Carnitas (Mexican Slow Cooker Pulled Pork)
Every tortilla goals of being filled with Carnitas. The greatest of the greatest of Mexican food, seasoned beef is sluggish cooked till mushy earlier than gently teasing aside with forks and pan frying to golden, crispy perfection. Pork Carnitas are that elusive mixture of juicy and crispy with right seasoning – and this Carnitas recipe requires simply 5 minutes prep!

Made with all herbal meals like typical Mexican Carnitas, those Carnitas may be made within the sluggish cooker, force cooker or oven – directions offered for all.
Pile of golden, crispy and juicy Pork Carnitas on a white plate.
Carnitas
Is there something higher on this international than beef slowly cooked till it’s loopy juicy and fall aside tender, then crisped to golden perfection?
Yes.
When it’s internal a taco. 😂
Carnitas is one in every of my specialities. I make this recipe usually – for daily purposes, a freezer standby and for taco-bar gatherings with friends!
Overhead photograph of NULL Pork Carnitas Tacos with tequila photographs at the side.
The one and in basic terms Pork Carnitas
I went by way of ALOT of Pork Carnitas recipes earlier than deciding upon this as The One. I’ve been loyal to it for over a decade as it ticks all my boxes:
✅ Extremely quickly 5 minute preparation
✅ Made with fundamental to discover herbal ingredients
✅ Enough flavour to devour plain (and you may choose it out of the pan!)
✅ Subtle sufficient flavour so it may be utilized in any Mexican dish (over salting and over spicing is a widespread problem);
✅ Perfect caramelized brown bits whereas holding the remarkable juiciness from sluggish cooking;
✅ Perfect freezer meals – reheats 100 pc perfectly; and
✅ Excellent meals for gatherings – massive batch recipe, remains contemporary even hours after cooking it
Close up overhead shot of crispy golden and juicy Pork Carnitas .
What are Carnitas?
If you’re new to Carnitas, allow me be the primary to welcome you to your new addiction.
Carnitas are Mexico’s model of pulled pork. It’s the primary factor you search upon touchdown in Mexico. It’s why we trawled the again streets of Mexico City in torrential rains, hunting down a hole-in-the-wall carnitas joint that was well-liked with locals.
Made by sluggish cooking beef absolutely submerged in lard, this confit technique of cooking yields beef that’s unbelievably wealthy and mushy with masses of crispy golden bits.
Unfortunately for many dwelling cooks, a vast cauldron of lard isn’t viable or practical.
But fortunately, it be doubtless to make carnitas that tastes very comparable to actual Pork Carnitas with out gallons of lard. And it’s unbelievably simple.
Pork Carnitas Tacos and sides
How to make Pork Carnitas
Best Pork Cut for Pork Carnitas – for remaining juicy pulled beef filled with flavour, you can’t beat beef shoulder, aka beef butt. Bone in or out, it desires to be skinless so it may be rubbed with the Carnitas seasoning
Carnitas seasoning – rub beef with a fundamental spice blend of oregano, cumin, salt and pepper.
Flavour for cooking – upper beef in sluggish cooker with onion, garlic and jalapeño, then pour over orange juice (the mystery ingredient!). It sounds so simple, but with hours of sluggish cooking, mingling with the beef juices, it transforms into probably some of the foremost remarkable braising broth that extra than makes up for the absence of gallons of lard.
Slow prepare dinner till the beef is pull-apart mushy and infused with remarkable flavour
Pan fry till golden, doused with the juices from the sluggish cooker. Pan frying is so a lot higher than broiling/grill or oven!
Can Carnitas be made in an Instant Pot or force cooker?
Yes! The end result is precisely the identical – nobody can the difference as soon as browned within the skillet. I make this in a force cooker when time is of the essence!
Preparation steps for How to Make Pork Carnitas
The BEST Pork Carnitas are browned in a skillet!
Don’t skip the step to brown the Pork Carnitas! This is the important thing that makes this the greatest Pork Carnitas you may have outdoor of Mexico.
