Carnitas Tacos

Carnitas Tacos

Carnitas is Mexican pulled pork, typically made with pork butt or pork shoulder that’s slow cooked until it’s fall apart tender and juicy. This recipe calls for slow cooking the seasoned pork with onion, garlic, orange juice and lime juice. I assure you it is incredibly delicious.

INGREDIENTS

4 pound boneless pork butt or pork shoulder*

1 tablespoon dried oregano

2 teaspoons ground cumin

1 teaspoon chili powder

2 teaspoons salt

1 teaspoon black pepper

½ cup orange juice, from two small or one large orange

¼ cup lime juice, from 2 limes

1 yellow onion, chopped

4 cloves garlic, minced

tortillas, chopped onion, chopped fresh cilantro, avocado, limes, etc., for serving, as desired

INSTRUCTIONS

 Place pork butt/shoulder in slow cooker.

In a small bowl, stir together the dried oregano, cumin, chili powder, salt and pepper. 

Rub the spice mixture on all sides of the pork. 

Arrange the pork so that it is fat side up in the slow cooker.

Pour the orange juice and lime juice around the sides of the pork in the slow cooker, so as not to rinse off the spice rub on top of the pork. 

Add the onion and garlic to the slow cooker.

Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours or high for 5-6 hours, until pork shreds easily.

Remove the pork from the liquid in the slow cooker. Use two forks to shred the pork, discarding excess fat.

You can serve the pork now, or (the best way!) crisp it under the broiler. 

To crisp the pork, spread it out in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet (if desired, you can line the baking sheet with foil for easy clean up). 

Add a little of the juices from the slow cooker to the pork, but not too much. 

Put pork under the broiler in the oven for 5 to 10 minutes, until the edges start to crisp.

Serve in tortillas with toppings as desired, or in a burrito bowl, on a salad, etc.

Enjoy!

Thank you for trying this recipe. Please let me know how you liked it. 

If you enjoyed this recipe, please take a look at other recipes on my fast, simple and good pork page.

Carnitas Tacos