Slow Cooker Carnitas

Delicious pork carnitas require minimal prep and cook in the slow cooker to create a scrumptious dinner. Serve in warm tortillas with cilantro, tomato, radish slices, lime wedges, or avocado. Or enjoy in a burrito bowl with rice, beans, and your favorite toppings.

Prep Time10 mins

Cook Time8 hrs

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Mexican

Keyword: Carnitas, Pork

Servings: 6

Equipment

Slow Cooker

Ingredients

2-3 lbs Pork Shoulder Roast aka Pork Butt
1 tbsp Chili Powder
2 tsps Ground Cumin
2 tsps Dried Oregano
2 tsps Salt
1 tsp Black Pepper
5-6 cloves Garlic crushed
1 medium Onion chopped
2 Oranges juiced
2 Limes juiced

Instructions

In a small bowl, mix together the chili powder, cumin, oregano, salt, and black pepper.
Place the pork shoulder (aka pork butt) in a 6-quart slow cooker. Rub the seasoning mixture all over the pork roast.
Add in the smashed garlic cloves and chopped onion. Add in the juice of 2 limes and 2 oranges.
Cover the slow cooker and cook for 8 hours on low.
Using 2 forks, pull apart the pork into small chunks or completely shred.
Serve as it is, or for crispy pieces, you can broil. To broil the carnitas, place the meat onto a baking sheet with a slotted spoon. Pour a small amount of the sauce on top. Broil for 2-3 minutes. Keep an eye on the meat while broiling at all times to be sure it doesn't burn.
Serve in tortillas with lime wedges, chopped onions, and a generous amount of cilantro. You can also serve with avocado slices, radish slices, lettuce, sour cream, refried beans, fajita veggies, and/or tomatoes.

Video

Notes

For a gluten-free dinner, skip the tortillas. Serve the Pork Carnitas in a burrito bowl style meal. Add rice, beans, and all of your favorite toppings.

Check out our recipes for Pico de Gallo and Gaucamole as the perfect sides to pair with your carnitas. Find them at cookwithginger.com/three-chip-dips/.