Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas should be fork tender and bursting with flavor. You’ll love this easy recipe for pork carnitas seasoned to perfection and made to serve on tortillas or in bowls.
If you love using your crock pot for dinners, make sure you try our delicious Slow Cooker Chicken Enchiladas recipe too! While our Carne Asada isn’t made in a slow cooker, it is absolutely delicious!
Easy Pork Carnitas in the Crockpot
When it comes to easy dinner recipes, I love a delicious meal that takes very little work.
In our family, tex-mex foods are a staple. They appeal to everyone, and can be customized in flavors by the fabulous toppings and sides.
Typically at a mexican restaurant you’ll find carnitas on the menu, among baked tacos, crockpot fajitas, and slow cooker barbacoa.
Carnitas, which means “little meats”, are made by simmering pork until the lard is tender. Slow cookers and crock pots are the perfect route to cook carnitas, to get that tender, flavorful meat.
Think of carnitas as a mexican version of pulled pork! Delicious.
Be sure to check out some of our other favorite slow cooker dinner recipes!
How to make Carnitas
Step 1: Place pork in the bottom of a large crock pot or slow cooker. Season with garlic, olive oil, salt, pepper, and cumin.
Top with fresh snipped cilantro, salsa (any kind), chicken broth, tequila, and chopped green chilies.
Add the juice of one orange.
Step 2: Cover and cook on low for 6 hours. (I would cook closer to 8 hours for pork shoulder)
Step 3: Shred pork with two forks, mix with juices and serve.
PRO TIP: You can also try our Instant Pot carnitas recipe too!
What cut of pork is best for Carnitas
When choosing a cut of pork for carnitas, it can be a very personal decision.
Typically you may want to opt for a pork shoulder (pork butt) because of the higher concentration of fat. In an effort to cut down on the fat we eat, I make mine using tenderloins.
Pork tenderloins do become dry if over cooked, but with today’s recipe packed with seasoning and juices, they work just fine!
For a more traditional route though, choose the pork shoulder.
Serving Suggestions
You be the judge on what to serve with your delicious fork tender crock pot carnitas.
Here are some ideas on what to serve with them:
- Guacamole -homemade is best. You could also add sliced avocado instead
- Pico de Gallo
- Cilantro Lime Rice
- Salsa Verde
- Black Beans
- Diced Onions
- Jalapenos
- Sour Cream
- Cilantro
- Lettuce
- Corn Salad
- Dorito Taco Salad
- Mexican Street Corn Salad
You can create a “taco” by serving on a flour or corn tortilla. Or turn your carnitas into a “bowl” with all the toppings on a bed of lettuce.
Tips and Tricks
- If you like your carnitas crispy, once you’ve shredded them in the slow cooker, lay them on a baking sheet and broil for about 15 minutes, stirring once. Or crisp them up in a skillet!
- Substitute beer or more chicken broth for the tequila, if desired
- Want to freeze Carnitas? Place leftovers in a freezer safe container or ziploc bag. Freeze with juices until ready to use. Thaw in refrigerator overnight. Heat and enjoy.
- Squeeze a fresh lime over the carnitas right before serving for a delicious zing!
- Don’t forget dessert! Our fried ice cream and homemade churros are perfect endings to your meal.
More Dinner Recipes
- Oven Baked Pork Chops
- Chipotle Pork Tenderloin
- Balsamic Glazed Pork
- Pork Chops with Peaches
- Chipotle BBQ Pork
- Root Beer Pulled Pork
- Lasagna Soup
- Instant Pot Barbacoa Recipe
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Pork Carnitas- Slow Cooker
Ingredients
- 4 pounds pork tenderloin or pork shoulder/butt
- 4 cloves garlic pressed
- 2 teaspoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1½ cups fresh cilantro snipped
- 1 cup salsa
- ¼ cup chicken broth
- ¼ cup tequila or beer
- 1 can chopped green chilies 4 ounce
- 1 orange juiced
Toppings:
- tortillas
- black beans
- guacamole
- pico de gallo
- cilantro
- onions
Instructions
- Place pork in crock pot. Sprinkle with garlic, oil, salt, pepper and cumin. Top with cilantro, salsa, broth, tequila, green chilies, and juice from one orange. Cover and cook on low for about 6-8 hours.
