Air Fryer Jackfruit Carnitas

So smoky, so good. You’re going to love how easy it is to make these vegan jackfruit carnitas. It’s the perfect mock-meat to tuck into soft tortillas, sprinkle on nachos, or spoon into burrito bowls.

I have never been a huge jackfruit fan but somehow I ended up with five cans in the pantry and no idea what to do with them. I think they were tucked away for a recipe development project for a client that got scraped for another idea so they sat, and sat some more, until a few weeks ago when I was determined to oust them from the pantry.

I was also craving tacos. Naturally.

I started off with a simple marinade reminiscent of what you’d use in a typical batch of carnitas with spices, liquid smoke, orange juice, oil, and sugar. While this can marinate overnight, 30 minutes also does the trick. After that, a quick go in the air fryer was all that was needed to crisp them up on the edges.

Now, there are a million ways you could serve the carnitas but I like my tacos simple with just chopped white onion, cilantro, a pinch of salt, and a squeeze of fresh lime.

You could also toss on some Pico de Gallo, guacamole, or a dairy-free queso fresco. Get ready to crave jackfruit, ridiculous, I know 😉

Yield: 2
Author: Lauren Lester
Air Fryer Jackfruit Carnitas

Air Fryer Jackfruit Carnitas

You’re going to love how easy it is to make these vegan jackfruit carnitas. It’s the perfect mock-meat to tuck into soft tortillas, sprinkle on nachos, or spoon into burrito bowls.
Prep time: 10 MinCook time: 15 MinInactive time: 30 MinTotal time: 55 Min
Cook modePrevent screen from turning off

Ingredients

  • 2 (14-ounce) cans jackfruit, drained
  • 2 tablespoons avocado oil
  • 2 tablespoons orange juice
  • 1 tablespoon dark brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon liquid smoke

Instructions

Notes

Store any leftovers in an airtight container in thee refrigerator for up to 5 days. Reheat in the air fryer at 400° F for 3-5 minutes.

Lauren Lester

Lauren Lester is a creative strategist, visual artist, and marketer with a career at the intersection of food, art, and business. She’s built food media brands reaching millions, designed websites and brands that bring creative visions to life, and consulted on multi-million-dollar content marketing investments. Lauren has collaborated with globally recognized brands, co-authored a cookbook (in her pre-vegan days), and sold hundreds of recipes in leading outlets. Her work is defined by a blend of creativity, strategy, and adaptability, resulting in a career that’s anything but conventional.

https://laurenlester.net
Previous
Previous

Pineapple BBQ Baked Beans

Next
Next

Saucy Sesame Soy Curls