SLOW COOKER PORK CARNITAS
Discover how to make mouthwatering and budget-friendly Pork Carnitas infused with zesty citrus and classic Mexican spices in this easy-to-follow recipe perfect for Cinco de Mayo celebrations! Instant Pot directions are below.
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 4 hours hrs
Total Time 4 hours hrs 10 minutes mins
Course Dinner, Holidays and Entertaining, Meal Prep
Cuisine Mexican
Servings 8 servings
Calories 220 kcal
- 4 4 pounds pork shoulder also known as ‘pork butt’
- 1 lime juice and zest
- ½ orange juice and zest
- 1 tablespoon ground cumin
- 1 tablespoon dried Mexican oregano
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 cup broth (chicken, beef, or vegetable) *for pressure cooking method only
Cut the pork shoulder into big chunks, about 4-inches and place in the crock pot.
Add the zest and juice of the lime and half an orange andstir to coat the meat in the liquid.
In a small bowl mix the cumin, oregano, salt, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper. Sprinkle the seasoning evenly over the meat, stirring until the meat is well coated.
Cover and cook on HIGH for 4 hours or LOW for 7-8 hours.
Just wait until youcan smell this slice of heaven!
When it’s cooked, using a slotted spoon, remove the pork to a rimmed baking sheet (covered in foil or with cooking spray).
Pour the liquid from the crock pot into a small saucepan and boil to reduce until thickened.
Pour this lovely liquid over the pork and shred with two forks, coating the meat with the sauce.
Turn on the broiler and place the pan o’goodness under the broiler until some of the edges are brown and crispy, about 5 minutes. But keep your eye on it because burning a pan filled with this amazing stuff would be a crime!
Pressure cooker (Instant Pot) method:
Follow the preparation instructions above. .
Place the meat in your cooker and add one cup of broth.
Lock the lid and set the steam release vent to the sealed position.
Press the "manual" button and set the timer on high pressure for 40 minutes.
When the time is up let the pressure release naturally for 15 minutes.
Then manually release remaining pressure by moving the steam release vent to the "venting" position.
Follow the instructions for broiling the meat above.
Calories: 220kcalCarbohydrates: 4gProtein: 28gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 93mgSodium: 810mgPotassium: 530mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 188IUVitamin C: 8mgCalcium: 45mgIron: 3mg
Keyword Cinco de Mayo, Crock-Pot, Dairy Free, Game Day, Pork