Easy Carnitas (Slow Cooker Mexican Pulled Pork) Recipe Card

Carnitas-(Slow-Cooker-Mexican-Pulled-Pork)-served

Easy Carnitas (Slow Cooker Mexican Pulled Pork) Recipe Card

This Easy Carnitas (slow cooker Mexican Pulled Pork) is full of flavor and perfect for tacos, fajitas, burrito bowls, arepas, and more. Great for make-ahead and entertaining!

5 from 17 votes

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Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Mexican

Keyword: carnitas, slow cooker carnitas

Prep Time: 10

Cook Time: 7

Total Time: 7 10

Servings: cups

Calories: 171kcal

Author: Juyali (ju-ja-lee)

Equipment

Slow Cooker

Ingredients

Carnitas seasoning ingredients
1 teaspoon Dried Oregano double the amount if you use fresh oregano
2 teaspoons Cumin
1 teaspoon Chili Powder
2.5 teaspoons Coarse Salt like Kosher, plus more for taste
1/2 teaspoon Black Pepper
3- pound Pork butt or pork shoulder

The additional carnitas marinade ingredients

1 Large Onion (peeled and quartered, any variety)
8 Garlic cloves
1/4 cup Lime juice - adds a tangy flavor and aids in tenderizing the meat
1/2 cup Orange Juice (freshly squeezedis best)
1 cup Chicken or vegetable broth (see notes under oven-baked method)
1 Large Orange cut (into quarters)
3 Bay leaves

Instructions

Seasoning the meat

Trim off any excess fat from the meat. For quicker cooking, cut the meat into 4-6 chunks and place it in the slow cooker. Mix all dry rub ingredients and massage the meat with the seasoning to infuse.
Coarsely chop the onion and garlic and add on top. Add the lime and orange
juices, broth, bay leaves, plus the orange cut into quarters.
This ingredient blend plus the slow cooking makes this Carnitas so flavorful. It makes up for the absence of the lard common in the traditional Mexican method.

Slow Cook the meat

Cover and cook the pork for 4-5 hours on high or 7-8 hours on low.
Remove the meat from the crock-pot and place it on a platter. Drain the pan drippings through a fine-mesh strainer, and discard the solids.
Reserve the juices and skim off any excess fat that has risen to the top with a spoon.
Shred the meat by pulling it apart with two forks.

Make the Carnitas Crispy

This step is KEY! You want those edges brown and crispy for a true Carnitas. I use a broiler method rather than a skillet because I can crisp up a large quantity on a sheet pan. However, browning the meat in a on the stovetop works fantastic too).
When it is time to serve, turn the oven to the “high” broil setting. Spread the shredded pork onto a sheet pan lined with foil. Drizzle some of the crockpot juices onto the meat.
Place the sheet pan under the broiler and cook for about 5 minutes. Stir with a spatula and cook for another 3-5 minutes or until crispy on the edges.

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Notes

Alternate oven-baked braising method: Use a large oven-safe pot with a lid, such as a Dutch oven or a roasting pan. Follow steps 1 and 2 and add 2 cups of broth or water to the pan (this ensures the meat stays moist). Cover tightly with foil or the lid. Bake at 325 F / 160 C for 2 hours. Remove the cover and bake for an additional 1 - 1.5 hours. Add more water if it dries out. You should end up with about 2 cups of liquid. You will not need to broil the meat as it already has nicely brown and crisp edges, so skip step 3 below. Drizzle the pan juices over the pork for serving.
Do not discard leftover pan juices. Reserve them when you need to reheat your Carnitas, as meat naturally dries up after refrigeration.
Check out my Venezuelan Carne Mechada (shredded beef).

Nutrition