carnitas

American  

[kahr-nee-tuhz, kahr-nee-tahs] / kɑrˈni təz, kɑrˈni tɑs /

plural noun

Mexican Cooking.

1. small or shredded pieces of crisp roast pork, eaten as a snack, used as a filling for burritos, etc.

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Etymology

Origin of carnitas

< Mexican Spanish, plural of carnita, equivalent to Spanish carn ( e ) meat (< Latin carnem, accusative of carō flesh, meat) + -ita diminutive suffix

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

carnitas

A staple in Mexico City, this taco starts with a flour tortilla grilled with cheese until it forms a perfectly crispy, crunchy crust, then gets stuffed with unbelievably tender carnitas.

From Salon ● Feb. 22, 2025

“Even as a kid in school, he flashed that talent,” said Luna, who now runs a family carnitas restaurant along the main highway.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 27, 2024

Gutiérrez remembers going out to get carnitas with future L.A.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 21, 2024

There’s no wrong direction to go, but the latter, carnitas, is simply stellar here: crispy-edged bits of super-savory meat with an ideal slight heat.

From Seattle Times ● Sep. 27, 2023

“This is good for digestion and high cholesterol. After eating those carnitas tonight, we all need it.”

From "I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter" by Erika L. Sánchez