Slow Cooker Cilantro Lime Pork Carnitas
Slow Cooker Cilantro Lime Pork Carnitas is a tantalizing Mexican dish that transforms simple ingredients into a flavorful feast. The succulent pork shoulder is slow-cooked to tender perfection, infused with zesty lime juice and fresh cilantro, making it an ideal filling for tacos, burritos, or rice bowls. Perfect for gatherings or busy weeknights, this recipe requires minimal prep time and delivers mouthwatering results that will have everyone coming back for seconds.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 hours
- Total Time: 8 hours 15 minutes
- Yield: Approximately 8 servings 1x
- Category: Main
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 lb pork shoulder, cut into chunks
- 4 fresh limes, juiced
- 1 cup fresh cilantro, chopped (stems and leaves)
- 1 large sweet onion, diced
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tsp ground cumin
- 2 tsp dried oregano
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Trim excess fat from the pork shoulder and cut it into 2-inch chunks.
- In a bowl, mix cumin, oregano, salt, and pepper; rub the spice blend onto the pork.
- Place diced onion and minced garlic at the bottom of the slow cooker; add seasoned pork on top.
- Squeeze lime juice over the pork; add lime halves and half of the chopped cilantro.
- Cover and cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4 hours until tender.
- Shred the pork in the slow cooker juices using two forks; stir in remaining cilantro before serving.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: Approximately 3 oz (85g)
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 450mg
- Fat: 16g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 5g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 90mg
Keywords: For added flavor, sear the pork in a skillet before slow cooking. Experiment with toppings like avocado, radishes, or pickled onions to customize your tacos.