Do you like tacos? If you do, then carnitas is surely up your alley. Do not worry; there are various dishes you can make with your favorite carnitas recipe.
Keep on reading to find out all the best side dishes for carnitas! You will find these dishes to be easy and delicious.
What Are Carnitas?
Carnitas is the Spanish word for “little meat.” The dish is traditionally Mexican from the Michoacán region. Carnitas are served in tacos but come with cilantro, beans, guacamole, and pico de gallo.
Preparing carnitas is a long process that can take more than three hours. Usually, heavily fatty pork is the meat of choice, and it is seasoned and braised or simmered in oil or lard. In some cases, after slow cooking the pork, it should be deep-fried for a few minutes before serving.
In the traditional mexican cuisine, carnitas are cooked in a copper pot. Seasonings to use include salt, chili, cumin, oregano, garlic, and bay leaf. Lime and jalapeños can also be part of the dish.
Although you will likely see carnitas in tacos, you can also find them in tamales, tortas, burritos, corn tortillas and on their own. Newer alternatives use chicken breast or thighs instead of slow cooker pork carnitas. The meat is served shredded and has a very tender texture.
Nutrition Facts
One serving of braised pork carnitas (140 g) has the following nutritional content (*):
251 calories
13 g protein
14 g fat
19 g carbohydrate
1.96 g fiber
4 g sugar
40.6 mg calcium
1.44 mg iron
200 mg potassium
620 mg sodium
300 IU vitamin A
8.96 mg vitamin C
40.6 mg cholesterol
Carnitas are a good source of protein while also being relatively low in fat. However, the cholesterol and sodium content varies depending on what ingredients you use. You can make it healthier by choosing oil instead of lard and using less salt.
What Goes With Carnitas?
Below are some options for side dishes that you can serve with carnitas at any time!
#1. Spicy Cilantro Rice
Cilantro rice is something to try at least once, but this recipe adds a bit of a kick to it. If you like Mexican food, this is the rice for you!
Ingredients:
1 cup Jasmine rice
1 cup water
½ cup chicken broth
1 tablespoon olive oil
½ lime, juiced
2 jalapeños, seeded and chopped
½ teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon chopped cilantro
Salt and pepper to taste
Follow these steps to prepare your spicy cilantro rice:
Mix the chicken broth with half of the cilantro and place it in a blender or food processor. Blend until smooth.
Add the olive oil to a deep saucepan. Stir in the rice, water, chicken broth, cilantro mixture, and garlic powder.
Allow the liquid to boil and then reduce the heat to a simmer. Cook for 20 to 25 minutes or until the liquid is absorbed.
Remove the rice from the heat. Using a fork, fluff the rice.
Stir in the jalapeños, lime juice, chili powder, salt, and pepper. Mix well.
Serve your spicy cilantro rice hot with the rest of the fresh cilantro on top.
#2. Mango Pico de Gallo
For those that want a traditional dish with a twist, this mango pico de gallo is the perfect recipe. It combines acidity with sweetness in just the right balance for a delicious meal.
Ingredients:
1 bell pepper, diced
1 large mango, diced
1 red onion, diced
2 large tomatoes, diced
1 lime, juiced
2 tablespoons cilantro, chopped
½ teaspoon cumin
1 jalapeño, chopped
½ teaspoon sugar
Salt and pepper to taste
Follow these steps to prepare your mango pico de gallo:
Wash, clean, and chop your vegetables. Set them aside in a large bowl.
Peel, core, and dice your mango and add it to the bowl.
Stir in the lime juice, cilantro, cumin, jalapeño, sugar, salt, and pepper.
Mix well and place your bowl in the refrigerator for one hour.
Serve your mango pico de gallo cold and fresh.
Tip: you can save it for later in the fridge for up to two days.
#3. Guacamole
This chunky guacamole is not just traditional but very filling. You can add more heat if you like spicy food. Try serving it on the side or top of your carnitas.
Ingredients:
2 Hass avocados
½ red onion, diced
2 large tomatoes, diced
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon rice wine vinegar
2 limes, juiced
2 tablespoons cilantro, chopped
Salt and pepper to taste
Follow these steps to prepare your guacamole:
Wash, clean, dice your vegetables and place them in a large bowl.
Cut your avocados and remove the pit.
Take all the flesh and place it in the bowl using a fork.
Mash the avocado with the fork while mixing with the rest of the vegetables.
Stir in the garlic powder, rice vinegar, lime juice, salt, and pepper. Mix well.
Finish off by adding the fresh cilantro and mix once more.
Serve your fresh guacamole cold next to your carnitas.
Tip: you can keep your guacamole safe in the refrigerator for a day, but it will start to turn black soon. For longer keeping you can always freeze guacamole.
#4. Taco Dip
This taco dip is the way to go for those that want an appetizer or a quick side dish. You can serve your taco dip with the carnitas. You can also have it ahead of time with corn tortilla chips.
Ingredients:
1 cup sour cream
3 tablespoons taco seasoning
¼ cup shredded iceberg lettuce
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
2 tomatoes, chopped
½ can of black beans, drained
1 bell pepper, diced
¼ teaspoon cumin
Salt and pepper to taste
Follow these steps to prepare your taco dip:
Preheat the oven to 375 °F.
