Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas Recipe (2024)

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byAshlyn Edwards on February 9, 2024 50 comments »

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5 from 70 ratings

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.

For more easy Slow Cooker Recipes, be sure to check out my Crockpot Ham and Beans, Slow Cooker Beef Ragu, and Swedish Meatballs Recipe.

Table of Contents

Crispy carnitasare something I crave, so after playing around with this recipe and getting it the way I like, I’m glad I can make these at home instead of always relying on my favoriteMexican restaurant.

The beauty of this recipe comes from cookingthe pork low and slow in yourcrock pot as it absorbs all of the flavor from the seasonings and citrus juices.

Then you finish off your slow cooker pork carnitas by broiling the meat in the oven until it’s nice and crispy, which is my favorite part! That little extra step is totally worth the effort!

Serve your carnitas wrapped up in awarm tortillawith whatever toppings you’d like. A little white or red onion, cilantro, avocado,sour cream, salsa, etc. are all so good!

Ingredients for Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas

Boneless pork butt or pork shoulder – I usually have more luck finding a boneless pork butt, so that is what I use most often. You can trim some of the fat off before cooking if you wish, but I usually leave the fat on and just remove it when shredding the cooked meat.
Spices: You will use a combination of cumin, chili powder, Mexican oregano, salt, and freshly ground black pepper. Use Mexican oregano if you can find it; it has a much bolder flavor than regular oregano.
Garlic – freshly minced. Don’t use garlic powder.
Chicken broth – you only need a small amount to add some liquid to the slow cooker. I use low sodium chicken broth.
Fresh lime juice – I use two limes which yields about 1/4 cup juice.
Orange juice – you can use a fresh orange and squeeze the juice yourself, or bottled orange juice works fine, too.

A full list of ingredients, measurements, and instructions are located in the recipe card below.

How to Make Slow Cooker Carnitas – Step by Step

Combine the cumin, Mexican oregano, salt, pepper, and chili powder in a small bowl. Sprinkle the seasoning over all sides of the pork and rub it in.
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. (*Note: you will have less liquid in your slow cooker than the picture above shows. In this photo I used a bit more chicken broth, but I prefer to make it with much less now and that is reflected in the recipe.) 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.

Tips and 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.
To make carnitas in theInstant Pot, check out my instructions below!

Serving Suggestions

Carnitas taste great tucked into corn or flour tortillas for tacos, and finished off with your favorite toppings like a dollop of sour cream, some salsa verde, etc. My favorite way to top them is with chopped white onion, cilantro, and a squeeze of fresh lime juice. Yum!

For an easy side dish option, try pairing your carnitas with some Mexican Black Beans or Instant Pot Mexican Rice on the side. And a Mangonada is the perfect drink to cap off your meal!

If you have leftover meat, here are a few ideas to put them to good use:

Homemade nachos: spread your prepared pork carnitas over tortilla chips for homemade nachos.
Lettuce wraps:for a lighter meal option, stuff large lettuce leaves with your carnitas and toppings.
Burrito Bowls:serve over rice along with your favorite toppings likePico de Gallo,Copycat Chipotle Guacamole, and more.
Enchiladas:stuff into tortillas, roll up, and top with green salsa and cheese to makeenchiladas.

FAQs

What is the difference between pork carnitas and pulled pork?

Both carnitas and pulled pork undergo a slow cooking process that spans several hours, and are perfect for preparing in either a slow cooker or an instant pot. Making carnitas, however, includes an extra step of roasting (or broiling) the shredded meat until it’s golden brown and crispy.

Should you brown pulled pork before slow cooking?

Browning your pork before cooking in the slow cooker can help add flavor to the meat. It’s an optional step, though, and I not required.

How to make carnitas in the Instant Pot?

You can easily adapt this recipe to be made in the Instant Pot instead of the crockpot. Add all of the ingredients to your Instant Pot, increasing the chicken broth from the recipe up to 1 cup. Cook over manual pressure for one hour then allow the pressure to release naturally for at least 15 minutes before releasing any remaining pressure. Shred your meat and finish by broiling it in the oven as the recipe directs.

More Delicious Pork Recipes You Should Try!

Mississippi Pork Roast
Green Chile Stew Recipe
Shake and Bake Pork Chops
Crockpot Ham and Beans
Honey Dijon Pork Tenderloin
Bisquick Sausage Balls

Recipe: Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas

Yield: 10 servings

Prep Time: 20 minutes mins

Cook Time: 8 hours hrs

Total Time: 8 hours hrs 20 minutes mins

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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.

Cuisine: Mexican

Course: Main

Author: Ashlyn Edwards | Belle of the Kitchen

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