- Shred pork with two forks and continue to cook until heated through.
- Serve on a tortilla with all the fixings, or make a rice bowl with black beans and all the fixings. Enjoy!
Notes
- If you like your carnitas crispy, once you’ve shredded them in the slow cooker, lay them on a baking sheet and broil for about 15 minutes, stirring once.
- Substitute beer or more chicken broth for the tequila, if desired
- Want to freeze Carnitas? Place leftovers in a freezer safe container or ziploc bag. Freeze with juices until ready to use. Thaw in refrigerator overnight. Heat and enjoy.
- Squeeze a fresh lime over the carnitas right before serving for a delicious zing!
Video
Nutrition
Slow Cooker or Crock Pot Pork Carnitas are fork tender and the perfect recipe for a crowd.
Gosh! I love this pork recipe. I am making it again for our next Taco Tuesday!
Love these!! My favorite to eat! Love that it’s a crock pot recipe!
Would this be ok without tequila or beer? I’d love to make it but have a strict no alcohol policy for two years now. Thank you
Sure would! Just use vegetable or chicken broth 🙂
We looooove carnitas at our house! But I have always made them in the oven and it is just too HOOOOT right now. So I will give your awesome-sounding recipe a try! Thanks so much!
Hopefully it turns out just as good with a boneless shoulder instead of the tenderloins… I was originally thinking of trying the bbq rootbeer recipe tomorrow, but I’ve been craving carnitas and these sound awesome!
Hi again… wanted to THANK you for a YUMMY and EEEEEASY recipe! This simmered all day in the crock pot (boneless pork picnic roast) with everything except the cilantro (because I forgot). Serious YUMMINESS ratings all-around – and we’re a family that LOOOVES our carnitas! Thanks so much for posting this awesome recipe that doesn’t require using the oven or the broiler (though once it’s cooler, crisping up the meat a bit under the broiler would add nice texture). 5 Stars! 🙂
Oh this recipe looks soo good. I can eat mexican food every night! pinning this!
Sarah
Thanks for pinning Sarah!!!
Umm the carnitas look great. I just pinned the recipe to my pinterest board. I can’t wait to try your recipe. Found you on Gooseberry Patches RR.
Tina @ Mommy’s Kitchen
I am so excited about this recipe! I’ve been looking for a good carnitas recipe!
Oh yummy, I shouldn’t be reading food posts while I am hungry, cause I am starving now, lol!!
Yum!! I make shredded pork in my crock pot all the time. Love your recipe and will definitely try it!!
Ha, funny-funny. I posted Carnitas too. I think I’ll have to use some of the ingredients from yours to add in and try next time. But I did like the cooking technique used in the one I posted (I liked the crispy edges)
Thanks for linking up to THIS WEEK’s CRAVINGS “Mexican Dishes”. We appreciate you sharing your recipe with us! We hope you come back next Monday for “Brunch Recipes / Mother’s Day”. Have a great weekend!
http://momscrazycooking.blogspot.com/search/label/THIS%20WEEKS%20CRAVINGS
Wow.. this looks awesome! I may have to add this to my list for our Cinco De Mayo dinner night. YUM! Thanks for linking up for Tasty Tuesday this week!
Tree
Mother of Pearl It Is
What a great dish! Thank you for sharing and have a wonderful week!
This sounds really good, bet the house smelled great too:@)
I’m your newest follower, girl. You sold me on some of those treats you make….but this one sealed the deal! I “rock the crock” on my blog periodically. When I try this yummy-looking dinner I’ll link up this post, k? Thanks! 🙂
Oh this looks great! perfect to-go meal for the baseball park!
Blessings!
LIB
http://bit.ly/ibO3PU
Enjoy, I love carnitas myself, obviously 🙂
Let me just be honest, if I see carnitas anywhere on a Mexican menu I order it. Whatever it is. This is being bookmarked. I have a hunk of pork this recipes name all over it!
yes. yes. yes.
I LOVE carnitas and just bought a new crockpot!
I used my old one until it went kaput 😉
Once again, a recipe I know I will be making! 🙂
Thank you for sharing, and commenting on post’s….dont you just love reading comments?