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Crispy Tender Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas

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A flavorful and easy homemade Mexican dish featuring tender slow-cooked pork shoulder finished with a crispy skillet sear for the perfect texture contrast.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 3 to 4 pounds pork shoulder (1.4 to 1.8 kg), well-marbled
  • 1/2 cup orange juice (120 ml)
  • 1/4 cup lime juice (60 ml)
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 medium onion, diced
  • 1 tablespoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano (preferably Mexican oregano)
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground
  • 1 or 2 chipotle peppers in adobo, minced (optional)
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil or lard

Instructions

  1. Trim excess fat from the pork shoulder and pat dry with paper towels.
  2. Mix salt, black pepper, cumin, chili powder, and oregano in a small bowl. Rub the spice blend all over the pork shoulder.
  3. Place diced onions and minced garlic in the bottom of the slow cooker. Add bay leaves on top.
  4. Pour in orange juice and lime juice, then place the pork shoulder on top of the aromatics and liquids.
  5. Add minced chipotle peppers if using.
  6. Cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours or on high for about 4 hours until pork is fall-apart tender.
  7. Carefully transfer pork to a cutting board or bowl. Shred the meat with two forks or hands, discarding bay leaves and large fat chunks. Save the cooking liquid.
  8. Heat vegetable oil or lard in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
  9. Add shredded pork in batches, pressing down slightly. Cook undisturbed for 3 to 5 minutes until golden and crispy on the bottom.
  10. Flip or stir to crisp other sides as desired.
  11. Transfer crispy carnitas to a serving platter and serve hot with warm corn tortillas and toppings like diced onions, cilantro, and lime.

Notes

Do not skip the final crisping step in the skillet to achieve the iconic texture contrast of carnitas. Use a cast iron skillet for best results. Save the cooking liquid for dipping or drizzling. For gluten-free, ensure chili powder and adobo sauce are certified gluten-free. For dairy-free, no changes needed.

Nutrition

Keywords: pork carnitas, slow cooker carnitas, crispy pork, Mexican recipe, easy carnitas, homemade carnitas, slow cooker pork

Find it online: https://leilameals.com/crispy-tender-slow-cooker-pork-carnitas-recipe-easy-homemade-mexican-dish/