Copycat Slow Cooker Chipotle Carnitas Recipe
These slow cooker carnitas are tender, juicy, and packed with bold Mexican-inspired flavors. The pork is slow-cooked with citrus, garlic, and spices until it’s fall-apart soft, then crisped to perfection for that signature Chipotle-style texture. Perfect for tacos, burrito bowls, or meal prep.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 hours
- Total Time: : 8 hours 15 minutes
Ingredients
Scale
For the Carnitas:
2 lbs pork shoulder (boneless)
1 tablespoon olive oil
Salt and black pepper, to taste
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 onion, chopped
1/2 cup orange juice (fresh or bottled)
2 tablespoons lime juice
1/2 cup chicken broth
1 bay leaf
For Serving (optional):
Tortillas
Chopped cilantro
Diced onions
Salsa
Lime wedges
Instructions
- Season the pork shoulder with salt, pepper, cumin, oregano, chili powder, and smoked paprika.
- Heat olive oil in a pan over medium-high heat and sear the pork on all sides until browned.
- Transfer the pork to a slow cooker.
- Add garlic, chopped onion, orange juice, lime juice, chicken broth, and bay leaf.
- Cover and cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4–5 hours, until the pork is tender and easy to shred.
- Remove the pork from the slow cooker and shred it using two forks.
- Optional but recommended: spread shredded pork on a baking sheet and broil for 5–7 minutes until edges are crispy.
- Serve warm in tortillas or bowls with your favorite toppings.
Notes
320 kcal per serving