Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas – The EASY Way!
My entire family loves Mexican flavors, so this EASY version of classic pork carnitas is always an esasy win at the dinner table. We get to enjoy those amazing citrus and chili flavors, but with only 10 minutes of super quick prep. I love that it takes just 4 ingredients and a handful of seasonings to create the BEST tasting meal! And since it is a Crock Pot meal, I just ‘set it and forget it’ then go about the day stress-free. When we’re ready to eat I open the lid to a deliciously tender pork roast that falls apart and makes enough to serve my family really easily. Plus there’s no wrong way to enjoy carnitas! Serve them over rice, in a taco, burrito, or on nachos for a super easy family friendly dinner.
What is Carnitas?
If you’re not familiar with Mexican cuisine you might be wondering what ‘carnitas’ actually means. It translates to ‘little meats’ and traditionally is made with pork slowly cooked in citrus, spices, and fresh chilis then fried in lard to create an irresistible crisp texture. My version is so much simpler for busy families who want to enjoy all the flavor, but with way less time and effort! They are healthier too by cooking in just the natural pork juices and fresh squeezed oranges, and then being baked instead of fried to create that crispiness. Carnitas are essentially a delicious flavor loaded Mexican shredded pork. If you are looking for Mexican Shredded Beef or a Crock Pot Mexican Style Chicken, check out these recipes!
Why I LOVE this recipe!
Easy Prep! – 10 minutes is all you need to get this in the Crock Pot.Simple Ingredients – Find all the ingredients at any grocery store year around.Hands off Cooking – Once you push the start button, your slow cooker takes over and you can forget about it all day long.BIG flavor – Did I mention that it is delicious? The citrus and carnitas seasoning combine with the natural flavor of jalapenos to create the yummiest slow cooker pork carnitas.Makes a LOT – Starting with a 4lb pork shoulder creates plenty of delicious pulled pork carnitas. It’s easily enough to feed an average family, maybe even for more than one meal!So Versatile! – Whether your family wants tacos, enchiladas, quesadillas, or just to serve the pork carnitas meat with a spoonful of the delicious cooking jus, there are so many tasty ways to gobble it up.
What to Serve with Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas
Since this protein based dish has the delicious flavors of citrus, chilis, and spices, it will pair well with many of your favorite Mexican side dishes. Serve your slow cooker pork carnitas over cilantro lime rice or other grains, on tortillas, or with chips. Then choose one or several of these side dishes to create a wholesome, well-rounded dinner. There are both classic options and some healthy options to keep it light.
Side Dish Ideas
Black Beans – Transform canned beans into something special with the tips in this recipe.Easy Mexican Rice – Always a classic!Mexican Corn Salad – Light, healthy, and flavorful.Mexican Street Corn Casserole – A popular reader favorite.Green Chile Cheddar Mashed Potatoes – Such a fun variation on classic mash!Easy Mexican Cornbread – This recipe is always a hit!Mexican Roasted Vegetables – So healthy and so easy!
Carnitas Topping Ideas
Pulled pork carnitas can be served with any number of toppings to make incredibly tasty meals that the whole family will love.
Fresh limePico de GalloCilantroChopped Red OnionsHomemade GuacamoleTomatoesEasy Homemade SalsaCheese– Try anything from cheddar or monterey jack, to a more traditional Mexican cheese like queso fresco or cojita.Creama– This is a limey Mexican sour cream. You can also just mix regular sour cream with lime juice
Recipe Notes
This Easy Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas recipe is as simple as promised! Just a handful of ingredients and 10 minutes of prep for a family friendly meal. In this section I am going to go through a few tips and tricks I use when making this recipe to get the absolute best and most delicious results. Make sure to scroll to the bottom for the FULL recipe card.
Ingredients + Substitutions
Pork Shoulder – You want a pork shoulder roast to yield the juiciest, tender Crock Pot carnitas. You can also use pork butt or smaller chunks of pork shoulder if you can’t find a whole roast. Smaller pieces will cook a little faster and may be done and hour or two early.Onion – White or yellow onions both work really well.Jalapenos – Yes, we do use 3 jalapenos for this recipe but I promise it is not spicy! They go in whole rather than chopped which keeps most of the spicy oils inside. Instead we just get the delicious floral, fruity flavor of jalapeno without the heat.Oranges – You’ll want the juices and the aromatic and flavorful rinds of fresh oranges for this. Use whatever variety you like.Carnitas Seasonings – A blend of common pantry spices make the most delicious rub for your carnitas. You’ll need salt, cumin, chile powder, oregano, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder.
