Spoon Simple
Spicy Air Fryer Pork Carnitas
Create tender and crispy pork carnitas in your air fryer for an incredibly flavorful and versatile meal. This recipe uses simple ingredients to achieve restaurant-quality results, perfect for tacos, bowls, or salads.
Prep 20 min
Cook 45 min
Total 1h 5m
Serves 5
Ingredients
Step 1 — For the Pork
- 2 lbs boneless pork shoulder (Boston butt), cut into 2-inch chunks
- 1 orange, halved
- 1 onion, quartered
- 4 cloves garlic, smashed
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup chicken broth or water
Step 2 — For Serving (Optional)
- Corn tortillas, warmed
- Chopped white onion
- Chopped cilantro
- Lime wedges
- Salsa verde
Instructions
- 1
Season Pork and Add Liquids
Pat the pork chunks dry with paper towels. In a bowl, toss the pork with oregano, cumin, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper. Place the seasoned pork in the air fryer basket. Squeeze the juice from the orange halves over the pork, then place the squeezed halves, onion quarters, and smashed garlic cloves in the basket with the pork. Pour the chicken broth or water into the basket.
- 2
Initial Cook
Set the air fryer to 320°F (160°C) and cook for 30 minutes. This helps tenderize the pork.
- 3
Increase Heat for Crisping
Remove the orange halves, onion quarters, and garlic cloves from the basket. Increase the air fryer temperature to 400°F (200°C). Cook for another 15-20 minutes, or until the pork is tender and the edges are crispy and browned, flipping halfway through. The liquid will reduce into a flavorful sauce.
- 4
Shred and Serve
Remove the pork from the air fryer and shred it using two forks. Toss the shredded pork with the reduced cooking liquid. Serve immediately in warm tortillas with your favorite toppings like chopped onion, cilantro, salsa verde, and lime wedges.
Nutrition per serving: 580 cal · 45g protein · 10g carbs · 40g fat · 2g fiber
For informational purposes only. Not medical or dietary advice. Verify ingredients for allergens, cooking times, and safe internal temperatures before serving.
