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Dig into these easy chicken carnitas for dinner tonight. This lighter take on traditional pork carnitas is just as juicy and packed with flavor from citrus juices and Mexican seasonings like cumin, chili powder, and oregano. Includes slow cooker and Instant Pot instructions for an easy, no-fuss dinner!
One of the most popular recipes on Isabel Eats is this traditional pork carnitas recipe. Since posting it, one of the most common questions I’ve received is whether or not you can make carnitas with chicken instead of pork. And the answer is yes! That’s why I created this chicken carnitas recipe.
Here’s why I love this recipe:
- It’s user-friendly. Just dump all the ingredients in the slow cooker or Instant Pot and let it do its magic. No searing, mixing, or complicated instructions.
- It goes with everything! Chicken carnitas are a great filling for tacos, burritos, bowls, nachos, or tostadas.
- It’s budget-friendly. This chicken carnitas recipe uses simple, budget-friendly ingredients like chicken thighs or breasts, staple pantry spices, broth, limes, and oranges.
Ingredients in Chicken Carnitas
- Chicken: I use boneless skinless chicken thighs to keep the meat as juicy as possible during the broiling process, but you can also use chicken breasts.
- Citrus juices: Orange juice and lime juice are staple ingredients for making carnitas. They add some acidity and sweetness to make the chicken super tender and balance the savory seasonings.
- Broth: Chicken broth is important to keep the chicken moist and prevent it from drying out during cooking and broiling.
- Seasonings: A simple mixture of chili powder, cumin, salt, garlic powder, and oregano adds tons of great flavor.
- Cilantro: I love to top everything with some cilantro, but you can leave it out if you’re not a fan.
How to Make Chicken Carnitas
Add the chicken thighs or breasts, chicken broth, lime juice, orange juice, chili powder, ground cumin, salt, garlic powder, and dried oregano to the slow cooker.
Cook on high for 3-4 hours or low for 6-7 hours.
Shred the chicken with two forks, then arrange it in single layer on a baking sheet and pour the remaining chicken juices on top. Broil it for 5-6 minutes until crispy.
Top with the remaining lime juice and chopped cilantro and serve in tacos, burritos, nachos, tostadas, or burrito bowls.
Recipe Tips
- Choose the right cut of chicken. Boneless, skinless chicken thighs work best for carnitas due to their higher fat content, which keeps them juicy during the cooking and crisping/broiling process. You can also use chicken breasts, but thighs will give you more flavor and tenderness.
- Crisp it up. After shredding the chicken, spread it on a baking sheet and broil it for a few minutes to get those signature crispy edges, just like traditional pork carnitas.
- Keep it juicy. Don’t throw away the cooking liquid. Use the flavorful broth from the slow cooker or Instant Pot to moisten the chicken before serving or when reheating.
- Make it spicy. Add 1 teaspoon of chipotle powder or ½ teaspoon of ground cayenne to turn up the heat.
Instant Pot Method
This recipe can also be made in an Instant Pot pressure cooker when you’re short on time. Here’s how to make it:
- Add all the ingredients to the Instant Pot and secure the lid. Pressure cook on high for 10 minutes, then let the pressure release naturally for 10 minutes before manually releasing any remaining pressure
Serving Suggestions
Chicken carnitas are super versatile and can be used as a filling for so many different recipes. Here are a few ideas for a delicious meal:
- Make burritos or burrito bowls with cilantro lime rice, canned black beans, pico de gallo, and guacamole.
- Make healthy nachos, and use a topping on these bell pepper nachos! This is one of my favorites.
- You can never go wrong with tacos! Use corn tortillas or flour tortillas, chopped onions, fresh cilantro, and this roasted tomato salsa.
Storing, Freezing, and Reheating
- Storage: Chicken carnitas can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- Freezing: Place the chicken carnitas in an airtight container or freezer bag for up to 3 months. I like to lay the freezer bags flat for easy storage.
- Reheating: Thawed chicken carnitas can be warmed in the microwave for 2-4 minutes until hot, or under the broiler for 2-4 minutes to crisp them up.
More Mexican Recipes
If you tried this Chicken Carnitas Recipe or any other recipe on Isabel Eats, don’t forget to rate the recipe and let me know how it went in the comments below! I love hearing about your experience making it!