Recipe Tips
Use all of the rub – You really want to coat the entire pork shoulder roast with the carnitas seasoning. Don’t be afraid to really layer and rub it in. It seasons everything as it cooks, but also gets shredded in afterward too, which equals BIG flavor!Cook Low and Slow – This easy slow cooker carnitas recipe cooks on low for a minimum of 7 hours. But I really recommend 9 if you can. The longer it cooks, the more tender and juicy all the connective tissue and fats of pork shoulder will become, and that means super flavorful, delicious shredded pork for you!No Need to Trim – Don’t get caught up trying to trim the fat from the roast before hand. Not only does that fat render and help build flavor in your pork carnitas, but it also is much, much easier to remove once the pork is fall apart tender.Remove to Shred – I like to remove the roast from the Crock Pot once it is done cooking for a couple of reasons. It is much easier to shred and separate the meat from the fat on a platter or casserole dish than the hot slow cooker. Just use a pair of forks and it will fall apart! It also makes it so easy to remove the oranges, onions, and peppers without accidentally shredding them into the meat.Bake on High Heat – To create that iconic crispy carnitas texture, you want to use a HOT oven. Lay out the pork carnitas meat onto a large baking sheet and pop it in at 425°F. Low heats will take much longer and then you risk drying it out.Strain the Liquid – Don’t waste the incredibly flavorful broth that’s left. Strain out the onion, oranges, and peppers then use the liquid to moisten the meat or as a dipping sauce for tacos.Once you have removed the chunks you can use it as is or let it cool in the fridge and skim off the fat as it solidifies to make the broth a little healthier.
Recipe Short Cuts
If you need to make this recipe, but are extra short on time, here are a few ideas that can help make this recipe even faster!
Use a seasoning blend – I recommend the blend of carnitas seasoning I use in this recipe, but pre-mixed options like a fajita seasoning or taco seasoning could also be used to save time. You’ll want 2-3 tablespoons to really coat the pork.Use Bottled Orange Juice– I prefer the flavor or fresh oranges. But in a pinch, absolutely use bottled orange juice instead if that is what gets dinner on the table!Skip the oven – Making your carnitas crispy is a delicious, but entirely optional step. You can save yourself the 10 minutes in the oven if you just serve the pulled pork after shredding.
Recipe Variations
If you love this recipe as much as we do and want some quick ways to change it up for variety, these little tips will do the trick!
Spicy Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas– Add 1/4-1 teaspoon of cayenne pepper to the carnitas seasoning depending on how spicy your family likes it. To add more spice afterward, mix crushed red pepper flakes into the shredded pork.Instant Pot Pork Carnitas– Add all the ingredients to your Instant Pot as directed in the recipe. Seal and set to cook on manual for 35-40 minutes or until the pork is tender. Slowly release the pressure then continue with the recipe to shred and bake the pork.BBQ Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas– After you season the pork shoulder slather it with 1/2 cup of my easy homemade BBQ sauce or your favorite bottled brand. Then continue with the recipe as directed.
Freezer Meal Instructions
Making this slow cooker pork carnitas recipe into a freezer meal is simple! Follow the steps below and you can store this recipe in the freezer for up to 6 months.
Place the chopped onions and whole jalapenos in a large freezer bag or container.Season the pork shoulder with the rub and add it to the bag.Add the orange juice and rinds into the bag.Seal tightly and freeze.When ready to cook, thaw in the refrigerator for 24-48 hours.Pour contents into the slow cooker and cook as directed.
Easy Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas Leftovers
If you have leftovers after making this crock pot pork carnitas recipe, then it is your lucky day! They save and reheat well, and can make the start of another delicious dish. To save leftovers, separate into meal sized portions and then place in an airtight container and store:
in the refrigerator for 3-4 daysin the freezer up to a month
Leftover Recipes
Here are a few ways to repurpose those leftovers and give them a delicious makeover!
Pork Carnitas Tacos– Serve leftovers in either corn or flour tortillas with toppings like tomatoes, shredded cheese, lettuce, or a corn and black bean salsa. Or combine diced red onion and cilantro to make a homemade version of carnitas street tacos!Pork Carnitas Burritos– Layer warm shredded pork with rice, Mexican refried beans, and shredded cheese. Fold up the burritos and serve.Pork Carnitas Quesadillas– This is one of our kids favorite meals made with leftover carnitas!Pork Carnitas Nachos– This is one of my kid’s favorite meals! I love that I can sneak so many veggies into this since they are all about having nachos for dinner!Pork Carnitas Bowl – Layer warm carnitas over a bowl of rice or quinoa with toppings like corn salsa, tomatoes, cilantro, and sliced avocado. Serve with creamy jalapeno dressing and fresh limes to drizzle over top.Pork Carnitas Enchiladas – Grab this great recipe for an easy weeknight casserole!
More Slow Cooker Recipes
If you enjoyed this recipe, I really hope you will take a moment to grab a few more easy recipes for another busy night! You can check out all of my easy dinner recipes here, or see a few of our readers favorite recipes below.
Crock Pot Spaghetti Squash and MeatballsSlow Cooker Mississippi ChickenCrock Pot BBQ BrisketCrock Pot Thai Style Pork
