Chipotle Carnitas (Copycat Recipe) (2024)

FAQs

What are the ingredients in Chipotle Carnitas? ›

We use the real thing, rather than added flavors or extracts, to make our Carnitas. Before cooking, we season our pork with a blend of thyme, salt, black pepper, ground bay leaf and cracked juniper berries, patiently waiting for the flavors to permeate the meat - because thyme, after all, is of the essence.

I've made carnitas many times using a completely different method and it turned out pretty good. But it is important to note that the traditional way to make carnitas is by slow cooking it in lard. I think it also gives it a more authentic taste. Seasoning- Salt, Mexican oregano, cumin, & black pepper.

Chipotle Carnitas Recipe FAQ

They are essentially the same — pork shoulder or pork butt that's slow cooked until tender and falling apart. Carnitas traditionally has one extra step, which is roasting or broiling the shredded meat until crispy before serving.

In 2015, Chipotle stopped serving carnitas in many locations due to concerns about the quality of pork used by one of its suppliers. The supplier was not meeting Chipotle's standards for animal welfare, and the company decided to suspend the use of carnitas until it could find a new supplier that met its standards.

A chipotle (/tʃɪˈpoʊtleɪ/, /tʃɪˈpɒtleɪ/, chi-POHT-lay, chi-POT-lay; Spanish: [tʃiˈpotle]), or chilpotle, is a smoke-dried ripe jalapeño chili pepper used for seasoning. It is a chili used primarily in Mexican and Mexican-inspired cuisines, such as Tex-Mex and Southwestern United States dishes.

Chipotle is a trailblazer when it comes to plant-based proteins and added its first vegan option, Sofritas, to its menu in 2014. Made from organic tofu that is spiced with poblano pepper, cumin, and chipotle chiles, by 2018, Sofritas became a popular mainstay at Chipotle, selling 7.5 million pounds that year alone.

The orange juice in the cooking liquid provides acidity that helps break down the meat so it's extra tender and juicy.

Adding the oranges is very much like braising pork Cuban-style for the traditional cubano sandwich. The milk acts as a tenderizer, a secret I learned while growing up watching dad make his carnitas which, by the way, were always exceptionally tender.

Pork shoulder: Traditionally, carnitas is made with pork shoulder (also known as pork butt) because of its higher fat content. The fat helps to keep the meat extremely juicy and tender while cooking.

Their key flavor differences come from the type of meat they're made with, and the spices and seasonings Chipotle uses to jazz them up. Both types offer slowly braised and shredded meat, but carnitas are made from pork and a bit sweeter while barbacoa is made from beef and is spicier.

What's the difference between carnitas and carne asada? ›

Carnitas means “l*ttle pieces of meat,” and it's usually pulled pork shoulder cooked in lard. Originating from the state of Michoacán, it's a classic for tacos. A favorite at cookouts, carne asada is sliced beef made of skirt, sirloin, tenderloin or rib steak.

Both are delicious and popular menu items that are flavorful. They're also both very tender, thanks to their long cooking time, which breaks down the collagen in the meat. If you like beef, then barbacoa is the way to go. However, if you prefer pork, then carnitas is the better option.

The underlying issue behind the Chipotle scandal was a failure in food safety management. Deficiencies were identified in food handling procedures, employee hygiene practices, and supply chain monitoring. These shortcomings allowed for product contamination and the subsequent spread of infections among customers.

The lawsuit claims that Chipotle violated federal civil rights law protecting employees and job applicants from discrimination based on religion, race, ethnicity, sex and national origin.

Chipotle's smoked brisket was always intended to be a limited-time menu item. But it's been so popular that the offering is ending earlier than planned. The company revealed in Thursday's earnings call that the brisket promotion will end in November, meaning it will just be on sale for partial quarter.

If you really want rice, ask them to go light on the brown rice,” Leonard says. Sofritas (a plant-based protein) are cooked with added sugars, and the carnitas are higher in saturated fat than steak or chicken, according to our pro, making these seemingly healthy options less nutritious than Chipotle's other proteins.

Rice bran oil is our primary cooking oil at Chipotle. Its high smoke point - the temperature at which the oil starts, well, smoking - makes it suitable for high-temperature cooking like grilling, while its mild taste makes it versatile.

Barbacoa at Chipotle is made from tender and moist seared beef that's been braised in an incredible blend of adobo, lime, cumin, garlic, and oregano. This slow-cooked masterpiece can be added to tacos, salads, bowls, and more! To see us make copycat Chipotle barbacoa from start to finish, watch the video in this post!