Experience the unparalleled taste of perfectly caramelized pork carnitas, served generously over fluffy rice and seasoned beans, then crowned with vibrant, fresh pico de gallo. This homemade burrito bowl is not just a meal; it’s a culinary journey that promises to outshine any local takeout joint, bringing authentic Mexican flavors right to your kitchen table.

Craving more vibrant Tex-Mex flavors? Don’t miss these incredible Southwest Egg Rolls or this comforting Salsa Verde Chicken.

The Ultimate Homemade Pork Carnitas Burrito Bowls

Burrito bowls have become a staple in my kitchen, a go-to for their incredible versatility, satisfying flavors, and ease of customization. While my family might occasionally yearn for something different, I simply can’t get enough of these vibrant, deconstructed burritos. There’s something undeniably appealing about building your own meal, choosing your favorite toppings, and savoring every bite of a well-balanced, flavorful bowl.

This recipe for Pork Carnitas Burrito Bowls holds a special place in my culinary repertoire. It’s a true “oldie but goodie,” a timeless classic that first made its appearance back in 2012. That was around the time the Chipotle burrito bowl craze was sweeping the nation, and it’s truly remarkable to see that, over a decade later, these bowls remain as popular and beloved as ever. Their enduring appeal lies in their combination of fresh ingredients, hearty portions, and the irresistible allure of tender, crispy carnitas.

Over the years, I’ve refined and perfected the carnitas recipe used in these bowls. My initial version, posted way back when, was a more intricate slow-cooked preparation featuring a multitude of spices and ingredients. However, through countless kitchen experiments, I’ve discovered a simpler, yet equally flavorful, method that has become my absolute favorite. This streamlined approach still yields incredibly tender and perfectly caramelized pork, making it accessible for home cooks without sacrificing any of the authentic taste. Beyond the initial cooking time for the pork, the assembly of these burrito bowls is surprisingly quick and effortless, making them a fantastic option for both weeknight dinners and relaxed weekend meals. Trust me, once you try these homemade burrito bowls, you’ll understand why they’re a permanent fixture on my menu!

Essential Ingredients for Your Perfect Burrito Bowl

Crafting an exceptional burrito bowl starts with selecting high-quality ingredients. Here’s a breakdown of the key components and some tips for making them shine:

• Pork Shoulder/Butt: The foundation of our incredible carnitas! The secret to truly tender and crispy carnitas lies in choosing a cut of pork with a good amount of fat. This fat is absolutely crucial; it renders down during the slow cooking process, basting the meat and keeping it incredibly moist. Later, it transforms into the crispy, golden bits that make carnitas so irresistible. Don’t be tempted to trim too much fat – it’s your flavor friend!
• Rice: Long grain rice is my usual choice for its fluffy texture, but don’t hesitate to personalize your bowl. Brown rice adds a nutty flavor and extra fiber, while quinoa or cauliflower rice are excellent low-carb alternatives. For a truly authentic experience reminiscent of popular Tex-Mex chains, consider making our incredible Cilantro Lime Rice. Its bright, zesty flavor perfectly complements the rich carnitas.
• Beans: Black beans are our family’s favorite, offering a creamy texture and earthy flavor that pairs wonderfully with pork. However, pinto beans are another fantastic option, bringing a slightly different, equally delicious profile to the bowl. Whichever you choose, ensure they are thoroughly drained, rinsed, and gently warmed before serving.
• Pico de Gallo: The fresh, vibrant burst of flavor that ties everything together! I highly recommend making your own homemade Pico de Gallo. It’s incredibly simple to prepare with fresh tomatoes, onions, jalapeños, cilantro, and lime juice, and the difference in taste is truly remarkable. If time is a constraint, a good quality store-bought pico can work in a pinch.
• Cheese: Finely grated Monterey Jack cheese melts beautifully and offers a mild, creamy counterpoint to the other robust flavors. This ingredient is wonderfully flexible – feel free to use cheddar, a Mexican cheese blend, or even cotija for a saltier, more crumbly texture. Choose your favorite!
• Other Customizable Toppings: This is where you can truly make the bowl your own! Some of our favorite additions include cool sour cream or Mexican crema, fresh cilantro, creamy avocado slices or guacamole, sweet grilled corn (a fantastic addition, even if not always pictured), thinly sliced jalapeños for a kick, bright green onions, and a squeeze of fresh lime juice to brighten every bite. Don’t limit yourself – consider adding sliced radishes, a drizzle of hot sauce, or even a different salsa!

