Slow-Cooked Crock Pot Carnitas
Slow-Cooked Crock Pot Carnitas are a flavor-packed dish that transforms simple ingredients into a crowd-pleaser. Tender, juicy pork shoulder is seasoned with aromatic spices and zesty orange juice, then slowly cooked to perfection, resulting in melt-in-your-mouth morsels. Whether served in tacos, burritos, or over rice, these carnitas are perfect for any gathering and will have everyone asking for seconds.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 hours
- Total Time: 8 hours 15 minutes
- Yield: Serves 8
- Category: Main
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 lbs pork shoulder
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/2 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
- 2 tsp ground cumin
- 2 tsp dried oregano (preferably Mexican)
- 1 tsp chili powder (adjust to taste)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Sear the pork shoulder in a skillet over medium-high heat until golden brown on all sides.
- Place the seared pork in the crock pot along with chopped onions, minced garlic, orange juice, cumin, oregano, chili powder, salt, and pepper. Stir gently to combine.
- Cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4 hours until the pork is fork-tender.
- Remove the pork and shred it using two forks. Optionally broil the shredded meat on a baking sheet for crispy edges for about 5 minutes.
- Serve warm with tortillas or over rice.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (150g)
- Calories: 300
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 650mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 8g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 90mg
Keywords: For added flavor variations, consider using chicken thighs instead of pork or adding smoked paprika for a smoky twist. Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to four days.