This easy crockpot carnitas recipe is rich, smoky, and slightly spicy. Using a slow cooker makes the recipe incredibly easy—just set it and forget it while the meat slowly cooks to fall-apart perfection.

This is an image of easy crockpot carnitas on a blue and white checkered plate garnished with cilantro and lime

If you’re looking for an easy, flavor-packed, and ultra-tender pork recipe, this Easy Crockpot Carnitas is a game-changer! It’s one of those recipes that is great for meal prep but also for showing off at a dinner party.

This recipe actually came about as a happy accident! I was rushing at the grocery store and picked up a pork butt instead of a chuck roast – oops! I didn’t even realize until I got home and at that point I was like okay, let’s just see what happens if I make this the same way as I make my Slow-Cooker Beef Barbacoa Recipe but with pork!

Spoiler alert – it was a hit! The pork comes out so tender and has amazing flavor. It’s addicting!

INGREDIENTS FOR THIS EASY CROCKPOT CARNITAS RECIPE

  • Pork Shoulder
  • Olive oil
  • Salt
  • Ground black pepper
  • Dried leaf oregano
  • Ground cumin
  • Ground cloves
  • Bay leaves
  • Garlic cloves
  • Chipotle peppers (from a can of chipotle peppers in adobo sauce)
  • Adobo sauce, the sauce from the can of chipotle peppers
  • White onion
  • Water
This is a picture of ingredients. In the center is a pork shoulder and around it is olive oil, salt, ground black pepper, dried leaf oregano, ground cumin, ground cloves, bay leaves, garlic cloves, chipotle peppers, and a white onion

HOW TO MAKE EASY CROCKPOT CARNITAS

Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once it’s sizzling, brown your pork on all sides. You’re just looking for a good sear here to lock in all that flavor — it doesn’t have to be fully cooked yet!

This is an image of an uncooked pork shoulder sitting in a skillet
This is an image of a seared pork shoulder sitting in a skillet

Once your pork is browned, transfer it straight into your crock pot. Sprinkle the pork generously with salt, oregano, cumin, and just a pinch of cloves. Toss in a couple of bay leaves (don’t worry, those will be removed later), followed by the minced garlic, chopped onions, chipotle peppers, and a spoonful of adobo sauce from the can.

This is an image of uncooked pork shoulder sitting in a slow cooker topped with the ingredients that it'll be cooked with

Next, pour in the water, pop the lid on, and let the slow cooker do its thing. For the most tender, fall-apart pork, cook it on low for 8 to 10 hours — this is my favorite method. If you’re short on time, you can crank it up to high and cook for about 5 to 6 hours.

Once the pork is done, remove the bay leaves and use two forks to shred the meat right in the pot. It should fall apart effortlessly! Stir the shredded pork back into the juices to soak up all that flavor.

This is an image of easy crockpot carnitas that's been shredded and is sitting in a crockpot

At this point, you can pop it in the fridge for later, or dive right in!

This is an image of easy crockpot carnitas on a blue and white checkered plate garnished with cilantro and lime

Our family goes ham on this easy crockpot carnitas! We love it on my carnitas street tacos that are topped with fresh guacamole or if we have leftovers, I’ll make them into carnitas egg rolls that are paired with my super addicting cilantro lime sauce.

I promise, this recipe will be requested time and time again!

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

I don’t eat pork. Can I make this with beef?

Absolutely! You can use this exact recipe and swap out the pork for a beef chuck. It’s just as delicious!

Do I have to sear the meat?

No, you don’t have to. I’ve skipped this step before and it turns out fine but if you have the time I definitely recommend it. Searing the meat enhances the flavor and caramelizes the surface, creating a richer and more complex flavor profile.

This is an image of slow cooked carnitas on a blue and white checkered plate. The pork is topped with cilantro and surrounded by sliced limes.

Easy Crockpot Carnitas

If you're looking for an easy, flavor-packed, and ultra-tender pork recipe, this recipe for Easy Crockpot Carnitas is a game-changer! This dish features juicy, slow-cooked pork infused with a bold blend of chipotle, garlic, citrus, and aromatic spices. Whether you’re making tacos, burrito bowls, nachos, or meal-prep-friendly protein, this versatile shredded pork is perfect for a variety of dishes.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 24 minutes
Cook Time 8 hours
Total Time 8 hours 30 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine Mexican
Servings 8 Servings

Equipment

  • Crockpot or Slow Cooker

Ingredients
  

  • 3 lb Pork shoulder
  • 2 tbsp Olive oil
  • 1 tsp Salt
  • 1/4 tsp Ground black pepper
  • 1/2 tsp Dried oregano
  • 1/2 tsp Ground cumin
  • 1/4 tsp Ground cloves
  • 2 Bay leaves
  • 2 Garlic cloves Minced
  • 2 Chipotle peppers from a can of chiles in adobo Minced
  • 1 tbsp Adobo sauce from can of chiles in adobo
  • 1/2 White onion Diced
  • 1/2 cup Water

Instructions
 

  • Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat then brown the pork for about 10 minutes on each side once the pan is hot.
  • Immediately after, add the pork to your crock pot and sprinkle with salt, oregano, cumin, and cloves. Add in the bay leaves (these will be removed later), minced garlic, onions, chipotle peppers, and adobo sauce, then add the water and cover.
  • Cook on low for 8-10 hours (preferred) or on high for 5-6 hours, without opening the lid during the cooking time.
  • Once the roast is done cooking, remove and discard the bay leaves and shred the meat with 2 forks.
  • Add the shredded meat back into the juices
  • Serve immediately in tacos, burritos, quesadillas, or store in the fridge for up to 4 days. It also freezes well for future meals!