Description
Fork-tender pork with crispy edges and bold flavor, these crockpot pork carnitas are perfect for tacos, burritos, bowls, or nachos. An easy, crowd-pleasing recipe!
Ingredients
Scale
- 3–4 pounds boneless pork shoulder (or pork butt), trimmed of excess fat
- 1/2 cup orange juice, freshly squeezed or bottled
- 1/4 cup lime juice, freshly squeezed
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 onion, diced
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 bay leaves (optional)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Instructions
- Trim excess fat from the pork shoulder and cut into large chunks if needed to fit in the crockpot.
- Mix cumin, chili powder, smoked paprika, oregano, cinnamon, salt, and pepper in a small bowl to create the seasoning blend.
- Rub the spice mixture evenly over the pork.
- Combine orange juice, lime juice, chicken broth, garlic, and onion in a separate bowl to create the cooking liquid.
- Place the seasoned pork into the crockpot and pour the cooking liquid over it. Add bay leaves if desired.
- Cover and cook on low for 8–10 hours or high for 4–5 hours, until the pork is tender and easily shreds with a fork.
- Shred the cooked pork using two forks, discarding any large chunks of fat.
- Preheat the broiler. Spread the shredded pork on a sheet pan, drizzle with olive oil, and broil for 3–5 minutes, stirring halfway through, until crispy edges form.
- Serve warm in tacos, bowls, or your preferred dish.
Notes
[‘Use fresh citrus juice for the best flavor.’, ‘Don’t skip the broiling step for crispy edges.’, ‘Cook on low for juicier results.’, ‘Taste and adjust seasoning after shredding the pork.’, ‘Broil in batches to avoid overcrowding the pan.’]
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 hours
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 3
- Sodium: 450
- Fat: 20
- Saturated Fat: 7
- Carbohydrates: 5
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 35
Keywords: crockpot, pork carnitas, tacos, Mexican recipe, slow cooker, easy dinner, gluten-free, keto-friendly