Description
Enjoy tender, juicy pork with spices and citrus, slow-cooked to perfection. This easy Crock Pot Carnitas recipe creates mouthwatering morsels that melt in your mouth, perfect for any gathering. Its rich, zesty flavor and gorgeous golden-brown color make it a feast for the eyes and taste buds. Serve in tacos, burritos, or nachos.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 pounds pork shoulder, cut into 2–3 inch chunks
- 1 large onion, quartered
- 4 cloves garlic, smashed
- 1 orange, halved
- 1 lime, halved
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 cup water or chicken broth
Instructions
- Place pork shoulder chunks in your slow cooker.
- Add the quartered onion, smashed garlic, halved orange, and halved lime to the slow cooker.
- Sprinkle the oregano, cumin, salt, and pepper over the pork.
- Pour in the water or chicken broth.
- Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours or on high for 4-5 hours, until the pork is tender and easily shreds.
- Remove the pork from the slow cooker and shred it using two forks. Discard the onion, garlic, orange, and lime.
- For crispy carnitas, spread the shredded pork on a baking sheet and broil for 3-5 minutes, watching closely to prevent burning, or pan-fry in a skillet with a little oil until browned and crispy.
- Serve the Irresistible Slow Cooked Crock Carnitas warm.
Notes
- For extra flavor, you can add a bay leaf to the slow cooker.
- Adjust seasoning to your preference.
- This recipe is a great base for many dishes.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 4-10 hours
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: Mexican-inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4 ounces
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 300mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 3g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 38g
- Cholesterol: 120mg