Description
Transform everyday pork shoulder into a flavor-packed experience with this Ultimate Carnitas Crockpot recipe. Juicy, slow-cooked meat finished with crispy caramelized edges makes this dish irresistible and crowd-pleasing. It’s perfect for tacos, burritos, bowls, or meal prep. With just a few pantry staples and a slow cooker, you can create this satisfying and versatile dish without hassle. Great for weeknight dinners, game day, or batch cooking. Whether you’re after quick dinner ideas, easy recipes, or bold Mexican-inspired food ideas—this recipe has you covered.
Ingredients
1 (4-5 lb) pork shoulder (or pork butt)
1 large onion, sliced
5 cloves garlic
¾ cup orange juice
¼ cup lime juice
1 tablespoon ground cumin
1 tablespoon dried oregano
2 teaspoons chili powder
2 bay leaves
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
1. Trim excess fat from pork and cut into large chunks. Season with salt, pepper, cumin, chili powder, and oregano.
2. Add sliced onion and garlic cloves to the bottom of the slow cooker. Place pork on top.
3. Pour orange and lime juice over the pork. Add bay leaves.
4. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4-5 hours until pork is tender and shreds easily.
5. Shred pork using two forks in the cooker.
6. For crispy carnitas, transfer shredded pork to a baking sheet or skillet and broil or sear until edges are golden and crispy.
7. Spoon a bit of cooking juice over pork before serving.
Notes
Use fresh citrus juice for the best flavor.
Crisping the carnitas is optional, but highly recommended for texture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 hours
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 690mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 5g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 33g
- Cholesterol: 110mg