Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas
These Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas are tender, juicy, and full of flavor with just the right amount of crispy edges! This easy crockpot carnitas recipe is perfect for busy weeknights or feeding a crowd. Made with pork shoulder, fresh citrus juice, garlic, and Mexican spices, this dish is slow-cooked to perfection, then crisped under the broiler for that authentic street taco texture. Whether you’re making carnitas tacos, burrito bowls, or nachos, this versatile pork recipe will become a family favorite. Great for meal prep, freezer meals, and a go-to option for a taco night dinner idea!
We are so happy you are here. You will find hundreds of delicious family friendly recipes on our recipe blog. Thank you for browsing and have a great day cooking! Here are a few links to recipes we think you will love: Easy Alfredo, Broccoli Bacon Salad, French Dip Sandwiches, Cranberry Fruit Salad, Hasselback Bottoms, Creamy Cajun Pasta, Bacon Hash Brown Breakfast Casserole, Chipotle Pasta Salad, Italian Pasta Salad, 20 Holiday Breakfast Ideas and The Best Raspberry Salad.
Helpful Items For This Recipe:
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q1: What cut of pork is best for carnitas?
A: Pork shoulder (also called pork butt) is the best cut for carnitas. It has enough fat and marbling to become tender and flavorful during slow cooking.
Q2: Can I make these carnitas ahead of time?
A: Yes! Carnitas are great for meal prep. You can store them in the fridge for up to 4 days or freeze them for up to 3 months. Just reheat and broil to crisp them up before serving.
Q3: Do I need to crisp the carnitas in the oven?
A: For authentic texture, broiling or pan-searing is recommended. It gives the edges a delicious crisp while keeping the inside juicy. However, you can skip this step if you’re short on time.
Q4: What toppings go best with pork carnitas?
A: Traditional toppings include diced white onion, chopped cilantro, lime wedges, and a sprinkle of Cotija cheese. You can also add avocado, pickled red onions, your favorite salsa, pico, other grated cheeses, even lettuce and diced tomatoes-make it yummy to you.
Q5: Can I use this recipe for tacos, burritos, or bowls?
A: Absolutely! These pork carnitas are super versatile. Use them in tacos, burrito bowls, nachos, quesadillas, or even on top of salads for a protein-packed meal.
Ingredients Needed For Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas;
- 4 pounds pork loin (or butt)
- 2 tbsp chili powder
- 4 tsp dried cumin
- 3 tsp dried oregano
- 2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 large onion, cut into thin wedges
- 3/4 cup orange juice
- 1/4 cup lime juice
- Toppings of choice
How To Make Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas:
- Combine chili powder, cumin, oregano, salt and pepper. Mix to combine.
- Coat the pork loin with the seasoning mix.
- Place the coated pork loin into the slow cooker.
- Add the minced garlic, sliced onions, orange juice and lime juice.
- Cover and cook on low for 7-8 hours. Until cooked through.
- Remove the pork from the slow cooker and shred the meat.
- Place the shredded meat into a baking dish or on to a baking sheet, with sides.
- Broil the meat for 2-5 minutes to get some crispy edges. Stir as needed to crisp as much as you desire.
- Reserve the juices in the slow cooker to add to the meat for juiciness and flavor. You can mix some in after broiling, before serving.
- Serve in tortillas with the juices (as needed), pico or salsa, grated cheese, sour cream, lettuce, cilantro, guacamole and/or diced tomatoes-your favorite taco seasonings. Enjoy!
Other Recipes You Will Love: 💕
Easy Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad
Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas
An easy and delicious slow cooker meal!
Ingredients
- 4 pounds pork loin (or pork shoulder or pork butt)
- 2 tbsp chili powder
- 4 tsp dried cumin
- 3 tsp dried oregano
- 2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1 large onion cut into thin wedges
- 3/4 cup orange juice
- 1/4 cup lime juice
- Toppings of choice-listed below
Instructions
-
Combine chili powder, cumin, oregano, salt and pepper. Mix to combine.
-
Coat the pork loin with the seasoning mix.
-
Place the coated pork loin into the slow cooker.
-
Add the minced garlic, sliced onions, orange juice and lime juice.
-
Cover and cook on low for 7-8 hours. Until cooked through.
-
Remove the pork from the slow cooker and shred the meat.
-
Place the shredded meat into a baking dish or a baking sheet.
-
Broil the meat for 2-5 minutes to get some crispy edges. Stir as needed to crisp as much as you desire.
-
Reserve the juices in the slow cooker to add to the meat for juiciness and flavor. Mix some of the juices in after broiling.
-
Serve in tortillas with the juices-if more is needed on the meat, pico or salsa, grated cheese, sour cream lettuce, cilantro, guacamole and/or diced tomatoes-your favorite taco seasonings. Enjoy!
Disclaimer:
All of the thoughts and opinions here, on our family food and recipe blog, are our own. The affiliate links (if you click on one or more) here pay us a tiny commission that will not cost you anything. The commissions help us run this web-site. We appreciate your support! Thank you so much!
We all want to thank you for visiting and trying recipes from our family recipe blog. Your support is very much appreciated. All of us are hoping that all of you are staying healthy, strong and happy. Have a fantastic day and an even better week. Have fun cooking and remember to get the kids involved where it is safe to do so. They may love it and it is a great activity for quality family time. Family and friends are the best!
Thank You For Your Support!
Did you try this Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas recipe? I’d love to hear how it turned out! Leave a comment below and let me know if you made any tweaks or have any questions. And if you loved this recipe, don’t forget to share it with friends or save it for later! ❤️
