Carnitas Burrito Bowl (Printable)

Slow-cooked carnitas over fluffy rice with black beans, corn, lettuce, salsa, and lime crema for a vibrant Mexican-inspired bowl.

# What You'll Need:

→ Carnitas

01 - 1.5 lbs pork shoulder, trimmed and cut into large chunks
02 - 1 tsp salt
03 - 0.5 tsp black pepper
04 - 1 tsp ground cumin
05 - 1 tsp dried oregano
06 - 0.5 tsp smoked paprika
07 - 0.5 tsp chili powder
08 - 0.5 cup orange juice
09 - 0.25 cup lime juice
10 - 4 cloves garlic, minced
11 - 1 medium onion, quartered

→ Rice

12 - 1 cup long-grain white rice
13 - 2 cups water
14 - 0.5 tsp salt

→ Bowl Components

15 - 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
16 - 1 cup corn kernels (fresh, frozen, or canned and drained)
17 - 2 cups shredded romaine lettuce
18 - 1 cup fresh tomato salsa

→ Lime Crema

19 - 0.5 cup sour cream
20 - 2 tbsp fresh lime juice
21 - 0.5 tsp lime zest
22 - Pinch of salt

→ Garnish

23 - 0.25 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
24 - Lime wedges

# How To Make It:

01 - In a slow cooker, combine pork shoulder, salt, pepper, cumin, oregano, paprika, chili powder, orange juice, lime juice, garlic, and onion. Toss to coat evenly. Cover and cook on low for 7 to 8 hours or on high for 3 to 4 hours, until pork is fork-tender.
02 - Remove pork from slow cooker and shred with two forks. For added texture, crisp shredded pork under a broiler for 3 to 5 minutes or in a hot skillet until edges are golden brown.
03 - Rinse rice under cold water. In a saucepan, bring water and salt to a boil. Add rice, reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes until water is absorbed. Let stand 5 minutes, then fluff with a fork.
04 - In a small bowl, combine sour cream, lime juice, lime zest, and salt. Mix until smooth and chill until ready to serve.
05 - Divide cooked rice evenly among four bowls. Top each with black beans, corn, lettuce, salsa, and a generous portion of carnitas. Drizzle with lime crema and garnish with fresh cilantro and lime wedges.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • Incredible Texture: The pork is slow-cooked until it is fork-tender and can be crisped for golden edges.
  • Fresh and Vibrant: Packed with fresh lettuce, tomato salsa, and a zesty lime crema.
  • Nutritious and Gluten-Free: A balanced bowl with 43g of protein and naturally gluten-free ingredients.
02 -
  • Crisp for Flavor: Don't skip the optional broiler step; it adds an authentic texture to the shredded pork.
  • Temperature Contrast: Serve the warm rice and carnitas against the cold lettuce and chilled crema for a refreshing mouthfeel.
  • Batch Cooking: The carnitas portion can be made in larger batches and frozen for future use.
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