Chicken Carnitas
Ingredients
- 2 ½ – 3 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs or breasts
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 4 tablespoons lime juice, divided (about 2 limes)
- ½ cup orange juice, (about 2 oranges)
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ cup chopped cilantro, for serving
Instructions
Slow Cooker Instructions
- Add the chicken, chicken broth, 2 tablespoons lime juice, orange juice, chili powder, ground cumin, salt, garlic powder, and dried oregano to the slow cooker.
- Stir together, cover, and cook on high for 3 to 4 hours or cook on low for 6 to 7 hours.
- Transfer the chicken to a plate and shred it with a fork. Arrange the shredded chicken in a single layer on a baking sheet and pour the chicken juices and broth from the slow cooker on top.
- Place directly under the broiler and broil for 5-6 minutes or until crispy.
- Top with the remaining 2 tablespoons of lime juice and chopped cilantro.
- Serve immediately in tacos, burritos, nachos, or bowls.
Instant Pot Instructions
- Add the chicken, chicken broth, 2 tablespoons lime juice, orange juice, chili powder, ground cumin, salt, garlic powder, and dried oregano to the Instant Pot and secure the lid.
- Turn the pressure valve to sealing, select Manual (or Pressure Cook), and pressure cook on high pressure for 10 minutes.
- Let the pressure release naturally for 10 minutes, then open the pressure valve to release any remaining pressure.
- Transfer the chicken to a plate and shred it with a fork. Arrange the shredded chicken in a single layer on a baking sheet and pour the chicken juices and broth from the Instant Pot on top.
- Place directly under the broiler and broil for 5-6 minutes or until crispy.
- Top with the remaining 2 tablespoons of lime juice and chopped cilantro.
- Serve immediately in tacos, burritos, nachos, or bowls.
Notes
- Choose the right cut of chicken. Boneless, skinless chicken thighs work best for carnitas due to their higher fat content, which keeps them juicy during the cooking and crisping/broiling process. You can also use chicken breasts, but thighs will give you more flavor and tenderness.
- Crisp it up. After shredding the chicken, spread it on a baking sheet and broil it for a few minutes to get those signature crispy edges, just like traditional pork carnitas.
- Keep it juicy. Don’t throw away the cooking liquid. Use the flavorful broth from the slow cooker or Instant Pot to moisten the chicken before serving or when reheating.
- Make it spicy. Add 1 teaspoon of chipotle powder or ½ teaspoon of ground cayenne to turn up the heat.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This post was originally published in January 2017 and has been updated with new photos, more helpful tips, and a better overall recipe.
Photography by Ashley McLaughlin.
Can you make this with a whole chicken??
I’ve made this before & I’ve never forgotten how wonderful it was. It’s going to be tonight’s dinner. The brown sugar is that one component that puts it over the top. I served it in “bowls” instead of the tortillas to save a few calories (begrudgingly). Delicious & memorable! Thank you for this recipe!!
I just found this and made it today. SO DELICIOUS! Topped it with pico de gallo, cotija, and crema. YUMMY!! THANK YOU!!
I’m so happy you liked it! Thank you for leaving a comment 🙂
I made this for my husband’s birthday dinner and it was absolutely delicious. Thanks for the recipe. Definitely will make again.
I’m so happy you liked it!
Should I keep stirring during the cooking so the flavors will cover the breasts? I am doing the cooking on high method.
Hi! No need to stir during the cooking process. Opening the slow cooker during cooking lets all the heat out which you don’t want to do! You can just stir everything together at the end.
These look really yum !
Can I still make theSe if I don’t have a slow cooker?
I love your recipes! Thank you for sharing!
Just a heads up – in the recipe instructions step two is included in both step 1 and step 2. Thought you might like to know so you can fix it.
Thanks, Raymond! I’m going to fix that right now!
Hello Isabel – Just confirming this the correct amount of liquid…seems like a very minimal amount for typical Crock Pot recipe’s.
Yes, it’s correct!
This is part of why her recipes taste so much better than many – a lot of other people’s recipes use so much liquid that they soak all the good flavor out of the meat.
So excited to try these! Love your food photography! Sucked me right in!
Thank you so much! 🙂
These look so delicious, fresh and authentic! Yum!
Thanks, Bethany!