This slow cooker dish can be prepared in less than 15 minutes and cooks all day. Make it in the morning and it’s ready to eat at the end of your work day. It smells amazing and is so delicious!
I absolutely love the tenderness and flavor you can achieve in slow cooked meats. These carnitas are one of my absolute favorites. We eat them year around in my household and the leftovers don’t last long!
Over the years, I’ve played with various toppings and side dishes to complement this dish.
Serving ideas:
- Served alone with mango salsa and a side of coleslaw or rice & beans
- Topped with some barbecue sauce (bun or no bun)
- Eaten as Tacos with your favorite toppings (mango salsa, coleslaw, Cotija cheese, cilantro, etc.)
Here’s What You’ll Need:
This recipe is simple. You’ll need the pork roast, some broth and seasonings you’ll likely have in your pantry.
Making the Recipe:
Start by making the dry seasoning rub for the pork. Mix the ingredients together in a small bowl. Rub the mixture on all sides of the pork roast.
Place the pork roast in the slow cooker on top of a few bay leaves. Carefully pour the chicken broth around the sides of the pork roast, so that you don’t rinse the rub off the roast.
Set the slow cooker on low for 10 hours.
This was a go to recipe for me when I was working full time. I could make it in minutes before going to work and dinner was ready when I got home! And, the house smelled divine!!
Print
Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 hours
- Total Time: 10 hours 10 minutes
- Yield: 4-6 1x
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
This slow cooker dish can be prepared in less than 15 minutes and cooks all day. Make it in the morning and it’s ready to eat at the end of your work day. It smells amazing and is so delicious!
Ingredients
Rub for Pork:
- 1/2 tsp. sea salt
- 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp. ground cumin
- 1/2 tsp. ground coriander
- 1/4 tsp. dried oregano
- 1/8 tsp. cinnamon
Remaining Ingredients:
- 3 lb. boneless pork shoulder roast
- 3 small bay leaves
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 10–12 corn tortillas (optional, for serving)
Instructions
- Make the rub. Coat the pork with the rub mixture.
- Place the bay leaves in the bottom of your slow cooker. Put the seasoned pork roast on top.
- Pour the chicken broth around the sides of the pork, being careful to not rinse off the rub.
- Cover and cook on low heat for 10 hours. If you’re at home when this is cooking, turn the roast over half-way through, after 5 hours.
- When ready to eat, remove the pork from the slow cooker and use a fork to shred it into pieces. Serve with mango salsa or your favorite toppings (cilantro, cotija cheese, etc.)
Notes
You can eat the meat plain or serve it on corn tortillas taco style
Pair with a side dish of rice and beans or coleslaw
You can substitute cardamom for the cinnamon