Slow Cooker Carnitas

4.89 from 17 votes

Slow Cooker Carnitas come together effortlessly in the crockpot with only a handful of ingredients, an inexpensive cut of pork, and a flavorful braising liquid.

Prep Time10 mins

Cook Time10 hrs

Total Time10 hrs 10 mins

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Mexican

Servings: people

Calories: 173kcal

Author: Kristen Chidsey

Equipment

6-8 quart Slow Cooker

Ingredients

Pork Tacos

2 ½ lb pork butt roast cut into 3-4 inch chunks
1 ½ tsp kosher salt divided
2 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp garlic powder
½ tsp freshly cracked black pepper
¼ tsp ground cayenne pepper optional
12 ounces beer (or chicken stock)
½ cup orange juice

Instructions

Cut the pork roast into 3-4 inch chunks and season with the pepper and ½ teaspoon of salt.
Combine the beer (or stock), orange juice, remaining salt, garlic, cumin, chili, and cayenne together in the slow cooker, and then nestle the pork into the liquid.
Set the crockpot to cook on low for 10-12 hours or on high 5-7 hours.
Once cooked, shred the meat with two forks, and mix into the juices that were rendered while cooking.
For crispy pork, place shredded pork along with ½ cup of the cooking liquid onto a rimmed sheet pan and broil until lightly charred.
Serve the meat as desired.

Notes

For Gluten-Free Carnitas, just omit beer and use chicken stock

Pork: Use pork loin, cut into 3-4 inch chunks for lean, yet flavorful carnitas meat.

Serving: Carnitas are delicious served on tortillas or with rice, topped with avocado, cheese, and cabbage.

Mexican Slaw: I love making a simple slaw by mixing together ¼ cup of sour cream and Greek yogurt together with the juice of 1 lime, a handful of chopped cilantro, 1 teaspoon cumin, and ½ teaspoon of salt. Stir 3 cups of cabbage into the mixture. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving with the shredded pork.

Storage: Store leftover shredded pork in an airtight container for up to 4 days or freeze for up to 3 months in an airtight container. Defrost in the refrigerator overnight before heating.

Nutrition