Traditional Mexican Slow-Cooked Pork Carnitas Recipe
This succulent pork slow-cooker recipe brings you a super simple dish originating from the heart of Mexico.
Prep Time 15 mins
Cook Time 5 hrs
Total Time 5 hrs 15 mins
Course Main Course
Cuisine Mexican
large skillet
slow-cooker
Chef’s knife
Tongs
- 2 lb. pork butt
- 1 tbsp. lard
- 3 oz. orange juice
- 3 oz. Coca Cola
- 3 oz. milk
- salt (to taste)
Cut your pork into 3”x 3” pieces, give or take.
Place a large skillet over medium heat and once hot, add the lard. Once the lard is melted, brown the pork pieces on all sides.
Place the pork pieces and all their juices into a slow cooker. Add salt to taste; I usually put about 3 pinches.
Add the orange juice for citrus, the coca cola to caramelize, and the milk to tenderize.
Cover the slow cooker with a lid and set it to ‘low.’
Cook until the internal temp is 145 degrees and the carnitas easily fall apart (about 5 hours).
Keyword Carnitas, pork, slow-cooker