Dinner Ideas / Keto / Low Carb / Pork / Slow Cooker and Crock Pot

Crispy Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas

Written by Katerina

Published May 27, 2022

Feed a crowd with this easy recipe for Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas! You’ll love the layers of citrus and spice in this moist, crispy Mexican pulled pork.

Close-up shot of three pork tacos with onion and herbs.

Crispy Mexican Pork Carnitas in the Crockpot!

If you enjoy barbecue pulled pork, you’ve got to try this recipe for carnitas. Packed with orange juice, lime juice, chili powder, cumin, and more, it’s an ultra-flavorful feast that works perfectly in tacos, burritos, nachos… you name it! And, when you make carnitas in the slow cooker, it truly couldn’t be simpler.

This is a great recipe to start in the morning, so that dinner is done by the time evening rolls around. From there, all you have to do is throw the meat under your oven’s broiler for a minute to get it crispy, and then stuff it into a taco shell (or a quesadilla, or whatever you like). Everyone can add the toppings they love, and dinner is done! Perfect, right?

Crispy pork carnitas, garnished with fresh cilantro.

What Is the Difference Between Pulled Pork and Carnitas?

The main difference between pulled pork and carnitas is in the flavor profile and the texture. Pulled pork is usually flavored with barbecue ingredients like tomato paste, honey, and mustard. Carnitas, on the other hand, are made with an almost taco-like seasoning blend, plus some punchy citrus juice.

To create the signature carnitas crispy edges and ends, this recipe calls for crisping the shredded, slow-cooked pork under a broiler for a few minutes. Don’t skip this step – it makes all the difference, and it’s quick and easy.

From top left: Chopped cilantro, pork butt, orange juice, lime juice, seasonings, salt, white onion.

The Ingredients You’ll Need

So just what goes into this easy at-home recipe for the restaurant favorite? I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how little you need to make a great main course that is perfect for meal prep or freezer cooking. Here’s the list:

Orange and Lime Juice: I like to juice my citrus fresh, but you can also use bottled or refrigerated juice.
Spices: You’ll need chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, oregano, and paprika. Oh, and don’t forget the salt!
Brown Sugar: Just a little bit of brown sugar rounds out the seasoning mixture.
Pork: Cut your boneless pork butt into large, 4 to 5 inch chunks.
Onion: Chop up one white onion. If you would rather use a sweet onion, yellow onion, or red onion, that’s fine, too.
Chopped Cilantro: For garnish, optional. You can leave it out, or substitute parsley if you don’t care for cilantro.

What Cut of Pork Is Used for Carnitas?

The best cut of meat for carnitas is pork shoulder, also sold as pork butt. You may also find “country-style ribs” for sale, and those work just as well – they’re cut from the shoulder, too. The reason for using this particular cut is that it braises really well, and stays super juicy and tender. Avoid leaner cuts like pork loin and especially pork tenderloin – these will majorly dry out during a long cook time.

A citrus and spice mixture in a white bowl.

Chunks of pork and diced onion in a slow cooker, topped with a spiced liquid.

How to Make It

One of my favorite things about this recipe is that there’s no need to pre-sear the meat! While searing before you slow cook can add a lot of flavor to some recipes, in this case, it’s unnecessary. That means you can just throw everything in your slow cooker and forget about it!

Make the Seasoning MIxture. Whisk together the orange and lime juices, chili powder, cumin, brown sugar, salt, garlic powder, oregano, and paprika. You can do this in a separate bowl, or right in the insert of the slow cooker.
Coat the Pork in the Seasoning. Place the pork pieces into your slow cooker, along with the onion and the seasoning mixture. Toss well to coat the pork in the seasoning.
Slow Cook. Set your crockpot to cook for 7 to 8 hours on LOW or 4 to 6 hours on HIGH.
Broil. To finish the dish, preheat your broiler to HIGH. Use a slotted spoon to take the pork out of the slow cooker. Don’t discard the cooking liquid! Place the pork on a baking sheet, and shred it with forks. Broil for 4 to 5 minutes, or until the edges and tops start to turn brown and crispy.
Enjoy! Take the browned pork out of the oven, and drizzle it with ½ cup or so of the reserved cooking liquid. Garnish with cilantro, and serve.

Browned shredded pork on a baking sheet.

Can You Overcook Carnitas in a Slow Cooker?

Yes, it is technically possible to overcook your pork in the slow cooker, so make sure to check in on it halfway through the cooking time, and again at the end of the cooking time. If you substitute a more tender, lean cut of meat like pork loin, it can overcook very easily!

Three tortillas, each with shredded pork and toppings in the center.

My Top Tips for Crockpot Carnitas

This recipe is practically error-proof, so don’t worry about getting it “just right.” Even if you play with the seasonings or the cooking time, it will almost always turn out tasty! Pork shoulder is very forgiving, as long as you cook it until it’s tender. While you’re getting ready to cook, make sure to check out these easy tips:

Add Coke: If you want an extra shot of sweet, bold flavor, you can try adding a can or bottle of Coca Cola to the slow cooker. Mexican Coca Cola is the most authentic.
Skillet Crisp: Crisping under the broiler is easy, but if you would rather crisp the carnitas on the stovetop, just throw them into a hot skillet with a litte oil! Don’t stir too often – let the meat caramelize a bit. You’ll need to do this in batches. Add a ladle or so of the cooking liquid to each batch, letting the juices simmer and mostly evaporate.
Make in Advance: As good as carnitas are the first day, they’re arguably even better after they’ve had time to hang out in the braising liquid. So feel free to make this a day or two ahead, stash it in the fridge, and then crisp it up just before serving.

Serving Suggestions

Serve carnitas any way you like – they go with corn tortillas, flour tortillas, rice, beans, and just about any Mexican or Tex-Mex sides you can imagine! Here are a few easy ways to serve carnitas:

Tacos: Carnitas are awesome in soft or crunchy taco shells, with shredded lettuce, and cheese. Top with sour cream and serve with a side of Instant Pot Mexican Rice.
Quesadillas: Replace the chicken with carnitas in this easy recipe for Chicken Quesadillas. Your family will love the satisfying, cheesy flavor of a carnitas quesadilla!
Main Course: Carnitas are also perfect as-is. Just throw together a couple of quick sides, like Cowboy Caviar, beans and rice, or Instant Pot Loaded Baked Potatoes.

How to Store and Reheat Leftovers

This dish can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 4 to 5 days.
To reheat, spread the carnitas in a thin layer on a baking sheet, and broil on HIGH for 5 minutes, or until crispy.

Freezing Pork Carnitas

To freeze carnitas, place the meat into a large freezer bag, and add some of the cooking liquid to keep it moist. Press out as much air as possible before sealing, and freeze for up to 3 months.
Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

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5 from 4 votes