Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas

Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas are made with flavorful, juicy pork that cooks all day in your crockpot before crisping in the oven. Serve it as tacos with all of your favorite toppings for a delicious, easy dinner.

Course Main

Cuisine Mexican

Prep Time 20

Cook Time 8

Total Time 8 20

Servings servings

Calories 257

Author Ashlyn Edwards | Belle of the Kitchen

Ingredients

4-5 pounds boneless pork butt or shoulder cut into 3-4 large pieces
1 Tablespoon cumin
1/2 Tablespoon Mexican oregano
2 teaspoons salt
freshly ground pepper to taste
1 teaspoon chili powder
4-5 garlic cloves chopped
1/2 cup chicken broth
2 limes juiced (about 1/4 cup juice)
3/4 cup orange juice

Instructions

Combine the cumin, Mexican oregano, salt, pepper, and chili powder in a small bowl. Sprinkle the seasoning over all sides of the pork pieces.
Add the pork pieces to the bottom of your slow cooker. Pour the chicken broth, lime juice, orange juice, and minced garlic over the pork. Place the lid on top and cook on low heat for 8-10 hours, until pork is tender.
Remove the meat from the crockpot and place on a cutting board. Use two forks to shred the pork, removing and discarding any fat. Transfer the meat to a sheet pan and drizzle about 1/2 cup of juices from the crockpot over the shredded meat. Place the sheet pan under your oven's broiler for 4-6 minutes until the meat starts to get crispy.
Serve with tortillas and any of your favorite toppings.

Notes

The correct cut of meat: Choose either a boneless pork butt or pork shoulder for your carnitas. These cuts have a higher fat content which creates tender and juicy meat as it cooks in the crock pot.

To add even more flavor, you can brown your seasoned pork pieces in 1 Tablespoon of olive oil in a heavy bottomed pan or Dutch oven before adding to the crockpot. This is a totally optional step, though.

Crisping your pork: I recommend crisping your shredded pork using your oven's broiler for a true carnitas experience. However, it also tastes delicious when the meat is nice and juicy, so don't feel like you have to crisp the meat if you don't want to. It's delicious straight from the slow cooker, too!

Store any leftover pork carnitas in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Use this meat to make Pork Carnitas Burrito Bowls.

Nutrition