Make tasty slow cooker carnitas quickly and easily with this simple recipe!
I’ve been experimenting in the kitchen trying different techniques and ingredients to make the perfect carnitas.
Carnitas is seasoned and fried shreds of pork found in Mexican cuisine, and it’s sooo delicious!
My husband is a huge carnitas fan.
He always orders his favorite carnitas at one of our favorite Mexican restaurants, then devours it.
I love trying to recreate some of our favorite restaurant meals.
Pretty sure I hit a home run with this crock pot carnitas recipe!
Most of the cooking is done in the crock pot, which makes it easy and allows the flavors to meld together perfectly.
There is a little bit of cooking on the stove and in the oven, but it’s really easy, I promise!
The oven cooking ensures that the carnitas are a bit crispy, instead of wet.
Slow Cooker Carnitas Recipe
With Cinco de Mayo just around the corner (May 5th), slow cooker carnitas would be an easy meal to serve to your family, with very little prep work.
Serve it with this yummy homemade salsa, chips, and our 5 minute queso, then you’ve got a great meal!
Our taco bar party as lots of topping side dish ideas that would taste great with our crock pot carnitas recipe.
Crock Pot Carnitas Ingredients
- 4 lbs. pork shoulder, cut into big pieces (you could also just use two lbs., but I have a big family and like to have some for leftovers )
- 1 tsp. salt (I used kosher)
- 1/2 tsp. pepper
- 1 Tbsp. cumin
- 2 tsp. oregano
- 1 tsp. chili powder
- Olive or avocado oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- Juice of one orange
- Can of chicken broth (2 cups)
Make the Carnitas Spice Rub
Mix together the salt, pepper, cumin, oregano, and chili powder.
Sprinkle (or rub, if you don’t mind getting your hands dirty) the dry ingredients onto the pork chunks.
Brown the Pork Meat
Heat a couple Tbsp. of olive or avocado oil in a pan on high heat (I used a tall pot because I don’t like oil splatter messes).
Add the pork to the hot oil.
Sear each side of the meat.
Depending on how much meat you use, you might need to sear the meat in several batches.
Ensure that the meat sears in a single layer in the pan.
Place the pork inside the crock pot.
Cook the Slow Cooker Carnitas
Once all the seared pork is inside the crock pot, then add the 4 cloves of minced garlic, fresh orange juice, and the chicken broth.
Put on the lid, then cook on low for 8-10 hours.
If you need the pork sooner, you can also cook it on high in the slow cooker for about 6 hours.
It will still taste delicious, but the meat is more tender and falls apart easier if it cooks on low all day.
Trust me on this!
Bake the Carnitas in the Oven
Once the pork is done in the crock pot, carefully remove it.
Shred the large chunks into smaller bite-sized pieces.
Heat your oven to 400 degrees, then place the pork in a single layer on a baking sheet.
For less mess, cover the baking sheet with foil for easier clean up.
Bake for about 20 minutes, or until the meat is slightly crispy.
Use the Seasoned Liquid
In the past, I have strained the seasoned liquid from the crock pot, then placed it on the pork before baking in the oven.
I have also strained the liquid, then boiled it on high heat on the stove while the pork was in the oven.
This method creates a thicker liquid, which then can be poured on the finished carnitas.
Either method tastes delicious and adds more moisture and flavor to the pork, but my favorite way is the boiling method when making slow cooker carnitas.
Try them both and see which you prefer!
Use this slow cooker carnitas as a base for tacos, burritos, enchiladas, tostadas, protein bowls, and more!
Serve with my favorite bean salad and homemade limeade, then enjoy a delicious dinner.
You can even eat it by itself if you’re watching those carbs!
Enjoy!!
This article was updated in April 2025 and was originally posted in April 2013.
