Name: Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 420 min
Total time: 435 min
Ingredients: 6-7 lbs pork shoulder (skinless and boneless); 2 oranges (juiced, 3/4 cup); 1 lime (juiced, 1/4 cup); 7 cloves garlic (minced); 1 onion (quartered); 1 cup chicken broth; 2 tsp kosher salt; 1 tsp black pepper; 1 tsp chili powder; 1 tbsp cumin; 1 tbsp oregano; 1 tsp cayenne pepper; 2 bay leaves

Carnitas are slow cooked pork that is pulled apart and then fried or broiled until there are both crispy and tender pieces. My recipe is super easy and gives the perfect slow cooker pork carnitas. Its ssoooooo good and can be used in tacos, burritos, quesadillas, or on its on with sides. After I made this I actually put some to the side and skipped the broiling step and mixed it with BBQ sauce and had pulled pork for sandwiches. Making slow cooker pork carnitas are so easy and there are many possibilities to make with the pork when it's done.

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Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas Ingredients — Some ingredients needed.

Pork Shoulder for Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas — I purchased a pork shoulder with bone in and skin on. Skin on will not work for this recipe at all. You can buy a boneless skinless pork shoulder and save the time but this was on sale.

Skin removed for Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas — Once you remove the skin, we now have a workable pork shoulder.

Seasoned pork for slow cooker pork carnitas — Add all the ingredients into a slow cooker and cook for 6 hours on high and 8 hours on low.

Cooked pork shoulder for slow cooker pork carnitas — This is what the pork looks like when it's done.

Removed pork from slow cooker for carnitas — Take all the meat out of the slow cooker. It will break into pieces because it is so tender!

Shredded pork for carnitas — With two forks shredded all the pork into smaller pieces.

prepped pork for broiler — Place some pork on a foiled lined baking sheet with some of the cooking liquid from the slow cooker.

broiling carnitas — Broil the pork for 5-15 minutes. Be careful to watch so it does not burn.

Slow cooker pork carnitas — The finished product. Both tender and crispy pieces with so much flavor.

Suggested items for this recipe

Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas

The most flavorful, crispy, yet juicy carnitas ever. Most of the work is done in the slow cooker!

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Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Mexican

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 7 hours

Total Time: 7 hours 15 minutes

Servings:

Ingredients

6-7 lbs pork shoulder skinless and boneless
2 oranges juiced, 3/4 cup
1 lime juiced, 1/4 cup
7 cloves garlic minced
1 onion quartered
1 cup chicken broth
2 tsp kosher salt
1 tsp black pepper
1 tsp chili powder
1 tbsp cumin
1 tbsp oregano
1 tsp cayenne pepper
2 bay leaves

Instructions

Trim excess fat from the pork shoulder.
Add all the ingredients to a slow cooker and cook for 6-8 hours on low.
Take pork out and shred with two forks.
Add shredded pork to a foil lined baking sheet in one layer. Pour over about 1/2-cup of cooking liquid from slow cooker depending on how big the baking sheet is. You want to meet to me moist but not drowning in the liquid.
Broil for 5- 10 minutes carefully watching so that it doesn't burn.

Notes

It's ok if you buy a skin on bone in pork shoulder like I did. This recipe is not ideal for skin on so be sure to remove that. Leaving the bone in is perfectly fine. Once the pork is done cooking the bone will fall right out.

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