Piled excessive with crispy pork, rice, black beans, corn, crunchy cabbage, and a beneficiant squeeze of lime, this Carnitas Bowl is all the things I would like in a single easy bundle. Twenty minutes. That’s all it takes. How can I say no?

If you happen to’ve been round right here for any size of time, you already know the way I really feel about carnitas. I’ve been making them on repeat for properly over a decade, and that reveals no indicators of slowing down. My slow cooker carnitas are the set-it-and-forget-it model for busy days, and these conventional Dutch oven pork carnitas are what I make once I wish to go all out. Each are implausible. And, each depart me with a fridge filled with pork that I’m joyful to make use of in new in scrumptious methods every time we’ve leftovers.
Carnitas Bowl


Rising up within the Southwest, I’ve eaten my justifiable share of burritos and tacos. And, I’ll by no means flip them down. However, once in a while I crave one thing just a little completely different. And a bowl satisfies that craving completely by letting every ingredient shine by itself.
This carnitas bowl recipe is what occurs when leftover pork carnitas meet a actually good bowl. Rice on the underside, all the good things piled on high, lime squeezed over all the things. It simply works.
Wait, you didn’t make carnitas yesterday, or final week, or pull them out of the freezer this morning? That’s okay. Don’t sweat it. Simply make them now!


Elements and Substitutions
Rice – I like to make use of Jasmine rice for this recipe.
Corn – If I don’t occur to have recent corn at my fingertips, canned corn is the transfer, right here. I’ve additionally used frozen corn earlier than, however you’ll have to heat it up, first. Canned corn and recent corn, they will get added to the bowl straight from the can or the cob. (And sure, I love uncooked corn. If you happen to haven’t tried it, you’re lacking out!)
Black beans – I rinse and drain the canned black beans. However, you do you. Possibly you want consuming gritty beans? As a result of that’s what you’ll get in case you don’t rinse them.
Carnitas – In case you are like my household, you have got this able to go within the freezer. You’ll need about three cups of ready pork carnitas, chopped chew measurement.
Cabbage – Inexperienced cabbage is doing a little heavy lifting on this recipe! You’re going to like the feel it provides. However, it must be very finely sliced, nearly shredded.
Pink onion – Sliced as skinny as you presumably can after which roughly chopped. Somewhat of this punchy root vegetable goes a looong approach.
Cilantro – Half a cup, chopped. If you happen to’re a kind of individuals who thinks cilantro tastes like cleaning soap, depart it out. No judgment. (However, possibly attempt it once more as a result of I used to have that downside, and about 10 years in the past it simply went away so now I’m capable of take pleasure in it!)
Limes – Don’t skip the beneficiant squeeze of lime juice. It completely makes the bowl.
Notes on Gear
- Giant skillet or microwave-safe dish
- Chef’s knife – That is my all-time favourite knife for meals prep. The weighting makes it an absolute dream to make use of, and it holds an edge extremely properly. If you happen to’re able to graduate to the next high quality knife, this one is my choose.
- Reducing board


Find out how to Make Carnitas Bowls
Warming the Elements: I heat the rice, beans, and corn collectively in a skillet or the microwave.
Crisping the Carnitas: You need them to have the ability to unfold out and re-crisp these edges. So, don’t toss them in with the remainder. I take advantage of my skillet, however you too can toss them on a sheet pan below the broiler.
Constructing the Bowls: Divide the rice, beans, and corn between 4 bowls. Layer the carnitas excessive. Don’t be shy about it.
Including the Recent Stuff: I sometimes will serve these bowls with the cabbage, purple onion, cilantro, and lime wedges on the facet. That approach everybody will get to construct the actual bowl they need.
Serving: Set out the recent stuff and no matter different further toppings you need. Salsa, guac, and queso make a daily look at our desk. And, we at all times put out the Cholula.


