Best 6 Crispy Slow Cooker Carnitas Recipes

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Crispy slow cooker carnitas are a mouthwatering Mexican dish that can be easily prepared in your slow cooker. This succulent and flavorful pork dish is perfect for busy weeknights, special occasions, or gatherings with friends and family. The slow cooking process infuses the meat with tender and juicy flavors, while the crispy exterior adds an irresistible crunch. With just a few simple ingredients and some time, you can enjoy this delicious and versatile dish that can be served in tacos, burritos, enchiladas, or as a main course with your favorite sides.

Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!

SLOW COOKER CARNITAS



Slow Cooker Carnitas image

Authentic & Crispy Slow Cooker Carnitas make the best pork tacos! They are easy to make with the help of your crockpot!

Provided by Amanda Carlisle

Categories     dinner

Time 4h5m

Number Of Ingredients 12

3-4 pound pork shoulder (trimmed slightly)
1 ½ teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon ground cumin
2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 onion (small , diced)
3 cloves garlic (minced)
⅓ cup orange juice
2 teaspoon orange peel (finely shredded )
⅓ cup lime juice
1 chipotle pepper in adobo sauce (chopped)
1-2 tablespoons oil (- vegetable or canola)

Steps:

  • In a small bowl, whisk together the dried oregano, cumin, salt and pepper
  • Rub seasoning mixture onto pork shoulder on all sides
  • Add onion, garlic, orange juice and peel, lime juice and chipotle pepper to slow cooker
  • Place pork on top
  • Cover and cook on low for 4-6 hours or until internal temperature is 145 degrees F
  • Remove pork from slow cooker onto cutting board, let cool slightly
  • Shred pork with forks
  • Heat oil in skillet on stove ** see notes
  • Add pork and some of the juice from the slow cooker
  • Turn often to brown the pork until juices have evaporated and pork is nicely browned
  • Repeat with more pork if your skillet doesn't hold all of it
  • Serve immediately with tortillas and toppings
  • Store leftovers in refrigerator

Nutrition Facts : Calories 250 kcal, Carbohydrate 6 g, Protein 28 g, Fat 12 g, SaturatedFat 4 g, Cholesterol 93 mg, Sodium 914 mg, Fiber 1 g, Sugar 2 g, ServingSize 1 serving

SLOW COOKER CARNITAS RECIPE BY TASTY



Slow Cooker Carnitas Recipe by Tasty image

Have you ever gone out for Mexican food, eaten carnitas, and thought "gosh, I wish I could make this myself"? Well, you can with the help of your slow cooker. Just add pork butt or shoulder to a slow cooker with citrus juice, garlic, onion, and some spices, then let it cook for about eight hours until it's tender and easy to shred with a fork. Then, you can enjoy your home-cooked carnitas in tacos, burritos, or on top of your favourite grains.

Provided by Scott Loitsch

Categories     Dinner

Time 8h10m

Yield 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 18

4 lb boneless pork butt, or shoulder, cut into six equal pieces
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon pepper
1 tablespoon dried oregano
1 tablespoon cumin
8 cloves garlic, crushed
1 medium onion, quartered
3 leaves bay leaf
1 lime, juiced
1 large orange, juiced, save the spent halves
tortilla, taco shell
rice
1 can black beans
salsa
guacamole
sour cream
fresh cilantro
1 cup cheese

Steps:

  • Cut pork into 6 equal pieces. Add it to the slow cooker.
  • Add salt, pepper, oregano, cumin, garlic, onion, bay leaves, lime juice and juice the orange. Add orange to the cooker as well. Mix together until the meat is well-coated.
  • Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours, or until the meat pulls apart easily.
  • Remove the pork and transfer to a foil-lined baking sheet. Shred the pork and spread across the baking sheet in a single layer.
  • Pour about 1 cup (235 ml) of the liquid remaining in the slow cooker over the shredded pork. Broil for 5-10 minutes until the meat browns and crisps along the edges.
  • Serve immediately. Great as a filling in tacos, burritos, salads, or nachos!
  • Enjoy!

Nutrition Facts : Calories 810 calories, Carbohydrate 23 grams, Fat 48 grams, Fiber 7 grams, Protein 72 grams, Sugar 5 grams

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.

SLOW COOKER CARNITAS



Slow Cooker Carnitas image

Carnitas means 'little meats' and is traditionally fried then braised. This recipe is made much easier using the slow cooker but the results are just as tasty. This makes a great filling for tamales, enchiladas, tacos and burritos. This filling is also great combined with your favorite barbecue sauce and served on buns.

