Slow Cooker Carnitas (pulled pork) Tacos
User Reviews
5
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Prep Time
20 mins
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Cook Time
8 hrs
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Total Time
8 hrs 20 mins
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Servings
8 tacos
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Calories
247 kcal
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Course
Main Course
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Cuisine
Mexican
Slow Cooker Carnitas (pulled pork) Tacos
Description
Slow Cooker Carnitas (pulled pork) Tacos begin by rubbing pork shoulder with olive oil and a blend of cumin, oregano, cayenne, salt, and pepper. The pork cooks low and slow with chopped onion, jalapeno, garlic, and orange zest and juice, infusing it with bright citrus notes and aromatic spices as it becomes tender enough to shred readily.
Once cooked, the pork is shredded and quickly fried in olive oil to develop a contrasting crispness on the edges. The carnitas are served hot in warmed corn tortillas accompanied by traditional fixings such as onion, sour cream, salsa, avocado, and cilantro, offering a flavorful and textural balance.
This method provides both depth of flavor from the slow cooking and satisfying texture from skillet crisping. It is suited as a filling for tacos and can be customized with preferred toppings and salsas.
Ingredients
For the carnitas:
- 2-3 pound pork shoulder
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon cumin ground
- 1 tablespoon oregano dried
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- salt to taste
- black pepper to taste
- 1/2 onion chopped
- 1 jalapeno pepper chopped (seeds removed for mild version)
- 4 cloves garlic chopped
- orange juice and zest of one
For the tacos:
- 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil or canola oil
- 8 corn tortillas
- cilantro for serving (optional, chopped (cilantro, onion), etc
- onion
- sour cream
- salsa
- hot sauce
- avocado
Instructions
- Pat the pork shoulder dry with a paper towel.
- Mix together the cumin (1 tablespoon), oregano (1 tablespoon), cayenne pepper (1/2 teaspoon), salt, and pepper in a small bowl.
- Rub pork with olive oil until coated, then rub the spice mixture all over the pork. Place in slow cooker.
- Mix together the onion, jalapeño, minced garlic, and orange zest. Spread on top of the pork.
- Squeeze the orange juice on top of the pork and place the orange rinds in the slow cooker.
- Cook on low for 8-10 hours or high for 4-5 hours.
- When the pork is done cooking, take the meat out (careful- it will be very tender and will tend to fall apart!) and place on a large platter or dish. Pull meat apart with two forks.
- Heat the 3 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet and fry the pork until crispy.
- Meanwhile, toast corn tortillas over gas burners, in the oven, or in a skillet. Or, just microwave them for a few seconds to soften.
- Add pork to the tortillas and top with fixings.
Notes
- Nutrition info excludes optional seasonings and toppings; calculate separately as needed.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 8tacos
Amount Per Serving
Calories 247 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 247kcal | 12% |
| Carbohydrates | 14g | 5% |
| Protein | 15g | 30% |
| Fat | 15g | 23% |
| Saturated Fat | 3g | 15% |
| Cholesterol | 46mg | 15% |
| Sodium | 67mg | 3% |
| Potassium | 327mg | 7% |
| Fiber | 2g | 8% |
| Sugar | 1g | 2% |
| Vitamin A | 89IU | 2% |
| Vitamin C | 4mg | 4% |
| Calcium | 52mg | 5% |
| Iron | 2mg | 11% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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