Knowledgeable Tip
The one greatest distinction between a very good and an amazing carnitas bowl is in taking the time to re-crisp the pork. I do know it’s tempting to only microwave all the things. Don’t. Take the additional jiffy to get these carnitas again right into a scorching skillet. It’s even simpler to unfold them over a sheet pan and let the broiler work its magic. The sizzle. The sides. That’s what makes carnitas particular within the first place!
Prep the Toppings First – I’ve been cooking for many years. My knife abilities usually are not the blazing quick work that you just see on-line. That’s okay. You don’t must rush. Simply chop the cabbage, onion, and cilantro earlier than you begin warming the remainder of it. Then, it’s able to assemble so all the things continues to be heat when it hits the desk.
Don’t Skip the Lime – I say it just about each time I share a carnitas recipe, and I’ll carry on saying it. The squeeze of lime excessive is what makes this bowl shine. It doesn’t style “limey”. It brightens the opposite flavors, and retains the wealthy pork from overwhelming all the things else.
Serving Recommendations
I’ve two go-to rice recipes that I like to make use of when making carnitas bowls, if I’ve the time. Cilantro lime rice and chipotle lime rice each lend implausible flavors to the completed dish.
And, in case you actually wish to go all out, make a batch of elote to serve on the facet. All of the flavors simply work collectively. It’s one of many issues I make most incessantly to serve with carnitas meat, irrespective of how I’m utilizing it!


Make Forward & Storage
Make Forward: That is virtually a make-ahead meal by design. The carnitas are already cooked. The rice will be made days upfront. The beans and corn come from cans. All you’re actually doing is chopping a couple of recent toppings and warming issues up.
Find out how to Retailer: Preserve the nice and cozy parts and the recent toppings in separate containers within the fridge. The rice, beans, corn, and carnitas will hold for 3-4 days. The cabbage and onion will hold about the identical, however chop the cilantro recent.
Find out how to Reheat: You possibly can heat all the things within the microwave in case you’re in a rush. However, once more, don’t skip the skillet. The carnitas are so significantly better within the skillet!
Extra Carnitas-Impressed Recipes


Any of them! My slow cooker carnitas and Dutch oven pork carnitas each work nice right here. You may also use store-bought carnitas in a pinch. The necessary factor is that the pork is already cooked and simply must be re-crisped.
Completely. Grilled hen, carne asada, and even seasoned floor beef would all work properly in these bowls. I’ve carried out it with leftover Cajun hen too and it was implausible. Simply don’t name it a carnitas bowl while you use a unique protein, or somebody on the web will depart you an offended remark.
Nope. Lengthy grain, basmati, brown rice, even cauliflower rice if that’s your factor. Jasmine is simply what I often have available. Leftover rice truly works finest as a result of it holds its texture higher below all of the toppings.
They will lose texture while you retailer them. So, to crisp them again up, you need to use a skillet or the broiler. Or, even the air fryer. Simply don’t use the microwave.
OPTIONAL ADDITIONAL TOPPINGS
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Utilizing a skillet over the range or utilizing the microwave, heat the rice, beans, and corn. Recrisp the carnitas individually in one other skillet.
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Chop the recent substances whereas the others heat up within the pan. Then, assemble the bowls with rice, beans, and corn on the underside, then a layer of carnitas, and end with the recent substances.
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Generously squeeze lime juice over every portion. Serve with extra lime wedges and extra toppings of your selection.
Energy: 719 kcal | Carbohydrates: 109 g | Protein: 38 g | Fats: 15 g | Saturated Fats: 5 g | Polyunsaturated Fats: 1 g | Monounsaturated Fats: 1 g | Ldl cholesterol: 76 mg | Sodium: 1238 mg | Potassium: 627 mg | Fiber: 11 g | Sugar: 27 g | Vitamin A: 442 IU | Vitamin C: 22 mg | Calcium: 152 mg | Iron: 5 mg
Vitamin data is mechanically calculated, so ought to solely be used as an approximation.
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