Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas are so easy and can be in the slow cooker in under 5 minutes. Great for tacos, burritos, salads, or over rice. If you’re looking for a healthy  Mexican meal, these easy carnitas are just that made with simple ingredients. Top with your favorite toppings and enjoy! A great recipe for Cinco de Mayo or taco night.

Pork Carnitas

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SLOW COOKER CARNITAS RECIPE

Car-“KNEE”-tas.

Car-“KNEEEEE”-tas.

For some reason I can’t say that word without a Mexican accent and drawing out the middle of the word as long and obnoxiously as I can. Seriously, I can do all the prep for these pork carnitas in under a minute for busy weeknights.

Of course this is not an authentic Carnitas but an easier version still with a ton of flavor. Traditional carnitas is tossed in orange juice and lime juice, spread on a sheet pan, and broiled in the oven to get crispy edges.

Pork Carnitas

They were moist, spicy, and great snuggled in a warm tortilla with some pico de gallo, avocado, cheese, and a squeeze of lime. John loved the pork on a salad with some of the extra sauce that it had been cooking in all day.

I use a pork tenderloin which is leaner and healthier than a pork roast.

pork in a crock pot

HOW TO MAKE

  1. Place all of the ingredients in a crockpot and cook on low for 6-8 hours or until it’s fall-apart tender. Serve buffet-style with flour tortillas, cheese, cilantro, avocado, tomatoes, lettuce, sour cream and a squeeze of lime. Make sure to get some of that yummy sauce the pork is in inside your tortilla. Add a side of Cilantro Lime Rice and black beans.

Pork Carnitas

Trying to eat healthy? Make it into a salad by placing the shredded pork on top of some lettuce with pico de gallo and a squeeze of lime.

CUT OF PORK

You can use any cut of pork in this recipe.
  • A pork tenderloin is the leanest and therefore will require less cooking time. Make sure to not overcook because it can get dry. The pros? You don’t have to spend a ton of time taking the fat of the meat. Don’t confuse this with pork loin which is a tougher cut of meat.
  • Pork shoulder and pork butt are similar in the fact that they have more fat which equals more flavor but a little more cooking time and work to separate the fat from the meat when done cooking.

OTHER PORK RECIPES:

Pork Carnitas

Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas

Christy Denney
5 from 3 votes
These Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas are so easy and can be in the slow cooker in under 5 minutes. Eat it in tacos, burritos, or salads.
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 8 hours
Total Time: 8 hours 5 minutes
Servings: 4 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 2-4 lbs pork tenderloin, shoulder, or butt, (see note)
  • 1 ( 15-18) ounce jar of your favorite salsa verde
  • 1 (10 ounce) can Rotel tomatoes
  • 1 (4 ounce) can diced green chilies
  • 1 white onion, chopped in large pieces
  • 1/2 teaspoon cumin

Instructions
 

  • Place all of the ingredients in a crockpot and cook on low for 6-8 hours or until pork easily forks apart. Serve buffet-style with flour tortillas, cheese, cilantro, avocado, tomatoes, lettuce, sour cream and a squeeze of lime. Make sure to get some of that yummy sauce the pork is in inside your tortilla. Add a side of Cilantro Lime Rice and black beans. Store leftovers in an airtight container. 

Notes

CUT OF PORK

You can use any cut of pork in this recipe.
  • A pork tenderloin is the leanest and therefore will require less cooking time. Make sure to not overcook because it can get dry. The pros? You don't have to spend a ton of time taking the fat of the meat. 
  • Pork shoulder and butt are similar in the fact that they have more fat which equals more flavor but a little more cooking time and work to separate the fat from the meat when done cooking. 
Cuisine: Mexican
Course: Main Course
Author: Christy Denney

Pork Carnitas

Pork Carnitas