This is the best slow cooker carnitas recipe I’ve had, and I’ve eaten lots of tacos! We keep coming back to this recipe because it’s so tasty and easy! Serve with delicious cilantro-lime coleslaw and easy cilantro lime rice in your meal will be a hit!
I don’t know who invented the slow cooker, but I’d like to give them a big squishy hug because I can completely (and deliciously) cook dinner without even being home.
And for my taco-loving family, I can add the BEST slow cooker carnitas you’ve ever had to my list of amazing dinners that don’t need me to cook them. If there’s any clue as to how delicious this carnitas recipe is, we’ve had it TWELVE times in the past 8 weeks!
Why else should you make it?
- Hands-free
- Lots of leftovers
- Great for crowd
- Tacos, Taco salads, Burrito bowls
- Freezes well pre- and post-cooking
- Reheats well
- Minimal ingredients
Here’s What You Need
This perfectly balanced, authentic slow cooker carnitas recipe is even better than carnitas from the best Mexican restaurant with just a few simple ingredients! You’ll need:
- Pork Shoulder Butt/Shoulder. Either cut will work, as will boneless and bone-in. (See note below.)
- A few dried spices. Salt, pepper, onion, garlic, cumin, coriander, cinnamon, and bay leaf.
- Chicken Broth (aka Chicken Stock) or water or beer. You need ½ to 1 cup or so and if you want chicken stock in a flash, try my super easy Instant Pot Chicken Stock recipe. You can also use pineapple juice or orange juice, if you have some.
Psst! Want to kick this up a notch? Try finishing this recipe with a pinch of finishing salt! I love Ava Jane’s Kitchen because it doesn’t have microplastics (gross, right?) and it’s SO GOOD! Plus, you can get a bag for just 1¢!! Just add a pinch when you pull the pork out of the slow cooker and try not to drool as it cools! (Get your penny bag of salt on this page.)
A Quick Note on Meat
If you’re looking for better meat and you can’t find it locally, Butcher Box delivers grass-fed beef, organic chicken, and heritage-breed pork directly to your front door each month. (And not only does it taste better, but the National Institute of Health says that consuming grass-fed and pasture-raised meat is better for human and environmental health.)
I’ve shared my experiences with them a few times:
- My Personal Experience and Honest Review of Butcher Box
- Butcher Box Review (Updated!)
- How to Make Butcher Box Worth the Cost
The search for high-quality meat ends here. Amazing taste. Humanely raised and delivered to your door. Sign up today!. Click this link to claim the current offer!
Step By Step Instructions
Not only is this recipe amazing, it is SO easy. Putting all of the ingredients together takes less than 30 minutes, then you simply let the crock pot do it’s slow cooker magic!
Step 1. Spread the onion evenly on the bottom of the slow cooker.
Step 2. Lay the pork roast on top of the onions.
Step 3. Add the liquid. We prefer chicken stock, beer or water to orange juice, which is common in other recipes.
Step 4. Combine all the spices in a small bowl. Sprinkle liberally over the pork shoulder.
Step 5. Cover and cook the pork on low for 10 hours.
As tempting as it may be, don’t open the lid!
Step 6. Shred pork with two forks, stir into the juices, and serve!
Cooking Tips:
What size slow cooker or crock pot should I use?
I have and love this 6-quart slow cooker for fall apart tender meat. It holds a full 7-pound roast when you cut it into quarters, although I usually use a 3-3 ½ pound boneless roast, or a 5 lb bone-in roast.
Can I use a pressure cooker (Instant Pot)?
Yes, but the reason why this recipe is so awesome is the slow cooker.
Can I freeze leftovers?
If you have any, yes! I like to freeze in 2 cup portions, adding about 2-3 tablespoon of water to prevent the meat from drying out. There’s no such thing as meat that’s too moist. Dry meat though? No bueno.
Any time you can make a big batch and freeze, you are saving time and money.
How to Save Money & Time
Short on time for dinner? This recipe is in our Dinner Dump Freezer Cooking Meal Plan along with 4 other easy dinner recipes like Beef Ragu, and Sheet Pan Sausage and Peppers, and Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken and Homemade Hamburger Helper HERE! You can make 10 dinners in just ONE hour!
