Slow Cooker Crispy Carnitas
This is the type of recipe our readers go ga-ga over. Slow Cooker Carnitas are a dump-and-go crock pot meal that’s easy to make, freezes well before or after cooking, and everyone loves them!
Find our Instant Pot Crispy Carnitas recipe here.
Why You Must Make Carnitas in the Slow Cooker
Pork shoulders are one of my favorite cuts of meat to cook in the slow cooker. Coming from someone who has tested hundreds (yes, hundreds) of slow cooker recipes, that means a lot. I have probably made this slow cooker recipe more than any other one for groups of people.
The seasoning and marinade, plus the slow cooking method, pack some serious tangy-smoky-citrusy flavor into the meat. After being cooked all day and shredded, you’ll pop the meat under the broiler and broil until it begins to crisp up on the edges. You’ll find yourself going back to this recipe again and again!
What Ingredients Do I Need to Make These?
Like most of our recipes, the ingredients are fairly simple. To make Slow Cooker Carnitas, you’ll need:
- Olive oil
- 1 white or yellow onion
- 5 cloves garlic
- 1 (3-4 pound) pork shoulder (also known as pork butt or Boston butt), trimmed of excess fat
- Seasonings: oregano, cumin, chili powder, Salt & pepper
- Lime juice
- Orange juice
- Hot Sauce
How Long Do I Cook Pork Shoulder in the Slow Cooker?
After testing hundreds of recipes for our slow cooker cookbook, From Freezer to Cooker, we found that cooking one (3-4 pound) pork shoulder should take 7-9 hours depending on your slow cooker.
Oftentimes, people take the pork out too early because it appears to be tough and dry. However, the pork needs lots of time to break down the fibers holding the meat together. When cooked correctly, pork shoulder in the slow cooker should be tender, juicy, and shred easily.
Get our Slow Cooker Times Chart
After years of testing slow cooker recipes for our website and cookbooks, we’ve developed a reliable cooking times chart for all different types of recipes. Never overcook or undercook a recipe in the slow cooker again!
Can I Cook Carnitas in a Dutch Oven?
While we love our crock pot, you for sure can make this in your dutch oven, too.
Simply follow the instructions in the recipe below, but instead of putting it all into a slow cooker, place the pork into a roasting pan or Dutch oven. Add 1 cup of water or broth. Cover tightly with the lid and roast the pork at 300ºF for about 4 1/2 hours, turning once at the half way point. Follow the broiling instructions after that!
Can I Make Carnitas in the Instant Pot?
Absolutely! When using the Instant Pot, you can have these done in almost an hour!
We have instructions for Instant Pot Carnitas here. Enjoy!
Make It Into a Freezer Meal
As if our Carnitas weren’t good enough, I have even better news. They work really well as a make ahead freezer meal.
Simply double the recipe and freeze an uncooked batch. This won’t take much more time at all and will set you up for an incredibly easy dinner down the road! When you’re ready to prepare the frozen meal, thaw it using one of these safe methods. Then slow cook on low for 7-9 hours.
Or you can fully cook and shred the meat. Then, freeze it in the leftover juices from the slow cooker. When you’re ready to serve, thaw and rewarm the meat in the microwave, slow cooker, or over low heat on stove.
Want more freezer-friendly Crockpot meals? We have SO many to choose from in this roundup of 20+ Crockpot Freezer Meals. Make sure to hop over and browse around.
How to Serve Pork Carnitas
One of the beauties of this meal is that it can be customized and served in so many different ways. That’s why I love making carnitas for large groups. Here are some ideas of how to serve them:
- Change up taco night by using this filling instead of ground beef.
- Top a leafy green salad with it and other toppings like roasted fresh corn shaved off the cob, diced bell peppers, red onion, and crunched up tortilla chips.
- Throw this shredded pork in a quesadilla or on top of a “burrito bowl” with brown rice, beans, and your favorite Mexican toppings.
So many options! I personally almost always serve it with our Avocado Lime Salsa.
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The seasoning and marinade, plus the slow cooking method, pack some serious tangy-smoky-citrusy flavor into the meat. After being cooked all day and shredded, you’ll pop the meat under the broiler and broil until it begins to crisp up on the edges. You’ll find yourself going back to this recipe again and again!
