Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas are so easy and can be in the slow cooker in under 5 minutes. Great for tacos, burritos, salads, or over rice. If you’re looking for a healthy  Mexican meal, these easy carnitas are just that.

Pork Carnitas

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SLOW COOKER PORK CARNITAS

Car-“KNEE”-tas.

Car-“KNEEEEE”-tas.

For some reason I can’t say that word without a Mexican accent and drawing out the middle of the word as long and obnoxiously as I can. Seriously, I can do all the prep for these pork carnitas in under a minute.

Of course this is not an authentic Pork Carnitas but an easier version still with a ton of flavor.

Pork Carnitas

They were moist, spicy, and great snuggled in a warm tortilla with some pico de gallo, avocado, cheese, and a squeeze of lime. John loved the pork on a salad with some of the extra sauce that it had been cooking in all day.

I use a pork tenderloin which is leaner and healthier than a pork roast.

pork in a crock pot

HOW TO MAKE

  1. Place all of the ingredients in a crockpot and cook on low for 6-8 hours or until pork easily forks apart. Serve buffet-style with flour tortillas, cheese, cilantro, avocado, tomatoes, lettuce, sour cream and a squeeze of lime. Make sure to get some of that yummy sauce the pork is in inside your tortilla. Add a side of Cilantro Lime Rice and black beans.

Pork Carnitas

Trying to eat healthy? Make it into a salad by placing the pork on top of some lettuce with pico de gallo and a squeeze of lime.

CUT OF PORK

You can use any cut of pork in this recipe.
  • A pork tenderloin is the leanest and therefore will require less cooking time. Make sure to not overcook because it can get dry. The pros? You don’t have to spend a ton of time taking the fat of the meat.
  • Pork shoulder and butt are similar in the fact that they have more fat which equals more flavor but a little more cooking time and work to separate the fat from the meat when done cooking.

OTHER PORK RECIPES:

Pork Carnitas

Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas

5 from 2 votes
These Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas are so easy and can be in the slow cooker in under 5 minutes. Eat it in tacos, burritos, or salads.
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 8 hours
Total Time: 8 hours 5 minutes
Servings: 4 servings

Ingredients

  • 2-4 lbs pork tenderloin, shoulder, or butt, (see note)
  • 1 ( 15-18) ounce jar of your favorite salsa verde
  • 1 (10 ounce) can Rotel tomatoes
  • 1 (4 ounce) can diced green chilies
  • 1 white onion, chopped in large pieces
  • 1/2 teaspoon cumin

Instructions
 

  • Place all of the ingredients in a crockpot and cook on low for 6-8 hours or until pork easily forks apart. Serve buffet-style with flour tortillas, cheese, cilantro, avocado, tomatoes, lettuce, sour cream and a squeeze of lime. Make sure to get some of that yummy sauce the pork is in inside your tortilla. Add a side of Cilantro Lime Rice and black beans.

Notes

CUT OF PORK

You can use any cut of pork in this recipe.
  • A pork tenderloin is the leanest and therefore will require less cooking time. Make sure to not overcook because it can get dry. The pros? You don't have to spend a ton of time taking the fat of the meat. 
  • Pork shoulder and butt are similar in the fact that they have more fat which equals more flavor but a little more cooking time and work to separate the fat from the meat when done cooking. 
Cuisine: Mexican
Course: Main Course
Author: Christy Denney

Pork Carnitas

Pork Carnitas

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Christy Denney
Christy is the voice behind The Girl Who Who Ate Everything! She is no stranger to making meals that kids and adults will love. She grew up in Mesa, Arizona as the youngest of ten kids. She can always be found in her kitchen with music playing and cooking with her kids. She published her first cookbook in 2014. She loves party food that gets the conversations going!
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