Best 2 Best Ever Slow Cooker Carnitas Recipes

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Carnitas, a traditional Mexican dish, is a delectable slow-cooked pork dish that is tender, juicy, and bursting with flavor. This recipe for "Best Ever Slow Cooker Carnitas" will guide you through the steps to create this succulent dish that will become a staple in your home cooking repertoire. With just a few simple ingredients and minimal effort, you can indulge in the authentic flavors and textures of this classic Mexican dish. Get ready to tantalize your taste buds with this irresistible recipe that guarantees to leave you craving more!

Here are our top 2 tried and tested recipes!

THE BEST EVER SLOW COOKER CARNITAS



The BEST EVER Slow Cooker Carnitas image

What makes these carnitas different? They are crisped and browned on the stove after low and slow cooking in the crock pot. These are incredibly easy to make and have replaced traditional taco filling at our house. These carnitas or "little meats" are great in Tacos, Burritos, Enchiladas, Tamales or Nachos. When served with corn tortillas, they are also gluten free!

Provided by sellingsavannah

Categories     Mexican

Time 7h40m

Yield 8-10 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 11

2 teaspoons cumin
2 teaspoons garlic powder
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon ground coriander
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
4 lbs boneless pork shoulder or 4 lbs boston butt
1 large onion, cut into large pieces
2 bay leaves
2 cups chicken broth or 2 cups water
2 tablespoons canola oil or 2 tablespoons vegetable oil

Steps:

  • Mix cumin, garlic powder, oregano, coriander, kosher salt and ground black pepper together in a small bowl to make a dry rub. Pat the pork shoulder roast or boston butt dry with paper towels, and then cover roast with dry rub.
  • Place the pieces of onion and the bay leaf in the bottom of your slower cooker, lay the roast on top. Carefully pour the chicken stock or the water around the roast, taking care not to wash away the dry rub. Cook on low for 6 hours or until the pork easily falls apart.
  • Once the pork is easily falling apart, remove from slow cooker to cool. Reserve 1 cup of the cooking liquid. Remove and discard the excess fat, shred the remaining pork.
  • Place the reserved cooking liquid in a large non-stick skillet with shredded pork. Cook over medium high heat until the liquid is absorbed, tossing the pork occasional to coat.
  • Once the cooking liquid is absorbed, add the oil and crisp up the carnitas to your desired doneness. We like our extra crispy, usually about 14-18 minutes.
  • Serve with your favorite taco fixings, like corn or flour tortillas, cilantro, lime, shredded cabbage, pico de gallo, sour cream and cheese.

BEST EVER SLOW COOKER CARNITAS



Best Ever Slow Cooker Carnitas image

A mouth-watering Mexican carnitas recipe with a special sweet addition, slow cooked for hours in a crock-pot and served with warm tortillas. After numerous attempts at perfecting the art of carnitas from scratch, this is my best recipe yet. A taste of Mexico in your very own kitchen!

Provided by SocialWorkChef

Categories     One Dish Meal

Time 6h15m

Yield 8 meat-filled tortillas, 4 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 13

2 lbs pork loin (Boston butt and shoulder work great. Leaner meats seem to dry out.)
1/2 cup butter, melted
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 cinnamon stick
5 -6 garlic cloves, peeled with the tips chopped off
3 -4 bay leaves, broken
1 teaspoon oregano
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
2 teaspoons cumin
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes (or more to taste)
1/3 cup whole milk
1 (20 ounce) bottle Coca-Cola Classic

Steps:

  • Cut the 2 lbs of pork into roughly 2 inch squares and place in the bottom of the slow cooker.
  • Pour the stick of melted butter in the slow cooker coating the meat. Do the same with the 2 Tbs of oil.
  • Break the one cinnamon stick in half and place to the sides of the meat.
  • Peel 5-6 garlic cloves, cutting the tips off, and break 3-4 bay leaves in half. Place the leaves and the garlic in the slow cooker, evenly distributed among the meat.
  • Add the 1 tsp oregano, 1 tsp kosher salt, 1 tsp black pepper, 2 tsp cumin, and 1 tsp (or more depending on taste) red pepper flakes, sprinkling evenly across the meat.
  • Pour the 1/3 cup whole milk in the cooker, being careful not to wash away the spices from the meat.
  • Add the Coca Cola, being careful not to wash away the spices from the meat. Add enough to just cover the top of the meat.
  • Turn the slow cooker to the "Low" heat setting. Cook for 6 hours, stirring every few hours.
  • Once cooked, remove meat from the slow cooker with a slotted spoon and place in a separate large bowl. Shred the meat using two forks, and add spoonfuls of liquid from the cooker to ensure meat is moist.
  • Serve on warm tortillas, with pico de gallo, sour cream, and chopped jalapenos.

Tips:

  • Choose the right cut of pork: Pork shoulder is the best cut for carnitas because it is fatty and flavorful. You can also use pork butt, but it will be less tender.
  • Use a slow cooker with a lid that fits tightly. This will help the pork to cook evenly and prevent it from drying out.
  • Add plenty of liquid to the slow cooker. This will help to keep the pork moist and flavorful.
  • Season the pork with your favorite spices. Common spices used for carnitas include chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, and oregano.
  • Cook the pork on low for 8-10 hours, or until it is fall-apart tender.
  • Shred the pork with two forks or a meat shredder.
  • Serve the carnitas with your favorite toppings, such as salsa, guacamole, sour cream, and cheese.

Conclusion:

Carnitas is a delicious and versatile dish that can be enjoyed in many different ways. Whether you are making tacos, burritos, or nachos, carnitas is sure to be a hit. So next time you are looking for an easy and flavorful meal, give this slow cooker carnitas recipe a try. You won't be disappointed!

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