Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas

Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas

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

5 from 1 vote

Print Pin

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Mexican

Prep Time: 15

Cook Time: 7

Total Time: 8 15

Servings:

Calories: 269kcal

Equipment

slow cooker

Baking Sheets

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 dried oregano
1 tsp cayenne pepper
2 bay leaves

Instructions

Trim excess fat from the pork shoulder.
In a small bowl combine all the seasonings to make a rub.
Poke holes in the pork shoulder with a knife. Stuff the garlic into the holes and then season all of the pork meat with the seasoning blend rubbing it in.
Place pork in slow cooker seasoned side down and repeat the seasoning steps above for the other side. Arrange onions around the pork and pour orange juice, lime juice, and chicken broth over top. Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours on low.
Take pork out and shred with two forks. You may need to use a slotted spoon to get out some of the pork from the crock pot that has broken away because it will be super tender.
Add shredded pork to a foil lined baking sheet / sheet pan in one layer. Ladle some of the cooking liquid (about 1/3 cup) from slow cooker depending on how big the baking sheet is. You want the meat to be moist but not drowning in the liquid.
Broil for 5- 10 minutes carefully watching so that it doesn't burn. You just want to get crispy edges.

Video

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.

Nutrition

Tried this recipe?Mention @itairaeats on Instagram and hashtag #itairaeats!