Air-Fried Carnitas: A Quick, Crispy, And Delicious Treat

Carnitas are a Mexican dish, typically made with pork that is braised or roasted until tender, shredded, and then fried to crisp up the edges. You can make carnitas in an air fryer, and it's a quick and easy way to enjoy this delicious dish. The air fryer is perfect for achieving perfectly cooked carnitas in a fraction of the time it would take in an oven or on the stove. The key to getting juicy and flavorful carnitas with enticingly crisp edges is to marinate the pork beforehand and cook it at the right temperature and time setting.

Air fryer carnitas recipe

Air Fryer Carnitas is a quick and easy way to enjoy this delicious Mexican dish. With its crispy exterior and tender interior, this recipe is sure to become a new family favourite.

Ingredients:

• Pork: boneless pork shoulder or butt.
• Orange juice: adds acidity to the marinade, which helps tenderize the meat and gives it a complex flavour.
• Cilantro: adds a bright, herby flavour to the carnitas.
• Oil: olive oil, canola oil, safflower oil, or avocado oil.
• Jalapeno pepper: adds a bit of heat to the carnitas (optional).
• Taco seasoning: a blend of spices that adds flavour to the carnitas (chilli powder, cumin, paprika, and garlic powder).
• Salt: kosher salt or sea salt.
• Pepper: freshly ground black pepper.
• Corn tortillas: the traditional choice for carnitas tacos, but flour tortillas can also be used.
• Onion: diced purple onion adds colour, crunch, and flavour to the carnitas tacos.

Method:

• Combine the taco seasoning, oil, orange juice, jalapeno, and cilantro in a small bowl to make the marinade.
• Place the pork in a large bowl and pour the marinade over it, turning the pork to ensure it is fully coated.
• Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 6 hours or overnight.
• Make a foil basket in the air fryer and place the pork inside, along with the remaining marinade.
• Air fry at 350°F for 45 minutes, flipping the pork once during cooking to ensure even browning and crisping.
• Remove the pork from the air fryer and shred the meat while it is still hot.
• Add the remaining taco seasoning and mix.
• Warm the tortillas and fill with the shredded pork, onion, and cilantro.

Tips:

• For the best flavour, it is recommended to marinate the pork for a good long time, preferably overnight.
• Pork shoulder or butt is the best cut of meat for this dish as it has the right amount of fat to make it juicy, flavorful, and crisp.
• If you want to crisp up the pork even further, add it to a large skillet with a couple of tablespoons of oil and cook for about 5 minutes.
• Carnitas can be made up to 3 days ahead of time and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
• Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Marinating the pork

To prepare the marinade, you will need to whisk together taco seasoning, olive oil, fresh orange juice, jalapeno and cilantro in a small bowl. You can also add other spices such as onion powder, garlic powder, cumin, oregano, cinnamon, and chili powder to enhance the flavour. Place the pork in a large bowl and pour the marinade over it, turning the meat to ensure it is fully coated. Cover the bowl and place it in the refrigerator to marinate.

If you are short on time, you can still achieve delicious and flavourful pork by marinating for at least one hour before cooking. However, the longer you can leave it, the better the flavour will be.

Once the pork has finished marinating, you can move on to the next step of cooking your carnitas in the air fryer. This will result in juicy and flavourful meat with enticingly crisp edges—perfect for tacos, burritos, nachos, and more!

Air-frying the carnitas

Step 1: Prepare the Marinade

In a small bowl, whisk together the taco seasoning, olive oil, fresh orange juice, jalapeno, and cilantro. Place the pork in a large bowl and pour the marinade over it, turning the meat to ensure it is fully coated. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least six hours or overnight for the best flavour.

Step 2: Air Fry the Carnitas

After the pork has marinated, line the basket of your air fryer with foil and place the roast inside. Pour the remaining marinade over the top of the pork. Set the air fryer to cook at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 45 minutes. For even cooking, carefully flip the roast over after 30 minutes and cook for the remaining 15 minutes.

Step 3: Shred the Meat

Once the cook time is up, remove the meat from the air fryer basket and shred it with a fork. The pork should be tender and easily shreddable. If it is still tough, return it to the air fryer for a few more minutes.

Step 4: Assemble and Serve

Warm your tortillas according to the package instructions, then fill each tortilla with the shredded pork. Top with diced onion, cilantro, and your favourite toppings. Serve immediately and enjoy!

Tips for Customization:

• For a spicier kick, add chipotle chilli powder or arbol chilli powder to the marinade.
• For a smoky flavour, add 2-3 chopped chipotle peppers in adobo to the onions after sautéing.
• For a touch of sweetness, add 1/4 cup of brown sugar to the spice mix.
• To make street-style tacos, serve the carnitas in warm tortillas with diced onion, cilantro, and a squeeze of lime juice. Add your favourite toppings, such as sour cream or guacamole.

Serving suggestions

Carnitas is a Mexican dish that can be served in a variety of ways. Here are some serving suggestions:

Tacos

Create a delicious taco by filling a warm corn or flour tortilla with the carnitas. Top with your choice of toppings such as diced onions, cilantro, salsa, sour cream, cheese, or guacamole.

Burritos

Roll up the carnitas in a large flour tortilla with beans, rice, salsa, and cheese. You can also add in other ingredients such as avocado, cherry tomatoes, or greens.

Nachos

Layer tortilla chips with carnitas, beans, cheese, and your favourite toppings on a baking sheet. Broil for a few minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly.

Enchiladas

Instead of using the tortillas for tacos, roll them around the shredded carnitas meat and top with enchilada sauce.

Quesadillas

Combine the shredded carnitas meat with shredded cheese in a flour tortilla and toast it to make a quesadilla.

Rice Bowls

Add the carnitas to a bowl of rice with other ingredients such as greens, avocado, cherry tomatoes, and a drizzle of vinaigrette.

Salads

Carnitas can also be served on a bed of greens with toppings such as avocado, cherry tomatoes, and a vinaigrette dressing.

Sandwiches

You can also serve the carnitas as sandwiches by adding the meat to a bun.

Sides

Carnitas can be served with a variety of Mexican sides such as rice, tortillas, or black beans.

Toppings

Some suggested toppings for carnitas include sour cream, guacamole, salsa, diced onions, cilantro, and lime juice.

Storing and reheating carnitas

Firstly, it is important to note that carnitas should be consumed within 3-4 days of cooking and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. If you wish to freeze the carnitas, it can be safely stored for up to three months.

When reheating carnitas, there are several methods you can use, each with its advantages and disadvantages. Here is a detailed guide:

Oven Reheating:

• Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
• Place the carnitas on a baking sheet in a single layer. You can drizzle them with olive oil or cover them with foil to prevent drying.
• Reheat for about 10-15 minutes, or until the carnitas are warmed through.

Stovetop Reheating:

• Use a non-stick skillet or frying pan and heat it to medium or medium-high.
• Add a small amount of olive oil or cooking juices to the pan.
• Place the carnitas in the pan without overcrowding and cook for a few minutes on each side until crispy and heated through.

Air Fryer Reheating:

• Preheat your air fryer to 350°F (175°C).
• Place the carnitas in the air fryer basket, ensuring they are not overcrowded, and heat for about 4-6 minutes, checking regularly to achieve the desired crispiness.

To enhance the flavour and texture of your reheated carnitas, you can add toppings such as salsa, cilantro, onions, lime juice, or avocado.

Additionally, you can incorporate reheated carnitas into various dishes such as tacos, burritos, quesadillas, nachos, salads, or omelettes.

Frequently asked questions