Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas

There are several debates on the proper manufacture of carnitas. For the absolute purist, carnitas must be made by simmering meat in manteca (or lard) for a very long time. This isn’t really practical in many most home kitchens. It is much safer to do outside. It’s also a very labor-intensive method, as the pot has to be supervised at all times for safety reasons, so we’re not going there today.

The other big debate comes into play when serving carnitas. Many people believe they should be shredded, much like pulled pork. My wife and I disagree and prefer ours cubed, which makes it perfect for picking up with a fresh flour tortilla, as the topping for a salad, or as the perfect addition to a soup or sauce. (But hey, if you want yours shredded, you won’t hurt my feelings any.) The really cool part about carnitas is that they take at least 4 hours to make, which makes them perfect for the slow cooker.

Slow cookers are cool. We’re all in agreement on that, right? Nobody thinks of the crock pot as something that your Grandmother used in the 70’s and that we should avoid using any more, do they? Of course not.  That would be silly. Slow cookers are incredible at what they do best. They cook food slowly, all day or all night, so that it’s ready for you when you’re ready for it.

That’s the beauty of this recipe. It’s a toss it in the cooker and forget about it for 4 to 8 hours, though you may be tempted to try to rush the process once the aromas of cooking start to fill your house! It’s perfect for a weeknight meal for a family on the go and equally soul-food satisfying enough to serve for a sit-down Sunday supper, which is what we did last week.

Carnitas are also perfect for picky eaters, since they can be used as a taco filling and you can just let all the little ones add the toppings that they like. That way everyone gets to tailor dinner to their liking.

Yield: 12 servings

Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 8 hours

Total Time: 8 hours 10 minutes

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Ingredients

• 3 to 4 pounds pork shoulder, trimmed and cut in 1-inch cubes
• 1 large onion, diced
• 4 tsp salt
• 4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
• 2 tsp chipotle chile powder or ancho chile powder
• 4 tsp Mexican oregano
• 3 Tbsp ground cumin
• The juice of 1 orange
• The juice of 1 lime

Instructions

1. Place all ingredients in a slow cooker and stir to combine.
2. Cook on low heat for 6 to 8 hours.
3. Serve with tortillas or your favorite sides.
4. Share and enjoy!

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

12

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 474Total Fat: 33gSaturated Fat: 12gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 18gCholesterol: 136mgSodium: 894mgCarbohydrates: 7gFiber: 1gSugar: 4gProtein: 36g

While I might play with the spices a bit, this turned out marvelously and the entire family gobbled it up. I’m calling that a win, so it’s good to go in our humble opinion!

Links to other pork carnitas recipes:

• Carnitas, Houston Style, from Lisa Fain, a.k.a. The Homesick Texan
• Authentic Carnitas and Three Pounds of Lard, from The Paupered Chef