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Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas

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This Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas recipe is so easy to put together! Use Smithfield ® All Natural Pork Shoulder along with a few spices for delicious and tasty Pork Carnitas!

Many of you out there are preparing for your kids to go back to school. Me, I have a few more year before I go down the lane that many of you walking. So, I am now starting to create some easy and satisfying meals that I can prepare for my family when that time does happen. My husband and I are working professionals with very busy schedules, and we don’t have a ton of time to cook when we come home from work. So we need something that is just about done when we get home so we can eat as a family.

All year long slow cooker meals are regularly sought out for us. But slow cooker and crockpot meals are more in demand in the Fall. In the Fall you need a meal with a bit more sustenance to fight the chill on the cold days. Not only that, you are going to need a meal that you kind of prep ahead and layout for your family to help themselves. Heck, you had a long day too. That is where this Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas recipe comes into play. You can make this dish and the night before prep all of your toppings that go on a taco and keep them in containers. That way, all you have to do when you get home is shred the pork, broil them, and set them out so everyone can build their own taco.  Here are some taco topping ideas that are perfect for Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas

  • Lettuce
  • Diced tomatoes
  • Cheese
  • Pickled onions
  • Sour cream
  • Grilled pineapple

Wouldn’ it be fun to let your kids make their own taco when they come home from school?!

About Smithfield ®  All Natural Pork

Smithfield ® is a top-quality brand for pork that is free of steroids and artificial ingredients. Smithfield works with your local farms to produce quality meat that will satisfy your family. Using the All-Natural Pork Shoulder provides a ton of flavor and is quite affordable. Their meat options are perfect to prepare for a busy weeknight or entertaining company. You can make this Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas recipe and lay topping out as a bar or you can make the tacos as you see in the photo below.  Top off your tacos with pickled onions, cilantro, and this cilantro-lime crema.

The best thing about Smithfield All- Natural Pork is that it is Guaranteed Tender and perfect for the slow cooker! That means that all of Smithfield pork products are USDA processed verified, hand-selected, and fresh, never frozen!

Smithfield All- Natural Pork Smithfield can be found at your local Walmart Online Grocery Service. You can find their products near the refrigerated section or you can do like I do and schedule a Walmart Online Grocery Service to pick up your ingredients. This is an awesome option when you don’t have a lot of time and if you are wanting to stay on a budget. When you drive to the location of your chosen, you don’t even have to get out of the car, they’ll bring it to you.

 

 So this Fall let’s be sure we are making easy home-cooked meals and not dive into the fast-food for dinner funnel that many of us can’t seem to get out of. Try my Slow Cooker Carnitas recipe and create a taco bar for your family, friends, or guest to help themselves while you take a load off.

 

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Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas

Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas

★★★★★

4.9 from 9 reviews

  • Author: Nicole Nared-Washington from Brown Sugar Food Blog
  • Total Time: 8 hours 40 mins
  • Yield: 10-12 1x
Print Recipe

Description

Make this Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas using Smithfield All-Natural Pork and lay out different toppings for your guest or family to serve themselves.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 3lb Smithfield ® All-Natural Pork Shoulder
  • 1 medium onion, sliced into crescent moons
  • 4 cloves garlic, diced
  • 1 tbsp. Kosher salt
  • 1 tbsp black pepper
  • 2 tsp. Cumin
  • 1 tsp. Smoked paprika
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 1tsp. Garlic powder
  • 1tsp. Chilli powder
  • 1 tsp. Dried oregano
  • 1 large orange, freshly squeezed
  • 1c. Chicken broth
  • 1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
  • 10–12 small soft tortillas
  • Toppings: lettuce, cheese, onions, diced tomatoes, pickled onions

Instructions

  1. Slice the onion and half-moons and place in the bottom of the crockpot. Add the chopped garlic.
  2. Remove the plastic from the pork shoulder and the net. Season all around the shoulder with salt, pepper, cumin, smoked paprika, onion and garlic powder, chili powder, and dried oregano. Rub the seasonings into the pork shoulder all around. Place in the slow cooker and pour the orange juice and chicken broth around the pork shoulder and turn the slow cooker on low heat. Allow the pork shoulder to cook for 6-8 hours.
  3. Remove from slow cooker and place on cutting board. Allow the pork to rest for 10 minutes. Use two forks and begin to shred the pork.
  4. Turn your oven on broil (high).
  5. Line a baking sheet wit aluminum foil and spread the pork evenly around the sheet. Place on the top rack in your oven for 3-4 minutes. Just long enough to where they can get somewhat crisp.
  6. Remove from oven and lay out your taco toppings and tell your family that dinner is ready!
  • Prep Time: 40 mins
  • Cook Time: 8 hours
  • Category: Dinner

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Comments

  1. Michelle says

    Such a great recipe for fall. You are so right too, fall is the perfect time for slow cooker meals and casseroles.

    Reply

  2. Julie says

    Love pork carnitas and how versatile they are – one batch can be used in so many different dishes. We usually make ours in a pressure cooker, but the slow cooker seems even easier since I can just let it go all day while I’m at work.

    Reply

  3. Kate says

    This pork carnitas looks so delicious and really versatile, you could add it to so many dishes! I bet the orange juice adds a nice flavor too, I will have to try this one out!

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  4. Jacqueline Debono says

    This slow cooker pork shoulder looks so delicious! I love carnitas and the idea of making a taco bar is brilliant. I don’t use my slow cooker much in summer but I agree with you this is a great meal to make when the weather gets cooler!
    Jacqueline Debono recently posted…Spaghetti alla Checca Recipe from RomeMy Profile

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  5. Claire says

    We had this for dinner the other night and it was just perfect!!!
    I served it with tacos, sweetcorn salsa and avocado. Just delicious!

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  6. Sara says

    We LOVE carnitas at my house! This recipe looks so, so delicious. I am pinning as we speak and definitely making this next week! I like the option of ordering items online and picking them up from Wal-Mart, too! Not being tempted by a thousand other things as I’m looking for the one or two items I went for would be great!

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  7. Carol Borchardt says

    This looks super flavorful and it’s going to be perfect for upcoming game day gatherings this fall! It’s sure to be a hit. Pinning too!

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  8. Amy says

    Oooh, I’m so excited that it’s slow cooker season again! (I mean I guess it always is … but still …) This looks so delicious — I love all the bold, fresh flavors and fun topping ideas!
    Amy recently posted…Easy Chia Seed Pudding RecipeMy Profile

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  9. Charity says

    Does it get better than carnitas? I always freeze some for later. It’s like the gift that keeps giving!

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  10. lauren says

    The only thing better than pork carnitas is a great slow cooker meal! This certainly fits the bill for the upcoming school season. We’re starting so many activities, an easy go to dinner is going to be loved in this house!

    Reply

  11. Natalie says

    This sounds like perfect dinner for my family. I absolutely love all the flavors and spices you used here. Recipe is easy to follow and make. I will definitely give this a try.

    ★★★★★

    Reply