This carnitas burrito may contain affiliate links. Please see my disclosure to learn more. Carnitas and barbacoa are two Mexican dishes that look quite alike. And while carnitas and barbacoa meat can be served in a similar manner too, there are many things that set them apart.

What are the differences between carnitas and barbacoa? The main difference is that pork cuts are used for carnitas while barbacoa can be made with different meats, including beef, lamb, and goat meat. Another difference is that after hours of slow cooking, the shredded meat for carnitas is roasted or pan-fried to make it crispy. In this article, we have compared and contrasted carnitas and barbacoa. Read on to learn what makes these two Mexican dishes different despite some similarities. It is a Mexican dish that transforms inexpensive cuts of pork into juicy and hearty goodness. This is done by simmering the meat on low heat for a few hours in lard or water.

What makes this dish unique is the fact that the shredded meat is then pan-fried or roasted to make it crispy. Unlike carnitas, barbacoa refers not so much to the meat in the recipe but to the method of preparation. In fact, the word barbacoa is where barbecue comes from! The traditional cooking way barbacoa implies is placing the meat into a pit dug in the ground. When agave leaves are used to make barbacoa, they are first trimmed and heated to become malleable. As mentioned, the leaves are used to cover the meat in the pit. But they can also go under it and along the walls of the large pot where the meat is cooking.

These agave leaves are used not only to make the meat more flavorful but to tenderize it too. Aside from the cooking method that the term barbacoa stands for, the word may also refer to the meat that has been steamed until its tender and falls apart. So, while the word barbacoa is where barbecue comes from, the cooking methods for the two dishes are very different. In the case of Mexican barbacoa, the meat is cooked by steaming or baking it without applying direct heat.

The process of barbecue, on the other hand, implies grilling the food over an open fire. What Are the Differences Between Carnitas and Barbacoa? If you are familiar with Mexican cuisine, you know that there is confusion around many pairs of Mexican dishes, such as tacos and fajitas, burritos and enchiladas, and more. Carnitas and barbacoa are another pair of Mexican dishes that are constantly confused. Let’s compare these two Mexican dishes to see what makes them different. Type of Meat  The type of meat used for carnitas and barbacoa is one of the main differences between these Mexican dishes.

The type of meat traditionally used for carnitas is pork. Traditionally, the heavily marbled parts of pork are chosen for this dish. If you are going to make carnitas, you can choose such cuts of pork as boneless Boston butt, other parts of pork shoulder, or picnic ham. You can make carnitas using chicken too. Chicken thighs and breasts work well for this cooking method. As for barbacoa, different meats can be used for it. In northern Mexico, the popular types of meat for barbacoa include beef head and goat meat.

Lamb is another meat option for barbacoa popular in central Mexico. In the US, people make barbacoa mainly with beef. Appearance  The main reason people confuse carnitas and barbacoa is how they look when they are fully cooked. In the case of both dishes, the final result is shredded meat. If you look closer, you can spot carnitas as it looks crispy as a result of its final cooking step where the meat is browned by roasting or frying it.

Flavor and Texture When it comes to texture, the meat turns out very tender and juicy in the case of both dishes. This is because the long cooking time breaks down the collagen in the meat which makes it very tender. But the texture of carnitas does change a little as a result of crisping up the meat. So, barbacoa may be heartier and juicier than carnitas. In terms of flavor, carnitas are lighter. The flavor of beef barbacoa turns out much bolder.

This is also the result of the different cooking methods of these dishes. Nonetheless, the flavor of both dishes largely depends on the type of meat and the seasonings that go with it. Preparation  The preparation of carnitas and barbacoa is another thing that sets the two dishes apart. Despite the similarities in appearance, the process of cooking the meat for carnitas and barbacoa is different.