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Tender Crockpot Carnitas Recipe Easy Flavorful Tacos for Taco Tuesday

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This tender crockpot carnitas recipe delivers melt-in-your-mouth pork with a perfect blend of spices and citrus, ideal for easy, flavorful tacos. Slow-cooked low and slow, then crisped for irresistible edges, it’s perfect for busy weeknights or Taco Tuesday.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 3–4 pounds pork shoulder (also called pork butt), well-marbled
  • 1 cup orange juice (240 ml)
  • Juice of 1 lime
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 ½ teaspoons salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil (optional, for searing)

Instructions

  1. Trim the pork shoulder by removing any excess fat or silver skin to prevent greasiness (5-7 minutes).
  2. In a small bowl, combine ground cumin, dried oregano, chili powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper.
  3. Rub the spice mix all over the pork shoulder, pressing gently to adhere. Let rest for 10 minutes if possible.
  4. Optional: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat and brown the pork on all sides, about 3-4 minutes per side.
  5. Place the pork shoulder in the crockpot. Add minced garlic, orange juice, lime juice, and bay leaves around the pork. Pour any remaining juices over the top.
  6. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours or on high for 4-5 hours until pork is fall-apart tender.
  7. Remove pork from crockpot and shred using two forks on a large cutting board. Discard bay leaves.
  8. Spread shredded pork on a rimmed baking sheet and broil for 5-7 minutes until edges are crispy and golden, or sear in a hot skillet in batches until crispy bits form.
  9. Serve carnitas in warm tortillas with toppings like diced onions, fresh cilantro, and a squeeze of lime.

Notes

Searing the pork before slow cooking adds depth and caramelized flavor but can be skipped for convenience. Use fresh citrus juices for best flavor. Save leftover cooking liquid to moisten reheated carnitas. If crockpot is small, cut pork into chunks for even cooking. Crisping the shredded pork after cooking is essential for texture and flavor contrast.

Nutrition

Keywords: crockpot carnitas, slow cooker pork, carnitas tacos, easy carnitas recipe, tender pork, taco Tuesday, slow cooked carnitas

Find it online: https://lucydishes.com/tender-crockpot-carnitas-recipe-easy-flavorful-tacos-for-taco-tuesday/