These Slow Cooker Carnitas bring the street-style carnitas tacos right to your kitchen with almost no effort! This recipe brings in the sweet citrus flavor of orange juice to balance out this Mexican-style pulled pork recipe.
Just set it and forget it.. until it's time to shred and eat! It really is that simple!
More easy weeknight meal ideas: Crock-Pot Shredded Chicken | One Pot Buffalo Chicken Tortellini | Chicken Tortellini | Southern Chicken Casserole | Chicken Tetrazzini (With a Southern Twist!) | Easy Crock Pot Lasagna | Chicken and Sweet Potato Chip Casserole
Need another Crockpot Taco Tuesday idea? Try another favorite of ours, 5 Ingredient Crockpot Chicken Tacos with Salsa!
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What to Make
The best part about Carnitas is the endless possibilities! Here are some different Mexican dishes and ways to enjoy your "little meats":
- Quesadillas
- Tacos
- Enchiladas
- Gorditas
- Rice Bowls or Burrito Bowl (I've even added this to an egg and rice bowl for breakfast)
- Mexican-style Frittata
- Taquitos
- Burritos
- Tortas/Sandwiches
Ingredients
To make your Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas, here's what you'll need:
- Pork Butt - Can also use Pork Shoulder
- Salt and Pepper
- Onion
- Chipotles in Adobo Sauce
- Garlic Cloves
- Orange Juice
- Taco Seasoning - I used Fiesta That from The Flat Top King
See recipe card for quantities.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Step 1: Coat the Pork Butt with taco seasoning.
- Step 2: Prep vegetables: Slice bell pepper, cut onion into chunks, slice chipotles in adobo sauce, and squeeze fresh orange juice.
- Step 3: Place pork, garlic cloves, vegetables, salt, black pepper, and 1 teaspoon of Taco Seasoning into the slow cooker. Set on low for 8 hours. (Add in 1 tablespoon of Adobo Sauce for a spicier version)
- Step 4: Shred pork. Serve your shredded pork on tacos, in burritos, or however you prefer!
Pro Tip: The slow cooking process is what makes this tender and delicious! Although you can cook this on high heat for 4-5 hours, I don't suggest it. Be patient and let the crockpot work its magic.
Equipment and Supplies
- 8 Quart Crock Pot - With an 8 qt Slow Cooker, you don't have to worry about running out of room ever again! The removable stoneware is dishwasher safe and easy to clean.
Storage
Allow the carnitas mixture to cool before storing in an airtight container. Store with minimal liquids from the slow cooker. Good for up to 4 days. To reheat, place in a pan, covered on medium-low heat.
To freeze, portion out the pork and place it in an airtight container, and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge before reheating in your pan.
Substitutions and Additions
In my opinion, the best way to enjoy carnitas is to keep it simple when serving. Typically, we just top our carnitas tacos with a little bit of lime juice and cilantro (and jalapeño if we're craving spice).
- Pork Options:
- Pork Butt or Pork Shoulder
- Additional Seasonings:
- You'll find a lot of recipes for Carnitas that add in chili powder and bay leaves as well. I prefer to keep this weeknight meal easy, but spice it up if you'd like!
- Craving Spicy? The chipotles in adobo sauce are the perfect spice up! It's smoky and delicious. Adding just one more can make a world of difference, so use them cautiously.
- Peppers:
- To cut down on spice, use banana peppers instead of chipotles in adobo sauce.
Our Favorite Taco Toppings
- More Topping Ideas:
- Diced tomatoes
- Jalapeños (fresh or pickled)
- Red onion or green onions
- Cilantro
- Avocado slices or guacamole
- Sweet corn or roasted corn
- Sliced black olives
- Shredded lettuce
- Sour Cream
- Sauce Toppings:
- Smoked Salsa
- Three Pepper Salsa
- Cilantro and Lime Crema
- Hot Sauce (like Tapitio or Valentina)
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Frequently Asked Questions
It is the Mexican version of pulled pork. It is unbelievably rich and tender.
Not for this recipe, Tenderloin is too lean, so the longer cook time with dry it out. It also does not shred as well!
More From the Slow Cooker
- Slow Cooker Chicken Bacon Ranch
- Slow Cooker Cube Steak
- The Easiest Crock Pot Pork Roast
- Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Dip (with Frank's RedHot)
Video of Recipe
Recipe
Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas
Equipment
- Slow Cooker
Ingredients
- 5 Lb Pork Butt or pork shoulder
- 2 tablespoon Taco Seasoning use more if needed
- 1 Bell Pepper chopped
- 1 Onion chopped
- 2 Chipotle Peppers in Adobo Sauce or banana peppers for less spice
- 4 Garlic Cloves
- ¾ Cup Orange Juice freshly squeezed
- 2½ teaspoon Kosher Salt
- 1 teaspoon Black Pepper
- Adobo Sauce for more spice optional
Instructions
- Coat Pork Butt with taco seasoning.
- Prep vegetables: Slice bell pepper, cut onion into chunks, slice chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, and squeeze fresh orange juice.
- Place pork, garlic cloves, vegetables, salt, pepper and 1 teaspoon of Taco Seasoning into the slow cooker. Set on low for 8 hours. (Add in 1 tablespoon of Adobo Sauce for a spicier version)
- Shred pork and serve carnitas on tacos, in burritos or however you prefer!
Chef Tim Clowers says
Another easy and yet tasty recipe that has big flavors.