

Author: Jess Larson
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 60 minutes
Yield: serves 4
Category: Tacos, Burritos & Enchiladas Recipes, Main Dishes
Method: Sheet Pan, Baked
Cuisine: Mexican & Tex-Mex
Diet: Gluten Free

Print Recipe

Description

A new weeknight dinner favorite: Sheet Pan Chicken Carnitas! Chicken thighs marinate in a fresh & zippy carnitas-inspired sauce made with citrus, jalapeno, & cumin, & bake until completely juicy & tender. Finish them under the broiler for the easiest crispy carnitas you’ll ever make!

Ingredients

Scale

1 1/2 pounds Kirkwood Fresh Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs (see Recipe Notes)
1/2 yellow onion, thinly sliced
2 large, juicy oranges, zested & juiced
2 large, juicy limes, zested & juiced
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped or grated
1 medium jalapeno, deseeded as desired & finely chopped
2 tablespoons Simply Nature Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 teaspoon Stonemill Ground Cumin
1 teaspoon StonemillOregano
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
for serving, as desired: charred Pueblo Lindo White Corn Tortillas, cilantro lime rice, Simply Nature Organic Black Beans, sour creamorcashew crema,pickled red onions, freshly choppedcilantro,Pueblo Lindo Queso Fresco orcheese of choice,salsa of choice, winter citrus pico de gallo (see blog post above), lime wedges, etc.

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

Marinate the chicken:Add the orange zest & juice, lime zest & juice, garlic, jalapeno, olive oil, cumin, oregano & kosher salt to a large bowl. Whisk to combine. Add in the chicken thighs & yellow onion. Toss to combine. Set aside to marinate for at least 20 minutes or marinate in the refrigerator (covered) for up to 8 hours.
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F, arranging the oven racks such that one is in the center of the oven & one is 4-6 inches under the broiler. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with foil for easy clean up, as desired, and set aside.
Bake the chicken: Transfer the marinated chicken & onions to the prepared baking sheet, draining & discarding any excess marinade. Bake on the center rack for 15-18 minutes, depending on the thickness of your chicken thighs. The chicken should be nearly cooked through. Remove the chicken from the oven to shred, and meanwhile preheat the broiler.
Shred the chicken carnitas:Carefully shred the chicken into bite-sized pieces – you can do so using 2 forks, or my favorite trick: pop the chicken thighs directly into in a stand mixer & let the paddle attachment do the work for you (I swear this works!). Transfer the shredded chicken back onto the baking sheet.
Broil for crispy chicken carnitas:Place the baking sheet under the broiler. Broil 4-5 minutes, turning the pan halfway through, until the chicken carnitas are browned & slightly crisp.
Serve: Place the crispy chicken carnitas in tortillas for tacos or a bowl with rice & beans for burrito bowls, finishing with your favorite taco night toppings of choice: sour cream/Mexican crema, pickled red onions, cilantro, etc. Enjoy!

Notes

Can I use boneless, skinless chicken breasts instead? Yes. I prefer thighs since they’re flavorful & stay really nice & juicy through roasting + broiling, but you can swap them out with breasts if you prefer. Either pound the breasts out flat or cut them in half lengthwise (butterflied) to ensure they roast up evenly. Skip broiling (Step 5), as the breast meat will dry out.
Storage & freezing: Leftover chicken carnitas will keep, stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator, for up to 4 days. It’s also a wonderfulfreezer staple since you can easily thaw it out and use it on tacos, nachos, taco salads, burrito bowls, etc. for an easy dinner down the road. To freeze, transfer cooled chicken carnitas to a freezer bag or container. Freeze for up to 3 months. Defrost by placing in the refrigerator overnight to thaw, or by submerging the freezer bag/container in room temp water for 20-25 minutes.
10-Minute Meal Prep: Nearly all of the active prep work for this sheet pan chicken comes from prepping the marinade. Whisk it up in advance to get a head start on your chicken carnitas – it’ll take 10 minutes, tops:
- Thinly slice 1/2 yellow onion, storing in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- Prep the marinade according to Step 1 of Recipe Directions, above. Store in a jar or airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. The day you’d like to make carnitas, all you have to do is toss the chicken into the marinade – so easy! Marinate for at least 20 minutes or marinate in the refrigerator (covered) for up to 8 hours.

Recipe & Food Styling by Jess Larson, Plays Well With Butter | Photography byRachel Cook, Half Acre House.

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