Vegan Carnitas with Mushrooms

These Vegan Carnitas with Mushrooms are flavorful, crispy, and so delicious. You can use them in tacos, nachos, salads, and more. Even mushroom haters love them.

I’m so excited about these Vegan Carnitas with Mushrooms. If you’ve been around here for a while, you know I don’t care much about mushrooms. I think this might be one of only three She Likes Food recipes containing mushrooms. But I have to say, these mushroom tacos are AMAZING! They’re flavorful, crispy, and delicious.

What Are Carnitas?

Carnitas, which means “little meats,” is a Mexican dish made by simmering pork in oil or lard until softened and tender. Traditionally, they’re also cooked with citrus juice and spices. 

Today, I’m sharing my Vegan Carnitas Recipe with you, which is made with king trumpet mushrooms instead of pork. These mushrooms are shreddable and crisp up nicely in the oven. I’ve added many delicious spices that add tons of flavor to the dish. This recipe is definitely not a traditional carnitas recipe, but I sought to use many of the traditional flavors and spices, so I hope you enjoy my version.

Why Your Body Will Love These Carnitas

• Vitamins, Minerals, and Antioxidants – Mushrooms are a great source of antioxidants and vitamins. Selenium, beta-glucans, and vitamin D work to protect cells from damage, reduce inflammation, and bolster the immune system. They also contain vitamin B6 and magnesium.
• Brain and Gut Health – Mushrooms also contain fiber and prebiotics, which are essential for a healthy digestive system, and protein for strong muscles and that satisfied feeling in our bellies. They’re also a great source of adaptogens, which help the body reduce stress levels.
• Blood and Heart Health – Limes and oranges are high in vitamin C and antioxidants that prevent cell damage. Citrus juice contains flavonoids and potassium, which can help lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart disease, and citric acid, which can increase urine acidity and production, helping prevent kidney stones. Citric acid is also known to slow the conversion of starch to sugar, aiding in weight management. 

Mushroom Carnitas Recipe Ingredients and Substitutions

• King Oyster Mushrooms – King oyster mushrooms have a small, thin top and a long, large stem. I’ve found them at Natural Grocers and my small local market. If you can’t find them at your regular grocery store, check somewhere with more selection, like Whole Foods.
• Onion & Garlic – Onion and garlic are cooked with the mushrooms and add great flavor.
• Tamari – I like to add Tamari for a little umami flavor. It goes well with mushrooms and adds some salt. You could also use soy sauce.
• Citrus Juice – This recipe calls for a mixture of fresh orange juice and lime juice. I strongly suggest using freshly squeezed juice to avoid any added sugar. If you don’t have any lime juice, you can use lemon juice instead.
• Spices – I use a lot of spices in this recipe, but they add so much flavor! This recipe calls for cumin, onion and garlic powder, dried oregano, chili powder, smoked paprika, and salt and pepper.

How To Make Vegan Carnitas With Mushrooms

These Mushroom Carnitas are so easy to make!

1. Start by cutting off about 1/2-inch of the bottom of the mushroom. Then, I like to cut the top, thinly slice it, and shred the mushroom stem with two forks. I start shredding with the forks and then use my fingers to break the mushrooms apart into thin strips. I like to make the strips thin so they get nice and crispy in the oven.
2. Next, cook the shredded mushrooms in a pan with olive oil, onion, garlic, and tamari until softened. Then, add the orange juice, lime juice, and all the spices. Cook the mushrooms until the sauce thickens and coats them nicely.
3. Lastly, spread mushrooms out on a large sheet pan so they’re not on top of each other, and bake until nice and crispy!
4. Once the carnitas are finished cooking, you can enjoy them in tacos, nachos, burritos, and so much more!

Recipe Frequently Asked Questions

• Can I use a different kind of mushroom? These King Trumpet Mushrooms are the only ones that I’ve found that shred really well like this and have a mild flavor, so I would really recommend using them. But if you absolutely can’t find them, you could use a different kind of mushroom and just thinly slice them.  
• How many tacos does this recipe make? The mushrooms cook down quite a bit, so when you use 9.5 ounces of mushrooms, it makes about 4 tacos. If you want more tacos, you can easily double the recipe or add a can of beans to make the mushrooms go a little further.
• What if I don’t have all the spices the recipe calls for? I understand that it’s a lot of spices! Some grocery stores have a bulk spice section, which is great when you need small amounts. If you don’t have all the spices called for, you can substitute what you have on hand. The recipe might taste slightly different than mine, but that’s ok!
• Can I freeze these vegan carnitas? I haven’t frozen them, but I know many mushrooms freeze well, so I think they could be frozen.
• How long do these last in the refrigerator? I would keep them for about 3-4 days.
• How do I reheat these mushroom carnitas? You can reheat it in the microwave or stovetop with olive oil or in the oven. If reheating in the oven, be careful not to burn them since they’ve already been crisped in the oven.

Have a question I didn’t answer? Ask me in the comments, and I’ll get back to you ASAP!

Looking For More Vegan Taco Recipes?

Blackened Zucchini Tacos

Vegan Black Bean Tacos

Buffalo Cauliflower Tacos with Ranch Slaw

BBQ Cauliflower and Chickpea Tacos with Lime Slaw

BBQ Black Bean Tacos

Check Out Exactly How I Make These Vegan Carnitas!

*The mushrooms cook down quite a bit, so when you use 9.5 ounces of mushrooms, it makes about 4 tacos.  If you want more tacos, you can easily double the recipe or add a can of beans to make the mushrooms go a little further.

Vegan Carnitas with Mushrooms

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5 from 2 reviews

• Author: She Likes Food
• Total Time: 55 minutes
• Yield: 4 Tacos 1x
• Diet: Vegan

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Description

These Vegan Carnitas with Mushrooms are flavorful and crispy!  They’re perfect for making delicious vegan tacos with.

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Ingredients

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• 9.5 ounces king trumpet mushrooms
• 1 tsp olive oil
• 1/2 white onion, thinly sliced
• 2 large cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon tamari, or soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed orange juice
• Juice of 1 limes
• 3/4 tsp cumin
• 1/2 tsp onion powder
• 1/2 tsp granulated garlic
• 1/2 tsp dried oregano
• 1/2 tsp chili powder
• 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
• 1/4 tsp salt, or more to taste
• 1/4 tsp black pepper

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Instructions

1. Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees F.  Wipe your mushrooms with a damp towel to remove any dirt.  Cut about 1/2 inch off the bottoms of the mushrooms and discard.  Cut the tops off the mushroom and thinly slice them.  Use two forks to shred the mushrooms stems into thin pieces.  I like to start with the forks and them use my fingers to pull them apart.
2. Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add olive oil, shredded mushrooms, onion, garlic and tamari.  Cook until mushrooms and onions have softened, about 5 minutes.
3. Next, add the orange juice, lime juice and all the spices.  Mix until everything is combined and cook until sauce has thickened, 5-7 minutes.
4. Once sauce has thickened and coats all of the mushrooms, place the mushrooms on a large sheet pan and spread out so they’re all in one layer.  Bake mushrooms until nice and crispy, 15-10 minutes, flipping once.
5. Use carnitas in tacos, burritos, nachos and more!  To assemble the tacos you see in this post, warm corn tortillas on the stovetop, spread with guacamole, add carnitas and top with onion, cilantro, jalapeño and cabbage.

Notes

***This recipe makes about 4 tacos, BUT it can easily be doubled or tripled to make more!

• Prep Time: 20 mins
• Cook Time: 35 mins
• Category: Dinner
• Method: Oven, Stovetop
• Cuisine: Mexican