Slow Cooker or Oven Method

Are you looking for an easy pork carnitas recipe? Look no further! This recipe is simple to follow and yields delicious results. Pork carnitas are perfect for tacos, salads, rice bowls, burritos, or just about anything else you can think of. So give this recipe a try and enjoy some amazing carnitas tonight!

I’ve always loved Mexican and Tex Mex food. So this was a natural recipe for me to try after many decades of cooking. I enjoy carnitas served with these almond flour tortillas or crispy homemade corn tortilla chips. Add a little bit of taco truck green sauce or some easy classic homemade salsa for even more deliciousness!

Most of my recipes are flexible. If you like extra spicy food, you can add more cumin or jalapeños. However, if this is your first time making it, I always recommend trying the recipe exactly as it is stated before making any changes.

I love slow cooker carnitas for several reasons. First, it’s easy to get the tender juiciness you want for this dish. Second, it’s so easy to put everything into the pot and then come home to dinner that’s almost ready.

And third, it’s the perfect party food because it’s easy, delicious, and so much fun to eat. All you have to do is cook it in the Crock Pot and serve a bunch of toppings. Then let your guests put everything together the way they want!

Pork Carnitas Ingredients

These are all basic ingredients for most Mexican style dishes. Everything should be easy to find in the grocery store.

Here is what you’ll need:

• Pork Roast
• Chopped onion
• Beef broth
• Orange juice (fresh orange juice is best)
• Garlic
• Cilantro
• Ground cumin
• Chopped jalapeno
• Oregano
• Salt and black pepper

Other ingredients you might want to try:

• Brown sugar
• Chopped bell pepper
• Ground cayenne pepper
• Bay leaves
• Chili powder
• Lime juice
• Chicken broth

How to Make Pork Carnitas

It’s super easy to make these pork carnitas. Once you get the hang of it, you should have everything in the pot within 10 minutes. Then all you have to do is plug it in, turn it on, and come back to a delicious dinner at the end of the day.

First, I like to spray the inside of my Crock Pot with nonstick cooking spray. This makes it much easier to clean the pot later. Carefully place the pork roast in the center of the pot. Mine came wrapped with twine to hold it together. Since I’m going to shred it later, I cut the twine off before cooking.

Next, sprinkle the chopped onion, minced garlic, chopped cilantro, chopped jalapeño, ground cumin, dried oregano, salt, and pepper over the roast. Spread it out evenly.

Pour the beef broth into the pot. Now squeeze the orange over the pork roast. I used a navel orange that didn’t have seeds.

However, if you use a different kind of orange that does have seeds, make sure you remove them if they fall into the pot. You should have about an inch of liquid from the broth and orange juice.

Once all of the ingredients are in the pot, put the lid on and go about your busy day. When you come home, your house should smell amazing. 

Remove the lid from the pot and either shred it in the pot or transfer the pork to a large bowl for shredding. You can use a couple of forks, a pair of meat shredders, or even a meat masher. You’ll be amazed by how easily the meat falls apart with very little effort on your part.

If you put the pork in a bowl, now return it to the pot and mix it into the juice so it can absorb more of the delicious flavors.

How to Serve Pork Carnitas

There are quite a few ways to serve pork carnitas. Here are some of my favorites:

• Soft or crunchy tacos (flour or corn tortillas)
• Burritos
• Salads
• Rice bowls
• Over mashed potatoes or pasta

In order to have crispy pork carnitas, simply put some in a hot skillet with a little bit of olive oil. I like to use a cast iron skillet, but you can use any pan you happen to have. Fry it until the pulled pork is as crispy as you want it.

We’ve been eating quite a bit of cheese lately, so I made some pork carnitas tacos without cheese. Then my husband asked for one with cheese. I sprinkled a little bit of shredded cheddar cheese over it.

Can You Freeze Pork Carnitas?

Yes, you can freeze pork carnitas. In fact, you won’t lose any of the flavor after freezing it. I like to make enough for at least a couple of extra meals. I use quart-size freezer bags to freeze double servings of pork carnitas. This is all I need since I’m typically just cooking for my husband and myself. Pork carnitas will be good for up to 3 months in the freezer.

How Long Will Pork Carnitas Last in the Fridge?

If you plan to have pork carnitas the next day or two, put the leftover pork carnitas in an airtight container. It should last for about 4 days.

Can You Cook Pork Carnitas in an Instant Pot or Other Pressure Cooker?

Yes, this is great in an Instant Pot. Use the same ingredients and cook on high pressure for 35 minutes.

Flavorful Pork Carnitas

This pork carnitas recipe simplifies the classic method, making it accessible for any home cook. The versatility of carnitas shines, enhancing tacos, burritos, or salads.

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