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pork carnitas

September 27, 2015 by Chrissie 12 Comments

Filed Under: all, main dishes, recipes, sunday supper Tagged With: Pork Carnitas, sunday supper, Tacos

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Pork carnitas are flavorful, versatile, and super easy. Put a few ingredients in your crockpot and come back six to eight hours later for tender meat that you can use in anything from tacos, to enchiladas, to nachos, to burrito bowls and more! I’m a member of the North Carolina Pork Council Blogging Network and was compensated for the cost of the ingredients used in this post.

pork carnitas

I love when dinner essentially cooks itself. Which is why I’m in love with my crock pot.

pork carnitas

I scored my trusty red friend at Target ages ago for a steal (something like $10 or $15). And it’s a miracle worker. My crock pot is a necessary and well used appliance in my kitchen; I bust it out at least once a week to whip something out. And we’re talking more than just for soups, stews, and your typical “slow cooker” meal (though it’s really great for all of those things). I’ve used it for meatballs, spaghetti sauce, pulled pork and even dessert every so often.

pork carnitas

If you haven’t recognized the versatility and simplicity of your crock pot, I feel sorry for you. It’s the perfect tool for a busy day at the office. It simmers away on a Sunday while you run errands and do things around the house. And when you’re ready to sit down and eat, a hearty, flavorful meal is just ready. The raw ingredients you threw in there 8 hours ago create a harmony to please your palate. It’s fantastic.

pork carnitas

A few weeks ago I woke up on Sunday morning, pulled a few ingredients out of the fridge, stood on my tip toes to get the crock pot out of the top cabinet, and eight hours later we had some delicious pork carnitas tacos. While AJ went to work shredding away, I chopped up some onion and cilantro. With a little squeeze of lime, we had dinner ready in about 5 minutes. For serious.

pork carnitas

Who doesn’t love pork carnitas? There are a few reasons I love them so much.

Delicious. Flavorful. Tender, spicy pork that practically falls apart when you touch it with a fork.

pork carnitas

Versatile. So versatile. A batch of pork carnitas can be used for almost anything: tacos, enchiladas, quesadillas, nachos, burrito bowls. The possibilities are endless. With this batch we had tacos one night, and burrito bowls a few days later. We froze the rest and busted out some pork carnitas nachos a week later for Sunday night football.

pork carnitas

Easy. Really the easiest. Dump all of the ingredients in the crock pot and walk away. Yes, just walk away. Come back later, shred the succulent pork with a fork (it will glide through like the meat is butter) and dinner is ready.

pork carnitas

Continue to Content
pork carnitas

sunday supper | pork carnitas

Ingredients

  • 4 pounds pork butt roast
  • 2 tablespoons bacon grease
  • 1 large onion, chopped
  • 6-8 garlic cloves, peeled and smashed
  • 1/2 cup orange juice
  • 1/2 cup lager beer
  • 2 teaspoons liquid smoke
  • 1 tablespoon sea salt
  • 1 tablespoon cumin
  • 2-3 tablespoons ancho chile powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon oregano

Instructions

  • Smear the bacon grease on the bottom of the slow cooker.
  • Place pork in crockpot.
  • Then add all remaining ingredients around the pork.
  • Turn the slow cooker on: Low for 8-10 hours, or High for 4-6 hours.
  • Once the pork is fork-tender, use 2 forks to shred the meat into the juices.
  • If you like carnitas crispy on the edges use a slotted spoon to scoop the meat out of the juices and spread in a thin layer on a baking sheet(s). Place on the upper oven rack and broil for 2-5 minutes, until darker crispy edges form.
  • Did you make this recipe?

    Share a photo of your creation on Instagram and mention @chrissie_beth! Make sure you're following along for more delicious recipes!

    © adapted from a spicy perspective

    PIN PORK CARNITAS RECIPE FOR LATER!

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    Comments

    1. Kate K (My Mommy Brain) says

      September 28, 2015 at 11:04 am

      Oh yum! That looks delicious. I too LOVE my crock-pot. Nothing better than coming home to a fully-cooked meal without breaking a sweat!

      Reply
      • Chrissie--Off The Eaten Path says

        September 29, 2015 at 8:03 pm

        Yes! Crockpots are the best!

        Reply
    2. Tiffani says

      September 30, 2015 at 10:36 pm

      This is a recipe my kiddos would love & I’d enjoy making….crockpot friendly! 🙂 I really like how you gave different meal options. Yummy post! 😉

      Reply
      • Chrissie--Off The Eaten Path says

        October 4, 2015 at 6:25 pm

        Thanks, Tiffani!

        Reply
    3. Leigh Powell Hines says

      October 1, 2015 at 6:59 am

      This looks really good. I think I will make it this fall.

      Reply
      • Chrissie--Off The Eaten Path says

        October 4, 2015 at 6:25 pm

        I feel like it’s a perfect fall recipe. My dad texted me today to let me know he was making pork carnitas for dinner!

        Reply
    4. Beth Ann Chiles says

      October 1, 2015 at 7:45 am

      Oh those look amazing. I have a red crockpot as well and it is my friend, too! Maybe our crock pots grew up together?? 🙂 Thanks for a great recipe!

      Reply
      • Chrissie--Off The Eaten Path says

        October 4, 2015 at 6:25 pm

        They are just as tasty as they look! 🙂

        Reply
    5. Jenna @ A Savory Feast says

      January 4, 2018 at 1:15 pm

      I can’t wait to try these for dinner soon! I love pork carnitas.

      Reply
      • Chrissie says

        January 4, 2018 at 3:13 pm

        Me too! And they are so easy for dinner!

        Reply

    Trackbacks

    1. where to eat in gaston county | off the eaten path says:
      October 17, 2017 at 7:55 am

      […] Aaron Rodgers’ broken collarbone rather than writing a new blog post…although I did do a photo refresh on my pork carnitas recipe and also updated my recipes page! (And played around with the monster that is Pinterest. Are you […]

      Reply
    2. The Best Football, Superbowl, Tailgating Recipe Round-up | NC Blogger Network says:
      February 21, 2018 at 6:11 pm

      […] Pork Carnitas […]

      Reply

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    chrissie off the eaten path blog
    Hi! I'm Chrissie: a pizza and sushi loving, craft beer and red wine drinking, restaurant exploring and traveling home cook who's been taking pictures of my food since 2013. To learn more about Off the Eaten Path, click here!

    Get in touch: offtheeatenpathclt@gmail.com

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