5.0 from 216 votes
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.
Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
8 hrs
Total Time
8 hrs 20 mins
Servings: 10 servings
Calories: 257 kcal
Course:
Main Course
Cuisine:
Mexican
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.
Cup of Yum
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 Information
Calories
257kcal
(13%)
Carbohydrates
4g
(1%)
Protein
34g
(68%)
Fat
11g
(17%)
Saturated Fat
4g
(20%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
1g
Monounsaturated Fat
5g
Trans Fat
0.1g
Cholesterol
109mg
(36%)
Sodium
632mg
(26%)
Potassium
688mg
(20%)
Fiber
1g
(4%)
Sugar
2g
(4%)
Vitamin A
111IU
(2%)
Vitamin C
14mg
(16%)
Calcium
41mg
(4%)
Iron
3mg
(17%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 10servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 257
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 257kcal | 13% |
| Carbohydrates | 4g | 1% |
| Protein | 34g | 68% |
| Fat | 11g | 17% |
| Saturated Fat | 4g | 20% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1g | 6% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 5g | 25% |
| Trans Fat | 0.1g | 5% |
| Cholesterol | 109mg | 36% |
| Sodium | 632mg | 26% |
| Potassium | 688mg | 15% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 2g | 4% |
| Vitamin A | 111IU | 2% |
| Vitamin C | 14mg | 16% |
| Calcium | 41mg | 4% |
| Iron | 3mg | 17% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.