Hand on heart, it be as nice simply due to the fact the carnitas I had at a actually actual Mexican joint referred to as Old Town Mexican Cafe in San Diego that's noted for its Pork Carnitas.
So in case you assume you’ve had first-rate carnitas before, but you haven’t tried browning in a skillet, here goes to be a recreation changer!
Pork Carnitas being crisped to golden in a black skillet.
What to serve with Pork Carnitas
While I actually have a first-rate fondness and tendency to favour Tacos de Carnitas (Pork Carnitas Tacos), beef this juicy and filled with flavour is pretty flexible – plus it freezes 10000% perfectly.
I use Pork Carnitas to make Enchiladas, Burritos, Quesadillas, Sliders, Mexican pizzas. I toss them into my Mexican Fried Rice (don’t laugh, here is a agency favorite with many readers!), and I make Carnitas Plates – pile Carnitas over Mexican Red Rice with a aspect of Pico de Gallo or Guacamole, and steamed corn.
And of course, I devour it immediately out of the skillet. 😂
And the greatest part?
• You’re simply 5 minutes clear of getting this Pork Carnitas on your sluggish cooker, force cooker or oven.
• It may be frozen with out any lack of quality.
• There are fundamental methods to pan fry to golden perfection and nonetheless be juicy and contemporary hours later – even after refrigerating.
There’s a purpose I am no longer usally with out a stash of Carnitas in my freezer!!! – Nagi xx
Mexican Red Rice and Pork Carnitas
Overhead shot of crispy golden and juicy Pork Carnitas .
MEXICAN RECIPE FAVOURITES
Chicken Fajitas and Beef Fajitas
Beef Enchiladas and Burritos
Queso Cheese Dip
Mexican Fiesta Menu and recipes
See all Mexican recipes
Carnitas
WATCH HOW TO MAKE IT
Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas recipe video!
Is that a force cooker within the video??
Yes and no! My sluggish cooker (Breville Fast-Slow Cooker) is like an Instant Pot. It’s multi-functional, a force cooker and sluggish cooker in one. Hence why it seems like a force cooker with the twisting top. The sluggish cooking role isn't any unique to any fundamental sluggish cooker.
HUNGRY FOR MORE? Subscribe to my newsletter and comply with alongside on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram for all the newest updates.
Pile of golden, crispy and juicy Pork Carnitas on a white plate.
Carnitas (Mexican Slow Cooker Pulled Pork)
Author: Nagi | RecipeTin Eats Prep: 15 mins Cook: 6 hrs Total: 6 hrs 15 mins Slow cooking Mexican
4.94 from 465 votes
Servings10 - 12Tap or hover to scale
Print
27.9K
504.6K
Recipe VIDEO above. Spiciness: Not at all. Scale recipe utilizing Servings slider.
These carnitas seize that elusive mixture of flavourful, juicy AND crispiness. Pan frying to get the golden bits isn't optional! Broiling/grilling won't produce the identical results. Stuff them in tacos for an actual Carnitas Tacos experience, see notes for unique uses! FAQ underneath recipe.
Ingredients
2 kg / four lb beef shoulder (pork butt) , skinless, boneless (5lb/2.5kg bone in) (Note 1)
2 1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp black pepper
1 onion , chopped
1 jalapeno , deseeded, chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
3/4 cup juice from orange (2 oranges)
RUB
1 tbsp dried oregano
2 tsp flooring cumin
1 tbsp olive oil
Instructions
Rinse and dry the beef shoulder, rub throughout with salt and pepper.
Combine the Rub meals then rub throughout the pork.
Place the beef in a sluggish cooker (fat cap up), upper with the onion, jalapeño, minced garlic (don't fear about spreading it) and squeeze over the juice of the oranges.
Slow Cook on low for 10 hours or on excessive for 6 hours. (Note 2 for unique prepare dinner methods)
Pork must be mushy sufficient to shred. Remove from sluggish cooker and allow cool slightly. Then shred utilizing NULL forks.
Optional: Skim off the fats from the juices remaining within the sluggish cooker and discard.
