Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas Tacos features tender, juicy pork seasoned with a blend of spices, slow-cooked to perfection, then broiled to achieve those irresistible crispy edges on the shredded pork.
Just set your slow cooker, let it work its magic, and get ready to enjoy restaurant-quality carnitas tacos right in your own kitchen. Slow-cooking meat is the perfect way to make the best tacos. I like this method and use it when making Slow Cooker Beef Short Rib Tacos too.
Why this pork carnitas recipe works
This recipe only needs 15 minutes of prep, and then the Crock Pot gets to do the rest of the hard work.
Enjoying Pork Carnitas Tacos is a great option for taco night when you don’t want your other Mexican dish recipes that you usually go to. If you have leftovers, use it to make my Loaded Carnitas Nachos.
These are the best carnitas but the best part is that the pork isn’t just for tacos though, you can use the pork in burritos, on a burrito bowl, on top of salads, and in taquitos.
Let’s gather the ingredients
- Pork: Pork butt or pork shoulder.
- Spices: kosher salt, black pepper, cumin, dried oregano, smoked paprika, chili powder, minced garlic cloves, and cilantro
- Onions: white onion and red onion
- Adobo sauce: need the chipotle pepper from the can and some of the adobo sauce
- Soda: Cherry coke or regular, do not use diet.
- Orange Juice: Pulp free orange juice and a can of Coca Cola
- Limes:
- Cotija cheese & Corn tortillas
How to make slow cooker pork carnitas
- Step 1: Mix salt, pepper, cumin, oregano, paprika, and chili powder together in a small bowl until combined.
- Step 2: Use paper towels to pat the roast dry and place on a cutting board. Sprinkle the spice mixture over the roast and rub it all over both sides. Any leftover spice mixture should be tossed in the Slow Cooker.
- Step 3: Add sliced onions, minced garlic, and chipotle to the Slow Cooker.
- Step 4: Add orange juice and Coca-Cola to the Slow Cooker.
- Step 5: Place the pork roast on top before adding the lid to slow cook.
- Step 6: Remove the roast and use two forks to shred the meat.
- Step 7: Line a sheet pan with aluminum foil and transfer shredded pork to the baking sheet. Add some of the cooking liquid from the Slow Cooker with the meat.
- Step 8: Broil, toss the pork with some more cooking liquid and broil again. Add fresh-squeezed lime juice and serve with warm corn tortillas. Garnish with fresh cilantro, cotija cheese, and onions.
Recipe Tips
- Store leftover pork in its own airtight container from the rest of the toppings. Keep leftovers in the fridge and reheat when ready to enjoy again.
- The seasoned pork freezes nicely. Once cooled to room temperature, transfer meat to a freezer safe container and freeze for up to 3 months. It thaws and reheats easily and will be just as delicious as when you first made it.
- I used corn tortillas, but flour tortillas work nicely. If you find that your warm corn tortillas are ripping, double them up before adding the shredded meat.
- Slow Cooked Pork Carnitas Tacos are great for serving at gatherings and will stay warm in a slow cooker on the warm setting if needed.
Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas Tacos
Pork carnitas tacos are made in the slow cooker, super tender and juicy. Broiled right before serving into delicious crispy bits!
