Backcountry Carnitas
Backcountry Carnitas brings tender, pull-apart pork with a gentle smokiness and a hint of chile warmth. The slow render concentrates rich pork flavor while onion, garlic, and oregano round it out for balanced depth. It’s perfect for camp cookouts or backyard gatherings, piling into tacos, over nachos, or onto toasted buns.
- Prep15 mins
- Cook4 hrs
- Serves10
- DifficultyMedium
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Backcountry Carnitas, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactFair
- 56 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 1 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityFair
- 51 / 100
- Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
- NOVA Unprocessed or minimally processed
- 1 / 4
- Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.
How it scores for each health goal
The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.
- 32
- Heart Health
- 58
- Metabolic
- 13
- Digestive
- 20
- Inflammatory
- 45
- Performance
- 33
- General Wellness
- 1
Cut the pork into 2-inch pieces. Stack 2 (7x10x3-inch) disposable foil baking pans and transfer the pork into them. Season with salt, pepper, and oregano, and toss with your hands until evenly coated.
- 2
Cover the pan with a sheet of heavy-duty aluminum foil and crimp tightly around the edges. Set the pan on another large sheet of heavy-duty aluminum foil, then wrap the foil up over the pan with all seams rolled facing up. Repeat with 2 more sheets of aluminum foil.
- 3
Place the pan next to a campfire or in a charcoal grill, arranging the burning coals evenly around the pan. Wrap a sheet pan in foil, place it over the pan, and arrange some charcoal on top.
- 4
Use a probe or laser thermometer to check the temperature on the surface of the bottom pan and the ambient temperature next to the pan. Maintain a steady temperature between 250 to 300 degrees F (120 to 150 degrees C) by moving charcoal farther from or closer to the pan as needed. If cooking next to a campfire and one side is hotter, rotate the pan occasionally. Cook until falling-apart tender, 4 to 5 hours.
- 5
Remove the pan from the fire and let rest for up to 1 hour, or serve right away. Carefully cut the foil and peel it back. Serve in tacos, nachos, or in hot dog or hamburger buns.
- Calories 498.77 kcal High 25%
- Protein 34.42 g Good Source 69%
- Carbohydrate 14.83 g 5%
- Total Fat 31.34 g High 40%
- Saturated Fat 9.84 g High 49%
- Trans Fat 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Cholesterol 105.24 mg High 35%
- Sodium 147.39 mg Moderate 6%
- Dietary Fiber 0.62 g Low Source 2%
- Total Sugars 0.24 g --
- Added Sugars 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Calcium 77.84 mg Low Source 6%
- Iron 1.86 mg Moderate 10%
- Potassium 40.08 mg Low Source 1%
- Vitamin A 3.22 mcg Low Source 0%
- Vitamin C 11.89 mg Moderate 13%
- Vitamin D 0.0 mcg Low Source 0%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Garlic 🧄
- Onions 🧅
About This Recipe
Backcountry Carnitas is made with 7 ingredients and serves 10. It takes about 4 hrs 15 mins and is rated medium. Key ingredients include Black Pepper, Bone In Pork Shoulder Butt Roast, Chili Pepper, and Garlic. Each serving provides about 498.77 kcal, and is a good source of protein.
Recipe Questions
- What is Backcountry Carnitas made of?
- The main ingredients are Black Pepper, Bone-In Pork Shoulder Butt Roast, Chili Pepper, Garlic, Mexican Oregano. The full list of 7 is above.
- How long does it take to make Backcountry Carnitas?
- About 4 hrs 15 mins in total: 15 mins to prepare and 4 hrs to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 498.77 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Backcountry Carnitas easy to make?
- This recipe is rated medium, with 7 ingredients and 5 steps.
- Is Backcountry Carnitas healthy?
- Backcountry Carnitas has an easyChef Pro health score of 40/100. Per serving, it provides 498.77 calories and 34.42 g of protein, or 69% of the Daily Value. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 147.39 mg (6% of the Daily Value) and saturated fat at 9.84 g (49% of the Daily Value). It contains Garlic and Onions, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.
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