Pork carnitas tacos may have changed my life a little. Similar recipes have been floating around the internet for quite some time, yet I’ve never felt a strong urge to try them. Truthfully, I’ve had pork carnitas and barbacoa on my radar for nearly a year. I don’t use my slow cooker nearly as often as I should, so I’ve been debating which recipe would be chosen for my less than stellar amount of time spent using it.
Cleeeeearly, the pork carnitas recipe won the first round. I couldn’t shake how easy the various recipes I’d found seemed to be. Could it be true? Do i really spend just ten minutes prepping this beautiful chunk of meat before sending it on its way into the depths of my slow cooker? Apparently so. *hesitation ensues*
Needless to say, I fully anticipated a mediocre flavor profile with this recipe, but I could not have been more wrong. I don’t know what happened, but the slow cooker worked miracles on this pork loin, and my taste buds could not be happier. Listen, I was not exaggerating when I say that pork carnitas may have changed my life a little.
I still cannot get over how easy this recipe is! You just have to lovingly coat the pork loin with seasoning and olive oil, lay it in your slow cooker, toss some diced onion, garlic, and jalapeño on top, then squeeze fresh orange juice over it all. That’s it? That’s it?!
Yep. That’ll do.
I have to point out one of my recent discoveries. To make the entire process in easier, I have started using slow cooker liners
– this is a total game changer. Mark is usually left cleaning up after my slow cooker ventures, and he is beyond excited about this discovery. You simply remove the plastic liner from the cooker, and throw it away. That’s it!
– this is a total game changer. Mark is usually left cleaning up after my slow cooker ventures, and he is beyond excited about this discovery. You simply remove the plastic liner from the cooker, and throw it away. That’s it!
Maybe the ease of cleanup makes this succulent creation taste even better, as I have now been eating this stuff for three days in a row. It’s doing so many good things for me this week. Do you know how often I need to switch up the different flavors in my life? I’m one of those people that is at my happiest when I have at least three different apps/sides/dishes in front of me. I think, “yessss! all the goodies in one sitting!” That’s my life, and if you’re into food as much as I am, I’m sure you can relate. 🙂
This recipe is going to be a new staple around here, and hopefully for you too. I’ve now made pork carnitas tacos, burritos, nachos, tostadas, etc. Side note : spread some of these creamy black beans on the bottom of the tostada before you start building it. Ah-mahzing.
I know, I know. It’s really all kind of the same thing. But it’s cool that you can make yourself think you’re eating a different dish when you are actually just eating pork carnitas over and over again. And loving every damn second of it. <3
I hope your experience is as good as mine! 🙂
[my additional tips!]:
Actual Prep / cook time: 8 hours 30 minutes
Clean-up difficulty: 2
Overall difficulty to make: 1
Overall satisfaction: 10
Price range? This dish is under $10 for two people.
What I would change next time? Not. A. Thing.
For your own version, I recommend:.
- Use slow cooker liners
- Always pan sear the finished carnitas over medium-high heat. This adds a crispy texture, and accentuates the flavors even more.
- The beer is optional, but recommended. 🙂
© 2016 : a flavor journal : by sara alvord
Recipe Card love it? rate it!pork carnitas tacos.
Servings 8Ingredients
- 2 - 2.5 lb. top loin pork loin
- 1/2 tsp. salt divided
- 1/2 tsp. pepper divided
- 1 Tbsp. cumin
- 1 Tbsp. oregano
- 1 Tbsp. paprika
- 2 Tbsp. olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic minced (equals one heaping tablespoon)
- 2 Tbsp. jalapeno finely chopped with membrane and a few seeds
- 1 cup white onion chopped
- 1 medium orange or 1/3 cup orange juice
- 1/3 cup beer malty if possible. this is optional!
Instructions
Notes
I actually let my first version cook for ten hours, it was incredibly tender and shredded apart with nearly no effort.
I HIGHLY recommend heating a small sauté pan over medium-high heat, and adding your desired amount of shredded pork to the pan once it is hot. Let it sizzle and cook for a few minutes, turning it over so each side gets a chance to crisp up some. This adds an incredible texture to any carnitas dish you are creating. Adapted from RecipeTin EatsTried this recipe?
