Description
Get ready to wow your taste buds with this incredibly flavorful and easy-to-make **Ultimate Carnitas Crockpot** recipe! Perfect for weeknight dinners, weekend parties, or make-ahead meals, this dish delivers juicy, tender pork infused with citrus and spices—all made effortlessly in your slow cooker. Whether you’re searching for dinner ideas, easy crockpot recipes, or quick meal prep solutions, this savory, crispy carnitas dish is packed with delicious possibilities. It’s one of those must-try easy recipes that will quickly become a go-to in your kitchen.
Ingredients
3–4 pounds boneless pork shoulder
3/4 cup orange juice
2 tablespoons lime juice
5 garlic cloves, smashed
1 medium onion, chopped
2 bay leaves
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano
2 teaspoons chili powder
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 tablespoon olive oil (for crisping)
Instructions
1. Trim excess fat from pork shoulder and cut into 3–4 inch chunks.
2. Season pork with salt, pepper, cumin, oregano, and chili powder.
3. Add chopped onion, garlic, and bay leaves to crockpot.
4. Pour in orange juice and lime juice over the pork.
5. Cover and cook on LOW for 8–10 hours or HIGH for 5–6 hours.
6. Remove pork and shred with forks, discarding any large fat pieces.
7. Heat olive oil in skillet and crisp shredded pork in batches, adding some cooking liquid.
8. Serve hot with onions, cilantro, and lime wedges.
Notes
Use pork shoulder for best tenderness and flavor.
Crisping the meat in a skillet makes a huge difference—don’t skip it.
Keep the leftover cooking liquid to reheat or drizzle over the meat for added flavor.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 hours
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 450mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 5g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 95mg