If you've got a lot extra than 2 cups of juice, then scale back it down to about 2 cups. The liquid will probably be salty, it be the seasoning for the pork. Set liquid aside - do no longer hassle straining onion etc, it be tremendous soft.
FULL ARTICLE >>>>>>>>

Made with all herbal meals like typical Mexican Carnitas, those Carnitas may be made within the sluggish cooker, force cooker or oven – directions offered for all.
Pile of golden, crispy and juicy Pork Carnitas on a white plate.
Carnitas
Is there something higher on this international than beef slowly cooked till it’s loopy juicy and fall aside tender, then crisped to golden perfection?
Yes.
When it’s internal a taco. 😂
Carnitas is one in every of my specialities. I make this recipe usually – for daily purposes, a freezer standby and for taco-bar gatherings with friends!
Overhead photograph of NULL Pork Carnitas Tacos with tequila photographs at the side.
The one and in basic terms Pork Carnitas
I went by way of ALOT of Pork Carnitas recipes earlier than deciding upon this as The One. I’ve been loyal to it for over a decade as it ticks all my boxes:
✅ Extremely quickly 5 minute preparation
✅ Made with fundamental to discover herbal ingredients
✅ Enough flavour to devour plain (and you may choose it out of the pan!)
✅ Subtle sufficient flavour so it may be utilized in any Mexican dish (over salting and over spicing is a widespread problem);
✅ Perfect caramelized brown bits whereas holding the remarkable juiciness from sluggish cooking;
✅ Perfect freezer meals – reheats 100 pc perfectly; and
✅ Excellent meals for gatherings – massive batch recipe, remains contemporary even hours after cooking it
Close up overhead shot of crispy golden and juicy Pork Carnitas .
What are Carnitas?
If you’re new to Carnitas, allow me be the primary to welcome you to your new addiction.
Carnitas are Mexico’s model of pulled pork. It’s the primary factor you search upon touchdown in Mexico. It’s why we trawled the again streets of Mexico City in torrential rains, hunting down a hole-in-the-wall carnitas joint that was well-liked with locals.
Made by sluggish cooking beef absolutely submerged in lard, this confit technique of cooking yields beef that’s unbelievably wealthy and mushy with masses of crispy golden bits.
Unfortunately for many dwelling cooks, a vast cauldron of lard isn’t viable or practical.
But fortunately, it be doubtless to make carnitas that tastes very comparable to actual Pork Carnitas with out gallons of lard. And it’s unbelievably simple.
Pork Carnitas Tacos and sides
How to make Pork Carnitas
Best Pork Cut for Pork Carnitas – for remaining juicy pulled beef filled with flavour, you can’t beat beef shoulder, aka beef butt. Bone in or out, it desires to be skinless so it may be rubbed with the Carnitas seasoning
Carnitas seasoning – rub beef with a fundamental spice blend of oregano, cumin, salt and pepper.
Flavour for cooking – upper beef in sluggish cooker with onion, garlic and jalapeño, then pour over orange juice (the mystery ingredient!). It sounds so simple, but with hours of sluggish cooking, mingling with the beef juices, it transforms into probably some of the foremost remarkable braising broth that extra than makes up for the absence of gallons of lard.
Slow prepare dinner till the beef is pull-apart mushy and infused with remarkable flavour
Pan fry till golden, doused with the juices from the sluggish cooker. Pan frying is so a lot higher than broiling/grill or oven!
Can Carnitas be made in an Instant Pot or force cooker?
Yes! The end result is precisely the identical – nobody can the difference as soon as browned within the skillet. I make this in a force cooker when time is of the essence!
Preparation steps for How to Make Pork Carnitas
The BEST Pork Carnitas are browned in a skillet!
Don’t skip the step to brown the Pork Carnitas! This is the important thing that makes this the greatest Pork Carnitas you may have outdoor of Mexico.
Hand on heart, it be as nice simply due to the fact the carnitas I had at a actually actual Mexican joint referred to as Old Town Mexican Cafe in San Diego that's noted for its Pork Carnitas.
So in case you assume you’ve had first-rate carnitas before, but you haven’t tried browning in a skillet, here goes to be a recreation changer!
