Mexican Cuisine

Slow-Cooker Pork Carnitas Recipe

Recipe Disclaimer: Nutritional information is provided as a general estimate only. Actual values may vary based on ingredients used, portion sizes, and cooking methods. Always check ingredient labels for allergen information.

Get Slow-Cooker Pork Carnitas Recipe from Recipe Iseasy

Slow-Cooker Pork Carnitas Recipe

Slow-Cooker Pork Carnitas

  • Level: Easy
  • Yield: Serves 4 to 6
  • Nutritional Info Per Serving (1 of 6 servings): Calories 714, Total Fat 51 g, Saturated Fat 18 g, Carbohydrates 21 g, Dietary Fiber 4 g, Sugar 10 g, Protein 43 g, Cholesterol 169 mg, Sodium 1133 mg
  • Total Time: 5 hr 15 min
  • Active Time: 20 min

Transform your taco night with these irresistible slow-cooker pork carnitastender, juicy pork infused with zesty citrus and bold spices, crisped to perfection for that authentic Mexican crunch. Don't skip the vibrant pickled red onions; they cut through the richness and elevate every bite to crave-worthy status!

Ingredients

  • 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • Juice of 2 oranges
  • Juice of 2 limes
  • 1 tablespoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  • Pinch of ground cloves
  • Kosher salt
  • 1 medium white onion, cut into quarters
  • 6 garlic cloves, peeled
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 3 pounds boneless pork shoulder, fat trimmed and cut into 2-inch chunks
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/4 cup lard
  • Soft corn tortillas, to serve
  • Cilantro leaves, to garnish
  • Sliced jalapeos, for serving
  • Pickled red onions (recipe below)

Pickled Red Onions

  • 2 small red onions, thinly sliced
  • 3/4 cup white vinegar
  • 1/4 cup orange juice
  • 3 tablespoons lime juice
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon coriander seeds
  • Kosher salt

Cook Mode: Activate Cook Mode to keep your screen awake while whipping up this crowd-pleaser.

  1. Whisk chicken broth, orange juice, lime juice, cumin, chili powder, oregano, red pepper flakes, cloves, and 2 teaspoons kosher salt in your slow cooker. Stir in onion, garlic, and bay leaves, then add pork chunks, tossing to coat. Cover and cook on high for about 5 hours until fork-tender and bursting with flavor.
  2. Transfer pork to a bowl with a slotted spoon, discarding bay leaves, onion, and garlic. Shred into bite-sized pieces (keep some chunks for texture) and season with salt and pepper.
  3. Heat 2 tablespoons lard in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high. Add half the pork, press into an even layer, and cook, pressing occasionally, until crisp and golden, 2-3 minutes. Transfer to a plate, cover with foil. Repeat with remaining lard and pork.
  4. Load warm tortillas with carnitas, fresh cilantro, jalapeo slices, and pickled red onions. Dig in and savor the magic!

Pickled Red Onions Preparation

  1. Pack sliced onions into a heatproof bowl. In a saucepan, whisk vinegar, orange juice, lime juice, bay leaves, sugar, coriander seeds, and 1 tablespoon kosher salt.
  2. Boil over high heat, stirring until sugar dissolves, about 1 minute.
  3. Pour hot mixture over onions; cool to room temperature. Serve fresh or refrigerate up to 4 days for peak tang.

Copyright 2020 Television Recipe Iseasy, G.P. All rights reserved.

RecipeIsEasy Editorial Team

RecipeIsEasy Editorial Team

Recipe Developer & Food Writer

Our team of passionate home cooks and professional chefs test every recipe to ensure it's easy to follow, delicious, and reliable. We believe great food should be accessible to everyone.

Tested & reviewed by the RecipeIsEasy Kitchen Team

🍽️ Important Recipe Notice

The recipes and nutritional information provided on RecipeIsEasy.com are intended for general informational and educational purposes only. Nutritional values are estimates and may vary based on the specific brands or types of ingredients used.

If you have food allergies, dietary restrictions, or specific health conditions, please consult a qualified dietitian or healthcare professional before preparing or consuming any recipe from this site. Never disregard professional dietary advice because of content you have read here.

Food safety is important — always follow safe food handling and cooking practices. When in doubt about ingredient substitutions or storage, consult a food safety authority.

Churro Cake with Spiced Chocolate Sauce Recipe Kitchen

Get Churro Cake with Spiced Chocolate Sauce Recipe from Recipe Iseasy

Watermelon Plata Tequila Cocktail Recipe

Get Watermelon Plata Tequila Cocktail Recipe from Recipe Iseasy

Cuban Pulled Pork Tacos with Guava Glaze, Sour Orange Red Cabbage-Jicama Slaw, and Chipotle Mayonnaise Recipe

Get Cuban Pulled Pork Tacos with Guava Glaze, Sour Orange Red Cabbage-Jicama Slaw and Chipotle Mayonnaise Recipe from Recipe Iseasy

Cherry Almond Rice Mexicana Recipe

Get Cherry Almond Rice Mexicana Recipe from Recipe Iseasy

Li Hing Margarita Recipe

Get Li Hing Margarita Recipe from Recipe Iseasy

Quick-Roasted Salsa Recipe

Get Quick-Roasted Salsa Recipe from Recipe Iseasy

Chile de Arbol Salsa Recipe

Get Chile de Arbol Salsa (Red Salsa) Recipe from Recipe Iseasy

Blue Corn Chip Nachos with Pepper Jack Cheese Recipe

Get Blue Corn Chip Nachos with Pepper Jack Cheese Recipe from Recipe Iseasy

Guacamole Seasoning Recipe

Get Guacamole Seasoning Recipe from Recipe Iseasy

Green Chile Pork Burritos with Loads of Green Goodness

Get Green Chile Pork Burritos with Green, Green, Green... Recipe from Recipe Iseasy

Recipeiseasy.com

Your trusted source for cooking tips, answers, and tasty recipes. Make cooking easier and more enjoyable every time!

Email Us: contact@recipeiseasy.com

Copyright ©2025 RecipeIsEasy. All Rights Reserved. No part of this site may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted without prior written permission.