Simple Recipes for Every Day
Crispy Chicken Carnitas
- Serves: 8
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 1 hr
Ingredients
- ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 small onions, finely chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, chopped
- 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- 2 cups chicken stock
- ½ cup fresh orange juice, (from 1 orange)
- 1 bay leaf
- ¼ cup taco seasoning
- 1 cup finely chopped fresh cilantro
- 16 (6-inch) corn or flour tortillas, warmed
Ingredients
- ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 small onions, finely chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, chopped
- 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- 2 cups chicken stock
- ½ cup fresh orange juice, (from 1 orange)
- 1 bay leaf
- ¼ cup taco seasoning
- 1 cup finely chopped fresh cilantro
- 16 (6-inch) corn or flour tortillas, warmed
Method
- Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Once the oil is glistening, add half of the onions and cook until beginning to soften, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 more minute.
- Add the chicken, chicken stock, orange juice, bay leaf, and taco seasoning. Increase the heat to high and bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Cover and cook for about 45 minutes, or until the chicken is very tender and can be pulled apart easily with a fork.
- Turn on the broiler.
- Using a slotted spoon, transfer the chicken to a rimmed sheet pan, reserving the liquid in the pot. Use two forks to shred the chicken into 1-inch pieces and spread into an even layer. Brush the chicken with about ¼ cup of the reserved liquid. Broil, tossing halfway through, until the chicken is crispy, about 10 minutes.
- Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine the remaining onion with cilantro.
- Serve the chicken, tortillas, and onion mixture family-style.
Notes
Slow Cooker Method
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Once the oil is glistening, add half of the onions and cook until beginning to soften, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 more minute.
- Transfer the onion mixture to the slow cooker. Add the chicken, chicken stock, orange juice, bay leaf, taco seasoning and stir to combine. Cover and cook on High for 4 hours or Low for 8 hours.
- Transfer the chicken to a rimmed sheet pan. Use two forks to shred the chicken into 1-inch pieces and spread into an even layer. Brush the chicken with about ¼ cup of the reserved liquid.
- Turn on the broiler and broil, tossing halfway through, until the chicken is crispy, about 10 minutes.
- Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine the remaining onion with cilantro.
- Serve the chicken, tortillas, and onion mixture family-style.
Instant Pot Method
- Add the olive oil to the Instant Pot, hit Sauté, and adjust to select the More or High setting. After 3 minutes of the oil heating, add half of the onions and cook until beginning to soften, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 more minute.
- Add the chicken, chicken stock, orange juice, bay leaf, taco seasoning and stir to combine.
- Secure the lid, moving the valve to the sealed position. Hit Cancel and then hit Manual or Pressure Cook. Pressure cook for 8 minutes. Let the pressure release naturally for 10 minutes, then manually vent to release the remaining pressure.
- Transfer the chicken to a rimmed sheet pan. Use two forks to shred the chicken into 1-inch pieces and spread into an even layer. Brush the chicken with about ¼ cup of remaining liquid.
- Turn on the broiler and broil, tossing halfway through, until the chicken is crispy, about 10 minutes.
- Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine the remaining onion with cilantro.
- Serve the chicken, tortillas, and onion mixture family-style.