These are easily just as good as what you'd find in any Mexican restaurant but you get to enjoy them at a fraction of the price in the comfort of your own home.

What are Carnitas Anyway?

If you haven't had Carnitas you are probably trying to figure out exactly what "Carnitas" means. It's a spanish word meaning "little meats."  It's a Mexican dish and generally it's made by braising or roasting pork then shredding it and simmering in lard or vegetable oil until crispy.

But here we switch that up and use the slow cooker and cook for 8 hours or use a pressure cooker and cook for 1 hour. And the pork carnitas are broiled it instead of sautéing it in oil to get that same crispy effect. Broiling it takes less time, creates less mess, and requires less oil.

And I go for semi-crispy. I like the ends of the meat to be nice and crispy but I recommend that you don't overdue it. You don't want to dry the meat.

With this simple recipe you end with tempting, crispy little pieces of pork that you won't be able to stop "taste testing."

Throw the finished carnitas into warmed corn or flour tortillas, add some cilantro and diced onion and voila. Such a simple, satisfying dinner that everyone will love!

Looking for a tomato-y meatball soup? Try my comforting homemade Meatball Soup recipe, likely to be another family fav!

A Dependable Italian Wedding Soup Recipe

I used to be intimidated to make Italian Wedding Soup. I have no Italian lineage and my mom never made it growing up, so for whatever reason it seemed easy to mess up.

But I’m here to tell you it is so easy to make, and following this simple recipe and this foolproof step by step guide people may likely think it was passed down from an Italian Grandmother.

Everyone will be thoroughly impressed and completely satisfied with this homestyle soup! And people will be raving about those homemade, herb flecked, bite size meatballs. They may be a bit of rolling to get so many, but so worth it.

This quickly became a reader favorite recipe, try for yourself and see why!

Do you have a pork tenderloin instead of the loin? Try my tasty baked Pork Tenderloin recipe instead.

Easy Pork Loin Roast

A simple method and recipe for pork loin that's perfect for weekends and holidays!

Pork loin is inexpensive and easy to prepare. It has a light flavor and it adapts well to so many seasonings.

One of my favorites is with fresh herbs and garlic like we use here.

It roasts up beautifully. And personally I think finishing it with a little gravy made with the pan drippings is the only way to go. It just adds that much more flavor.

Just be sure to monitor the temperature of the roast and let rest before carving so the moisture is retained in the meat.

Oven Baked Pork Tenderloin

A no fuss way to prepare pork tenderloin! Just season, place in a hot skillet and let the oven do the rest.

Then for a little extra something, finish it with basic pan sauce. Because you can't go wrong with a little something over the top.

Serve it with your favorite sides and make it a small and simple feast. Great things here would be the classics (think meat and potatoes). Below are some ideas.

What to Serve With

• Classic Mashed Potatoes or Twice Baked Potatoes
• Roasted Brussels Sprouts
• Roasted Vegetable Blend with Garlic and Herbs (or this colorful seasonal blend)
• Dinner Rolls or Cornbread

What is kalua pork?

Kalua pork is a smoked shredded meat. It is the main dish and most common food served at traditional Hawaiian luaus and feasts. It is a centuries old tradition that uses a rather laborsome process of cooking a whole pig underground (this recipe uses just a cut of pork and a simplified cooking method to make it more realistically doable for everyone).

How is it traditionally made?

In Hawaii kalua pork is cooked in an underground pit called an imu. The world "kalua" actually translates "to cook in an underground oven" in the Hawaiian language.

To make the oven and cook the pig:

• A large pit is dug into the ground about 3 - 5 feet deep.
• Koa or Kiawe wood is placed at the bottom of the pit and topped with large rocks.
• The kindling is lit and it's allowed to heat for several hours.
• After that the pit is lined with vegetation (usually ti leaves or banana leaves).
• A whole pig is then salted, stuffed with some of the hot rocks, sometimes topped with vegetables, and wrapped or covered in more damp leaves.
• Then it is placed in the prepared underground oven and covered with a layer of soil.
• From here it is left to cook underground for about 6 to 7 hours.
• Finally it is removed and the meat is shredded to make pulled pork.

As you can see it is quite the process but a neat tradition. It is the tastiest, most authentic method but definitely not something all of us are able to do.

Easy Kalua Pork Recipe

This version of kalua pork couldn't be easier to make! 3 ingredients added to a slow cooker - and let the crockpot do the rest!

Since most of us don't all have a underground oven dug out to cook this the traditional way I think this is the next best option, still cooking it low and slow.

It is amazing what a lengthy cook time can do for a cut of meat like a pork shoulder. You'll really will be impressed at the tender end result.

It's perfect for backyard parties, summer get togethers, and really just a simple dinner you can serve any day of the year.

And then with leftovers freeze them for a second meal—just store in an airtight container in the freezer. It makes plenty!

To keep it super simple just pair it with rice and a steamed veggie for a no-stress, almost entirely hands-off dinner with incredible taste. Bonus points for the traditional Hawaiian mac salad for a plate lunch. (I also love to sprinkle these on nachos or make pork tacos or burritos!)