Want to save money? Buying in bulk and freezing for later is the best way to save save save!
To Serve Slow Cooker Carnitas
- Cilantro Lime Coleslaw
- Easy Homemade Salsa // Mango Salsa
- Homemade Guacamole
- Coconut Rice
- Southwestern Corn
- Slow Cooker Refried Beans
You can also top with some fresh pico de gallo and a squeeze of fresh lime juice.
And tacos wouldn’t be complete without homemade flour tortillas (here’s corn tortillas and here’s cassava tortillas as well). Don’t be afraid to make tortillas yourself! They truly are better than anything you can find in the store.
The process is much easier if you have a tortilla press and electric griddle BUT you don’t have to have those to make them.
FAQS
Yes! You cook raw pork in a crock pot.
Carnitas is made with pork shoulder (also known as the pork butt).
You always want to cook it on low, that way it will give it a chance for the meat to break down and cook nice and slow. Some natural brands have meat that is tougher. I recommend Butcher Box, their meat has ALWAYS been very tender!
For this particular recipe you can get away with not having any liquid but the liquid helps the flavor. Once you shred the meat, you can stir into the juices.
More Easy Crockpot Dinner Recipes
- Thai Pineapple Vegetarian Curry
- Slow Cooker Pumpkin Chili
- Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken
- White Chicken Chili
- Classic Crockpot Pot Roast
The Very Best Slow Cooker Carnitas
Try this recipe for the best slow cooker carnitas! They’re hands-free & so easy to make with just a few ingredients. Perfect for tacos, burritos, taco salad bowls and even leftovers!
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 hours
- Total Time: 10 hours 5 minutes
- Yield: 6 cups 1x
- Category: Main Meals
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients
- 1 onion, roughly diced
- 3–3 1/2 lb pork shoulder butt/shoulder (bone-in or boneless)
- 3 tsp garlic powder
- 1 1/2 tsp dried oregano
- 3 tsp cumin
- 1 1/2 tsp coriander
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 3 tsp salt
- 4 bay leaves
- 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
- 1/2 – 1 cup chicken stock or water or beer (how to make homemade chicken stock)
Instructions
- Place the onion evenly on the bottom of the slow cooker.
- Place the pork roast on top of the onion.
- Add 1/2 cup liquid to the slow cooker.
- In a small bowl or a mug, combine all the spices. Sprinkle liberally over the pork shoulder.
- Cook the pork on low for 10 hours.
- When the meat is done, shred the meat with two forks. Add the remaining 1/2 cup liquid if the pork has not released many juices. Stir to combine and serve.
Notes
You can also top with some fresh pico de gallo and a squeeze of fresh lime juice.
Nutrition
- Calories: 787
Keywords: slow cooker carnitas
What kind of beer do you suggest? I always seem to have a few stray beers left at my house after a gathering. Great way to use them up. Thanks
Jill,
Any light beer will do!
Excellent recipe! I found this in your Budget Friendly Whole30 e-book, and we enjoyed it thoroughly. Thanks for great recipes like this one.
★★★★★
The meat was very tasty and tender. I would love to cook beef or lamb the same way. What spices would you recommend, please?
★★★★★
I’m getting ready to try this for this week because I found pork butt on sale at Aldi for $1.99/lb! Anwyway, I can’t seem to find the recipe for the Shredded Mexican Pork Bowl. Please help! TIA
Hello Jenifir,
What a great sale! You can find this recipe in the Stretch One Pork Loin into Seven Meals. It is Dinner # 4. Here is the link https://dontwastethecrumbs.com/stretching-one-pork-loin-seven-meals/
Hi Tiffany!
Will chicken be ok? We don’t eat pork and one guest has a beef allergy. White meat or dark meat? I appreciate your input. Looking forward to making this delicious meal. Thanks!
Hi Beulah! Chicken is a great sub! Use these seasonings but follow the instructions on this whole chicken recipe.
This recipe was a big hit for our family. Perfect for a busy day.
