Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas
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 made with simple ingredients. Top with your favorite toppings and enjoy! A great recipe for Cinco de Mayo or taco night.
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SLOW COOKER CARNITAS RECIPE
Car-“KNEE”-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 for busy weeknights.
Of course this is not an authentic Carnitas but an easier version still with a ton of flavor. Traditional carnitas is tossed in orange juice and lime juice, spread on a sheet pan, and broiled in the oven to get crispy edges.
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.
HOW TO MAKE
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Place all of the ingredients in a crockpot and cook on low for 6-8 hours or until it’s fall-apart tender. 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.
CUT OF PORK
- 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. Don’t confuse this with pork loin which is a tougher cut of meat.
- Pork shoulder and pork 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:
- Mojo Pork Tenderloin
- Crispy Pork Carnitas
- Root Beer Pulled Pork Sandwiches
- Cafe Rio’s Sweet Pork
- Horseradish Crusted Pork
- Balsamic Roasted Tenderloin
Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas
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. Store leftovers in an airtight container.
Notes
CUT OF PORK
- 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.
