Carnitas Bowl (Printable)

Slow-cooked pork over fluffy rice with beans, fresh salsa, and creamy avocado for a vibrant, customizable meal.

# What You Need:

→ Pork Carnitas

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

→ Pinto Beans

15 - 1 can (15 ounces) pinto beans, drained and rinsed
16 - 0.25 teaspoon ground cumin
17 - 0.25 teaspoon 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 and easily shreds with a fork.
02 - Using two forks, shred the cooked pork directly in the slow cooker. For crispy edges, transfer shredded pork to a baking sheet and broil for 5-7 minutes until browned and caramelized.
03 - 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.
04 - 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.
05 - Divide cooked rice evenly among four serving bowls. Layer with pinto beans, shredded carnitas, fresh salsa, avocado slices, and cilantro. Serve with lime wedges on the side for brightness.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It actually tastes even better the next day because all those flavors have had time to get to know each other.
  • You get to customize every bite, which means everyone at the table is happy eating the exact bowl they want.
  • Most of the work happens in a slow cooker while you go about your day, then you've got restaurant-quality food waiting.
02 -
  • Don't skip rinsing the rice or you'll end up with a sticky, gluey situation instead of fluffy grains.
  • Shredding the pork while it's warm is crucial because it pulls apart so much more easily, and if you wait until it cools down you'll fight with it.
  • The avocado should be added right before eating because it starts to brown and oxidize as soon as it's exposed to air and lime juice helps prevent that.
03 -
  • The citrus in the carnitas is what separates good from exceptional—don't use bottled juice if you can help it because fresh makes a real difference.
  • If your slow cooker runs hot, check the pork around the 6-hour mark because different cookers have different personalities and you don't want it falling apart before the time's up.
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