Tacos de Carnitas (Crisp Pulled Pork Tacos)
Tender slow-cooked pork crisped in a hot pan, piled in warm corn tortillas with onion, coriander and spicy salsa.
Made with Salsa taquera (roasted chile de arbol salsa) and Corn tortillas from masa harina and Carnitas (slow cooked pork). Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time20 min
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £2.92 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Heat the oil in a large frying pan over a medium high heat. Add your ready made carnitas (see the base recipe) in one layer, with a spoonful of its cooking fat if you have it.
- 2
Fry for 6 to 8 minutes without moving too much, turning once, until browned and crisp at the edges and steaming hot all the way through.
7 min - 3
Warm the ready made corn tortillas (see the base recipe) in a dry pan for 20 seconds each side.
- 4
Mix the onion and coriander together.
- 5
Pile carnitas into the tortillas, top with the onion mix and a spoonful of your ready made salsa taquera (see the base recipe). Serve with lime and orange wedges.
Tips
- Crisping is the whole point. Do not overcrowd the pan, or the pork steams. Work in two batches.
- Use the rendered fat from the cooked pork to fry the carnitas. It tastes better than oil.
- A squeeze of orange along with lime is typical for carnitas.
Storing and freezing
Keep carnitas in the fridge for up to 3 days or freeze in portions for up to 3 months. Reheat until steaming hot all the way through.
Questions
How do I get carnitas crisp?
Use a wide pan on a medium high heat, a little fat and leave the meat alone for a few minutes at a time. A hot oven at {t230} for 10 minutes also works.
How hot is salsa taquera?
Quite hot. It is made with dried arbol chillies. Start with a teaspoon on each taco and add more to taste.
Can I use the pork for other dishes?
Yes. Carnitas work in burritos, quesadillas, tortas and nachos.
More made with salsa taquera (roasted chile de arbol salsa)
Tacos Campechanos (Steak and Chorizo Tacos)
GFDFEFQuesadillas Sonorenses de Carne Asada (Sonoran Steak Quesadillas)
NFEFQuesadillas de Pollo Deshebrado (Shredded Chicken Quesadillas)
GFEFNFHuevos al Albañil (Bricklayer's Eggs in Fiery Salsa)
DFNFVSee every dish made with salsa taquera (roasted chile de arbol salsa)
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.