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Comments & Reviews
This looks so yummy, I’m going to try this weekend!
Thank you, Jennifer! I would love to know how it turns out!
Yum! I was just looking for a recipe like this yesterday! This is dinner this week for sure!
That’s awesome, Brittany! I’m really addicted to this one. I may make it again this week, too! 😀
I love carnitas! This sounds so delicious! And slow cooker recipes are always a winner in my book!
Mine too! I hope you get to try it – I made it AGAIN yesterday for a family party!
This looks so great, I’m gonna try it out this weekend!I I don’t know why but I’ve always been a little intimidated when it comes to carnitas, I just thought it’d be way more involved to make. I was wrong 😉
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I hope you got to try it! I made it again, and it was a huge hit with my whole family. Carnitas seems like it would be difficult, but this is still maybe one of the easiest recipes I’ve made to date!
Is it dinnertime yet!? These have me drooling over Taco Tuesday’s fiesta already! I’ve got to give these a try!
I hope you get the opportunity! I have made these more than ANY other recipe I’ve posted. I can’t get enough! 🙂
This looks damn good. DAMN GOOD! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you so much, Dom!! They’re one of my FAVORITES. <3 Hope you can try them out!
This is making me drool! Your photography is amazing. I’m lazy in the kitchen so I love that you included the clean-up difficulty!
Haha, thank you! I get lazy, too. 🙁 and feel like it’s always an entire process (cooking/baking, cleaning…), so I wanted to include everything! 🙂
Carnitas tacos…ughhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! *Drooling* Especially when they’re nice and juicy! YES!!!
Right?! This is seriously one of my FAVORITES.
This looks so yummyy !
Thank you!!
I don’t eat pork, but my hubby does. I should make this for him.
You should if you’d like to! It’s just so easy!
Now I have a great recipe for my pork loin I have in the freezer. We love food like this.
That’s awesome! I hope you love it as much as me!
We started raising our own pork. Good pork recipes are appreciated!
Oh my gosh I wish I lived near you to buy pork from you! That’s amazing! Let me know how his recipe goes!
Those look delicious!
Thank you so much, Jessica!
Yum this look Delicious, I love tacos. xx
Yes! What is better than tacos?!
I always love your photos 🙂 So tasty!
Thank you, Paige!!!
OK I just ate and now I’m hungry again. These look so delicious. I have to make them soon. Thanks so much for sharing this awesome recipe
My pleasure, Melanie! Thanks for stopping by!
OMG I’m drooling, this looks so frickin good!!
Thank you, Crystal! I know it. I crave these on a weekly basis!
The perfect summer night dinner ! Love it.
Exactly! It’s so easy!
Yum!! Love carnitas tacos. So good!
Yes – me too!! Thank you for stopping by!
These are the best! We prepared something similar a few days ago! Thank you for sharing!
My pleasure, Rebecca! They’re soooo addictive.
First of all, you’ve made me hungry! Those look/sound delicious and the way you laid everything out makes it all more approachable for miss Un-Domestic me. So thank you!! ☺️
Ps. LOVE your writing style. Quirky, fun and full of personality.
Thank you SO much Heather – definitely one of the best comments I’ve ever received!! 😀 😀 and I do hope you get to try it sometime – it’s so worth it!
YUM! I can totally see why this is a staple! I am printing off now and can see it being a staple in my house too! And I MUST get me some of those slow cooker liners!! Genius!
Oh my gosh, slow cooker liners are seriously one of the best kitchen hacks EVER! And I hope this becomes a staple for you – I really do think about this stuff on a weekly basis…
Aren’t slow cookers awesome?? I can’t cook but this I think I can do. And we love (just love) pork carnitas. PS: We have got to find ourselves those slow cooker liners!
Jolina, you so have to get some. It seems kind of gimmicky, but the first time you’ll take one out of your slow cooker, throw it away, and just stare at your clean slow cooker you’ll be like, “oh. my…god-where-have-these-been-all-my-life?!” 🙂
My husband loves this dish! yum
Looks good!
Yum! I love Pork Carnitas!