These low calorie carnitas are just 167 calories and packed with 17.7g of protein. Plus the healthy carnitas can be made in the Instant Pot, Slow Cooker, or on the stovetop!
Ingredients You’ll Need:
- 4 pounds pork loin
- 2 jalapeños
- 4 garlic cloves
- Juice of 2 limes
- Salt and pepper
- 1 cup of water
Low Calorie Carnitas
Healthy Carnitas Meal Prep and Storage
Meal Prep: You can make the carnitas ahead ofttimes then store for later. Or add all the ingredients to a bag and marinate as directed in the recipe card below.
Storage: Will hold in the fridge for 5 days or the freezer for a month.
Reheating: If stored uncooked, cook according to the directions below (thaw out first if frozen). Or to reheat leftovers or pre-cooked in the microwave for 2-3 minutes or on the stovetop over low heat.
Low Calorie Carnitas
Use Low Calorie Carnitas in These Recipes:
Low Calorie Carnitas
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 pounds pork loin quartered
- 2 jalapeños seeds and ribs removed
- 4 garlic cloves
- Juice of 2 limes
- Salt and pepper
- 1 cup of water
Instructions
Prep Directions:
- Place the pork in a gallon freezer bag and set aside.
- Add the remaining ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth, then pour over the pork and marinate for 2-24 hours (the longer the better!)
Instant Pot Directions:
- Set the Instant Pot to "sauté" medium heat. Once it reads "hot" add the pork in batches until lightly browned, transferring the pork to a plate as you work.
- Once the pork is all browned, shut off the Instant Pot, add in the marinade and scrape the bottom well so you don’t get a “Burn” message.
- Add the pork back to the pot, along with any juices on the plate. Cover and cook on high pressure for 80 minutes.
- Let the pressure release naturally for 10 minutes, then do a quick release of pressure.
- Transfer the pork to a plate and shred. Add 1/4 cup to 1 cup of the liquid as needed to the shredded pork to add moisture.
- Serve hot.
Slow Cooker Directions:
- Add the pork and the marinade to a slow cooker.
- Cover and cook on low heat for 8 hours, or high heat for 5 hours.
- Remove the pork from the slow cooker and place on a plate. Use two forks to shred. Add 1/4 cup to 1 cup of the liquid as needed to the shredded pork to add moisture.
- Serve hot.
Stovetop Directions:
- Add the pork and the marinade to a large pot.
- Cover and cook on low heat for 5 hours, until the pork is tender.
- Remove the pork from the pot and place on a plate. Use two forks to shred. Add 1/4 cup to 1 cup of the liquid as needed to the shredded pork to add moisture.
- Serve hot.
Nutrition
About the Author
Hi, my name is Audrey Johns and I am a 4 time best selling cookbook author! All 4 of my low calorie cookbooks are published by HarperCollins (the oldest publishing house in the US!) and have been featured on prominent TV shows like The Today Show, Rachael Ray and The Doctors. I am a low calorie and healthy recipe authority and my delicious recipes are tried and loved by thousands of readers.
After a one year 150 pound weight loss (and I’ve kept it off for 13 years!) I started sharing all of my low calorie recipes with the world. They are always all-natural and geared around weight loss and weight management. I have even made some of these recipes with my Biggest Loser pal Bob Harper! Check out my weight loss story, my best selling cookbooks, and my numerous TV appearances by clicking here.
Nutrition and Calories in Carnitas
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Article History:
- Originally written and published September 18, 2020 by Audrey Johns
- Updated on September 14, 2023 by Audrey Johns
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