Name: Jackfruit Carnitas
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 55 min
Yield: 2 Servings
Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons olive oil; 0.5 sweet onion; 2 cloves garlic; 0.5 tsp sea salt; black pepper; 40 ounces jackfruit in brine or water; 3 teaspoons chili powder; 1 tsp dried oregano; 2 bay leaves; 2 tablespoons brown sugar; 0.5 cup orange juice; 1 cup vegetable broth; 2 tablespoons lime juice; tortillas; cilantro; 1 medium avocado; tomato; jalapeno; salsa

Have you tried jackfruit yet!? It’s quickly become one of my favorite NATURAL meat substitutes and these Jackfruit Carnitas Tacos are a truly delicious way to enjoy it! Can’t wait to hear what you think of this recipe!

Dinner

55 m

Mexican

Food with Feeling

April 22, 2026

Foodwithfeeling.com

From the Cook

1/8

Jackfruit Carnitas

Food with Feeling Verified

Foodwithfeeling.com

Ingredients

Warning0 allergens identified

Jackfruit Carnitas

For the carnitas:

2 tablespoons olive oil

½ sweet oniondiced

2 cloves garlicminced

½ tsp sea salt

black pepperto taste

40 ounces jackfruit in brine or waterseeds removed, drained, rinsed and squeezed of excess liquid

3 teaspoons chili powder

1 tsp dried oregano

2 bay leaves

2 tablespoons brown sugar

½ cup orange juice

1 cup vegetable broth

2 tablespoons lime juice

For the tacos:

tortillas

cilantro

1 medium avocado

tomato

jalapeno

salsa

Instructions

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Instructions

Drain and rinse the jackfruit and then lightly pat it dry. Cut off the core so that you’re only left with the outer parts that are the ones easy to shred. The core is the part that comes to a point.

Preheat the oven to 425° F and line a baking tray with parchment paper.

In a large skillet over medium heat, add in the oil. Once hot, add in the onion and cook for 5 minutes. Add in the garlic, salt and pepper and cook for 1 additional minute.

Add in the jackfruit, stir, and saute for 2 more minutes. Using the back of a wooden spoon or spatula, lightly mash the jackfruit to break it up. It’ll break apart a bit more as it cooks but feel free to shred it a bit in the pan as desired.

Mix in the chili powder, oregano, bay leaves, brown sugar, orange juice, lime juice, and broth. Stir and bring mixture to a simmer. Reduce heat and let simmer gently, uncovered, for about 14-16 minutes. Stir often as the liquid continues to reduce.

Once all of the liquid as evaporated (see photo above), remove the bay leaves and place the jackfruit onto the prepared baking sheet and evenly spread out.

Bake for 25 minutes, flipping halfway through.

Enjoy as tacos or however you wish!

Nutrition

My Calorie Intake

0
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Tips & Tricks (5)

Drain and Shred Jackfruit Properly 🔪
Rinse canned jackfruit thoroughly, remove the tough cores, and hand-shred along the natural grain lines to create authentic carnita-like texture that absorbs the broth and spice flavors perfectly.
Build Layered Citrus Depth 🍊
Add orange juice and lime juice at different cooking stages—orange juice in the broth base for sweetness, fresh lime juice at the end—to create complex citrus notes without acidic harshness.
Toast Spices Before Adding 🌶️
Lightly toast the dried oregano, chili powder, and bay leaves in the hot oil before adding jackfruit to unlock their essential oils and deepen their flavor intensity throughout the dish.
Low and Slow Caramelization 🔥
Cook the jackfruit-broth mixture uncovered on low heat for 45-60 minutes to allow liquid reduction and create caramelized, crispy edges that mimic traditional pulled pork carnitas.
Balance Avocado Freshness Timing ⏰
Add sliced avocado and fresh cilantro only when assembling tacos immediately before serving to prevent oxidation and maintain their creamy texture and bright herbal notes against the warm, spiced jackfruit.