Crafting Your Masterpiece: How to Make Pork Carnitas Burrito Bowls

While the rich flavors might suggest a complicated process, assembling these burrito bowls is surprisingly straightforward. The key lies in preparing the carnitas first, allowing that delicious pork to slow-cook to perfection while you get the other components ready.

The Star of the Show: Perfect Pork Carnitas

The journey to an unforgettable burrito bowl begins with the pork carnitas. This step requires patience, but the hands-on effort is minimal, making it truly rewarding. You’ll want to start the pork first, as it will take a few hours to achieve that coveted tender-then-crispy texture. The process is incredibly simple: the pork is simmered in its own fat and a bit of water until tender, and then fried in its rendered fat until beautifully caramelized and crisp. For a detailed, step-by-step guide to achieving the absolute best crispy, juicy pork, refer to our dedicated Pork Carnitas recipe post. It outlines every detail to ensure your pork is nothing short of spectacular.

Assembling Your Customizable Burrito Bowls

Once your mouth-watering carnitas are nearing completion, it’s time to prepare the remaining elements of your bowls. This phase is all about efficiency and assembly.

• Cook the Rice: While the pork is finishing, cook your rice. I find a rice cooker to be a convenient tool for perfectly fluffy rice every time, but stove-top instructions are equally effective and included in the full recipe below. Remember to rinse your rice thoroughly before cooking to remove excess starch, which helps achieve that ideal fluffy texture.
• Warm the Beans: Gently warm your drained and rinsed black or pinto beans. A quick simmer on the stovetop or a microwave session will do the trick.
• Prep Your Toppings: Chop your fresh pico de gallo, grate your cheese, slice your avocado, and gather any other desired toppings like sour cream, cilantro, jalapeños, and lime wedges. Having everything ready in separate bowls makes assembly a breeze.
• Build Your Bowl: Now for the fun part! Divide the freshly cooked rice among individual bowls. Layer generously with the succulent pork carnitas, followed by the warmed beans. Then, let your creativity take over by adding your chosen toppings. The beauty of the burrito bowl is its customizability – everyone gets exactly what they want!

Expert Tips & Smart Tricks for Burrito Bowl Perfection

Making these pork carnitas burrito bowls is straightforward, but a few insider tips can elevate your experience and make meal prep a breeze:

• Make Ahead Carnitas: The pork is the component that requires the most time. Luckily, carnitas are fantastic for making ahead! You can cook the pork in advance, store it in the refrigerator, and then simply reheat it when you’re ready to assemble your bowls. This strategy significantly cuts down on active cooking time on busy weeknights. Reheat the pork in a skillet to regain some of its crispiness.
• Buffet-Style Serving: For family dinners or gatherings, I highly recommend serving these buffet style. Arrange all the prepared components—rice, beans, carnitas, pico de gallo, cheese, and an array of other toppings—in separate dishes. This empowers each person to build their own custom burrito bowl, ensuring everyone gets exactly what they love. It’s a fun and interactive way to enjoy the meal!
• Personalize Your Sauces: While I adore my bowl just as it is, my husband adds a generous drizzle of tomatillo ranch dressing to his. This creamy, tangy sauce adds another layer of flavor and moisture that some truly enjoy. Don’t be afraid to experiment with your favorite salsas, hot sauces, or dressings to find your perfect combination.
• Smart Leftovers & Meal Prep: These burrito bowls are excellent for meal prep! To store leftovers effectively, you have a couple of options:
  1. Separate Storage: Keep each component (pork, rice, beans, pico, cheese, sour cream) in individual airtight containers. This ensures everything stays fresh and prevents ingredients from getting soggy.
  2. Portioned Meal Prep: For grab-and-go lunches, I often portion out the rice, beans, and pork into individual meal prep containers. However, I always store the fresh toppings like pico de gallo, sour cream, avocado, and cilantro separately. This prevents them from wilting or getting hot when reheating the main components, preserving their fresh texture and flavor. Simply add the cold toppings after warming the base!

Explore More Delicious Bowl Recipes

If you’ve fallen in love with the convenience and customizable nature of burrito bowls, you’re in for a treat! The “bowl” concept lends itself to endless culinary creativity, allowing you to transform a variety of cuisines into healthy, hearty, and satisfying meals. Here are some more of my favorite bowl recipes to inspire your next meal:

• Hearty Southwestern Breakfast Bowl
• Flavorful Buddha Bowl with Thai Chicken
• Mediterranean-Inspired Greek Chicken Bowls
• Deconstructed Classic Burger Bowls

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Pork Carnitas Burrito Bowl

These homemade pork carnitas burrito bowls combine juicy, caramelized pork with fluffy rice, savory beans, and fresh pico de gallo. They’re easy to customize and perfect for a satisfying meal that rivals any restaurant!

