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slow cooker pork carnitas
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Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas

A simple recipe for classic slow cooker pork carnitas. The pork is slow cooked with orange & lime juice and then broiled until crispy in the oven. Eat these carnitas alone or in tacos, burritos, nachos & more!
Prep Time5 mins
Cook Time8 hrs 10 mins
Total Time8 hrs 15 mins
Servings: 8 servings

Ingredients

  • 4 - 5 pounds boneless skinless pork shoulder or pork butt
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • 2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 2 teaspoons dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 oranges juiced
  • 3 limes juiced
  • 1 yellow onion quartered
  • 3 garlic cloves chopped

Instructions

  • In a small bowl, make the spice rub: stir together chili powder, cumin, oregano, salt and pepper. 
  • Rub the spice mix over the pork, covering all sides. 
  • Place the pork in the slow cooker. Add orange juice and lime juice. Add onion and garlic on top of the pork. 
  • Cover and cook on low for 8 - 10 hours or high for 5 - 6 hours. The pork should be cooked through and tender enough to easily shred. 
  • Remove the pork from the slow cooker and place on a cutting board. Let cool for 5 - 10 minutes and then shred using two forks.
  • Add the shredded pork to a baking sheet in 1 layer and pour over 1 cup of liquid from the slow cooker. 
  • Place the pork in the oven and turn on to broil at 450 degrees. Broil 7 - 10 minutes, until the edges of the pork are darkened and crispy. 
  • To serve: if desired, pour additional liquid from the slow cooker over the pork before serving. You can eat these carnitas alone or in tacos, burritos, nachos, etc!