Description
Slow-cooked, tender, and bursting with flavor, these Easy Crockpot Carnitas bring the rich, savory taste of authentic Mexican pork into your kitchen with almost no effort. Juicy, seasoned pork shoulder is slow-cooked until fall-apart tender, then crisped to perfection. Perfect for tacos, burrito bowls, nachos, and more—this is a crowd-pleasing, meal-prep-friendly recipe you’ll make again and again!
Ingredients
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4 lbs pork shoulder or pork butt, trimmed
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4 cloves garlic, minced
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1 large onion, sliced
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3/4 cup orange juice (fresh preferred)
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1/4 cup lime juice
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2 tsp cumin
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1 tsp dried oregano
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1 tsp chili powder
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2 tsp salt
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1 tsp black pepper
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2 bay leaves
Instructions
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Place the pork shoulder in the crockpot. Season generously with salt, pepper, cumin, chili powder, and oregano.
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Add chopped garlic, sliced onion, and bay leaves around and on top of the pork.
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Pour in orange juice and lime juice.
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Cover and cook on low for 8–10 hours or high for 4–5 hours, until pork is fork-tender.
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Remove pork from crockpot and shred with two forks.
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(Optional) Spread shredded pork on a baking sheet and broil for 5–7 minutes until edges are crispy.
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Drizzle a bit of the reserved cooking liquid over the crisped pork before serving.
Notes
Broiling is optional but enhances texture and flavor.
Use pineapple or grapefruit juice instead of orange juice for variation.
For a spicier version, add chipotle peppers or jalapeños to the crockpot.
Stores well in the fridge (4 days) or freezer (3 months).
Serve in tacos, bowls, nachos, or lettuce wraps.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 hours
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: Mexican
Keywords: carnitas, slow cooker pork, Mexican pork, crockpot carnitas, easy carnitas