Ingredients
- 1 white or yellow onion, diced
- 5 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (3-4 pound) pork shoulder (also known as pork butt or Boston butt), trimmed of excess fat
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/2 cup lime juice* (juice of about 4 limes)
- 3/4 cup orange juice* (juice of about 3 oranges)
- 1 tablespoon hot sauce
- chopped cilantro (optional for garnishing)
*Freshly squeezed is the best!
Instructions
Make It Now:
(Find our Instant Pot Crispy Carnitas recipe here.)
- Over medium-high heat, saute the onion just until softened, about 5-7 minutes. Season lightly with salt and pepper while it cooks. Stir in the garlic during the last 30-60 seconds. Set aside.
- In a small bowl, combine the oregano, cumin, chili powder, salt, and pepper.
- Pat the roast dry with paper towels and then rub the seasoning all over each piece. (Freezing instructions begin here.)
- Add the seasoned meat, onion/garlic mixture, lime juice, orange juice, and hot sauce into the slow cooker.
- Cover and cook on low for 7-9 hours.
- Remove the pork to a wooden cutting board, and shred with two forks.
- Preheat the broiler. Broil the meat on a rimmed baking sheet for 3 minutes. (Tip: Cover the pan with foil for easy clean up.) Using tongs, turn the meat over and spoon about ¼ cup of the juices from the slow cooker over the meat. Broil another 3 to 4 minutes, or until the edges of the meat start to crisp up and turn brown. Remove from the oven and spoon another ¼ cup of the juices over the cooked pork.
- Serve immediately in tacos, burritos, or salads, or enjoy a la carte. If serving in a corn tortilla, we suggest topping with diced avocado, pico de gallo, Cojita cheese crumbles, chopped cilantro, and lime wedges. If serving on a salad, use those same toppings and try our Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette as the dressing.
Freeze For Later*: Follow Steps 1-3. Place the onion/garlic mixture, seasoned pork, lime juice, orange juice, hot sauce into a gallon-sized freezer bag. Seal and freeze.
Prepare From Frozen: Thaw 24-48 hours. Follow steps 5-8.
Notes
Find our Instant Pot Crispy Carnitas recipe here.
*You can also fully cook, shred, and freeze the carnitas meat. Just make sure the meat it cooled and then place it in a freezer bag/container with the juices from the slow cooker. When you’re ready to eat it, thaw and rewarm over low heat or in the microwave.
Want more slow cooker recipes?
Hop over to our round up of 25+ Slow Cooker Recipes for Groups of People.
Did you change or update this recipe? I saved it in my notes, but I don’t remember it ever having lime juice and OJ in it?
And I thought I also remember you had to put all spices in a food processor. Thanks
At the beginning you state “Slow Cooker Carnitas are a dump-and-go crock pot meal that’s easy to make, freezes well before or after cooking”. The recipe talks about freezing before cooking. I was wondering if anything special needs to be done if freezing after cooking? Thinking of making my nephew, the starving college student.
You are so sweet to think about feeding your college-aged nephew, Kim. I would have loved to have an aunt like you back then! Hey, such a good point. I’m going to update the recipe to include this info. But, the main thing to know is you’ll want to freeze the fully cooked, shredded meat in the juice/sauce so it won’t dry out. Then, he can rewarm it in the microwave and serve it in a tortilla. Hope that helps!
Thanks, for the information. It was a Christmas gift idea for him. To have 3 deliveries of 4 meals. Got the first delivery in of Chicken Fried Rice, Zucchini Chocolate Chip Breakfast Cookies, Beef and Bean Burritos and Pesto Chicken Lasagna Rolls before COVID restrictions started. So starting it up again now that he’s moved back to school.
That’s one of the best gift ideas ever!! Love it.
Can this be made a day in advanced and then broiled and placed in the slow cooker to stay warm? TIA
Great idea, Marla. I think that would work just fine.
We’ve made this a couple of times now and it has become a family favorite! So good!!
★★★★★
never fail – always a hit!!
★★★★★
This is the best! I made it using my electric pressure cooker, and putting it under the broiler at the end gave it the perfect crispy texture on the edges. This was for a family gathering of nine – a total hit! I am keeping this as a totally dependable recipe for serving a group. Thank you, Polly!
★★★★★
Hey, hey, this great to hear, Kris. Thank you for the feedback and review!
Have made this several times, and it always comes out great!
★★★★★
Wahoo! It’s for sure a go-to for my house too. Glad you like it, Becky!
Awesome, thanks for the review, Becky!