Carnitas that turn out flavorful, juicy, and fall apart tender? This slow cooker carnitas recipe might be the best thing I’ve ever made. Load the crockpot, and in less than 5 minutes you’re on your way to a tasty shredded pork tacos dinner.
I don’t know who invented the slow cooker, but I’d like to give them a big squishy hug because I can completely (and deliciously) cook dinner without even being home.
And for my taco-loving family, I can add the BEST slow cooker carnitas you’ve ever had to my list of amazing dinners that cook while I’m busy. I will always make time for tacos, but if I can have my tacos AND have my time? That’s winning.
If there’s any indication as to how delicious this carnitas recipe is, we’ve had it TWELVE times in the past 8 weeks!
EASY SLOW COOKER CARNITAS RECIPE
Why else should you make this easy slow cooker carnitas recipe?
- Hands-free
- Lots of leftovers
- Great for a crowd
- Tacos, taco salads, burrito bowls, sandwiches – this recipe works for them all
- Freezes well before or after cooking
- Stays moist and juicy even when reheated
- Simple, real food ingredients with loads of flavor!
MEXICAN CARNITAS INGREDIENTS
This perfectly balanced, authentic slow cooker Mexican carnitas recipe is even better than carnitas from the best Mexican restaurant with just a few simple ingredients! You’ll need:
- Pork butt/shoulder. Either cut will work, and you can choose boneless or bone-in.
- Seasonings. Salt, black pepper, onion, garlic, cumin, coriander, cinnamon, and bay leaf, all of which are common spices you probably have in your pantry.
- Chicken broth or water or beer. You need ½ to 1 cup of liquid. If you want chicken stock in a flash, try my super easy Instant Pot Chicken Stock. Some other slow cooker pork carnitas recipes call for orange juice, which you can use for the liquid here if you prefer that flavor.
Psst! Want to kick this up a notch? Try finishing this recipe with a pinch of finishing salt! I love Ava Jane’s Kitchen because it doesn’t have microplastics (gross, right?) and it’s SO GOOD! Plus, you can get a free 8oz. bag of sea salt (just pay shipping and handling!)
A QUICK NOTE ON PORK
Finding quality pork can be tricky. That’s why I get my pork for carnitas from Butcher Box, and it always turns out tender and moist.
Butcher Box delivers grass-fed beef, pasture-raised and organic chicken, and heritage pork directly to your front door each month. You can read my honest review of Butcher Box here, and how to make Butcher Box worth the cost here.
The search for high-quality meat ends here. Amazing taste. Humanely raised and delivered to your door. Sign up today! Click this link to claim the current offer!
HOW TO MAKE CARNITAS TACOS
Not only is this carnitas recipe amazing, but it is also SO easy. Putting all of the ingredients together takes less than 5 minutes, and then you simply let the slow cooker do its magic!
Step 1. Spread the sliced onions evenly on the bottom of the slow cooker.
Step 2. Lay the pork roast on top of the onions.
Step 3. Add ½ cup of liquid. We prefer chicken stock, beer, or water.
Step 4. Combine all the spices in a small bowl. Sprinkle liberally over the pork shoulder.
Step 5. Cover and cook the pork on low for 10 hours. As tempting as it may be, don’t open the lid!
Step 6. Shred pork with two forks and stir into the juices. Add the remaining ½ cup of liquid if the pork has not released many juices. Stir to combine and serve!
PORK CARNITAS RECIPE TIPS
- I have and love this 6-quart slow cooker for this pork carnitas recipe. It holds a full 7-pound pork roast when you cut it into quarters, although I usually use a 3 to 3 ½-pound boneless pork roast or a 5-pound bone-in roast for this recipe.
- You can use an Instant Pot to make carnitas, but making pulled pork for tacos in the slow cooker gives you the juiciest, most fall-apart tender meat.
- I like to freeze leftovers of this carnitas recipe in 2-cup portions, adding about 2-3 Tablespoons of water to prevent the meat from drying out. There’s no such thing as meat that’s too moist. Dry meat though? No bueno. Store in an airtight container for even more freshness!
- You don’t need to remove the fat from the pork shoulder before cooking, but if you find the finished carnitas are too fatty, you can skim some of the fat off the top of the cooking liquid before shredding and stirring the pork.
SAVE MONEY AND TIME WITH DUMP DINNERS
Short on time for dinner? This recipe is in our Dinner Dump Freezer Cooking Meal Plan along with 4 other easy dinner recipes like Beef Ragu, Sheet Pan Sausage and Peppers, Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken, and Homemade Hamburger Helper.
Find that meal plan, including a categorized shopping list and all the recipes and instructions, HERE! You can make 10 dinners in just ONE hour!
TO SERVE SLOW COOKER PORK CARNITAS
We love using this slow cooker carnitas recipe for shredded pork tacos – just load up a Flour Tortilla or Corn Tortilla with this Mexican shredded pork and top with Cilantro Lime Coleslaw or Lime Crema for an easy dinner. Slow cooker pulled pork for tacos is perfect on its own with some fresh pico de gallo, avocado, and a squeeze of fresh lime juice on top.
You can also serve slow cooked pork carnitas with any of these sides for a delicious meal:
Pop your leftover carnitas on top of Baked Potatoes, nachos or Potato Nachos, or inside a quesadilla or grilled cheese for another easy, flavorful meal!
PORK CARNITAS CROCK POT FAQS
Can you put raw pork in a slow cooker?
Yes! Load the crock pot and cook the pork low and slow for tender meat that falls apart effortlessly.
What cut of meat is used for pork carnitas crock pot?
Carnitas is made with pork shoulder (also known as the pork butt). Skip the pork loin – it’s not as fatty and can dry out if overcooked.
Why is my slow cooker pork tough?
You always want to cook your carnitas on low, that way it will give it a chance for the meat to break down and cook nice and slow. Some natural brands have meat that is tougher. I recommend Butcher Box if you can’t find quality pork locally – their meat has ALWAYS been very tender!
Do you need liquid in a slow cooker for pulled pork?
For this particular carnitas recipe, you can get away with not having any liquid, but the liquid helps the flavor and keeps the meat moist. Once you shred the meat, you can stir it into the juices.
MORE DELICIOUS PORK RECIPES
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The Very Best Slow Cooker Carnitas
Carnitas that turn out flavorful, juicy, and fall apart tender? This slow cooker carnitas recipe might be the best thing I’ve ever made. Load the crockpot, and in less than 5 minutes you’re on your way to a tasty shredded pork tacos dinner.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 hours
- Total Time: 10 hours 5 minutes
- Yield: 6 cups 1x
- Category: Main Meals
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: Mexican
Instructions
- Place the sliced onions evenly on the bottom of the slow cooker.
- Place the pork roast on top of the onions.
- Add ½ cup liquid to the slow cooker.
- In a small bowl or a mug, combine all the spices. Sprinkle liberally over the pork shoulder.
- Cook the pork on low for 10 hours.
- When the meat is done, shred the meat with two forks. Add the remaining ½ cup liquid if the pork has not released many juices. Stir to combine and serve.
Notes
You can also top it with some fresh pico de gallo and a squeeze of fresh lime juice.
I like to freeze leftovers of this carnitas recipe in 2-cup portions, adding about 2-3 Tablespoons of water to prevent the meat from drying out. There’s no such thing as meat that’s too moist. Dry meat though? No bueno. Store in an airtight container for even more freshness!
You don’t need to remove the fat from the pork shoulder before cooking, but if you find the finished carnitas are too fatty, you can skim some of the fat off the top of the cooking liquid before shredding and stirring the pork.