Author: Deborah Harroun

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 2 hours 40 minutes

Total Time: 3 hours

Servings: 6 servings

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Mexican

Keywords: bowl recipe, burrito bowl, pork carnitas

Ingredients

For the Pork Carnitas:

• 3 pounds fatty pork shoulder or butt (skin and bone removed)
• Cold water (enough to barely cover the pork)
• 2 teaspoons salt

For the Bowls:

• 1 1/2 cups long grain rice
• 1 (15 oz) can black beans (drained, rinsed, and warmed)
• 2 cups pico de gallo
• 4 oz finely shredded cheese (Monterey Jack is recommended)
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• Sliced green onions, for garnish
• Sliced avocado, for garnish
• Grilled corn, for garnish (optional)
• Sliced jalapeños, for garnish (optional)
• Minced cilantro, for garnish
• Lime wedges, for serving

Instructions

Part 1: Make the Pork Carnitas

1. Prepare the Pork: Cut the pork shoulder or butt into strips approximately 2” x 3/4”. Ensure you do not remove or discard the fat, as it is essential for flavor and texture. Place the cut meat into a large, heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven.
2. Simmer the Pork: Pour enough cold water over the pork to just barely cover the meat. Add the salt to the pot. Bring the water to a boil over medium-high heat, leaving the pot uncovered.
3. Cook Until Water Evaporates: Once boiling, reduce the heat to a gentle simmer. Continue cooking the pork, uncovered, until all of the water has completely evaporated. This process typically takes about 1 1/2 hours, though the exact time can vary depending on the size and shape of your pot. At this stage, the meat should be cooked through and tender, but not yet falling apart.
4. Crisp the Carnitas: With the water evaporated, the pork will now be cooking in its rendered fat. Slightly lower the flame even further. Continue to cook the pork, turning the pieces occasionally, until all the fat has fully rendered from the pork and all sides of the meat are beautifully browned and crispy. This step usually takes an additional 1 hour and 10 minutes. The resulting carnitas should be incredibly tender on the inside and wonderfully crispy on the outside.

Part 2: Assemble the Burrito Bowls

1. Cook the Rice: While the carnitas are finishing, thoroughly rinse the long grain rice under cold water until the water runs clear. Add the rinsed rice to a large saucepan along with 3 cups of water. Place the pan over medium-high heat and bring it to a rolling boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat to a low simmer and immediately place a tight-fitting lid on the pan. Simmer, covered, until the rice is tender and all the water has been absorbed, which usually takes about 15-20 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and let the rice sit, covered, for an additional 10 minutes to steam. Fluff the rice gently with a fork before serving.
2. Prepare Other Components: Ensure your black beans are warmed, your pico de gallo is fresh and ready, your cheese is shredded, and all other desired toppings (sour cream, green onions, avocado, corn, jalapeños, cilantro, lime wedges) are prepped and easily accessible.
3. Build the Bowls: To assemble each delicious burrito bowl, divide the cooked, fluffy rice evenly among 6 individual serving bowls. Generously top the rice with portions of the succulent pork carnitas. Next, add the warmed black beans, fresh pico de gallo, and shredded cheese. Finally, complete your masterpiece with a dollop of sour cream, and your choice of fresh garnishes such as sliced green onions, creamy avocado, grilled corn, spicy jalapeños, and fragrant minced cilantro. Serve immediately with fresh lime wedges on the side for an extra burst of zest.

Recipe Notes:

For more in-depth details and tips on achieving perfect pork carnitas, be sure to visit my full Pork Carnitas post.

Learn how to make the best homemade pico de gallo from scratch with my detailed Pico de Gallo post.

Nutrition information is provided as an estimate only and can vary significantly based on brands and specific product choices. This data should be used as a general guide. Nutritional information presented here includes the pork, rice, beans, pico de gallo, cheese, and sour cream. Other optional toppings are not included in this estimate.

Nutrition Information (per serving)

• Serving: 1 serving
• Calories: 648 kcal (32% DV)
• Carbohydrates: 52g (17% DV)
• Protein: 53g (106% DV)
• Fat: 22g (34% DV)
• Saturated Fat: 6g (38% DV)
• Polyunsaturated Fat: 0g
• Monounsaturated Fat: 1g
• Trans Fat: 0g
• Cholesterol: 158mg (53% DV)
• Sodium: 1693mg (74% DV)
• Fiber: 6g (25% DV)
• Sugar: 3g (3% DV)

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