Slow Cooker Carnitas Pork Tacos
These Crockpot Carnitas Pork Tacos with Queso Fresco, lime, cilantro and scallion are the perfect weeknight meal, or a great set-it-and-forget-it party food (I’m looking at you, football season). With a simple list of ingredients for the perfect carnitas seasoning, these tacos are as easy as they are delicious.
Prep Time1 hour hr 20 minutes mins
Cook Time8 hours hrs
Total Time8 hours hrs 20 minutes mins
Course: Dinner, game day, Main Course
Keyword: carnitas, crockpot recipes, mexican recipes, pulled pork, slow cooker recipes, tacos
- 1 12 oz beer (Lager or Pilsner)*
- 3-4 lbs cubed pork shoulder, cut into 2” cubes
- 8-10 cloves or peeled garlic
- 1 large onion, sliced
- 1 large orange*
- 2 limes
- 2 ½ tablespoon cumin
- 1 ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 ½ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon oregano
- 2 bay leaves
- 2 tablespoon canola oil
Taco Fixings
- 6 scallions, finely chopped*
- 10 oz Queso Fresco, crumbled
- 30-40 small white corn tortillas (such as Guerrero), charred
- 2 limes, quartered
- 1 cup chopped cilantro leaves
Add the cubed pork, spices and beer to the crockpot. Slice limes and orange in half and juice directly into crockpot, and throw in the fruit once juiced. Add whole garlic cloves and sliced onions. Stir all ingredient to combine, and cook on low for 8 hours, or until the pork shreds easily when pressed with a fork. 2. Using tongs, transfer the meat to a cutting board and shred with 2 forks. Discard the citrus and bay leaves, and transfer the remaining juices to a bowl or liquid measuring cup. Discard any large pieces of fat as you shred the pork. 3. Heat a tbs canola oil in a large frying pan over medium high heat and add the shredded pork, working in 2 batches as to not crowd the pork for even browning. Heat the pork in the pan for 2-3 minutes, and slowly add the pork juices, just enough to moisten the pan. Press the pork down and fry until the pork begins to crisp around the edges (about 3-5 minutes. Flip the pork and add the juices again. Cook for an additional 2-3 minutes, and continue until all pork is crisped/browned. Add in ¼ cup of remaining juices and serve. (alternatively, you could also lay the shredded pork out on a rimmed baking sheet with about 1 cup of the juices and broil 3-5 minutes, until top is crisp)