Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas

This is how to make our slow cooker pork carnitas recipe that is easy and cheap for dinner! You can make tacos with it or serve over rice and it has TONS of flavor with just 3 ingredients.

These carnitas made with a jar of salsa verde are out of this world, almost better the next day. 😉 Using steaks, shoulder, or roast cubed, every bite is packed with flavor. Will become one of your favorite Crockpot recipes too.

So we bought half a pig this year and we’ve been working thru all the pieces. I first made this in my Instant Pot. There were all these other cuts I hadn’t used before so I started experimenting with the best ways to cook pork shoulder, roast, pork tenderloin in slow cooker, chops, and all the things.

I used one of them, cut into large bite size pieces and made it on the weekend. It was so good this way and popular with my family that I have made it several times beyond that. Now that our “stash” is gone I buy pork when it’s on sale at the store to make it with brown rice.

Let’s talk a little bit about slow cooking shall we?? First off I have a few different varieties and I love them all. Each one has an occasion to be used like….

1. This is my favorite 6 quart programmable one with a locking lid so it’s great for bringing to a potluck too.
2. I prefer not to use liners, but rather just spray olive oil inside before adding my food for easier cleanups.

Let me give you a peek of my pretty thang I bought recently. It goes with my kitchen so I can just leave it out on the countertop all the time. 😉

I have even used this same recipe with beef. If you wanted a much faster version you could use a pressure cooker to make the same version but called Instant Pot carnitas. Any way you swing it comes out killer. Reason is the sauce is the key, the meat can be swapped out depending on what you have on hand really.

What is the best pork for carnitas?

The best cuts of pork for carnitas are those with plenty of marbling and connective tissue, since they become tender and flavorful when slow cooked. Pork shoulder (also called Boston butt) is the top choice, it has the right balance of fat and meat for juicy, shreddable carnitas. Pork butt is another excellent option, as is Pork Picnic Roast if you prefer a slightly leaner cut. Thy break down for slow cooking, creating the rich, melt-in-your-mouth texture.

Carnitas with Frozen Pork

You could in fact make a version of this right out of the freezer but the look and texture will be different. I would suggest using a Pork Sirloin Roast out of the freezer because it has more fat than Crockpot frozen pork loin which allows it to break down and shred easier. Difference with frozen and fresh is you’ll need to cook on high for 6-8 hours because it won’t be cut into smaller pieces initially. Use the same sauce and seasonings though. Thawing beforehand is always best, but from frozen is possible, just saying.

Here’s what my prepared meat looked like at the beginning. I trim it a bit (preference) and then cut it up like this.

The salsa verde adds a ton of flavor as is, I buy that bottled to make things a lot easier. You can adjust the heat level to your liking. What is listed below makes it mild / almost medium. Slow cooking is great for this kind of meal. You’ll get fall apart shredded pork that tastes like authentic Mexican food at your favorite restaurant. Your family will love it too I assure you.

Ingredient Notes

Whatever cut you choose (should be nicely marbeled with a decent amount of fat) it should be cubed, we typically will use a boneless pork shoulder or chuck roast. Just like with our Pork Roast in Oven it is the best way to keep as tender as possible to pull easily when done.. I have cubed large pieces of beef too and that works well. You can use frozen but thawed is always better and timing will change to 8 hours on high.

You can buy a jar of this or make your own homemade Salsa verde which adds a lot more flavor than pico de gallo and includes the liquid you need for cooking.

Onions are of course optional but add a lot of flavor and texture for very little money. Garlic is something I add into almost every single recipe I make

As for seasonings I generally add salt and pepper seasoning is a given but use your favorites if you have a family recipe for this. Oregano is a great add in, some like bay leaves as well Chili powder or red pepper flakes can be added for a bit of heat. This can be adjusted depending on how spicy you want it to be. What is listed below will make it mild/medium.

Corn tortillas are great to serve on the side so you can wrap up all your items and take a bite. You could use small rolls to make sliders of sorts as an appetizer or finger food for dinner which kids just love. If you like a bit of tang to it you could add 1/4 cup of orange juice to the mix as well.

How Long To Cook Pork Carnitas in Slow Cooker

Total time depends on how large your piece is, in this case it is cut into cubes so it’s a lot quicker. Just throw it all in and walk away. I normally don’t recommend the high setting ever. The whole benefit to this pot is you can break down the connective tissues in thick meats if kept in for a long time. If you find yourself in a pinch some night you can use it and it would likely decrease the cooking time to just 3 hours but 6 on low is better.

If you have had these at a street fair and fallen in love you’ll love this recipe. Serving a crowd for game day? It is quite versatile and can easily be doubled if you have a pot that is large enough to hold it all. The timing would remain about the same, just check for tenderness after hour 6.

How do you Store Leftovers?

This saves quite well and can be warmed up for a second meal in the next few days. I always recommend enjoying leftovers within 48 hours but you can keep in the fridge for up to 4 days if needed. Keep all the sauce you have in with the meat so it stays nice and moist. Reheat in the microwave for a few minutes.

What can you make with leftover carnitas?

Looking for more easy pork recipes to try? Our baked pork chops get five stars from every single person who’s tried them. Those are in the oven but you can make pork chops in a Crockpot too. Both will achieve a different texture so it is just preference really.

• Instant Pot pork stew with vegetables is a great change for the traditional recipe.
• If you’re forgetful, our frozen pork chops in Instant Pot recipe will be helpful so dinner is still a success.
• For Traeger instructions, here is our killer smoked pulled pork recipe to try sometime.

I love it when I can find meat on sale. We usually will buy a pig from a local farmer at the beginning of the year but if we don’t I am always on the lookout for a great deal. With out deep freezer we can buy a bunch, prep it however I like and keep for later. Saves a bunch of money, frustration and ensures we can always make dinner, even from frozen.

What is the difference between carnitas and pulled pork?

I personally use different seasonings for both. Our slow cooker pulled pork has a sweeter taste to it. I leave these in larger pieces, but shredded is good too and easily done with 2 forks. Some people crisp carnitas at the end too. You could do this with a Ninja Foodi, air fryer, or under your broiler.