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Carnitas Crockpot

Succulent Carnitas Crockpot: Your Easy Flavor Explosion

Discover the ease of making Carnitas Crockpot—a tender and flavorful dish perfect for weeknight dinners.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 8 hours
Total Time 8 hours 15 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Mexican
Calories: 290

Ingredients
  

For the Pork
  • 3 pounds Pork Shoulder Trim excess fat
  • 2 leaves Bay Leaves
For the Marinade
  • 1 cup Orange Juice Optional: add lime zest
  • 1/4 cup Lime Juice Substitute lemon juice if needed
  • 4 cloves Minced Garlic
  • 1 medium Chopped Onion Shallots can be used as replacement
For the Spices
  • 2 teaspoons Cumin Ground coriander can be used as an alternative
  • 1 teaspoon Oregano Use Mexican oregano for authenticity
  • 2 teaspoons Chili Powder Adjust for heat preference
  • 1 teaspoon Salt Adjust to taste
  • 1/2 teaspoon Pepper Adjust to taste

Equipment

  • Slow Cooker

Method
 

Step-by-Step Instructions for Carnitas Crockpot
  1. Begin by trimming any excess fat from the pork shoulder, then cut it into large chunks for even cooking.
  2. Place the pork chunks into your slow cooker. Pour in the orange juice and lime juice, then add the minced garlic and chopped onion for a burst of flavor.
  3. Next, sprinkle the cumin, oregano, chili powder, salt, pepper, and bay leaves over the top. Gently toss the ingredients to ensure the pork is well-coated.
  4. Cover your slow cooker and set it to cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4-5 hours.
  5. Once cooking time is complete, carefully remove the pork from the slow cooker and place it on a large cutting board. Use two forks to shred the meat into bite-sized pieces.
  6. Spread the shredded pork evenly on a baking sheet. Broil in the oven for 5-8 minutes, keeping a close eye to prevent it from drying out.
  7. Before serving, drizzle some of the cooking liquid from the slow cooker over the crisped pork to ensure it remains moist.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cupCalories: 290kcalCarbohydrates: 10gProtein: 28gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 90mgSodium: 500mgPotassium: 500mgFiber: 1gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 5IUVitamin C: 5mgCalcium: 2mgIron: 10mg

Notes

Leftover carnitas can be frozen for up to 3 months. Store in an airtight container with cooking liquid to maintain moisture.

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