Easiest Ever Slow Cooker Mexican Carnitas

Mexican Carnitas are so easy to make in your slow cooker. Use this yummy pork in everything from rice bowls (burrito bowls) to tacos, to hearty salads. Just throw a handful of common ingredients in your crockpot in the morning and a world of dinner possibilities will await you by afternoon!

Shredded Mexican Carnitas on a cutting board

What You’ll Need to Make Mexican Pork Carnitas

  • 1.5 pound pork roast shoulder
  • 2 Tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 3 Tbsp lime juice
  • ¼ cup of water
  • Salt and pepper to taste

How to Make Easy Slow Cooker Mexican Carnitas

Slow Cooker Shredded Mexican Pork on a cutting board

First, cube the pork into 2-3 inch pieces and place in your crockpot.

Next, top the pork with the olive oil and cumin, salt, and pepper.  Using a wooden spoon, mix together so that the oil and seasoning is fairly evenly distributed over the pork.

Next, add the garlic, lime juice, and water to the slow cooker. Give the mixture another good stir with your wooden spoon to distribute the ingredients you just added.

Set the slow cooker setting to “Low” and allow the meat to cook for 8 hours.

How to Make a Rice Bowl

Rice bowl made with Slow Cooker Mexican Carnitas

Rice bowls seem to be having their moment right now – my kids get super excited anytime they are on the menu.  Plus, I think a build-your-own meal is fun for most people.

Making a Rice bowl is super easy.  You can go all out on toppings or just set out a few things and let everyone serve themselves.

  1. Start by putting the rice in your bowl.  (Plan for about ½ – ¾ cup of rice per person.  Sometimes we use brown rice to keep it healthy, but my go-to is usually jasmine rice.
  2. Top the rice with your meat – in this case, Mexican Pork Carnitas
  3. Add as many or as few toppings as you like!  Some of our favorites Mexican rice bowl toppings are:
    • Sliced avocados or guacamole
    • Pico de gallo
    • Salsa verde – Trader Joe’s has a version in their refrigerator aisle that is my absolute FAVORITE
    • Beans
    • Cilantro
    • Taco Sauce
    • Corn
    • Cilantro
    • Sour cream
    • Shredded lettuce
    • Chopped fresh spinach
    • Cheese – crumbled queso Fresca, shredded cheddar, pepper jack, or Colby
Slow Cooker Mexican Carnitas in a burrito bowl

How to Make Mexican Carnitas Tacos

Slow Cooker Mexican Carnitas Tacos

You can also use Mexican Pork Carnitas meat to make AMAZING tacos. 

  1. Heat as many corn or flour tortillas as needed
  2. Lay the tortillas flat and top with Mexican Carnitas
  3. Add Toppings!  Some of our favorite taco toppings are:
    • Shredded cabbage
    • Shredded lettuce
    • Tomatoes
    • Pico de gallo
    • Guacamole or sliced avocados
    • Cheese – crumbled queso Fresca, shredded cheddar, pepper jack, or Colby
    • Taco sauce
    • Sour cream

How to Use Leftover Mexican Carnitas

Leftover mexican carnitas in a glass bento box with rice and vegetables

My family is not a huge fan of leftovers, but even they agree that these carnitas taste great for lunch the next day.

A super easy way to meal prep and store leftovers is by using these glass “bento box” type containers.

Simply put the rice in section, the pork in another section, and any veggies you’d like in the third section. This combination tastes great cold if you don’t have access to a microwave. If you do have access to a microwave, you can simply place the rice and pork carnitas into a microwave-safe bowl, heat, and then top with your leftover toppings.

Even More Easy Dinner Recipes You Will Love!

Shredded Mexican Carnitas on a cutting board

Easiest Ever Mexican Carnitas

Print Recipe
Mexican Carnitas are so easy to make in your slow cooker. Use this yummy pork in everything from rice bowls (burrito bowls) to tacos, to hearty salads. Just throw a handful of common ingredients in your crockpot in the morning and a world of dinner possibilities will await you by afternoon!
Prep Time:5 minutes
Cook Time:8 hours

Ingredients

  • · 1.5 pound pork roast shoulder
  • · 2 Tbsp olive oil
  • · 1 tsp ground cumin
  • · 2 cloves garlic minced
  • · 3 Tbsp lime juice
  • · ¼ cup of water
  • · Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  • First, cube the pork into 2-3 inch pieces and place in your crock pot.
  • Next, top the pork with the olive oil and cumin, salt, and pepper.  Using a wooden spoon, mix together so that the oil and seasoning is fairly evenly distributed over the pork.
  • Next, add the garlic, lime juice, and water to the slow cooker. Give the mixture another good stir with your wooden spoon to distribute the ingredients you just added.
  • Set the slow cooker setting to “Low” and allow the meat to cook for 8 hours.
Course: Dinner
Servings: 4 Servings
Author: Admin

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