Consider serving carnitas the next time your friends and family enjoy a meal together. After all, the dish is delicious and ideal for various occasions, including a casual dinner or a festive meal.
1. What Are Carnitas?
Carnitas1 is a pork dish, and the name translates to little meats. Its origin is Mexico, and it requires you to braise or simmer pork in lard or oil. It will be ready to serve once the pork is super tender.
It is advisable to use a slow cooker to ensure the dish is as flavorful as possible. However, if you don’t have the time to slow-cook your carnitas, all is not lost. After all, it is also okay to cook this meal using an instant pot.

2. Why Is It Popular?
Carnitas are quite popular as a dish due to many reasons –
- This meal is quite delicious, especially if you ensure they get crispy.
- Carnitas are also freezer-friendly; hence, there is no need to worry about leftovers if you cook excess food.
- Besides tacos, carnitas leftovers are versatile and useful in various ways.
- Regardless of how you cook your carnitas, expect the meal to be easy.
- Various ways of preparing carnitas include simmering, braising, using an instant pot, or slow cooking, depending on what works best for you.
Who wouldn’t want such a meal, given all its advantages?
3. Various Uses of Carnitas Meat
Most people assume that they can only use carnitas meat when preparing tacos. Hence, the range of foods paired with carnitas meat is somewhat restricted. Interestingly, there are various uses for this kind of meat. For instance, leftover carnitas are excellent for pulled pork nachos.
This meat is also suitable for enchiladas, sandwiches, sweet potatoes, burritos, and quesadillas. You should also consider the meat when preparing breakfast hash meals or omelets.

4. Common Carnitas Toppings
There are various toppings one can use for carnitas. Traditionally, these toppings usually include the following, especially after serving them in tortillas.
- Guacamole
- Salsa
- Diced onion
- Cilantro
Whereas those are obvious, there are others worth trying out since they are also delicious and compatible, including the following;
- Cilantro lime slaw
- Crumbled cotija
- Diced avocado
- Jalapeño
- Lemon or lime juice
- Lettuce and tomato
- Pico de Gallo
- Shredded cabbage
- Shredded cheese
- Sliced radish
- Sour cream

5. Side Dishes
If you’re seeking a delicious pairing for carnitas, consider the following dishes;
5.1. Scalloped Potatoes
Make this dish with tender potatoes and slice them thinly. Marinate them with a cream sauce that’s rich and velvety, and sprinkle aromatic herbs and garlic.
5.2. Corn Casserole
It is a dish inspired by Paula Deen, a Southern queen. It combines cheddar cheese and sweet corn with a muffin mix coating.
5.3. Mexican Corn Salad
Its major ingredients are a cheesy base, usually creamy, and grilled corn kernels. Add great creaminess using crumbled cotija cheese. It would be best if you also infused it with lime and cilantro.
5.4. Mexican Sweet Potatoes
Roast sweet potatoes and then cut them into halves. Stuff them with a pico de gallo mix before topping them with sour cream or avocado sauce. Remember to complete it using carnitas meat for an excellent meal.
5.5. Corn Pudding
Its ingredients include corn, milk, eggs, flour, sugar, and melted butter. If you don’t like saturated fat, use olive oil instead of butter. Bake your pudding until golden brown, and serve it when warm. It makes for an ideal side dish when paired with carnitas.
5.6. Jalapeno Cornbread
It is a compatible side dish with carnitas since it is sweet and spicy. Its ingredients include jalapeno slices, corn kernels and shredded cheddar cheese. Bake it until golden brown using a cast-iron skillet. Serve it while hot and enjoy your delicious meal.
5.7. Refried Beans

It would be best to sauté the beans with garlic, salt and onions. Add chili powder and cumin in moderation to avoid the beans getting too spicy. Top them with chopped cilantro.
5.8. Mexican Rice
Regardless of your taco recipe, this side dish won’t disappoint. It is also easy to make and flavorful, hence great to pair with carnitas. You can use white rice or brown rice, depending on your preference.
Add vegetables such as tomatoes, carrots, and peas. Corn is also a common ingredient in this rice dish. If you want it spicy, add Serrano peppers.
5.9. Homemade Salsa
Whether you are enjoying a Cinco de Mayo party or a taco night, this dish is known for its wide compatibility with various Mexican meals.
5.10. Guacamole
Use a ripe avocado2 that’s neither soft nor hard; its color should be deep green. You can make it spicy by adding jalapeno. For a chunk of guacamole, mash your avocados. On the other hand, you can puree it to make it smooth.

5.11. Pinto Beans
Another fantastic choice for individuals searching for a dish to complement carnitas is the soupy and flavorful pinto beans.
5.12. Tortilla Soup
Whether you serve it as a side dish or appetizer, tortilla soup is compatible with carnitas. The ingredients of this classic Mexican dish include tomato, jalapenos, garlic, onions and chicken broth. You can also add pinto beans and black beans and cook the meal in a slow cooker.
5.13. Cilantro Lime Rice
Its major ingredients are fresh cilantro and lime juice. You can enhance its flavor with minced garlic; remember not to add too much.
Besides pork carnitas, you can serve the dish with burrito bowls, pulled pork or corn tortilla.
Final Words
It is hard to run out of options when looking for a dish to eat with carnitas. Some of them are side dishes, whereas others are appetizers.
Sometimes, you can serve rice with carnitas to bulk your meal. You can cook it well for a delicious meal regardless of your chosen dish.
- Jones, Roderick C., et al. “Emergence of pork carnitas as a cause of foodborne disease outbreaks in Chicago.” Foodborne Pathogens & Disease 1.2 (2004): 120-124. ↩︎
- Bower, John P., and Jonathan G. Cutting. “Avocado fruit development and ripening physiology.” Horticultural reviews 10 (1988): 229-271. ↩︎
Last Updated on by Namrata