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Carnitas Crockpot

Bold Flavor Carnitas Crockpot: Effortless Mexican Magic

This Carnitas Crockpot recipe delivers bold flavors and tender, juicy pork for tacos, burritos, or rice bowls, making it a must-try for dinner.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 8 hours
Total Time 8 hours 15 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Mexican
Calories: 270
Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Pork
  • 3 pounds Pork Shoulder Trimmed of excess fat
For the Marinade
  • 1 cup Orange Juice Can substitute with lime juice
  • 1/4 cup Lime Juice Can substitute with more orange juice
  • 4 cloves Minced Garlic Garlic powder may be used
  • 1 large Chopped Onion Shallots or yellow onion can be used
For the Spices
  • 1 tablespoon Cumin
  • 1 tablespoon Oregano Mexican oregano preferred
  • 2 tablespoons Chili Powder Substitute with paprika for milder flavor
  • 1 teaspoon Salt Adjust to taste
  • 1 teaspoon Pepper Adjust to taste
  • 2 leaves Bay Leaves Remove before serving

Equipment

  • Slow Cooker

Method
 

Step‑by‑Step Instructions for Carnitas Crockpot
  1. Trim excess fat from the pork shoulder and cut it into large chunks, about 2-3 inches each. Place into slow cooker.
  2. Pour in the orange juice and lime juice over the pork, followed by the minced garlic and chopped onion. Add the spices evenly across the meat.
  3. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4-5 hours until the pork is tender.
  4. Remove the pork and allow to cool slightly before shredding with two forks. Discard remaining fat.
  5. Preheat oven broiler and spread shredded pork on a baking sheet. Broil for 5-8 minutes until edges are golden and crispy.
  6. Drizzle reserved cooking liquid over the crispy carnitas and serve warm for tacos or rice bowls.

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 270kcalCarbohydrates: 10gProtein: 24gFat: 18gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 70mgSodium: 600mgPotassium: 500mgFiber: 2gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 5IUVitamin C: 15mgCalcium: 2mgIron: 10mg

Notes

For best results, use pork shoulder for its marbling. Adjust seasoning to personal taste before serving.

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