Crispy Air Fryer Carnitas (2024)

Get maximum flavor with minimum mess when you make air fryer carnitas! Flavorful pork is marinated and air fried for tender, juicy pork, perfect for tacos, burritos, or your favorite Mexican dish.

The meat is juicy inside with nice crispy edges, just like carnitas should be. And with grocery prices rising, I love that carnitas uses pork shoulder, one of the most inexpensive cuts of meat around!

Marinade it the night before, and this air fryer pork carnitas recipe is quick enough to be a weeknight meal. It is also great to serve as easy game day food or a fun dinner for Taco Tuesday.

🌶️Key Ingredients

For exact amounts needed see the recipe card below

Pork – Using a boneless pork butt (also called shoulder) is traditional and the most economical cut of meat. But you can use pork loin or tenderloin if you prefer leaner meat.

Seasoning –Salt, pepper, and taco seasoning mix add flavor to the dish. Use a store-bought taco seasoning mix or make your own blend.

Orange – The juice of an orange adds a bright citrus-infused flavor to the meat.

Jalapeno and cilantro – These are classic flavors in Mexican food!

Toppings – Pick your favorite taco toppings.

🥣How to Make Air Fryer Carnitas

1. Marinate

The meat should marinate for at least 6 hours for the best flavor. But it can stay in the fridge overnight, making this is easy to prepare ahead of time.

Boneless pork shoulder can be as large as 5-8 pounds, and this recipe is only for a 2-3 pound roast. So if you have a larger roast, cut it into smaller chunks and freeze the extras for another meal.

Juice the orange and dice the jalapeno and cilantro. Then combine all the spices, orange juice, and veggies in a bowl or a resealable bag and refrigerate it to let it marinate.

2. Air Fry

Make a tray from aluminum foil to catch the marinade and keep juices contained. This will also help the meat steam and stay nice and juicy.

Put the foil tray in the air fryer, making sure it only partially covers the bottom of the basket. Add the meat and pour the marinade over the top.

Air fry at 350 degrees F for 30 minutes. Then flip the pork over and air fry it for another 15 minutes. Use a meat thermometer and check the internal temperature.

Pork is safe to eat if it has reached 145 degrees F, but it will be easier to shred if it has reached 170 degrees F. Some people prefer to pull it at 190-200 degrees F. The cooking time will depend on how thick the meat is and your preferences.

3. Shred

Let the pork rest for 10-15 minutes before shredding it. This will allow the juices to reabsorb for maximum flavor and makes it easier to handle.

Shred the meat using two forks or meat claws. Add another 2 tablespoons of taco seasoning to the shredded meat and mix.

🍴Serving Ideas

There are so many ways to serve air fryer carnitas! This delicious pork tastes amazing with tacos, burrito bowls, taquitos, and quesadillas. My favorite is to use the meat in tacos. Add it to warm corn tortillas and top it with diced red onions and pickled jalapenos!

Other tasty toppings for carnitas are sour cream, poblano sauce, guacamole, green onions, taco sauce, hot sauce, or your favorite salsa. If you want to make it a complete meal, add Mexican rice, southwest salad, refried beans, or Chile Relleno casserole as a side.

Of course, you don’t have to serve it in a Mexican dish. It is also as tasty as a pulled pork sandwich or a pulled pork pizza. Make it once and use it for a few different meals!

💭How to Store and Reheat

Store leftover carnitas in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. It will dry out some in the refrigerator, so toss it with a few tablespoons of olive oil or lime juice before reheating.

To reheat, put it back in the air fryer and cook it at 400 degrees F for 2-3 minutes until you have warm, juicy, and crispy meat.

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