Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas
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Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas are fall-apart tender and easy enough for a weeknight dinner. This recipe makes enough to have leftovers and you’ll love the serving options for this flavorful meat.
If you know anything about me and A Reinvented Mom you know we love good Mexican food. And anytime we can squeeze in tacos, we do! Technically these aren’t tacos, but they are in the same family, so it works for us.
We’re sharing tips to help you get the best results with this recipe. If you don’t need the tips, scroll to the bottom for the full recipe and a printable recipe card.
What Are Pork Carnitas?
Carnitas are the Mexican version of pulled pork. Typically you use the pork shoulder cut. You can also use the pork butt, keeping in mind it’s a little fattier than the shoulder cut.
More Taco Flavored Recipes…
Why We Love Carnitas
- First, the flavors remind us of tacos (shocking, right?!).
- Pork shoulder is a budget-friendly cut of meat and can go a long way for larger families and larger gatherings.
- They make great leftovers.
- There are so many ways to serve and eat them.
- Carnitas are freezer friendly too.
Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas Ingredients
For the Carnitas
- Pork shoulder – you may need to trim off excess fat or cut it into pieces so it will fit in your slow cooker
- Spices: dried oregano, ground cumin, salt, black pepper, minced garlic
- Onion – yellow or white works with this recipe
- Orange juice – you can use store-bought or squeeze your own for a fresher flavor
- Orange zest
- Lime juice – fresh squeezed is best but store-bought works in a pinch
- Chipotle pepper in adobo sauce – adds a smoky, slightly spicy and rich flavor to the pork
- Oil – vegetable or canola
Optional for Serving
- Buns
- Tortillas
- Lettuce Wraps
Get the complete ingredients & directions in the recipe card below.
How To Make Pork Carnitas in the Crockpot
Combine your spices in a small bowl and mix together. Rub the spices into the pork shoulder until it’s evenly covered. Note: if you rinsed your pork first, be sure to pat it dry with paper towels before seasoning.
Note: if you rinsed your pork first, be sure to pat it dry with paper towels before seasoning.
Add the diced onion, minced garlic, orange juice and peel, lime juice, and chipotle pepper to the slow cooker. Place the pork shoulder on top.
Cook on LOW for 7-8 hours or on HIGH for 4-5 hours.
Shred the pork shoulder on a cutting board with meat claws or use two forks. Heat the oil in a skillet over medium heat and add the pork. Pour in some of the juice from the slow cooker. Cook until brown and crispy.
Depending on the size of your skillet, you may need to brown the pork in batches.
If you don’t want to use a skillet you can place the shredded pork on a baking sheet and broil for about 5 minutes.
Ways to Serve Pork Carnitas
These are some of our favorite ways to eat carnitas pork:
- Topping for nachos – layer tortilla chips with meat, shredded cheese and toppings.
- Over a salad – top romaine lettuce with carnitas meat, avocado chunks, corn and cheese for a light dinner or lunch.
- Classic tacos – pile warm meat into corn or flour tortillas and add your favorite toppings.
- With veggies in a stir fry – this is a great way to use up leftover meat and vegetables.
- Quesadillas – add chopped meat and heaps of cheese.
- Breakfast – pair it with scrambled or fried eggs or make a burrito with flour tortillas.
- On a bun – this is one of my favorite (and easiest!) ways to serve if your feeding a larger group.
- Filling for egg rolls – wrap meat with cabbage in an egg roll wrapper for a fun twist.
- Over rice (or cauliflower rice for a lighter option) – add black beans, roasted veggies then drizzle with salsa and guacamole for a hearty bowl.
How to Store Leftover Carnitas
Cooked carnitas will keep in the fridge for up to 3-4 days when stored in an airtight container. It also freezes well – simply let the meat cool before storing in smaller portions to make thawing and reheating easy.
More Crockpot Recipes Your Family Will Love:
- Crockpot Apple Dump Cake
- Crockpot Mississippi Pot Roast
- Old Fashioned Sloppy Joes
- Slow Cooker Kalua Pig
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Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas
Ingredients
- 1 ½ teaspoons dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 2 teaspoons Kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 3-4 pound pork shoulder, trimmed slightly
- 1 small onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- ⅓ cup orange juice
- 2 teaspoons orange zest
- ⅓ cup lime juice
- 1 chipotle pepper in adobo sauce, chopped
- 1-2 tablespoons oil – vegetable or canola
Optional for Serving
- Tortillas and toppings
- Buns
- Lettuce wraps
Instructions
- In a small bowl, whisk together the oregano, cumin, salt and pepper.1 ½ teaspoons dried oregano, 1 teaspoon ground cumin, 2 teaspoons Kosher salt, 1 teaspoon black pepper
- Rub seasoning mixture onto all sides of the pork shoulder.3-4 pound pork shoulder
- Add onion, garlic, orange juice and zest, lime juice and chipotle pepper to slow cooker. Place pork on top.1 small onion, 3 cloves garlic, ⅓ cup orange juice, 2 teaspoons orange zest, ⅓ cup lime juice, 1 chipotle pepper in adobo sauce
- Cover and cook on LOW for 7-8 hours or HIGH for 4-6 hours, until internal temperature reaches 145 degrees F.
- Move pork from slow cooker to a cutting board, allowing to cool slightly. Shred pork with meat claws or two forks.
- Heat oil in skillet on stove top. Add pork and some of the juice from the slow cooker.1-2 tablespoons oil – vegetable or canola
- Turn meat often to brown the pork. Heat until juices have evaporated and the pork is nicely browned and crispy.
- Serve immediately with preferred serving options.Tortillas and toppings, Buns, Lettuce wraps
Notes
- Meat can be crisped in the oven. Place shredded pork on a baking sheet. Cook under the broiler until crispy (about 5 minutes).
- Serving options: tacos, nachos, quesadillas, on a salad, with lettuce wraps, over cooked rice or cauliflower rice, on buns.
- Cooked meat can be frozen up to 3 months.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Nutritional Estimate
Nutritional information is provided as a reference, using an online calculator. We recommend verifying the information independently for accuracy.
