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a hand picking up a pork carnita taco

Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas

5 from 7 votes
Servings 8 servings
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 8 hours
Total: 8 hours 10 minutes

Equipment

Ingredients
 

  • 4 pound pork butt
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon ground cumin
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 tablespoon dried oregano
  • 2 teaspoons garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon pepper
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil (divided)
  • 1 jalapeno pepper
  • 1 onion
  • 1 orange
  • 1 lime

Instructions
 

  • Rinse the roast and dry it well.
  • In a medium size bowl, mix together brown sugar, ground cumin, oregano, salt, garlic powder, peper, and paprika. Stir in 2 Tablespoons of olive oil. Rub this mixture all over the pork butt.  Place the seasoned pork into the slow cooker, fat on top.
  • Remove seeds from the jalapeno pepper, slice it up and place it on and around the roast. Dice the onion and place it on and around the roast.
  • Halve the orange and squeeze the juice over the roast, add the orange halves to the slow cooker. Halve the lime and squeeze the juice over the roast, add the lime halves to the slow cooker
  • Cook the roast at high power for 8 hours
  • Remove the roast from the pot and place it onto a cutting board.  Allow it to cool for 10 minutes. Shred the meat using 2 forks.
  • Place the remaining 1 Tablespoon of olive oil into a large skillet.  Heat the skillet to high heat.
  • Caramelize the pork by frying it (in batches- don't crowd the pan). Place about ¼ of the shredded pork and about ¼ cup of the juices from the crock pot in the skillet.  Press the meat onto the bottom and allow it to sear.  Continue this until all of the meat has been seared.  
  • Place the seared meat into your serving container. You may serve the meat drizzled with some of the remaining juices from the crock pot if you like.  

Notes

Storage: Pork carnitas may be kept in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. Or it may be kept in the freezer for up to 3 months. 

Nutrition

Calories: 382kcalCarbohydrates: 9gProtein: 43gFat: 18gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 136mgSodium: 733mgPotassium: 875mgFiber: 1gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 205IUVitamin C: 14mgCalcium: 67mgIron: 4mg

The nutrition facts provided are calculated using a third-party tool and are estimates only. Actual nutritional content may vary based on the ingredients and brands you use, as well as portion sizes. For accurate results, please consult a registered dietitian or nutritionist.

Course Main Course
Cuisine American