Slow Cooker Carnitas

If its not quite yet barbecue weather, use your crockpot to make flavorful pork roast Slow Cooker Carnitas for an easy dinner that your family will love.

Everyone loves using their crockpot. Especially this time of year when its not quite grill weather. I love using my slow cooker. The freedom to just throw a bunch of stuff in a pot, plug it in and walk away, and come home to a home that smells divine is like mad science. I’m fortunate enough to have found my source of pork and beef from a farm that raises pigs and cattle in the beautiful pastures of Eastern Oregon. Every year I order a half a pig and a quarter cow and that lasts our hungry family of four who rarely eats out an entire year. With those orders, I get a few pork roasts and I always look forward to making things like slow cooker pulled pork and these carnitas. In fact, today I’m throwing my next pork roast in some apple cider brine and will cook it up on my smoker tomorrow right after giving it a good massage in my one spoon dry rub.

Because you cook these carnitas in their own liquid until the meat falls off the bone, the final result is a super tasty and moist shredded meat. Yes, you can shred the meat right out of the slow cooker and eat it right then and there, but I love to go the extra mile by straining out the cooking liquid, pouring it over the shredded meat, and crisping up the tips under the broiler. That added crunch and texture makes all the difference in the world, if you ask me!  So, if you’re looking for a good meal to feed to a crowd this Cinco de Mayo, look no further. Serve it up with some cumin cilantro slaw and some homemade corn tortillas and you’ve got one fine meal.

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Slow Cooker Carnitas

If its not quite yet barbecue weather, use your crockpot to make flavorful pork roast Slow Cooker Carnitas for an easy dinner that your family will love.

Course main dish

Prep Time 30 minutes

Cook Time 8 hours 30 minutes

Total Time 9 hours

Servings 8 servings

Calories 327 kcal

Author Krissy Allori

Ingredients

• 4-7 pound pork roast excess fat removed
• 1 head of garlic cloves removed and minced
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 2 tablespoons green chile minced (can substitute with chipotle in adobo or jalapeno)
• 1 large onion sliced
• 2 oranges
• 1 lime

Instructions

1. Rinse pork roast and remove any excess fat.
2. Combine garlic, cumin, oregano, salt, pepper, and chile in small bowl. Rub over entire roast.
3. Place the roast in a large slow cooker. Top with the sliced onion.
4. Slice the oranges and lime in half and squeeze all of the juices onto the pork. When you're done, go ahead and throw the remaining orange and lime halves in the slow cooker.
5. Cook on low for 8 hours.
6. Remove the pork and once cool enough to handle, shred the meat. Strain and reserve the liquid from the slow cooker and discard the solids. At this point you can store the meat and the liquid for dinner the next night or you can proceed.
7. To serve the carnitas, set the oven to a low broil and spread the shredded meat in a thin layer of a large foil covered baking sheet. Pour the reserved liquid over the meat and broil until all of the meat is nice and hot and is starting to get crispy.

Nutrition Facts

Slow Cooker Carnitas

Amount Per Serving

Calories 327 Calories from Fat 81

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 9g 14%

Saturated Fat 2g 10%

Cholesterol 142mg 47%

Sodium 343mg 14%

Potassium 945mg 27%

Total Carbohydrates 6g 2%

Dietary Fiber 1g 4%

Sugars 3g

Protein 51g 102%

Vitamin A 1.6%

Vitamin C 26%

Calcium 3.9%

Iron 9.8%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.