Best 2 Slow Cooked Carnitas Recipes

Carnitas is a traditional Mexican dish made with tender, slow-cooked pork. It's a versatile dish that can be served in tacos, burritos, tortas, or simply as a main course with rice and beans. Carnitas is typically made with pork shoulder, but other cuts of pork, such as pork loin or pork butt, can also be used. The pork is seasoned with a variety of spices, including cumin, chili powder, oregano, and garlic, and then slow-cooked in lard or oil until it's fall-apart tender. The cooking process infuses the pork with flavor and creates a crispy, flavorful crust. This article provides three different recipes for carnitas: a traditional carnitas recipe, a carnitas recipe made in the slow cooker, and a carnitas recipe made in the oven. Each recipe includes detailed instructions and a list of ingredients. The article also includes tips for serving carnitas and a list of suggested side dishes.

Here are our top 2 tried and tested recipes!

SLOW-COOKED CARNITAS

Slow-Cooked Carnitas image

Simmer up succulent pork the slow-cooker way. Sometimes, instead of using tortillas, I put the seasoned meat on top of shredded lettuce for a tasty salad. -Lisa Glogow, Aliso Viejo, California

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories Dinner

Time 6h20m

Yield 12 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 13

Ingredients

1 boneless pork shoulder butt roast (3 to 4 pounds)
3 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
2 teaspoons olive oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 bunch green onions, chopped
1-1/2 cups minced fresh cilantro
1 cup salsa
1/2 cup chicken broth
1/2 cup tequila or additional chicken broth
2 cans (4 ounces each) chopped green chiles
12 flour tortillas (8 inches) or corn tortillas (6 inches), warmed
Fresh cilantro leaves, sliced red onion and chopped tomatoes, optional

Steps:

Cut roast in half; place in a 5-qt. slow cooker. Sprinkle with the garlic, oil, salt and pepper. Add the onions, cilantro, salsa, broth, tequila and chiles. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or until meat is tender. , Remove meat; cool slightly. Shred with 2 forks and return to the slow cooker; heat through. Spoon about 2/3 cup meat mixture onto each tortilla; serve with toppings of your choice.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 363 calories, Fat 15g fat (5g saturated fat), Cholesterol 67mg cholesterol, Sodium 615mg sodium, Carbohydrate 28g carbohydrate (1g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 24g protein.

SLOW-COOKED CARNITAS TACOS

Slow-Cooked Carnitas Tacos image

Provided by Amy Finley

Categories Slow Cooker Kid-Friendly High Fiber Cinco de Mayo Dinner Pork Rib Winter Poker/Game Night Healthy Party Bon Appétit Sugar Conscious Dairy Free Wheat/Gluten-Free Peanut Free Tree Nut Free Soy Free No Sugar Added Small Plates

Yield servings

Number Of Ingredients 10

Ingredients

2 pounds boneless country-style pork ribs or pork shoulder (Boston butt), cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces
2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons ground black pepper
2 teaspoons dried oregano (preferably Mexican)
1/2 large onion, cut into 4 pieces
1 avocado, halved, pitted, sliced
Fresh cilantro sprigs
Sliced red bell peppers (optional)
Corn tortillas
Roasted Tomatillo Salsa

Steps:

Toss pork in bowl of slow cooker with salt, black pepper, and dried oregano to coat. Place onion pieces atop pork. Cover slow cooker and cook pork on low setting until meat is very tender and falling apart, about 6 hours.
Using slotted spoon, transfer pork to cutting board. Discard onion pieces. Using fingers, shred pork; transfer carnitas to platter. Place avocado slices, cilantro sprigs, and sliced red bell peppers, if desired, alongside. Wrap corn tortillas in damp kitchen towel; microwave until warm, about 1 minute. Serve carnitas with warm tortillas and tomatillo salsa.

Tips:

Choose the right cut of pork: Pork shoulder (also known as pork butt) is the best cut for carnitas. It's a tough, fatty cut of meat that becomes tender and flavorful when cooked slowly.
Score the pork shoulder: Scoring the pork shoulder helps the seasonings penetrate the meat and also helps the pork cook more evenly.
Use a good quality slow cooker: A slow cooker is essential for making carnitas. Make sure to choose a slow cooker that is large enough to accommodate the pork shoulder and the other ingredients.
Cook the pork shoulder on low for 8-10 hours: This will allow the pork to become very tender and fall apart easily.
Shred the pork shoulder: Once the pork shoulder is cooked, shred it with two forks or a meat shredder.
Serve the carnitas with your favorite toppings: Carnitas can be served with a variety of toppings, such as salsa, guacamole, sour cream, cheese, and cilantro.

Conclusion:

Carnitas is a delicious and versatile dish that can be enjoyed in many different ways. Whether you're serving it as a taco filling, a burrito filling, or simply on its own, carnitas is sure to be a hit. So next time you're looking for a slow cooker recipe, give carnitas a try. You won't be disappointed.