Pork Carnitas

In this easy recipe for pork carnitas, the meat is cooked in the slow cooker until super tender, then broiled until wonderfully crispy.

Pork carnitas are basically mexican pulled pork. Instead of barbecue sauce, the cooked and shredded meat is flavored with a wonderful mix of spices, including oregano, cumin, and a touch of cinnamon.

It’s one of our favorite dinners as a family. As a cook, I love it because it is so easy to make, and the next day I get yummy leftovers. This is one of those dishes where leftovers taste even better the next day!

Ingredients needed for this recipe

You only need a few ingredients to make this recipe:

1. Boneless pork shoulder
2. Salt and pepper
3. Spices: garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, cumin, cinnamon, cayenne
4. Fresh orange juice
5. Oil spray

How to make pork carnitas

Making pork carnitas is very easy. You simply place the pork shoulder in the slow cooker with some seasonings and allow the slow cooker to do all the work. Scroll down to the recipe card for the detailed instructions. Here are the basic steps:

1. Mix the spices and rub all over the pork.
2. Place the pork in your slow cooker. Squeeze the fresh orange juice on top. Cover and cook on Low for 8 hours.
3. Use two forks to shred the meat. Mix the shredded meat well with the cooking liquids.
4. Spread the carnitas on a greased baking sheet. Spray with oil and broil until crisp.
5. Drizzle the carnitas with the remaining cooking juices and serve.

What cut of pork is carnitas?

The best cut of pork for carnitas is the pork shoulder. It’s wonderfully fatty and flavorful. You could also use pork loin, but that’s a much leaner cut. So your carnitas will not be as flavorful and will not crisp up as well.

I also don’t recommend using pork tenderloin for carnitas. It’s too lean, so the carnitas could turn out quite dry. If you have pork tenderloin, it’s better to use it for roasted pork tenderloin or for bacon wrapped pork tenderloin.

Get those crispy bits using your broiler!

When the meat is fully cooked, it is so wonderfully tender, that it’s the easiest thing to shred it with two forks right inside your slow cooker.

The final step of making this recipe is just as important! The best thing about pork carnitas is the wonderful combination of soft, juicy pieces of shredded meat and crispy, caramelized pieces.

To achieve this, traditionally you would fry the cooked, shredded meat in several batches.

To make life easier, I simply spread the shredded meat on a pan, spray it with oil, and broil until about half of the meat is browned and crispy.

What toppings do you put on pork carnitas?

How to serve carnitas? We’re trying to keep things low carb and gluten free around here. So my best advice is to simply pile the tasty meat on a plate and serve, with a side salad.

Alternatively, you could layer the meat on a bed of lettuce, and top it with your favorite condiments. Tasty options include sour cream, guacamole, salsa and shredded cheese.

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4.97 from 27 votes

Pork Carnitas

In this easy recipe for carnitas, the meat is cooked in the slow cooker until super tender, then broiled until wonderfully crispy.

Prep Time15 mins

Cook Time8 hrs

Broil time5 mins

Total Time8 hrs 20 mins

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Keyword: pork

Servings: 8 servings

Calories: 458kcal

Author: Vered DeLeeuw

INGREDIENTS

• 3 lb. boneless pork shoulder
• 1 tablespoon coarse kosher salt (not fine salt)
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 2 teaspoons garlic powder
• 2 teaspoons onion powder
• 2 teaspoons dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 medium orange, juiced
• Avocado oil spray

INSTRUCTIONS

• Use paper towels to dry the pork shoulder. If it comes tied in butcher twine, carefully remove it. 
• In a small bowl, mix together the kosher salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, cumin, cinnamon and cayenne. Rub the mixture all over the pork.
• Place the pork in your slow cooker. Squeeze the fresh orange juice on top. Cover and cook on Low for 8 hours, until the meat is fall-apart tender. 
• Use two forks to shred the meat, right in the slow cooker pan. Be careful – the pan and cooking liquids will be very hot. Mix the shredded meat well with the cooking liquids. 
• Preheat oven to broil. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil and spray it with  oil. Spread the carnitas on the baking sheet. Some of the cooking juices will remain in the slow cooker – keep them on warm. Spray the carnitas liberally with oil and broil until crispy, 3-4 minutes. 
• Drizzle the carnitas with the remaining cooking juices. Serve immediately. 

NUTRITION INFO Nutrition info is approximate. It is calculated using the SparkPeople.com recipe calculator, and the carb count excludes sugar alcohols. Please read the disclaimers in our Terms of Use carefully before using any of our recipes. Recommended and linked products are not guaranteed to be gluten-free. Please verify they are before using.

Nutrition Facts

Pork Carnitas

Amount Per Serving

Calories 458 Calories from Fat 324

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 36g 55%

Saturated Fat 12g 60%

Sodium 536mg 22%

Total Carbohydrates 3g 1%

Dietary Fiber 0.5g 2%

Sugars 1g

Protein 28g 56%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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