Imagine transforming a humble pork shoulder and a can of soda into a restaurant-quality Mexican feast that will have your family and friends begging for seconds! This incredibly simple Two-Ingredient Carnitas recipe is about to revolutionize your home cooking, proving that sometimes the most delicious dishes are the easiest to prepare. With minimal effort and maximum flavor, you'll create tender, succulent pulled pork that falls apart at the mere touch of a fork, delivering an authentic Mexican culinary experience right in your own kitchen.
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 8 hrs
Total Time: 8 hrs 10 mins
Cuisine: Mexican
Serves: 6 servings
Ingredients
- 4 lbs pork shoulder
- 1 can soda (e.g., cola)
Instructions
- Remove pork shoulder from refrigerator and pat dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture, ensuring better browning and flavor absorption.
- Cut pork shoulder into large, roughly 3-4 inch chunks, trimming excessive fat but leaving some for flavor and moisture.
- Place pork chunks into a large slow cooker, ensuring pieces are spread evenly across the bottom.
- Pour entire can of cola over the pork, making sure meat is partially submerged in the liquid.
- Cover slow cooker and set to low heat setting, allowing pork to cook slowly and become tender for approximately 8 hours.
- After 8 hours, carefully remove pork from slow cooker and transfer to a large cutting board.
- Using two forks, shred the pork meat, pulling it apart into tender, bite-sized pieces.
- Optional: For crispy edges, spread shredded pork on a baking sheet and broil for 5-7 minutes until edges become slightly crisp.
- Serve hot with warm tortillas, chopped cilantro, diced onions, and lime wedges for traditional carnitas presentation.
- Store leftover carnitas in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days, or freeze for up to 3 months.
Tips
- Choose the right cut: Pork shoulder (also called pork butt) is ideal due to its perfect fat-to-meat ratio that ensures juicy, tender results.
- Pat the meat dry before cooking to help achieve better browning and deeper flavor development.
- Cut meat into consistent, large chunks to ensure even cooking and easier shredding.
- Don't rush the slow cooking process - low and slow is the key to incredibly tender carnitas.
- For extra crispy edges, don't skip the optional broiling step. It adds incredible texture and depth to your pulled pork.
- Experiment with different sodas - while cola is traditional, Dr. Pepper or root beer can add unique flavor profiles.
- Serve immediately for the best texture, and have your favorite toppings ready to customize each serving.
Nutrition Facts
Calories: 370kcal
Carbohydrates: 7g
Protein: 38g
Fat: 22g
Saturated Fat: 8g
Cholesterol: 125mg
