Carnitas Seasoning

Spice up your favorite Mexican dishes with our Homemade Carnitas Seasoning. This easy to make homemade seasoning blend comes together in minutes and can be used with pork, chicken and more! Whether you’re making tacos, burritos, quesadillas, bowls or any other Mexican dish, our seasoning blend will add an extra layer of flavor that will have everyone begging for the recipe.

 

What is Carnitas seasoning?

If you’re a fan of Mexican food, then you’ve probably heard of carnitas. Carnitas are a popular pork dish that originated in Mexico. It is made by slow cooking a pork roast in lard until tender and juicy, then cooking at a high heat to crisp the outside. Although you can easily make a slow cooker pork carnitas, shred the meat and broil or fry in a skillet to get the same effect.

Carnitas seasoning, on the other hand, is a blend of spices that are used to add flavor to the pork as it cooks. This seasoning usually includes a mix of chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, paprika, and other herbs and spices. The result is a savory and aromatic flavor that complements the natural richness of the pork.

Ingredients Needed

• Cumin
• Coriander
• Granulated Garlic: this is a coarser spice than garlic powder. If needed here’s a list of Garlic Substitutes.
• Granulated Onion: coarse ground dehydrated onion.
• Salt
• Black Pepper
• Chili Powder: this recipe is tested with a mild chili powder, all recipes on this site use Gebhardt’s Chili Powder.
• Mexican Oregano: this type of oregano has a slight citrus flavoring to it.

How to Use It

Carnitas Seasoning as a Dry Rub

Using carnitas seasoning as a dry rub is a great way to infuse your meat with flavor before cooking. Here’s how to do it:

1. Start by selecting your meat. Pork is the most traditional choice for carnitas seasoning, but you can also use chicken, beef, or even tofu if you prefer.
2. Generously coat the meat with the carnitas seasoning, making sure to rub it in well to ensure the flavor is evenly distributed.
3. Let the meat sit with the seasoning for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld. For even more flavor, you can let it sit in the refrigerator overnight.
4. Preheat your grill, oven, or stovetop according to the instructions for your chosen cooking method.
5. Cook the meat until it reaches the desired level of doneness. For pork, you may want to consider slow-cooking it until it’s tender and falling apart.
6. Once the meat is cooked, let it rest for a few minutes before serving to allow the juices to redistribute.

Carnitas Seasoning as a Marinade

This seasoning mix is different than our Carnitas Marinade, since it’s designed to give all the best flavors without using a marinade. But if you want to marinate your meat using this spice mix:

1. Mix the carnitas seasoning with avocado oil in a bowl. Use a ratio of approximately 2 tablespoons of seasoning to 1/4 cup of oil, depending on your taste preferences.
2. Add the juice of one orange and one lime.
3. Place your meat in a resealable plastic bag or a shallow dish. Pour the marinade over the meat, making sure it’s evenly coated.
4. Seal the bag or cover the dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours. For maximum flavor, you can let it marinate for up to 24 hours.
5. Preheat your grill, oven, or stovetop according to the instructions for your chosen cooking method.
6. Remove the meat from the marinade and discard any excess. Cook the meat until it reaches the desired level of doneness.
7. Once the meat is cooked, let it rest for a few minutes before serving to allow the juices to redistribute.

FAQ

What to Make with Carnitas

• Tacos: load up soft corn tortillas with bits of crispy pork carnitas, top with diced white onion and fresh cilantro for street tacos.
• Bowls: layer cilantro lime rice, pinto or black beans, carnitas, and top with your favorite salsa or pico de gallo (learn about the difference between pico and salsa) sour cream and guacamole for a burrito bowl.
• Quesadillas: heat a flour tortilla with the meat, cheese and any other fillings you like. Serve with some chipotle crema or red pepper crema for dipping.
• Nachos: top crispy tortilla chips with meat, refried beans (or refried black beans), melty cheese, and top with cold sour cream, fresh pico de gallo or your favorite salsa.
• Enchiladas:

Storage

Storing your homemade seasoning blends properly will help preserve their flavor and keep them fresh for longer. Here are some tips for storing your carnitas seasoning blend:

• Store the seasoning in an airtight container. Mason jars, plastic containers with tight-fitting lids, or resealable bags are all good options.
• Keep the container in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. Heat, light, and moisture can all cause your seasoning blend to lose flavor or spoil more quickly.
• Label the container with the name of the seasoning and the date it was made. This will help you keep track of how long it’s been stored and when it’s time to refresh the blend.
• Use the seasoning within 6 months for best flavor. Over time the aromatics in the spices will begin to degrade, resulting in a less flavorful blend.