Provided by Erin Parker

Categories     World Cuisine Recipes     Latin American     Mexican

Time 10h10m

Yield 10

Number Of Ingredients 9

1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
½ teaspoon crumbled dried oregano
½ teaspoon ground coriander
¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 (4 pound) boneless pork shoulder roast
2 bay leaves
2 cups chicken broth

Steps:

  • Mix together salt, garlic powder, cumin, oregano, coriander, and cinnamon in a bowl. Coat pork with the spice mixture. Place the bay leaves in the bottom of a slow cooker and place the pork on top. Pour the chicken broth around the sides of the pork, being careful not to rinse off the spice mixture.
  • Cover and cook on Low until the pork shreds easily with a fork, about 10 hours. Turn the meat after it has cooked for 5 hours. When the pork is tender, remove from slow cooker, and shred with two forks. Use cooking liquid as needed to moisten the meat.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 222.7 calories, Carbohydrate 0.7 g, Cholesterol 73.3 mg, Fat 13.8 g, Fiber 0.2 g, Protein 22.2 g, SaturatedFat 5 g, Sodium 474.3 mg, Sugar 0.3 g

CRISPY SLOW COOKER CARNITAS



Crispy Slow Cooker Carnitas image

A flavorful and easy way to make tender, juicy, and crispy carnitas using your slow cooker!

Provided by Ali

Time 6h10m

Number Of Ingredients 9

1 (4-5 pound) lean boneless pork roast, excess fat trimmed, cut into 3-inch chunks
1 cup beer (or chicken stock)
1 medium white onion, diced
4 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
1 tablespoon chipotle powder (or 1 chipotle in adobo sauce, minced)
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 1/2 teaspoons fine sea salt

Steps:

  • Add all ingredients to a large slow cooker, and give the mixture a stir to combine. Cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 4-5 hours until the pork is completely tender and shreds easily with a fork.
  • Once the pork is cooked, preheat your broiler to high heat and prepare two baking sheets with aluminum foil. Use a fork to shred the meat into bite-sized pieces, and then use a slotted spoon to transfer it to the prepared baking sheets, spreading the pork in an even layer and leaving the juices behind in the slow cooker. (Don't discard the juices, we're going to use them later!)
  • Place one sheet under the broiler for about 5 minutes, or until the edges of the pork begin browning and crisping up. Remove the sheet from the oven, then ladle about 1/4 cup of the juices from the slow cooker evenly over the pork, and then give it a good toss with some tongs. Broil for an additional 5 minutes to get the meat more crispy. Then remove and ladle an additional 1/4 cup of broth over the crispy pork.
  • Repeat with the other baking sheet of pork.
  • Serve immediately in tacos, burritos, salads, or whatever sounds good to you! This pork can also be refrigerated in a sealed container for up to 3 days, or frozen in a sealed container for up to 3 months.

CRISPY SLOW COOKER CARNITAS RECIPE - (4.6/5)



Crispy Slow Cooker Carnitas Recipe - (4.6/5) image

Provided by skvw

Number Of Ingredients 10

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 (4-5 pound) lean boneless pork roast, excess fat trimmed, cut into 3-inch chunks
1 cup beer or chicken stock
1 medium white onion, diced
4 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
1 tablespoon chipotle powder (or 1 chipotle in adobo sauce, minced)
2 teaspoons cumin
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 1/2 teaspoons salt

Steps:

  • Heat oil in a large saute pan over high heat. Add the pork and sear on each side until browned (about 1-2 minutes per side). Transfer pork to the slow cooker. Add the remaining ingredients to the slow cooker, and give the mixture a stir to combine. Cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 4-5 hours until the pork is completely tender and shreds easily with a fork. Once the pork is cooked, preheat your broiler to high heat and prepare two baking sheets with aluminum foil. Use a fork to shred the meat into bite-sized pieces, and then use a slotted spoon to transfer it to the prepared baking sheets, spreading the pork in an even layer and leaving the juices behind in the slow cooker. (Don't discard the juices, we're going to use them later!) Place one sheet under the broiler for about 5 minutes, or until the edges of the pork begin browning and crisping up. Remove the sheet from the oven, then ladle about 1/4 cup of the juices from the slow cooker evenly over the pork, and then give it a good toss with some tongs. Broil for an additional 5 minutes to get the meat more crispy. Then remove and ladle an additional 1/4 cup of broth over the crispy pork. Repeat with the other baking sheet of pork. Serve immediately in tacos, burritos, salads, or whatever sounds good to you! This pork can also be refrigerated in a sealed container for up to 3 days, or frozen in a sealed container for up to 3 months.

Tips:

  • Choose the right cut of meat. Pork shoulder (also known as pork butt) is the best cut for carnitas because it is tough and flavorful. It will become tender and juicy after slow cooking.
  • Use a good quality slow cooker. A slow cooker with a heavy bottom and a tight-fitting lid will help to ensure that the carnitas cook evenly and stay moist.
  • Sear the meat before slow cooking. This will help to brown the meat and add flavor.
  • Add plenty of flavorings to the slow cooker. Garlic, cumin, chili powder, and orange juice are all great additions. You can also add other spices and herbs to taste.
  • Cook the carnitas on low for 8-10 hours, or on high for 4-6 hours. The meat should be fall-apart tender when it is done.
  • Shred the carnitas before serving. You can do this with two forks or with a meat shredder.
  • Serve the carnitas with your favorite toppings. Some popular options include tortillas, rice, beans, guacamole, and salsa.

Conclusion:

Crispy slow cooker carnitas is an easy and delicious meal that is perfect for any occasion. With just a few simple ingredients and a little bit of time, you can create a flavorful and tender dish that everyone will love. So next time you're looking for a crowd-pleasing meal, give this recipe a try. You won't be disappointed!

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