★★★★★
Yay Linda! So glad to hear it! 🙂
Hi! I’ve got a boneless pork rib roast, do you think that may work for this recipe too?
Hi Jenny! Yes! The seasoning will taste great but you’ll need to do a quick search for how long to cook it based on how many pounds it is. 🙂
Could you exchange the pork with a beef roast instead? Unfortunately, not a big fan of pork but this looks amazing!
Casey, you could definitely try it. I think it would turn out well.
I’ve made this several times and I can attest that it is awesome! I scored a bone in pork roast at a deep discount.. I deboned it and froze the bone. I know what to do with a frozen ham bone. Thanks to Tiffany I know what to do with frozen chicken bones. I make homemade stock all the time. Any suggestions on what to do with a meaty, frozen pork bone
★★★★★
Hi Charlotte! I’d recommend the frozen pork bone for ham and white bean soup! Or collard greens. Both are great in a slow cooker!
Thank you for your recipe! I’ll be making this tomorrow. When you cooked a 7-lbs roast, how much longer did it take? I got a 7.5 lbs roast so we can have LOTS of leftovers!
I don’t think it took any longer, Kristy! Just cut it into smaller chunks and you’ll be fine!
Oh wow! This was awesome and it is family and friends approved! I made this last night (7LBS) and my son (17 yrs old) and his buddies tore through this today! I left the crock pot, tortillas and fixins on the counter and they went right through this. They even left and came back for more. Loved it and asked me to make it next weekend. Isn’t that what it is all about? Making great food for family and friends and having fun eating and fellowshipping. Thank you.
★★★★★
Excited to try this! Found this recipe linked from a post for using pork leftovers… How would you suggest seasoning/cooking this with pork loin leftover meat? Thank you!
Also looking for the lime and cabbage slaw recipe 🙂
Here’s the coleslaw recipe: https://dontwastethecrumbs.com/cilantro-lime-coleslaw/. It’s SO, so good!!
If you’re starting w/leftover pork, I’d mix the seasonings together in a jar. Saute the onions in a cast iron pan, add the pork (pre-shredded or diced), add 1/4-1/2 cup liquid (you want to keep the moisture level high since the meat is already cooked) and then season with about half of the spices. Simmer for 20-30 min, taste and season more if desired!
Hi! If I don’t care for coriander, should I just leave it out or substitute something else? Thank you 🙂
I’d just leave it out, but I think you’d miss it. 🙂
I have a pressure cooker and cannot wait to try this recipe in it. I am a mom of 5 and work full time but still enjoy eating a good meal during the week. I just found this page but I look forward to making your recipes. Too often the recipes I find are nothing that my family would even consider eating. Not your page. Everything sounds perfect!
Thanks for the amazing compliment Tammy! I hope your family likes these carnitas as much as we do!! 🙂
So flavorful. The recipe is a keeper. I wish I could pin it.
You can pin it Jackie – hover over the image and the “pin it” button pops up.
Ok, got my pork roast going and the lime crema topping done….. Ready for homemade tacos tonight….. 👍🙏It comes out as good as the reviews on the recipe……. Ill come back and review after we eat tonight!!! Thanks so much for the recipe!!!! ( I found an 11lb. Pork roaat for $10 yesterday so jumped right on it) ☺
I wish I was having dinner at your house Misty!!
I cannot wait to try this tomorrow. Do I need to debone the pork before putting in slow cooker? Thanks!
Cathy, I would debone it first but that is a preference not a must do.
Awesome recipe, my family loved it. I put the rub all over the roast and covered tightly and left in fridge for 2 days. My crockpot was at a friends so I baked slow in the oven. What an awesome bark. This rub would be great on ribs. Thanks so much Tiffany for sharing.
You’re most welcome Nancy!
Looks wonderful! I am planning to make it for a Christmas party for 24 people. The recipe states it serves 6 cups…how many people? Thanks!
Lynn!! We just had a Christmas party for the same number of people. We cooked 9 lbs of pork and had 2 quarts worth of leftovers. Our crowd included kids, so I’d go with 9 lbs for 24 people, or 3 pounds for 8 people.