Wash, clean, and chop your tomatoes, bell pepper, and lettuce. Set them aside.
Mix the sour cream, black beans, cumin, salt, and pepper.
Stir half the cheese on top.
Place the mixture on a baking dish and bake for 10 minutes.
Remove the dish and allow it to cool down for a few minutes.
Spread the tomatoes, bell pepper, and lettuce on top.
Finish by adding the remaining cheese.
Serve your taco dip cold or warm on the side of your carnitas and with tortilla chips.
#5. Sweet Corn Cake
Do not rule out this recipe if you have never tried it. Not only is this sweet corn cake delicious, but also very easy to make.
Ingredients:
4 tablespoons butter
½ cup masa harina
⅓ cup water
1 can of sweet corn, drained
3 tablespoons cornmeal
¼ cup sugar
1 tablespoon milk
1 tablespoon heavy cream
½ teaspoon garlic powder
⅓ teaspoon baking powder
Salt and pepper to taste
Follow these steps to prepare your sweet corn cake:
Preheat oven to 375 °F.
Beat the butter in a bowl until it turns smooth. Stir in the masa harina and water. Mix well.
Add your corn to a blender and blend until it is in smaller pieces. Add the corn to the butter mixture.
Mix the cornmeal, sugar, milk, cream, garlic powder, baking powder, salt, and pepper in another bowl.
Stir in the corn and masa harina mixture.
Mix well and transfer your batter onto a greased baking dish.
Bake for 45 to 55 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool down for 10 minutes.
Serve your sweet corn cake warm or at room temperature on the side of your carnitas.
#6. Mexican Chopped Salad
A healthy salad is always a good choice for a wholesome meal. In this case, this Mexican chopped salad is both satisfying and healthy.
Ingredients:
2 cups romaine lettuce, chopped
½ can of black beans, drained
1 cup cherry tomatoes, chopped
½ can of sweet corn, drained
½ avocado, cubed
⅓ cup queso fresco
2 limes, juiced
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon garlic powder
2 tablespoons cilantro, chopped
Salt and pepper to taste
Follow these steps to prepare your Mexican chopped salad:
Wash, clean, and chop your vegetables. Set them aside in a large bowl.
Stir in the black beans, corn, avocado, and queso fresco. Mix well.
Mix the lime juice, olive oil, garlic powder, salt, and pepper in another bowl.
Slowly pour the vinaigrette over the salad and toss.
Sprinkle the salad with fresh cilantro.
Serve your Mexican chopped salad fresh on the side of your carnitas.
Tip: keep the salad in the fridge for up to two days but do not add the vinaigrette until ready to serve.
#7. Mexican Potato Salad
This Mexican potato salad is decadent and delicious. You can add other vegetables to make your potatoes stand out even more.
Ingredients:
8 to 10 red potatoes, peeled and cubed
1 tablespoon olive oil
½ red onion, diced
1 can of black beans, drained
½ cup sour cream
½ cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons of fresh lime juice
1 teaspoon chili powder
½ teaspoon cumin
½ teaspoon paprika
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
2 tablespoons cilantro, chopped
Salt and pepper to taste
Follow these steps to prepare your Mexican potato salad:
Preheat your oven to 375°.
Clean, peel, and cube your potatoes. Place them on a baking sheet.
Drizzle the potatoes with olive oil and roast them for 20 to 25 minutes or until tender.
Remove the potatoes from the oven and allow them to cool down.
Once cool, place the potatoes, black beans, and red onion in a large bowl.
Combine the sour cream, mayonnaise, lime juice, chili powder, cumin, paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper in another bowl. Mix well.
Slowly stir in the creamy vinaigrette into your potatoes. Toss well.
Sprinkle your potatoes with cilantro and keep tossing.
Refrigerate the bowl for at least one hour.
Serve your Mexican potato salad cold on the side of your carnitas.
How Can I Pick The Perfect Side Dish?
Since preparing carnitas takes time, you want to be ready when serving your mexican dishes. Be sure to include one or more of these side dishes to make your carnitas stand out. You will love all of these recipes.
If you want to keep things on the healthier side, a vegetable side dish could be the way to go. Try the mango pico de gallo, which is sweet and sour in the perfect way. You can also prepare the Mexican chopped salad, which is both high in fiber and very filling.
When you want to mix things up with a good appetizer, a dip might be a perfect choice. The taco dip is decadent but easy to make. The guacamole is a traditional dish that will always be a fan favorite.
Finally, pairing your carnitas with a starchy side dish can make your meal complete. Try the spicy cilantro rice, which is a good combination of savory and hot. You can also go with the Mexican potato salad and modernize this classic dish.
In all other cases, go with the sweet corn cake that can be a side dish or a dessert to top off your meal.
Conclusion
Now that you know the dedication that making carnitas takes, you surely want to be ready to prepare your favorite side dishes. These recipes will become a family favorite in no time. Try one, two, or more and surprise your loved ones.
Juliana has a BA in Journalism and Creative Writing as well as a M.S. in Nutrition, Dietetics, and Sensory Sciences. She loves traveling, trying new foods, and cooking. When she isn’t busy working, you can find her running with her dog Milo or reading a book in the sun.
