Bring the taste of your favorite taco shop home with this Carnitas Seasoning recipe. This simple blend of pantry spices delivers bold, smoky, and slightly spicy notes—ready to mix in just 5 minutes. Use it to make authentic, flavorful pork carnitas in the oven or in a slow cooker.
Why you’ll love this seasoning mix
If you love cooking with big, bold flavors, a homemade seasoning blend like this one is a must-have. This carnitas seasoning is crafted to enhance pork with authentic Mexican-inspired spices while staying simple and pantry-friendly.
After mixing the spices, you only need the seasoning plus 4 ingredients to make a classic carnitas recipe in the oven or slow cooker. The dry spice blend keeps well for up to 6 months in an airtight container, so it’s easy to make a double batch and have it on hand for quick weeknight dinners.
Simple, versatile, and flavorful. There are no exotic ingredients—just seven everyday dried herbs and spices that likely live in your pantry already.
Ingredients
Below are the best ingredients for this carnitas seasoning, what each contributes, and substitution tips. Exact measurements appear in the recipe card later in this post.
- Chili powder – Use chili powder (a blend of ground dried chiles and spices), not pure chile powder. Chili powder provides a balanced, mildly smoky pepper flavor.
- Mexican oregano – Mexican oregano is slightly more robust than Mediterranean oregano, but either works here. Both bring a warm, peppery herb note to the blend.
- Garlic powder (or granulated garlic) – Granulated garlic is coarser and less prone to clumping over time; garlic powder is simply a finer grind.
- Onion powder (or granulated onion) – Like garlic, granulated onion resists clumping and adds savory depth without moisture.
- Salt – Kosher or sea salt are preferred for their texture and flavor; adjust to taste if using table salt.
- Ground cumin – Adds a warm, earthy, slightly nutty backbone that is essential to many Mexican spice blends.
- Black pepper – Freshly ground gives the best aroma and a bright, spicy finish.
Tip: Buying spices in larger containers from bulk retailers or warehouse stores can save money and keep your pantry well stocked for making homemade spice blends.
Instructions
- Combine all of the ingredients in a small bowl and whisk or stir until evenly blended.
- Transfer to an airtight jar or container and store in a cool, dry pantry for up to 6 months.
That’s it—you now have a ready-to-use carnitas seasoning blend to sprinkle on pork before cooking or to mix into marinades.
How to make carnitas
Use this seasoning to make tender, flavorful pork carnitas in the oven or slow cooker. Here’s a quick overview of the oven method; the slow cooker method is similar—season, sear, add liquid, and cook low and slow until the meat shreds easily.
- Cut a 4-pound boneless pork shoulder into large chunks. Rub 8 tablespoons of the carnitas seasoning evenly over the meat (approximately 2 tablespoons of seasoning per pound).
- Heat 1/4 cup vegetable oil in a large Dutch oven over high heat. When hot, brown the seasoned pork on all sides, about 2–3 minutes per side, to build flavor.
- Add 1/4 cup lime juice, 1/2 cup orange juice, and 1 1/2 cups chicken broth. Bring to a boil, then add 1 cinnamon stick and 3 bay leaves. Cover and transfer to a preheated 325°F (163°C) oven to cook for about 3 hours, until the pork is very tender.
- When the pork is done, switch the oven to broil. Remove the cinnamon stick and bay leaves. Pull the pork from the braising liquid, shred it with two forks, and spread it on a rimmed baking sheet in an even layer.
- Pour about 1/4 cup of the braising liquid over the shredded pork and broil for 2–3 minutes to get crispy edges. Serve in warm tortillas with toppings such as chopped cilantro, diced onion, salsa, or guacamole. Leftovers are great in burritos, quesadillas, on nachos, or in rice bowls.
Recipe notes
This seasoning recipe yields 8 tablespoons of carnitas seasoning. Plan on using roughly 2 tablespoons of seasoning per pound of pork. One batch is enough to season 4 pounds of pork shoulder.
To double the recipe, simply double each ingredient and store the extra in an airtight jar in the pantry for up to 6 months.
More homemade seasonings
Keep a selection of homemade seasoning blends in your pantry to upgrade everyday meals. Use blends like enchilada seasoning, fry seasoning, taco seasoning, or carne asada seasoning to add fast, consistent flavor.
Carnitas Seasoning
8 tablespoons
5 minutes
5 minutes
Whitney Bond
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- 2 tablespoons Mexican oregano
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder (or granulated garlic)
- 1 tablespoon onion powder (or granulated onion)
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
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Combine all of the ingredients in a small bowl, mixing thoroughly so the spices are evenly distributed. Use the seasoning immediately or store it in an airtight container in the pantry for up to 6 months.
Notes
- Dietary: This seasoning is gluten free and contains no added sugar, making it suitable for Whole30 and keto-style diets.
- Smoky variation: Substitute chipotle powder for the chili powder to intensify a smoky flavor.
- Spicy variation: Add 1–3 teaspoons of cayenne pepper: 1 teaspoon for medium heat, up to 3 teaspoons for a hot blend.
Nutrition Facts
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