Traeger Smoked Pork Carnitas

Pork Carnitas Recipe

Pork isn’t always my first go-to when selecting a protein, but when it comes to pork carnitas they are one of my absolute favorites! The mix of smoky spices, fresh citrus juices, onions and pork roast is absolutely amazing.

You can make them in the oven, crock pot, on your pellet grill smoker or if you are looking for a quick shortcut to the long slow roasting, you can even get great flavors with Instant Pot Pork Carnitas.

• Instant Pot Pork Carnitas

Pellet Grill Smoked Carnitas

No matter how you cook your carnitas, you will get some great flavor, but your Traeger pellet grill adds a beautiful smoky flavor that won’t be achieved in any kitchen appliance.

Pork shoulder is slow roasted with chili powder, cumin, garlic, lime juice, orange juice, onions and brown sugar for amazing Mexican flavors.

The tender meat is shredded and when you are ready to serve it the most important step takes place. You sautée the pulled pork in a little of the citrus broth and oil to caramelize the carnitas. It adds beautifully delicious browned bits to the meat which take the flavors to a whole other level.

How to make pork shoulder carnitas

These Traeger Smoked Pork Carnitas will take a good 7-8 hours to make, but the vast majority of that time is spent hands off thanks to your pellet grill. Get them started in the smoker on a weekend morning and enjoy all the amazing meat throughout the week for easy dinners.

Squeeze the orange juice and lime juice into a large grill safe pan. Add the soy sauce and thinly sliced onions. Mix the following rub ingredients in a small bowl and rub over the pork shoulder.

2 Tablespoons brown sugar

1 teaspoon chili powder

2 teaspoons cumin

1 teaspoon onion powder

2 teaspoons garlic powder

2 teaspoons salt

Is pork shoulder the same as pork butt?

Pork butt, which is often referred to as a Boston Butt, comes from the shoulder of the pig, but is higher on the leg than the shoulder cut. The butt has more fat marbling and is fantastic for slow roasting.

Either cut will work well with these smoked pork carnitas, but you may prefer the fattier butt. Sometimes I will use one pork butt and one pork shoulder.

Carnitas on Smoker

Place the seasoned pork in the pan over the onions and juices. Cook in your Traeger pellet grill at 215°F for 3-4 hours until it reaches 165°F.

Carefully remove the pork from the oven and place the pork shoulder on a cutting board. Cut the meat into large 2-3 inch pieces, being sure to to keep the pieces even. Return the chunks of pork to the pan with the onions and broth.

You may be wondering why we are cutting up the pork roast and not cooking it whole. It’s all about timing. If you leave the pork whole, it will take over 10 hours from start to finish, which makes it difficult to get dinner on the table in a timely manner.

Cover the pan with tinfoil and return to the pellet grill. Turn the temperature up to 350°F and cook for about 2 hours until the meat reaches an internal temperature of 195°F.

Remove the tinfoil from the pan and allow the meat to rest for about 30 minutes. Just be sure not to let the carnitas sit too long or it will become more difficult to shred. Trust me, I learned this the hard way.

Shred the pork and reserve the cooking liquid. After the pan of juices has set, skim the fat off the top and remove any fat or gristly pieces.

Carnitas in cast iron skillet

Drizzle some olive oil in a cast iron skillet. Heat the pan on your stovetop over medium-high heat or place it in your Traeger grill and turn the temperature up to 400°F.

Place the smoked pulled pork along with a couple tablespoons of the reserved juices in the skillet. Cook until the bottom of the meat browns.

Traeger Pulled Pork Tacos

Add the smoked pork carnitas to a grilled tortilla and you have a simple and flavorful meal. Kick it up a notch with some queso fresco, quacamole and pico de gallo with these Pork Carnita Street Tacos or Easy Pork Carnita Rice Bowls for a fresh and healthy dinner ideas.

• Pork Carnita Street Tacos
• Easy Pork Carnita Rice Bowls

What to do with pork carnitas

The great part about making carnitas is that it makes a large batch. You can get multiple meals out of them throughout the week or freeze some for later. Here are some more great recipe using pork carnitas!

Pork Carnitas Empanadas – Kids and adults alike will love these pockets of goodness

Avocado Corn Nachos – Swap out the chicken for carnitas and you will have even more great flavor

Creamy Pork Carnitas Pasta – This comforting dish has it all!

Spicy Carnitas Salad – This fresh salad has brussels sprouts, apples and avocados for a fresh and different twist

• Avocado Corn Nachos

Notes

Always cook to temperature and not time. An instant read thermometer is a great investment when grilling meat and give yourself some wiggle room with how long it will take for your meat to reach temp.

Serving: 1/2 cup | Calories: 432 kcal | Carbohydrates: 7 g | Protein: 45 g | Fat: 24 g | Saturated Fat: 8 g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 13 g | Cholesterol: 150 mg | Sodium: 423 mg | Fiber: 1 g | Sugar: 4 g