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Latest / Slow Cooker / No. 23
Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas Tacos
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Slow Cooker

Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas Tacos

Pork shoulder cooked until it falls apart with orange, garlic and spices, then shredded and broiled until crisp at the edges. Pile into tortillas with onion, cilantro and lime.

Prep20 min
Cook8 hr 15 min
Total8 hr 35 min
Serves8

What you'll need

7-quart slow cookerFor low-and-slow cooking
Nonstick baking sheetsFor roasting and baking
Meat shredding clawsFor pulling pork and chicken

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Ingredients

  • 3 1/2 lb boneless pork shoulder, cut in 3-inch chunks
  • 2 tsp salt
  • 1 tbsp ground cumin
  • 2 tsp dried oregano (Mexican if possible)
  • 1 tsp chili powder
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 1 onion, quartered
  • 5 cloves garlic, smashed
  • 1 orange, juiced, halves reserved
  • 2 tbsp lime juice
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 16 small corn tortillas, warmed
  • finely chopped white onion, cilantro, lime wedges and salsa verde, to serve

Steps

  1. Rub the pork with the salt, cumin, oregano, chili powder and pepper and put it in the slow cooker with the onion and garlic.
  2. Pour in the orange and lime juice, tuck in the squeezed orange halves and bay leaf.
  3. Cover and cook on low 8 hours (or high 5), until the pork shreds easily.
  4. Lift out the pork and shred with forks or shredding claws, discarding any large pieces of fat. Strain and skim the juices.
  5. Heat the broiler. Spread the pork on a sheet pan, drizzle with 1/2 cup of the juices, and broil 5 to 8 minutes until the edges crisp. Toss, add a little more juice, and broil 3 minutes more.
  6. Serve in warm tortillas with onion, cilantro, lime and salsa.

TipBroil in batches so the pork isn't crowded; crowded meat steams instead of crisping.