Tastiest Homemade Meatball Recipe

There's nothing quite as satisfying as a pasta bowl cradling perfectly cooked, twirled, and tangled, steaming spaghetti coated in a vibrant, garlicky, San Marzano marinara tomato sauce, all piled high and layered with homemade meatballs throughout! Talk about comfort food at its proudest!

This easy recipe gives you a few different options (homemade sauce or store-bought, fried or baked), and it's my idea of the best meatballs.

Best Meatball Recipe Video

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So what makes the best meatballs? Here are my thoughts and tips:

Use as many fresh ingredients as possible. Fresh meats (not previously frozen), fresh herbs, fresh bread crumbs, and fresh aromatics. Everything is fresh here except the aged parmesan, but of course, that's for good reason.

Use a blend of meats for the best flavor. I use beef and pork because that's what is accessible to me and at a reasonable price. But if you can get veal, use 2/3 lb beef, 2/3 lb pork, and 2/3 lb veal. Spicy Italian sausage is a great addition, too.

Don't use low-fat percentages of meats. The fat makes the meatballs tender. Stick with 80 or 85% lean meat.

Properly flavoring and seasoning the mixture. We aren't making hamburger balls to serve with ketchup. Adding herbs, garlic, and onions gives them that delicious Italian flavor we crave. And of course, don't skip the salt and pepper meat needs it!

Use liquid to moisten, and I recommend milk, not water. Whole milk adds more flavor and richness than water will.

Use enough eggs to bind. Without the eggs, the meatballs will fall to pieces, especially when tossed into the sauce. I like to use 1 egg per pound of meat, so here we go with 2.

More Meatball Recipe Tips:

Add cheese! It adds so much flavor. Use freshly shredded parmesan cheese here; don't use the grated shelf-stable stuff. It has a lower-quality taste and doesn't melt the same.

Don't overwork the meatball mixture. Mixing by hand (and your fingertips) to incorporate ingredients rather than using a spoon or spatula makes it easier to mix and retain texture without turning it into an overworked meat paste.

Brown the meatballs. Browning adds so much flavor, and here I'll show you two methods to achieve this: cooking in the oven or frying in olive oil. If going the oven route, use a dark baking sheet as it promotes browning.

Form into evenly sized balls so they cook evenly. A kitchen scale is helpful (covered with plastic wrap or wax paper to keep things clean), or a greased cookie scoop.

Shape with greased hands. This way, the meatballs don't stick. Sometimes I brush the baking sheets with olive oil using my hand, then ta-dah, my hands are already oiled and ready to shape meatballs.

These meatballs are one of my all-time favorite Italian foods, and this is my idea of the perfect dinner! Now who's ready to make some??

Easy Pork Tenderloin Recipe

This is such an easy way to prepare pork tenderloin! You make a simple spice mixture and rub it over the pork and sear to brown the exterior, then finish it off with a brown sugar rub and finish by cooking it through in the oven.

You'll love the way the meat juices and brown sugar come together to create a sweet and savory sauce that's the perfect finishing touch to pork.

Tender pork, check! Delicious rub, check! Crave-able sauce, check! This recipe is too good to pass by. Definitely one of the best ways to prepare pork tenderloin!

If you want to keep that tropical vibe going serve it with coconut rice and a pineapple salsa!

Grilled Pork Chops Recipe

Everyone who tries these tender pork chops loves them, including picky eaters. Even the kids will polish these off. They’re amazingly flavorful and super easy to make! Plus they’re inexpensive since we use the thinner cuts.

It’s just a bit of whisking and being sure to allow time to soak up the pork chop marinade, then a brief cooking time on the grill (with these thinner cuts).

You could even make the grilled pork chop marinade the night before then add the chops the next day and let them soak while you’re at work.

Keep in mind this grilled pork chop marinade not only adds a a lightly sweet and tangy flavor, but it’s also salty so it will help keep the pork chops juicy and help tenderize them. Allow enough time to marinate (at least 2 hours), don’t skip it.

These are perfectly hearty and tender and you'll love that this version is oven baked so there's no tending to each meatball individually and cooking in two batches to fit in a skillet. 

What are Swedish Meatballs?

Swedish Meatballs are a classic Swedish dish typically made up of a blend of ground meats, vibrant spices, and they're paired with a rich and creamy beefy gravy.

Traditionally you'll find them served up with mashed potatoes and paired with a side of bright, sweet lingonberry jam (which tastes a lot like cranberry sauce).

It's a comforting homestyle dinner that's sure to satisfy! And did I mention these are way better than Ikea's?

Swedish Meatballs Video

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I love them paired with both when I've got time to make mashed potatoes but for an easier weeknight dinner they're also delicious served over a bed of egg noodles, the prep is so much easier!

Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Recipe

So what makes this my favorite pulled pork recipe?

• A simple homemade dry rub (the seasoning mixture that's rubbed over the roast).
• A slightly sweet, tangy, smokey broth mixture the roast soaks and cooks in for 8 hours.
• I love that since it's cooked in the slow cooker it's super tender.
• And I also like the shortcut of a store-bought bbq sauce here, making it doable for busy days (but feel free to use homemade if you got some on hand).

Then for me it's not complete without a side of coleslaw. The two just go hand in hand right?

My coleslaw of choice for pulled pork sandwiches is this simple recipe HERE, but I do like to add blue cheese crumbles when pairing it with pulled pork. It takes it over the top.