Low Carb Cuban Pork (Lechon) - Easy To Make Recipe (2024)

The secret to this low-carb Cuban pork is the marinade. Let it sit overnight and then bake it slowly for 2 hours and it will come out juicy and so good!

What is Cuban Pork

Cuban pork describes a pork shoulder or roast that is marinated in mojo and then roasted in the oven slowly. The result is a pork roast that is crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside.

What is mojo marinade? It’s a combination of sour citrus, garlic, and fresh herbs and spices. When it comes to shredded pork that is bursting with flavor, you really can’t beat Cuban pork.

You are going to love this pork recipe – and there are so many different ways to prepare it and serve it too. Whether you are looking for a new idea for your meal prep or you just want to break out of your dinner time rut, this recipe is for you!

Lechon Spices

This was a very simple recipe to convert to low-carb because it’s already naturally low in carbs. The most important ingredient in this recipe is the sour orange marinade. My favorite is Goya Sour Orange Marinade.

It is sugar-free and only has 1g of carbs in each serving. It’s made with orange concentrate, citric acid, orange essence, and grapefruit extract. It’s basically a really strong and sour marinade – just like the name says.

I also used lime juice to brighten the marinade and oregano and cumin to add some earthy flavors to the pork. All in all this is one tasty roast!

Low-Carb Cuban Pork

There are lots of ways to serve and eat this low-carb Cuban pork. This is what I like to call a cook once eat twice kind of meal.

The best way to enjoy it is to serve it on top of some keto cauliflower rice or cauliflower mash. Add some low-carb garlic rosemary rolls on the side or use put the pork inside the rolls as spicy sliders.

Place leftover pork in your favorite airtight food storage containers. It will stay fresh for up to 3 days. Then, enjoy it on top of keto nachos, or place them inside your favorite low-carb taco shell and make delicious pork tacos.If you shred the pork, it tastes amazing on a bed of shredded lettuce for a quick and filling lunch!

There are so many different ways to enjoy this pork – and I can’t wait to hear how you used it too.

Keto Pork Roast

For this recipe, you only need a 2-pound pork roast. I usually get a pork shoulder and then trim the fat. You need it to be a thicker roast because you’ll cut slits into it and stuff garlic cloves inside.

There are two ways you can marinate the pork. Either place it in a food storage bag (like a Ziploc) or put the pork in the casserole dish and pour the marinade on top while it is in the baking dish. It will save you time and money if you marinate it right in the same dish you’ll use to bake it. But either way works just as well.

Baked Pork Roast

Please use my cooking times just as a guide. You should always bake pork until the internal temperature is at least 165F. Honestly, the temperature is the best way to judge whether it is done.

If you roast it longer until the internal temperature is 190F it will be even more tender and fall apart on your fork.

Low-Carb Cuban Pork Recipe

The entire recipe for this low-carb Cuban pork is in the printable recipe card just a little bit further below. First, I have some photos of each step so you can see how I made it. Don’t forget to pin this to your low-carb pork recipes board on Pinterest so you can find it later!

Pork roast
Garlic
Sour orange marinade
Lime juice
Olive oil
Salt
Oregano
Cumin,
Bay leaves
Cilantro and limes, optional garnish

Directions:
1. Place the pork roast in an 8” x 8” casserole or baking dish.

2. Cut approximately 8-10 1-2” slots in the pork roast and insert a garlic clove in each one.

3. Mash up the remaining garlic cloves in a mortar and pestle, or in a food processor.

4. Combine the garlic with the sour orange marinade, lime juice, olive oil, and seasonings.

5. Pour the marinade over the roast and cover the dish with tinfoil or plastic wrap.

6. Refrigerate for 30 minutes or overnight.
7. Preheat oven to 325F
8. Cook the roast for 1 1/2 to 2 hours, until it reaches an internal temperature of at least 165F. I cooked mine to 190F so it would be fall-apart tender.

9. You can also broil the roast for the last few minutes to give it a golden color.

10. Allow the roast to rest for 5-10 minutes before cutting into it.
11. Use two forks or meat shredders to shred the pork roast.

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Keto Pork Recipes

If you enjoyed this low-carb Cuban pork roast, then here are some more pork recipes you should try next.

• Keto Moo Shu Pork Recipe
• Keto Pork Chops In Mustard Cream Sauce
• Low-Carb Garlic Parmesan Pork Chops
• Instant Pot Low-Carb Pork Tenderloin
• Keto Egg Roll Soup