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Crockpot Pork Carnitas
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
6 hrs
 

A nontraditional, but very easy and delicious way of preparing pork carnitas!

Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American, Mexican
Keyword: best, Carnitas, Cinco de Mayo, Crock Pot, Easy, pork, Recipe, Slow Cooker, Taco Bar, TikTok
Servings: 8
Calories: 390 kcal
Author: Cheri Renee
Ingredients
  • 3-4 pound pork loin
  • 1 orange
  • 1 lime
  • 1 onion
  • 6 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 Tbsp each chili powder, paprika, and cumin
  • kosher salt, pepper, crushed red pepper flakes
  • 1/2 can beer
Instructions
  1. Cut pork loin into 6-8 large pieces and place in crock pot. Cut orange and lime into 6 wedges, squeeze the juice of each over the pork and place the wedge into the crock pot over the pork. Peel onion, cut into large pieces and place over the pork. Add garlic, bay leaves, chili powder, paprika, cumin, kosher salt, pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes.

  2. Pour half a can of beer into the crock pot, turn on low for 6-8 hours.

  3. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil. With tongs or two forks carefully place just the pork pieces on the baking sheet. Shred the pork and spread evenly on the baking sheet.

  4. Spoon about half of the liquid in the crock pot over top of the pork (not the onions, orange, and lime wedges...just the liquid). Place in the oven on the middle rack and turn the broiler on high for 5-7 minutes.

  5. Remove the baking sheet, toss the pork around, spoon the rest of the cooking liquid on top and back into the oven for an additional 5-7 minutes. Taste for seasoning and add more chili powder, paprika, cumin, kosher salt, pepper, and/or crushed red pepper flakes if needed.

  6. Serve as is, or use as a filling for tacos, burritos, or for nachos.