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    Home » Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas

    May 20, 2017 Cinco de Mayo

    Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas

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    I'm finally sharing my favorite recipe for the slow cooker today: Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas.  I love these in tacos, rice bowls, salads, and nachos.  They feed a huge crowd or can be frozen and crisped up later!

    Jump to Recipe
    Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas

    I have a love hate relationship with my slow cooker.  On the one hand, it's so easy to dump food into a large electric pot and walk away.  On the other, then I eat that food and it tastes like that's exactly the level of effort I put into it...

    I've been trying for a while to come up with some great slow cooker recipes that were actually a joy to eat as well ( and TBH I've really enjoyed my Slow Cooker Beef Barbacoa and my Company Worth Slow Cooker Beef Stew over the years ), but I was ready for something new for the blog.

    Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas

    It's funny, because I make this recipe a lot. I have told friends about it, and it's something we come back to again and again in my house because it makes a TON, is dirt cheap, super easy, but doesn't taste like it was made in the slow cooker.

    So it's not really new.  It's just finally making its way here.

    Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas

    One of the best things about this slow cooker pork carnitas recipe is that it's a recipe and a method.  You don't have to do the second part of throwing the shredded pork under the broiler, but it makes them a MILLION TIMES BETTER.

    It also means you can freeze the shredded pork as soon as it cools off post-shredding, then you can eat it a month or two later after defrosting in the fridge overnight, and crisping under the broiler right before eating.

    Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas
    Time to Shred

    That's right: you can have delicious carnitas tacos in literally 8 minutes.

    Just toast up these leftovers under the broiler while you heat up some tortillas, throw some fresh avocado, shredded lettuce, and a corn salsa on top of crispy hot-from-the-broiler carnitas on the warmed tortillas, and BAM:

    Dinner.  8 minutes.

    You're welcome.

    Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas
    Drooling

    If you like these slow cooker pork carnitas, you might also like:

    • Pickled Red Onions
    • Corn Tortillas
    • Restaurant Style Queso
    Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas

    Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas

    Easy slow cooker pork carnitas, made crispy under the broiler before serving.
    4.73 from 51 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dinner, Slow Cooker
    Cuisine: Mexican
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 5 hours
    Total Time: 5 hours 5 minutes
    Servings: 18 servings
    Author: Basil and Bubbly

    Ingredients

    • 5 lb bone-in Pork Shoulder excess fat chunks removed
    • 1 Tablespoon Chili Powder
    • 2 teaspoons Cumin
    • 1 teaspoon Oregano
    • ¼ teaspoon Cinnamon
    • 1 Tablespoon Salt
    • 2 Bay Leaves
    • 1 onion quartered
    • 2 cups low-sodium Chicken Broth
    • ½ cup Orange Juice
    • ¼ cup Lime Juice
    • 3 cloves Garlic minced

    Instructions

    • Place the raw pork in the slow cooker. Stab the pork 8 or 9 times with a knife about ½ way through the meat.
    • Rub the pork shoulder with the chili powder, cumin, oregano, cinnamon, and salt. Place the bay leaves on top of the meat, and toss the onion into the crock pot ( I usually place two of the quarters on top of the meat and two next to the meat in the pot ).
    • Stir the mixed garlic into one of the juices, and then pour all of the juice combined with the garlic, plus the chicken broth into the pot.
    • Cover and cook on high for 5 hours or low for 8.
    • After cooking, remove the bay leaves and the bone from the slow cooker pot and shred all of the remaining meat. This is a great point at which to let the meat cool and refrigerate or freeze it to have later.
    • Immediately before serving the meat ( defrost in the fridge first, if you'd frozen it ), place the shredded meat in a thin layer on a jelly roll pan or other broiler-safe pan with sides. Broil on High for 5 to 7 minutes, or until edges of the shredded meat start to brown and crisp.
    Tried this recipe?Mention @basilandbubbly or tag #basilandbubbly!
    Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Michele Rhine says

      July 28, 2021 at 11:03 pm

      5 stars
      So good! Will definitely add this to the rotation. Thank you for sharing!!

      Reply
    2. Denise says

      May 17, 2021 at 1:54 pm

      5 stars
      My family and I love this recipe! I will make this again!

      Reply
      • Marianne says

        May 17, 2021 at 2:10 pm

        I'm so happy to hear that! Thank you for taking the time to leave a review and rating!

        Reply
    3. LJ says

      March 29, 2021 at 9:12 am

      5 stars
      I made this recipe with adjustments for a boneless 2lb pork shoulder last Friday, it turned out so well! My husband could not stop raving about it. The broiler really does take it to the next level. Making this again for sure. Thank you!

      Reply
      • Marianne says

        March 29, 2021 at 1:31 pm

        The broiling is KEY! So glad y'all loved it and thank you for taking the time to leave a review!

        Reply
        • Alisha says

          June 08, 2022 at 5:39 pm

          This is so good! Next time I’ll put the garlic in. I didn’t see it in the ingredients list. You guys are right the broiler!!!

          Reply
    4. Kim says

      March 13, 2021 at 9:13 am

      5 stars
      This was AMAZING! Delish 👍

      Reply
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    Trackbacks

    1. Ultimate Slow Cooker Recipes List - Drugstore Divas says:
      November 29, 2021 at 3:35 pm

      […] Pork Carnitas […]

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    My name is Marianne, and I'm two parts food, one part booze, and a dash of snark. I live in Atlanta, GA with my two cats. My personal motto: Champagne and stretchy pants. Sign up for my mailing list to keep up with the new and seasonal recipes!

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