Pork Carnitas are tender, richly flavored pieces of crispy pork that just melt in your mouth. So easy and effortless to make with the slow cooker, you can celebrate Taco Tuesday any day of the week.
A flavorful and super easy pork slow cooker recipe
It's Taco Thursday y'all so let's all celebrate by making some easy carnitas. Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas may be the best taco filling EVER to grace a fresh tortilla. Tender and flavorful pieces of crispy pork that just melt in your mouth.
Add simple toppings like fresh chopped cilantro and onions with a touch of salsa and you've got some yummy eats!
Y'all are probably thinking..."What's up with the Taco Thursday? It's Taco Tuesday that everyone knows and loves"
I freakin' LOVE #tacotuesday and, if you follow my Instagram account, you know how much I partake in the weekly event, BUT...confession time...I'll eat tacos any day of the week, not just on Tuesday.
Yeah, that's what I said.
Any. Day. Of. The Week.
I don't care what dang day it is, if I want tacos then Mama gets tacos!
I agree, it's pretty damn cool having a specific day of the week reserved just for taco eating; however, I predict there will be a major humanitarian crisis in this country if we continue to act like tacos should be eaten only on a day of the week that starts with a "T".
After all, let's think about the children...
(a big thanks to Dawn/Girl Heart Food for sending me that taco meme)
A crockpot pork recipe for the best tacos
So basically this pork carnita recipe of crock pot tacos are my contribution to society. An easy and delicious way to make a pretty healthy porkalicious filling for all the pork tacos (and it's a super easy slow cooker recipe to have around).
AND it can be made any day of the week! Woooohoooo! Humanitarian crisis adverted. You're welcome society.
Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas can be served in tacos, burritos, on salads, in a sandwich, or on their own. There's all sorts of wonderful things to do with the leftovers too, like nachos (classic), hash (with sweet potatoes. YUM!), and my favorite...an omelet with a super melty cheese inside.
Don't eat pork? Try this filling for beef tacos: Slow Cooker Cholula Shredded Beef Tacos
So remember my friends, live every day like it's Taco Tuesday and enjoy these Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas. Tell me what is your favorite taco is the comments below!
Recipe
Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas
Ingredients
- 4 pounds of a well marbled boneless pork butt , preferably farm raised and grass-fed
- 2 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- 2 teaspoons dried cumin
- 1 ½ teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
- 2 medium fresh garlic cloves , peeled and minced
- 1 cup beer
- 1 whole fresh lime , juiced
Optional accompaniments: fresh chopped cilantro, diced onions, salsa and guacamole
Instructions
- Cut the pork into large 4 inch pieces and place them in the bottom of a slow cooker/crock pot.
- In a small bowl, mix together the chili powder, oregano, cumin, salt, and pepper. Sprinkle mixture over the pork pieces and add the minced garlic. Using a spoon or hands, coat the pork with the spices and the garlic . Pour the beer and lime juice all over the seasoned pork. Cover and cook on high for 4 hours or low for 6 hours.
- Preheat the oven broiler. Remove the cooked pork pieces from the slow cooker and place on a large baking sheet (can cover with foil to make clean up easy!). Using two forks, gently pull apart or shred the large pork pieces and spread out across the baking sheet. Place under the preheated broiler until pork turns crispy on one side. Remove and serve immediately.
- To serve: stack 1 or 2 warmed corn tortillas on top of each other, fill with the desired amount of shredded pork and top with favorite accompaniments.
Gnyce
How long should I cook 2 lbs of the pork for? 2 hours?
Karrie
Hi Gnyce, I've made this before with less meat and it still took the same amount of cooking time that's indicated for the 4 pounds (4 hours on high), due to the toughness of the meat. If you like, you can check it after 3 hours to see if it's tender enough, but if it's not, by opening the lid you'll add a little more time to the remaining cooking time. Let me know how it turns out for you!
Ben Maclain
Yup, indeed I've been asking yourself this question recently. Why tacos? Why Tuesday? Why not Suturday? Why don't I follow this tradition? Finally, why don't I eat tacos at all? I think this question needs further investigation. Please, look into this and report in a next taco post, Karrie. Also, you can voluntarily send some tacos to me:)
GiGi Eats
I just got a slow cooker in the mail for the wedding registry!!!! WOO WOO! I can make lots and lots of slowwwwww cooked meats that will MELT in my mouth - much like your carnitas!
Beeta @ Mon Petit Four
HECK YES! Can we just live together and I can eat everything you make??? I've been waiting for some pork to go on sale at my local market so I can just make a s**tload of carnitas! haha I could eat these tacos erryday, gurl. <3<3
Anu - My Ginger Garlic Kitchen
We love tacos around here, so needless to say that we can have them on any day of the week or perhaps on all days ! These slow cooker pork carnitas sound absolutely wonderful. Love how juicy and tender they are. And also how easy it is! Have a lovely week ahead.
Stephanie | The Foodie and The Fix
Yasss!!! Tacos every day! Seriously, we MUST think of the children! These carnitas look absolutely perfect! It's definitely the time of year when I love to pull out my slow-cooker for pretty much all the things. Yum!
Kushi
Beautiful clicks and lovely recipe . Looks so delicious. Bookmarked. Going to try this soon
Katie Crenshaw
I am with you, Karrie! I think we should also have a #TacoThursday and eat them everyday of the week. This post cracked me up. You brightened my day. I love a good crockpot recipe. Lately I am in the car in the evenings, so if I want a home cooked meal, I have to make it ahead. My trials with reheating haven't been so fabulous. But if it is in the crockpot.... It will be perfectly waiting for me at home. Putting this on my weeknight supper routine. Thanks for the recipe and the giggles! ????
Heather Wells
Your the meanest friend. Pork. My favorite. Taco. My favorite. Together... ultimate favorite. I hate you.
Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary
Bahahahahaha! Ohhh, guurl you crack me up! I LOVE that meme Dawn sent you!! And I 100% support your message - tacos all day, EVERY day! You should march at the capital or something with protest signs. Anyways, LOVE me some carnitas! Seriously, they are like lil nuggets of culinary crack - SO DELICIOUS! Love that you made them easy peasy with the slow cooker! Now I truly can have tacos every day of the week - and THAT my friend is winning at life! Pinned! Cheers! xoxo
Nicoletta @sugarlovespices
I so agree on not having a wonderful dish like tacos confined to one day of the week. I don't like labels that much and following the main stream, so bring it on! The tacos look fantastic, you did a great job because you're making me hungry only by looking at them!
Rachelle @ Beer Girl Cooks
Girl, tacos are perfect for every dang day of the week! Thanks for saving the world with these slow cooker pork carnitas! You are the queen of the memes!
Dawn @ Girl Heart Food
Well, hellooooo there beauties!! Thanks for the shout out there, Karrie! You da best, girl I'm right there with ya, tacos every day, all day! These pork carnitas look wicked! And that raw onion and cilantro on top? Perfect. I'm so glad you solved a humanitarian crisis. I mean, what would we do without ya? I know one thing's for certain-we wouldn't be stuffing our face with these delicious bites!! I love your suggestion of using the leftover pork in hash! That sounds like a deadly breakfast. But I don't know if there's be any leftover, lol Pinning, of course . Woo hoo for Taco Thursday! Xoxo
Gaila Perez
Karrie!! I am with you! in my house is taco any day of the week..even several days a week! and your carnitas are looking mighty good!! another success! hugs!