Carnitas, a traditional Mexican dish, is a delectable pork roast that can be prepared in a slow cooker or crockpot. The slow-cooking process renders the pork tender and juicy, while the flavorful marinade infuses it with a symphony of Mexican spices. This versatile dish can be enjoyed in tacos, burritos, tortas, or simply as a main course accompanied by your favorite sides. Our article features two delectable carnitas recipes: one for a classic crockpot carnitas and another for a mouthwatering carnitas with a tangy orange twist. Both recipes provide step-by-step instructions, ingredient lists, and cooking tips to ensure you create the perfect carnitas experience at home. So, gather your ingredients, prepare your slow cooker, and embark on a culinary journey to savor the authentic flavors of Mexico.
Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!
SLOW COOKER MEXICAN PORK CARNITAS
This is a shredded spin on carnitas. In Spanish, carnitas means "little meats." The traditional Mexican dish is typically made from pork, but can also be made from beef. This is a slow-cooked version of the otherwise braised or slow-roasted techniques. Once shredded, the meat is often served with cilantro, onion, salsa, guacamole, refried beans, and tortillas. Serve over cabbage slaw in a soft tortilla.
Provided by clifford
Categories World Cuisine Recipes Latin American Mexican
Time 6h25m
Yield 8
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- Turn a large slow cooker to High. Pour chicken stock into the cooker and place pork loin in the center. Season pork with adobo, cumin, pepper, and paprika. Place onion, chipotle paste, and bay leaves in the stock around the pork. Place tomatoes and garlic on top of the pork, and squeeze limes directly over top, allowing pulp to fall into the slow cooker. Sprinkle with cinnamon and cloves.
- Use a spoon to baste stock over the pork loin, then sprinkle entire surface evenly with cilantro.
- Cover and cook on High until pork is slightly pink in the center, about 6 hours. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 145 degrees F (63 degrees C). Use a fork to shred pork.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 266.2 calories, Carbohydrate 12.1 g, Cholesterol 82.2 mg, Fat 11 g, Fiber 4.5 g, Protein 31 g, SaturatedFat 3.8 g, Sodium 607.9 mg, Sugar 1.6 g
MEXICAN CROCKPOT PORK CARNITAS
This easy to make Mexican Crockpot Pork Carnitas recipe is super delicious and incredibly versatile. You will LOVE it!
Provided by Kristen Stevens | The Endless Meal
Categories Slow Cooker
Time 8h5m
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Combine all the ingredients, except the pork, in your crockpot and mix together well. Lay the pork on top and turn your crockpot to low. Cook on low for 8 hours.
- When the pork is tender, gently shred it using 2 forks. Pull the pork against the grain to get long strips of meat. Mix the shredded pork with the sauce in the crockpot.
- Preheat your oven to broil. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Transfer the pulled pork to the prepared baking sheet and spread it out so that it's in a thin layer.
- Broil in the oven for 15-20 minutes, mixing halfway through until the pork is crispy in many spots.
- Remove from the oven and serve on sandwiches, in tacos, burritos or as a side with some potatoes and salad.
Nutrition Facts : ServingSize 1 serving = ¼ of the recipe, Calories 284 kcal, Carbohydrate 14 g, Protein 34 g, Fat 10 g, SaturatedFat 3 g, TransFat 1 g, Cholesterol 102 mg, Sodium 542 mg, Fiber 3 g, Sugar 8 g, UnsaturatedFat 5 g
CARNITAS (MEXICAN SLOW COOKER PULLED PORK)
Recipe VIDEO above. Spiciness: Not at all. Scale recipe using Servings slider.These carnitas capture that elusive combination of flavourful, juicy AND crispiness. Pan frying to get the golden bits is not optional! Broiling/grilling will not produce the same results. Stuff them in tacos for an authentic Carnitas Tacos experience, see notes for other uses! FAQ below recipe.
Provided by Nagi | RecipeTin Eats
Categories Slow cooking
Time 6h15m
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Rinse and dry the pork shoulder, rub all over with salt and pepper.
- Combine the Rub ingredients then rub all over the pork.
- Place the pork in a slow cooker (fat cap up), top with the onion, jalapeño, minced garlic (don't worry about spreading it) and squeeze over the juice of the oranges.
- Slow Cook on low for 10 hours or on high for 7 hours. (Note 2 for other cook methods)
- Pork should be tender enough to shred. Remove from slow cooker and let cool slightly. Then shred using two forks.
- Optional: Skim off the fat from the juices remaining in the slow cooker and discard.
- If you have a lot more than 2 cups of juice, then reduce it down to about 2 cups. The liquid will be salty, it is the seasoning for the pork. Set liquid aside - don't bother straining onion etc, it's super soft.
