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.
Slow Cooker Carnitas
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
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- ½ 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
- Rinse pork roast and remove any excess fat.
- Combine garlic, cumin, oregano, salt, pepper, and chile in small bowl. Rub over entire roast.
- Place the roast in a large slow cooker. Top with the sliced onion.
- 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.
- Cook on low for 8 hours.
- 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.
- 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.
Cathy dawson
Made this a few times! Great recipe. Flavour is amazing.
Nautica
Can I use orange juice and lime juice? I have the juice (100%) but I don’t have the fruit I just have it in a bottle in the fridge.
Krissy
that will work
Cortez
Can I make this in a instapot?
Krissy
Yes! I sear the meat using the saute mode. Then, add all the ingredients along with 1 cup of water or chicken broth. Cook on high pressure for 1 hour. Turns out perfect!
Erin
I followed this recipe and found that something gave the meat a bitter taste. I’m not sure if it was leaving the orange and lime halves in the crockpot after squeezing the juice on the meat, the oregano or the adobo sauce from the peppers. Either way, I’ll make some tweaks next time and try again.
Linda
Erin, I had the same experience. I am thinking it was just too much cumin so I will reduced the cumin next time and maybe take out the oranges and lime a bit earlier.
Teresa
After you take it out of the oven can you return it to the crock pot and keep it on warm? I want to make for a work pot luck.
Krissy
Yes, but you will lose some of the crisp. It will still taste great though!
Jeni
Is it okay if the pork roast is frozen? How would you adjust time?
Krissy
A frozen roast should work, but I don't know how much longer it will take to cook. I recommend thawing first so that it cooks evenly.
Sandy
There is no liquid added, only the orange and lime juice?
Krissy
Correct. The onions actually release a lot of liquid while cooking.
Carol
I made this for a winter family gathering. It was a huge hit!! I just returned to the recipe to make for Astros World Series watch party.
Alli
There carnitas are such a hit. We cannot get enough of this recipe.
Cheryl S
Thanks for another wonderful recipe! My family wants carnitas every week!
Emily
YES! I need a new slow cooker recipe for Taco Tuesday. This is perfect!
Steph
Such a delicious recipe! When I die, I want to buried with these carnitas!
Becky Hardin
This looks so amazing! The meat looks so juicy and tender.
Kira
Thank you for this amazing recipe! I made this for dinner tonight and it was absolutely delicious! This recipe is a keeper and I'll definitely be making more of these yummy carnitas in our dinner rotation.