Crispy Pulled Pork Carnitas (Slow Cooker Recipe)
The best slow cooker pork carnitas start low and slow in a crock pot, then finish in a skillet for those crispy, golden edges that make all the difference. This method gives you tender, flavorful pork that’s perfect for tacos, burritos, or sliders when you’re feeding a crowd.
Equipment
Ingredients
- 5 lbs pork shoulder/Boston butt
- 1 onion (chopped)
- 2 jalapeno (seeds removed and chopped)
- 2 ½ teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 4 cloves garlic (minced)
- 2 oranges (juice only, ¾ cup)
Rub
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- 2 teaspoons cumin
- 1 tablespoon bacon grease/olive oil
Instructions
- Dry the pork shoulder and rub with salt and pepper. Combine the Rub ingredients and rub all over the pork. Place in a slow cooker with fat layer facing up.
- Top with onion, jalapeño, garlic and orange juice. Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours or high for 6 hours.
- Remove when the meat is tender and you can easily shred. Shred with 2 forks. Remove the liquid from the slow cooker and place it in a skillet on the stove. Reduce it so that you have about 2 cups of liquid. Set aside.
- Place 1 tablespoon of bacon grease or oil in a skillet over high heat. Place about ¼ of the shredded pork in the skillet and pour some of the reduced liquid over the top. Cook until the bottom is crispy, turn and cook the other side just briefly. You only want it a little crispy or it will be dry. Set aside and continue with the remaining pork.
Barbara's Notes + Tips
- You can use lime juice instead of orange juice.
- You can crisp these in the oven instead of the stove top. Place the shredded pork on an aluminum lined rimmed baking sheet and pour a little of the juice over them, then place under the broiler for just a couple of minutes.
- You can freeze pulled pork, just add some juice to the container with the pork.
- These are great served on Hawaiian Rolls or Challah Rolls.
Nutrition
Serving: 1g | Calories: 240kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 28g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 93mg | Sodium: 688mg | Potassium: 563mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 112IU | Vitamin C: 20mg | Calcium: 48mg | Iron: 2mg
