Slow Cooker Carnitas
Delicious slow-cooked pork carnitas, perfect for sharing with family and friends, enriched with spices and zesty orange juice.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 480 minutes
- Total Time: 490 minutes
- Yield: 6-8 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Mexican
- Diet: Paleo
Ingredients
Scale
- 3–4 pounds pork shoulder
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 onion, chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 1 orange, juiced
- 2 bay leaves
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Tortillas, for serving
- Toppings (cilantro, lime, onion, etc.)
Instructions
- In a skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Brown the pork shoulder on all sides, about 5-7 minutes, ensuring that each side gets a delicious crust.
- Once browned, place the pork in the slow cooker. Add onion, garlic, cumin, chili powder, oregano, orange juice, bay leaves, salt, and pepper. Mix gently to distribute the spices.
- Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or until the pork is tender and easily shreddable. The longer it simmers, the more flavorful it becomes!
- After cooking, remove the pork from the slow cooker and shred it using two forks. Reserve a bit of the cooking liquid for flavor.
- For an extra tasty touch, place the shredded pork under a broiler for a few minutes to create crispy edges.
- Serve the beautifully tender carnitas in warm tortillas with your favorite toppings, such as fresh cilantro, zesty lime, and crunchy onions. Enjoy every bite!
Notes
Searing the pork enhances the flavor; feel free to adjust spices to your taste. You can use pork butt or pork loin as alternatives.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 300
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 400mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 5g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 23g
- Cholesterol: 90mg
Find it online: https://cookingwithmayaa.com/slow-cooker-carnitas/