Nutrition Facts : ServingSize 205 g, Calories 578 kcal, Carbohydrate 1.7 g, Protein 45 g, Fat 42 g, SaturatedFat 15 g, Cholesterol 173 mg, Sodium 616 mg, Sugar 0.5 g, UnsaturatedFat 23.1 g
MEXICAN PORK ROAST &/OR CROCKPOT CARNITAS
I was fed this (or something like it) by a fantastic Mexican lady a few months ago. I tried to piece together the recipe based on what she told me (in Spanish) was in it- but she gave me no amounts and no specific directions. My kind of cooking! All the ingredients can be adjusted, to taste. You can marinate this and cook it as a roast, or you can cook it in the crockpot with the marinade. If you start out as a roast, you can just throw leftovers in the crock for carnitas the next day (or freeze it and Crock it weeks later!).
Provided by Teresa in CO
Categories Pork
Time P1DT3h
Yield 5-10 lbs of meat, 15-20 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- If preparing as a roast:.
- Place roast in a bowl large enough to hold it plus several cups of liquid (marinade).
- Grind/blend together all ingredients (except jalapenos and pork) in a blender, immersion blender, mini chopper, or food processor. When mixed and well-blended, pour over pork. The marinade should almost cover the pork- if it doesn't, add more OJ and milk until it's almost covered.
- Cover and marinate the pork in the fridge for 12-24 hours. Turn every few hours.
- When ready to cook the piggy, preheat oven to 400 degrees.
- Place pork in a greased (or PAM'd) roasting pan (I sometimes use a roasting rack inside a pan) with the fatty side UP.
- Bake pork at 400 until the top gets crispy and brown.
- Once the top has browned, cover the roast with foil and place back in the oven. Depending on how you like to cook your meat, you could lower the temp slightly for a longer cooking time.
- Baste the roast every 30 minutes or so to help infuse it with deliciousness (optional).
- Cooking time will vary widely depending on the size of your roast. I usually get a 10-lb roast, which takes 2-3 hours usually to cook.
- Once your roast is at your ideal temp (145*-160*), take from the oven.
- If you'd like to serve it as a roast now, let it rest for 15 or 20 minutes and then slice it. It will be fairly tender but should hold together well for slicing.
- Leftovers freeze well! Just throw any leftovers (including the bone) into the crockpot on low with a few sliced jalapenos, shred with 2 forks, and you'll have carnitas! I serve my carnitas with pan-fried corn tortillas, chopped red onion, cilantro, and a lime wedge.
- ***If you're planning on starting this in the crockpot for Carnitas, you will not need to add the whole amount of liquids. This roast is very fatty and will create a lot of its own juice. Pour the marinade in to the crock, leaving 3 or 4 inches clear at the top. Add sliced jalapenos (if desired). Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours until cooked and falling apart. Shred with 2 forks, throw the bone away, and enjoy!***.
SLOW-COOKER PORK CARNITAS
This easy and delicious slow-cooker recipe will impress any taco lover. While it's an extra step, crisping up the shredded meat in a skillet before serving adds extra flavor and creates the crunchy bits that are typical of carnitas. And don't skip the pickled red onions! They complement the richness of the pork.
Provided by Food Network Kitchen
Categories main-dish
Time 5h15m
Yield 4 to 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 27
Steps:
- Add the chicken broth, orange juice, lime juice, cumin, chili powder, oregano, red pepper flakes, cloves, and 2 teaspoons kosher salt to a large slow cooker and whisk to combine. Add the onion, garlic and bay leaves and stir to combine. Add the pork and toss to coat. Cover and cook on high until the meat is tender, about 5 hours.
- Transfer the pork to a large bowl with a slotted spoon and discard the bay leaves, onion, and garlic. Shred the pork into bite-size pieces with 2 forks, leaving some larger chunks, and season with salt and pepper.
- Heat 2 tablespoons of the lard in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add half the shredded pork and press down into an even layer with a spatula. Cook, pressing occasionally with a spatula, until crisped and browned, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to a serving platter and cover with foil to keep warm. Repeat with the remaining 2 tablespoons lard and shredded pork.
- Serve with tortillas, cilantro, jalapenos and pickled red onions.
- Put the sliced onions in a medium heatproof, nonreactive bowl. Put the vinegar, orange juice, lime juice, bay leaves, sugar, coriander and 1 tablespoon kosher salt in a small saucepan and whisk to combine. Bring to a boil over high heat and cook, whisking occasionally, until the sugar dissolves, about 1 minute. Pour the mixture over the red onions and set aside until cooled to room temperature. Serve at room temperature or cover and refrigerate up to 4 days.
Tips:
- Use a pork shoulder roast with a good amount of marbling for the most flavorful carnitas.
- Sear the pork roast on all sides before slow cooking to develop a nice caramelized crust.
- Add plenty of Mexican spices to the slow cooker, such as chili powder, cumin, oregano, and paprika.
- Use a combination of orange juice and chicken broth for the cooking liquid to add flavor and moisture.
- Cook the pork roast on low for 8-10 hours, or until it is fall-apart tender.
- Shred the pork roast with two forks and serve it with your favorite toppings, such as tortillas, guacamole, salsa, and sour cream.
Conclusion:
This Mexican pork roast, also known as crockpot carnitas, is an easy and delicious way to make a flavorful and tender pork dish. With just a few simple ingredients and a slow cooker, you can have a delicious meal that the whole family will enjoy. Serve it with your favorite toppings and sides for a complete and satisfying meal.
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