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Slow Cooker Carnitas (Pulled Pork)

Recipes »  Main Dish  »  Slow Cooker

Slow cooker carnitas: Carnitas are a famous dish with origins in Michoacan, Mexico. This is traditionally prepared using boston butt, or an upper shoulder of pork and then slowly cooked for several hours, and sometimes then shredded and finished off in the oven, depending upon the recipe being used.

This makes a great filling for tamales, enchiladas, tacos and burritos. It can topped with sour cream, tomatoes, beans and lettuce. It can also be served with just the pork meat on a plate with some bread. This filling is also great combined with your favorite barbecue sauce and served on buns.

"Very good!! I like the baking in the oven part. It was really soft when I took out of crock pot. I did get some carmelization in the oven which tastes the best. I did cook if for 25 minutes at 400. Will leave it in longer next time. Had the spice smell on my hands for most of the morning. Even after washing my hands the smell lingered. Which was NOT a bad thing. It smelled so gooooood!! Tasted fantastic. Will definately make again!!!!" - bettamaxypoo

Yield: 10 Servings Ready in 6 hours, 40 minutes

Cuisine: MexicanMain Ingredient: Pork

(4.6, 58) 91% would make again (reviews)

Favorite 2,945 people favorited
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Servings          
Original recipe makes 10 Servings
2 teaspoonsKosher salt
2 teaspoonsground cumin
1 teaspooncrumbled dried oregano
1 teaspoonground coriander
1/4 teaspoonground cinnamon
4 teaspoonsminced garlic
4 poundsboneless pork shoulder roast
4 bay leaves
2 cupschicken broth
1/2 bunchfresh cilantro sprigs
1 teaspoonorange peel

Slow Cooker Carnitas (Pulled Pork) Preparation

Mix together Kosher salt, cumin, oregano, coriander, and cinnamon in a bowl.

Coat pork with the spice mixture and the minced garlic.

Place the bay leaves and cilantro in the bottom of a slow cooker and place the pork on top. Add orange peel.

Pour the chicken broth around the sides of the pork, being careful not to rinse off the spice mixture.

Cover and cook on "LOW" until the pork shreds easily with a fork, about 6-8 hours.

Turn the meat after it has cooked for 4 hours.

When the pork is tender, remove from slow cooker, and shred with two forks.

Return the shredded pork to the crock pot and cook an additional 30 minutes.

Use cooking liquid as needed to moisten the meat.

To make these more authentic, after shredding the meat into smaller chunks, spread it out in a thin layer on a cookie sheet and baked it in a 400 degree oven about 20 minutes, just long enough to crisp the exterior of the meat.

Notes

Carnitas means 'little meats' and is traditionally fried then braised. This recipe is made much easier using the slow cooker but the results are just as tasty.

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  • Carnitas with Avocado Salsa Verde photo by 1LovelyCrystal 1LovelyCrystal

  • photo by Firebyrd Firebyrd

  • Calories Per Serving: 365
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    Slow Cooker Carnitas (Pulled Pork) Reviews

    Give it a rating Would you make it again?   [please sign in to add your comment]
    This was the most rewarding crock pot dish I've ever made. I will make this again and again!
    2 weeks, 6 days, 13 hours, 25 minutes ago
    This is an amazing recipe! Our guests were delighted and everyone even the kids went for second and third helpings. This will be a go-to in my house from now on!
    1 months, 1 weeks, 2 hours, 49 minutes ago
    I have made plenty of carnitas and these are the best. Moist, tender and great tasting. Its a great recipe and really easy to make. Inexpensive too, we gobbled it up pretty quick.
    1 months, 2 weeks, 4 days, 5 hours, 6 minutes ago
    I left the roast hole and it tasted just like steak!! Family loved it!
    2 months, 2 days, 9 hours, 22 minutes ago
    Liked the cinnamon. Moist too!
    2 months, 2 weeks, 6 days, 1 hours, 43 minutes ago
    3 months, 1 weeks, 1 days, 4 hours, 12 minutes ago
    The family +2 neighbors can't get enough of this. Smells like heaven in a pot and is so versitile.
    3 months, 1 weeks, 4 days, 2 hours, 55 minutes ago
    3 months, 1 weeks, 4 days, 3 hours, 24 minutes ago
    This turned out great! I think next time I would decrease the cinnamon a tiny bit, but otherwise tasted fantastic!
    4 months, 3 days, 9 hours, 42 minutes ago
    Tried this a while back but never got around to rating it. The family enjoyed it a bunch, especially the husband.
    5 months, 2 weeks, 2 days, 2 hours, 10 minutes ago
    6 months, 4 days, 4 hours, 6 minutes ago
    Very good and easy to make. My family loved it. Will definitely make this again.
    7 months, 4 days, 17 hours, 9 minutes ago
    7 months, 3 weeks, 2 days, 4 hours, 54 minutes ago
    So moist and flavorful! We added BBQ sauce for pulled pork sandwiches. Really easy recipe. Used Trader Joe's 21 seasoning salute since I didn't have coriander or orange peel. I imagine if you weren't around to flip the pork at 4hrs it'd still turn out too.
    7 months, 3 weeks, 6 days, 5 hours, 50 minutes ago
    Very very good. Used this as the filling in tamales. Will absolutely make this again.
    8 months, 3 days, 23 hours, 33 minutes ago
    Great flavor. I cut the recipe in half for two of us and we had plenty for leftovers for lunch the next day.
    8 months, 1 weeks, 4 days, 3 hours, 44 minutes ago
    Awesome and super-easy! My kids loved this with BBQ sauce, as did the adults. Goes a long way too.
    8 months, 2 weeks, 1 days, 2 hours, 40 minutes ago
    This dish is absolutely delicious, and sooo easy to make! I shredded it in a 9x13 baking dish, added liquid from the pot about 3/4 to the top of the meat, and baked at 425 for 30 minutes, and served with rice. YUM--and the leftovers, in a kaiser roll or burrito with salsa and lettuce were great.
    8 months, 2 weeks, 2 days, 13 hours, 38 minutes ago
    I was leary about the cinnamon but I added it anyway. They were good, but if I make them again, I will either skip the cinnamon entirely (that's the main flavor I get from the recipe as is) or put in a very very small amount. I think frying it in a fry pan after cooking it to crisp it up some would be great too!!
    8 months, 2 weeks, 3 days, 3 hours, 58 minutes ago
    I just made this last night and it looks amazing!!! My bf already ate like 4 times! Will be making again soon!!!!
    8 months, 2 weeks, 6 days, 15 hours, 39 minutes ago

    Tags

    1. slow roasted pork
    2. slow-roasted pork
    3. slow
    4. slow-roasted
    5. slow roasted
    6. pork
    7. roasted pork
    8. kid friendly
    9. crockpot
    10. pulled pork
    11. Mexican
    12. crock pot
    13. pork shoulder
    14. burrito
    15. taco
    16. enchilada
    17. filling
    18. geSwC9 I really enjoy the article post.Much thanks again. Really Great.

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