Mexican Coke Pulled Pork Carnitas (Carnitas en Coca-Cola)

5 (6 ratings)

Mexican Coca-Cola tenderizes the pork and creates a beautifully caramelized crust. This easy stovetop carnitas recipe is ready in under two hours!

Prep Time7

Cook Time1 40

Total Time1 47

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Mexican

Servings: to 10 servings

Season the pork heavily on both sides with the garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Transfer the seasoned pork to a heavy Dutch oven, making sure the pan is small, so the pork fits snugly, which will prevent the meat from drying out when it cooks. Add Coca-Cola and water. Bring to a boil and decrease the heat to maintain a simmer. Add the bay leaves, thyme, and tarragon. Cover and simmer until the pork is tender, about 1 ½ hours. The Coca-Cola will caramelize and the liquid will evaporate when finished.
Transfer the cooked pork to a cutting board, and using two forks, shred the meat into 2-inch long pieces.
Serve with the warmed corn tortillas, chopped onion, chopped cilantro, sliced radishes, lime wedges, and salsa.

Pork shoulder vs. pork butt: These cuts are often used interchangeably. Either works well for this Mexican Coke Pulled Pork Carnitas recipe.
Why use Mexican Coca-Cola? Mexican Coke is made with cane sugar instead of high-fructose corn syrup, which gives the pork better caramelization and flavor.
Substitute for fresh herbs: If you don’t have fresh thyme or tarragon, you can substitute ½ teaspoon of dried thyme and ¼ teaspoon of dried tarragon or fennel fronds.
Make it crispy: After shredding, fry the pork in a skillet for crispy edges just like traditional carnitas.
Storage tips: Leftover carnitas can be refrigerated for up to 5 days or frozen for up to 3 months. Reheat in a skillet or oven for best texture.
Serving ideas: Use this pulled pork for tacos, nachos, burritos, tostadas, or enchiladas. Don’t forget toppings like chopped onion, cilantro, sliced radishes, lime wedges, and Chile de Arbol Salsa.