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
This looks awesome! I have some leftover black beans and I’m thinking this pork with beans and rice would be awesome to make frozen breakfast burritos! Question: I have a 5 lb roast. Would you recommend I double all ingredients? Or how would you adjust? Thanks!
I’d multiple it all by 1.5. Enjoy!
This was incredibly amazing! The ingredients are sooo simple and so easy but it was so good and tender. We made sopes with them. There are endless ideas with this pork! Thanks for an awesome recipe!
You’re SO welcome!
I made your recipe last night and it is so delicious! I put the meat under a broiler for a few minutes to finish it up and give it that nice crispy texture on the fatty bits, then I dressed it with fresh lime juice and cilantro. Soooo good! 🙂 Thank you!
★★★★★
You’re very welcome!
I have never made carnitas before but have made other similar Mexican dishes. I happened to come across this recipe and made it on Monday. It turned out so good. I turned the crockpot off at 8 hours because it was already soo tender and delicious. Everyone loved it and we have been eating it all week. Thank you for the recipe ☺️
You’re very welcome!
Haven’t shredded the pork yet, but I can tell you that it smells amazing. Made this recipe as is (without tweaking) using the cinnamon. Also made the lime crema as a condiment and it tastes amazing. Can’t wait to taste it on the carnitas. I’m giving this recipe 5 stars on smell alone. I will chime in later to leave the rating for taste. Have a feeling it will be off the charts though.
★★★★★
Oh man Shellice, you’re in for a treat! You CANNOT go wrong with these carnitas and lime crema. I’m kinda jealous you’re having this for dinner, but I do hope you enjoy it!!
If I was to cook this on high how much time should I cook it for?
Hi Kristie! You can generally shorten the cooking time by 1/3 when cooking on high, but to be honest, I would only recommend making this recipe on low. It just doesn’t taste nearly as tender when it’s cooked on high.
Hello. I’m cooking this in my slowcooker as I type. My slowcooker is small so I used about half the recipe amount of meat. I wanted to ask, does half the meat also mean half the cooking time?
Hi Sheepishun! No, half the meat doesn’t mean half the cooking time, but it might be done sooner. For one pound of meat, I’d check at 6 hours or so.
This is a wonderful recipe! I have made in many times;) this recipe used to have a bonus recipe for lime slaw that is amazing. But I don’t see it anymore. It also had a suggestion for using leftovers in a Mexican pork bowl. Can you help?
Thanks!!!
Thanks so much Jenny! The post I think you’re referring to is this one: https://dontwastethecrumbs.com/2014/09/stretching-one-pork-loin-seven-meals/ Enjoy!
If you want to be extra fancy, spread the meat out on a cookie sheet & put it under the broiler for a few minutes to add the authentic crispy bits! So yummy!
★★★★★
OOH that sounds yummy! Thanks Kinsey!
This is very similar to the one I make, but mine uses a cinnamon stick instead of ground cinnamon, and I also throw in a few medium dried peppers in there. The original called for chili powder, but one day I was out and substituted. Delicious!
Hi Tiffany,
I noticed that your recipe is for a smaller roast. When you prepare the 7 lb. version, do you double all of the seasonings, too?
Thanks!
Oh yes, for sure – you can’t over-season this recipe! 🙂
When you use the 7 pound roast does the cooking time change?
Nope!
Hi there! Just wanted to say that I made this for dinner last night. 3/4 of us loved it, especially with the lime crema, and the 1/4 that didn’t love it just doesn’t like shredded meat. Go figure. Still surprising me every day after 11 years of marriage. 😉 Thank you for sharing the recipe!
★★★★★
I’ll take a 3/4 win! Glad the majority of you guys liked it! (and for those who don’t like shredded, hopefully they’ll come around!)
Honestly, one of my favorite recipes to make. It’s super simple and delicious! Thank you 🙂
★★★★★
I love your carnitas recipe in your meal plan and I can only ever find 7 lb pork roasts at our store and it never goes to waste! I also love putting the roast in the slow cooker the night before covered with pink Hawaiian salt if you can get it and some garlic cloves placed in slits around the pork. Cook on low for 16 hours, it’s amazing!! I think my fam would eat it everyday! I’m going to try this recipe tonight and the lime crema too! Thank you!
You’re so welcome Alicia! I’ll have to try the salt and garlic cloves next time – it sounds great!
I have that recipe too, and mine calls for bacon slices laid over the today as well… Pretty tasty!
I made this Friday, and it was so delicious! I could have just stood over the crockpot all afternoon! I have leftovers, and am making into a shepherd’s pie with sweet potatoes today! Thank you for this wonderful recipe! Hope to try the Black Bean brownies too!
★★★★★
Ooh, your shepherd’s pie sounds WONDERFUL! So glad you like this recipe, and I hear you about standing over the crock pot! I hope you enjoy the black bean brownies just as much! 🙂
This is one of the most delicious meals I have ever made (and I’m pretty old). I didn’t have coriander but I had a Penzy’s mix that included coriander in the ingredients so I tossed it in the mix. Last night we had pork and vegetables, tonight tacos, tomorrow night pork sandwiches with cole slaw. I can’t wait to share this with my family at the shore this summer and to try many more of your recipes.
★★★★★
I’m so glad you liked the carnitas Leslie! I admit that they’re one of our favorites too. 🙂 Isn’t it awesome too that it stretches for so many meals?! Love it!!
Forgot to leave my 5 star rating LOL
★★★★★
I appreciate you coming back to do it! 🙂
Hello There!
I just found your website and wow. Thank you so much for the service you are providing and the recipes yum! I just started my savings too. Def will use all your ticks. Thanks again.
You’re very welcome Milca!
Another brilliant recipe, Tiffany! Didn’t have a pork roast, so I used 1 in thick boneless center cut pork loin chops that I got on a buy-1-get-3 special a couple of months ago and it was perfect!!!
YAY! So glad you liked it Wanda, and that it worked with your pork chops too!
Bless you for this perfectly timed recipe! My in laws will be up this weekend and I was looking for a new crowd pleaser.
I love your blog, your easy to follow instructions on your recipes have helped me master my fear of yeast; now homemade bread is a weekly occurrence in our household.
Also appreciated is your wonderful attitude and humor.
Aw, thanks so much Susan! If any recipe will please the in-laws, THIS is the one. Each to his own for toppings, but if you want my opinions, diced tomatoes, finely diced onions, sour cream, cilantro + lime wedges are a must!!
Your recipe calls for coriander, but the photo appears to show cilantro. Since coriander is the seed pod/spice part of the plant and cilantro the leafy part, I just need a bit of clarification — do I interpret the ingredient as ground coriander or the leafy cilantro (which I absolutely despise, and would just leave out)? But since your recipe also includes cinnamon, the addition of coriander wouldn’t be unreasonable, hence the question.
Love your blog!
-Barb in MD
Hi Barb! The recipe uses the seasoning ground coriander, but I garnished with fresh cilantro so it looked a bit nicer. 🙂 Definitely use both the cinnamon and ground coriander!!
Awesome, think i saw pork roast on special this week will try as soon As i get one
Um, how about the orange juice? And the flash fry at the end?
★★★