Best 4 Slow Cooker Mexican Pork Carnitas Recipes

facebook share image   twitter share image   pinterest share image   E-Mail share image

Carnitas is a traditional Mexican dish made with pork shoulder or butt that is braised or roasted until tender and then shredded. It is typically served with tortillas, salsa, guacamole, and other toppings. There are many different recipes for carnitas, but they all share a few key ingredients and steps.

This article provides three delicious recipes for slow cooker Mexican pork carnitas. The first recipe is for classic carnitas, made with pork shoulder, orange juice, cumin, and chili powder. The second recipe is for spicy carnitas, made with chipotle peppers, adobo sauce, and cayenne pepper. The third recipe is for green chile carnitas, made with tomatillos, green chiles, and cilantro.

All three recipes are easy to follow and can be made in a slow cooker, making them a great option for a busy weeknight meal. The carnitas can be served with tortillas, rice, or beans, and they are also great for tacos, burritos, and enchiladas.

Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!

SLOW COOKED PORK CARNITAS (MEXICAN PULLED PORK)



Slow Cooked Pork Carnitas (Mexican Pulled Pork) image

Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas or Mexican Pulled Pork is the best Mexican pork recipe whether you stuff it into a tortilla, taco or turn it into a burrito bowl!

Provided by Gina

Categories     Dinner

Time 8h40m

Number Of Ingredients 11

2 1/2 pounds trimmed (boneless pork shoulder blade roast)
2 teaspoons kosher salt
black pepper (to taste)
6 cloves garlic (cut into sliver)
1 1/2 teaspoons cumin
1/2 teaspoon sazon (homemade or packaged)
1/4 teaspoon dry oregano
3/4 cup reduced sodium chicken broth
2-3 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce (to taste)
2 bay leaves
1/4 teaspoon dry adobo seasoning (I used Goya)

Steps:

  • Season pork with salt and pepper.
  • In a medium sauté pan on medium-high heat, brown pork on all sides for about 10 minutes.
  • Remove from heat and allow to cool.
  • Using a sharp knife, insert blade into pork, cutting small holes and insert garlic slivers all the way in so you no longer see them.
  • Season pork generously with cumin, adobo, sazon, oregano all over.
  • Pour chicken broth in the crockpot, add bay leaves and chipotle peppers.
  • Place pork in crock pot and cover.
  • Cook low for 8 hours.
  • After 8 hours, shred pork using two forks and combine well with the juices that accumulated at the bottom.
  • Remove bay leaves and adjust salt and cumin as needed.
  • Let it cook another 15-30 minutes.

Nutrition Facts : ServingSize 1 /2 cup, Calories 160 kcal, Carbohydrate 1 g, Protein 20 g, Fat 7 g, SaturatedFat 3 g, Cholesterol 69 mg, Sodium 397 mg

SLOW-COOKER PORK CARNITAS



Slow-Cooker Pork Carnitas image

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

2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
Juice of 2 oranges
Juice of 2 limes
1 tablespoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
Small pinch ground cloves
Kosher salt
1 medium white onion, quartered
6 cloves garlic, peeled
2 bay leaves
3 pounds boneless pork shoulder, fat trimmed, cut into 2-inch pieces
Freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup lard
Soft corn tortillas, for serving
Cilantro leaves, for serving
Sliced jalapenos, for serving
Pickled red onions, recipe follows
2 small red onions, thinly sliced
3/4 cup white vinegar
1/4 cup orange juice
3 tablespoons lime juice
2 bay leaves
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
1 teaspoon coriander seeds
Kosher salt

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.

SLOW COOKER MEXICAN PORK CARNITAS



Slow Cooker Mexican Pork Carnitas image

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

1 (32 fluid ounce) container chicken stock
1 (3 pound) pork loin, or more to taste
3 tablespoons adobo seasoning
2 tablespoons ground cumin
1 tablespoon ground black pepper
1 tablespoon ground paprika
1 large white onion, diced
2 tablespoons chipotle paste
2 bay leaves
1 (14 ounce) can fire-roasted diced tomatoes
6 cloves garlic, minced
2 limes, halved
3 tablespoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 cup fresh cilantro

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

SLOW COOKER CARNITAS



Slow Cooker Carnitas image

Carnitas means 'little meats' and is traditionally fried then braised. This recipe is made much easier using the slow cooker but the results are just as tasty. This makes a great filling for tamales, enchiladas, tacos and burritos. This filling is also great combined with your favorite barbecue sauce and served on buns.

Provided by Erin Parker

Categories     World Cuisine Recipes     Latin American     Mexican

Time 10h10m

Yield 10

Number Of Ingredients 9

1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
½ teaspoon crumbled dried oregano
½ teaspoon ground coriander
¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 (4 pound) boneless pork shoulder roast
2 bay leaves
2 cups chicken broth

Steps:

  • Mix together salt, garlic powder, cumin, oregano, coriander, and cinnamon in a bowl. Coat pork with the spice mixture. Place the bay leaves in the bottom of a slow cooker and place the pork on top. Pour the chicken broth around the sides of the pork, being careful not to rinse off the spice mixture.
  • Cover and cook on Low until the pork shreds easily with a fork, about 10 hours. Turn the meat after it has cooked for 5 hours. When the pork is tender, remove from slow cooker, and shred with two forks. Use cooking liquid as needed to moisten the meat.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 222.7 calories, Carbohydrate 0.7 g, Cholesterol 73.3 mg, Fat 13.8 g, Fiber 0.2 g, Protein 22.2 g, SaturatedFat 5 g, Sodium 474.3 mg, Sugar 0.3 g

Tips:

  • For the best results, use a pork shoulder roast that is at least 3 pounds. This will ensure that you have plenty of meat to serve.
  • If you don't have a slow cooker, you can also cook the pork in a Dutch oven over low heat for 8-10 hours.
  • Be sure to brown the pork shoulder roast on all sides before cooking it. This will help to develop flavor and prevent the meat from becoming dry.
  • Add plenty of flavorful ingredients to the slow cooker, such as garlic, onion, chili powder, and cumin. These ingredients will help to create a delicious sauce that will coat the pork.
  • Cook the pork shoulder roast on low heat for at least 8 hours, or until it is fall-apart tender.
  • Once the pork is cooked, shred it with two forks and serve it with your favorite toppings, such as tortillas, rice, beans, and salsa.

Conclusion:

Slow cooker Mexican pork carnitas is a delicious and easy-to-make dish that is perfect for a party or a weeknight dinner. The pork is cooked in a flavorful sauce until it is fall-apart tender, and it can be served with a variety of toppings. This dish is sure to please everyone at your table.

Related Topics