Chipotle Carnitas Recipe

This tender, juicy Copycat Chipotle Carnitas Recipe is made with pork shoulder and juniper berries, ready in 8 hours and 15 minutes. The pork falls apart at the touch of a fork after simmering low and slow. I make this for meal prep almost every Sunday.

Restaurant-Quality At Home

I used to spend too much money grabbing lunch just to satisfy my carnitas cravings. Learning to make it myself completely changed my weekly routine.

My biggest surprise was discovering that juniper berries are the secret ingredient. If you skip them, the flavor just will not taste like the real thing.

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Copycat Chipotle Carnitas Recipe Ingredients

• 3 lbs pork shoulder, cut into large chunks
• 1 tbsp sunflower oil
• 2 tsp kosher salt
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 1 tbsp dried thyme
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 tbsp crushed juniper berries
• 1 cup chicken broth

How To Make Copycat Chipotle Carnitas Recipe

1. Season the Pork: Cut the pork shoulder into 3-inch chunks and rub evenly with salt and black pepper.
2. Sear the Meat: Heat the sunflower oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the pork chunks until browned on all sides, about 5 minutes per side.
3. Add to Slow Cooker: Transfer the browned pork to a slow cooker. Pour in the chicken broth and add the thyme, bay leaves, and crushed juniper berries.
4. Slow Cook: Cover and cook on low for 8 hours until the meat is extremely tender.
5. Shred the Pork: Remove the meat from the slow cooker, discarding the bay leaves. Use two forks to shred the pork, then toss it with a ladle of the cooking liquid.

Recipe Tips

• Don’t skip the sear: Browning the meat creates a deeper, richer flavor base for the slow cooker.
• Crush the berries: Crushing the juniper berries releases their essential oils into the broth.
• Save the liquid: Tossing the shredded pork with the leftover cooking juices keeps it moist when reheating.

What To Serve With Carnitas

Serve this with warm flour tortillas, cilantro lime rice, and black beans. A side of fresh tomato salsa and homemade guacamole finishes the bowl perfectly.

How To Store

Store leftover pork in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. You can also freeze the shredded meat in freezer-safe bags for up to 3 months.

FAQs

Can I make this in the oven? Yes, you can bake it in a covered Dutch oven at 300°F for about 3 to 4 hours until tender.

Where do I find juniper berries? You can usually find them in the spice aisle of major grocery stores or order them online.

Can I use pork tenderloin instead? Pork tenderloin is too lean and will dry out during the long cooking process. Stick to pork shoulder for the best results.

Nutrition

• Calories: 350 kcal
• Total Fat: 22 g
• Saturated Fat: 8 g
• Cholesterol: 95 mg
• Sodium: 650 mg
• Total Carbohydrate: 2 g
• Protein: 32 g