How to make Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas

pork shoulder

🥗Healthier: pork tenderloin

💰Cheaper: pork butt

Pork tenderloin is leaner, while pork butt is often less expensive.

lard

🥗Healthier: olive oil

💰Cheaper: vegetable oil

Olive oil is healthier, while vegetable oil is usually cheaper.

Rinse and pat the pork steaks dry.

Season the pork steaks with kosher salt, coarse ground black pepper, cumin, and oregano.

Place the seasoned pork steaks in a slow cooker.

Add a chopped onion, a chopped jalapeno, and 1 clove of garlic to the slow cooker.

Pour in 3/4 cup of orange juice, using part fresh squeezed and part from the refrigerator, around the sides of the pork steaks to avoid washing off the seasoning.

Cover the slow cooker and let it cook on high for about 6 hours until the pork is tender and can be shredded with a fork.

Remove the pork from the slow cooker and shred it with two forks, discarding any large pieces of fat and the bone.

Optionally, place the shredded pork in a skillet to brown it or on a sheet pan with some sauce under the broiler to crisp it up.

Serve the carnitas with tortillas, queso fresco, lime, and cilantro.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Dietary