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smoked pork carnitas sautéed in cast iron pan
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4.49 from 88 votes

Traeger Smoked Pork Carnitas

These delicious Traeger Smoked Pork Carnitas are a fantastic recipe made from pork roast that is seasoned with Mexican flavors, slow roasted, shredded and caramelized in the citrus broth for flavorful meat that is great in tacos, salads and so much more!
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time6 hours
Cooling30 minutes
Total Time6 hours 50 minutes
Course: Pellet Grill
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: pellet grill carnitas, pork carnitas recipe, smoked carnitas, Traeger pork carnitas
Servings: 8 cups
Calories: 432kcal
Author: The Creative Bite

Ingredients

Pork

  • 2 3 pound boneless pork shoulders or butts
  • 3 oranges juiced
  • 3 limes juiced
  • 1 Tablespoon soy sauce
  • 1 yellow onion thinly sliced

Rub

  • 2 Tablespoons packed brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 2 teaspoons garlic powder
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

  • Season Pork
  • Preheat your pellet grill to 215°F, being sure your pellets are filled. Squeeze the orange juice and lime juice into a large grill safe pan. Add the soy sauce and thinly sliced onions.
  • Mix the rub ingredients in a small bowl and rub over the pork shoulders.
  • Pork Carnitas Cooked on Pellet Grill
  • 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 and internal temperature of 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Sautéing Carnitas
  • 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. Serve with tortillas.

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.

Nutrition

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