Pork Carnitas being crisped to golden in a black skillet.
What to serve with Pork Carnitas
While I actually have a first-rate fondness and tendency to favour Tacos de Carnitas (Pork Carnitas Tacos), beef this juicy and filled with flavour is pretty flexible – plus it freezes 10000% perfectly.
I use Pork Carnitas to make Enchiladas, Burritos, Quesadillas, Sliders, Mexican pizzas. I toss them into my Mexican Fried Rice (don’t laugh, here is a agency favorite with many readers!), and I make Carnitas Plates – pile Carnitas over Mexican Red Rice with a aspect of Pico de Gallo or Guacamole, and steamed corn.
And of course, I devour it immediately out of the skillet. 😂
And the greatest part?
• You’re simply 5 minutes clear of getting this Pork Carnitas on your sluggish cooker, force cooker or oven.
• It may be frozen with out any lack of quality.
• There are fundamental methods to pan fry to golden perfection and nonetheless be juicy and contemporary hours later – even after refrigerating.
There’s a purpose I am no longer usally with out a stash of Carnitas in my freezer!!! – Nagi xx
Mexican Red Rice and Pork Carnitas
Overhead shot of crispy golden and juicy Pork Carnitas .
MEXICAN RECIPE FAVOURITES
Chicken Fajitas and Beef Fajitas
Beef Enchiladas and Burritos
Queso Cheese Dip
Mexican Fiesta Menu and recipes
See all Mexican recipes
Carnitas
WATCH HOW TO MAKE IT
Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas recipe video!
Is that a force cooker within the video??
Yes and no! My sluggish cooker (Breville Fast-Slow Cooker) is like an Instant Pot. It’s multi-functional, a force cooker and sluggish cooker in one. Hence why it seems like a force cooker with the twisting top. The sluggish cooking role isn't any unique to any fundamental sluggish cooker.
HUNGRY FOR MORE? Subscribe to my newsletter and comply with alongside on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram for all the newest updates.
Pile of golden, crispy and juicy Pork Carnitas on a white plate.
Carnitas (Mexican Slow Cooker Pulled Pork)
Author: Nagi | RecipeTin Eats Prep: 15 mins Cook: 6 hrs Total: 6 hrs 15 mins Slow cooking Mexican
4.94 from 465 votes
Servings10 - 12Tap or hover to scale
27.9K
504.6K
Recipe VIDEO above. Spiciness: Not at all. Scale recipe utilizing Servings slider.
These carnitas seize that elusive mixture of flavourful, juicy AND crispiness. Pan frying to get the golden bits isn't optional! Broiling/grilling won't produce the identical results. Stuff them in tacos for an actual Carnitas Tacos experience, see notes for unique uses! FAQ underneath recipe.
Ingredients
2 kg / four lb beef shoulder (pork butt) , skinless, boneless (5lb/2.5kg bone in) (Note 1)
2 1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp black pepper
1 onion , chopped
1 jalapeno , deseeded, chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
3/4 cup juice from orange (2 oranges)
RUB
1 tbsp dried oregano
2 tsp flooring cumin
1 tbsp olive oil
Instructions
Rinse and dry the beef shoulder, rub throughout with salt and pepper.
Combine the Rub meals then rub throughout the pork.
Place the beef in a sluggish cooker (fat cap up), upper with the onion, jalapeño, minced garlic (don't fear about spreading it) and squeeze over the juice of the oranges.
Slow Cook on low for 10 hours or on excessive for 6 hours. (Note 2 for unique prepare dinner methods)
Pork must be mushy sufficient to shred. Remove from sluggish cooker and allow cool slightly. Then shred utilizing NULL forks.
Optional: Skim off the fats from the juices remaining within the sluggish cooker and discard.
If you've got a lot extra than 2 cups of juice, then scale back it down to about 2 cups. The liquid will probably be salty, it be the seasoning for the pork. Set liquid aside - do no longer hassle straining onion etc, it be tremendous soft.
FULL ARTICLE >>>>>>>>
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