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quick carnitas recipe

15-Minute Quick Carnitas Recipe Perfect for Tacos

5 from 1 vote
Need a quick carnitas recipe without all that braising and simmering that can take hours? Look no further than our easy carnitas recipe using the best pre-cooked carnitas and savory salsa mix. Quick, easy, and so good!
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Total Time:15 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: quick carnitas recipe
Servings: 4

Ingredients

  • 20 ounces Del Real Slow Cooked Pork Carnitas see note below
  • 1 onion diced
  • 4 garlic cloves minced
  • 1 habanero minced
  • ½ cup cilantro chopped
  • 15.5 ounces El Pato Hot Tomato Sauce cans see note below
  • juice from ½ a lemon
  • pepper to taste
  • olive oil

Instructions

  • Heat olive oil in a large sauté pan over medium heat. Open the pouch of carnitas and place in pan once the oil is hot. Break apart the carnitas over the heat for 3 minutes.
  • Add the onion, garlic, and habanero. Stir to combine. Cook for another 4-5 minutes.
  • Add the El Pato Sauce, lemon juice, and pepper to taste. Cover and simmer over medium-low heat for 4-5 minutes.
  • Remove the pan from the heat and add the chopped cilantro. Enjoy!

Notes

  1. The Del Real Slow Cooked Pork Carnitas comes in a pack of 40 ounces divided into two pouches. Each pouch is roughly 20 ounces. We used ONE POUCH for the measurements provided in this recipe.
  2. Two cans of the El Pato Hot Tomato Sauce will be used for one pouch, with each can containing 7.75 ounces.
  3. See Sam’s Pro Tips for this Quick Carnitas Recipe for helpful tips preparing this recipe.