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Carnitas Crockpot

Savory Carnitas Crockpot Recipe for Perfectly Crispy Bites

This Carnitas Crockpot recipe turns pork shoulder into tender, flavorful meat with crispy edges, ideal for dinner.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 8 hours
Broiling Time 8 minutes
Total Time 8 hours 28 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Mexican
Calories: 320

Ingredients
  

For the Pork
  • 3 pounds Pork Shoulder Trimmed and cut into large chunks
For the Marinade
  • 1 cup Orange Juice Fresh is preferred
  • 1/4 cup Lime Juice Can substitute with lemon juice
  • 4 cloves Garlic (minced) Fresh
  • 1 large Onion (chopped) Adds moisture
For the Seasoning
  • 2 teaspoons Cumin
  • 1 teaspoon Oregano
  • 2 teaspoons Chili Powder
  • 1 teaspoon Salt Adjust to taste
  • 1/2 teaspoon Pepper Adjust to taste
  • 2 leaves Bay Leaves Remove before shredding

Equipment

  • Slow Cooker
  • Baking sheet

Method
 

Cooking Steps
  1. Trim any excess fat from the pork shoulder and cut it into large chunks.
  2. In your slow cooker, combine the pork with orange juice, lime juice, minced garlic, chopped onion, cumin, oregano, chili powder, salt, pepper, and bay leaves. Mix them well.
  3. Cover the slow cooker and set it to low for 8 hours or high for 4-5 hours.
  4. Carefully remove the pork from the cooker, discard any leftover fat, and shred the meat into bite-sized pieces.
  5. Spread the shredded pork on a baking sheet and place it under the broiler for 5-8 minutes, until the edges are golden brown.
  6. Drizzle a bit of the cooking liquid over the pork before serving.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cupCalories: 320kcalCarbohydrates: 5gProtein: 24gFat: 22gSaturated Fat: 8gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 80mgSodium: 600mgPotassium: 600mgFiber: 1gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 2IUVitamin C: 12mgCalcium: 2mgIron: 10mg

Notes

Optional: Garnish with fresh cilantro and lime wedges for extra freshness.

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