Carnitas (Pulled Pork)
"Costco's deli carnitas are convenient, but they charge you $15.99 for pork shoulder that sat under a heat lamp. Yours will be fork-tender, crispy-edged, and made from a $2/lb Costco pork butt. That's called winning."
Costco Copycat — This is a homemade version of the Costco Deli & Prepared Foods item. See it in store →
The Game Plan
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Cut pork shoulder into 3-inch chunks — don't trim the fat, it's doing the heavy lifting here. Season generously with cumin, chili powder, smoked paprika, oregano, cayenne, salt, and pepper.
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Heat oil in a large Dutch oven or oven-safe pot over high heat. Sear pork chunks on all sides until deeply browned, about 2-3 minutes per side. Work in batches — crowding the pot steams the meat instead of browning it.
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Return all pork to the pot. Add smashed garlic, quartered onion, bay leaf, orange juice, and juice of 2 limes. The liquid should come about halfway up the meat — add a splash of water if needed.
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Cover and braise in a 300°F oven for 3 hours, until the pork is fall-apart tender and shreds with zero resistance.
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Remove pork from liquid and shred with two forks. Discard bay leaf and onion. Skim fat from braising liquid and reserve.
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Spread shredded pork on a sheet pan in a single layer. Spoon a few tablespoons of braising liquid over the top. Broil on high for 3-5 minutes until the edges are crispy and charred. Squeeze remaining lime over the top.
