Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas

Who doesn't love a great crock pot meal in the middle of a busy week?  I'm sure that I'm not the only person who struggles to get dinner on the table during the week.  Late night work meetings, homework assignments and soccer practice all seem to get in the way of even the best dinner plans.  So it's crock pot meals to the rescue for this  family on busy weeknights.  (Who am I kidding?  It's just as hard to get dinner on the weekends.)

So here is one of my favorite crock pot delicacies - Slow Cooker Carnitas.  It's super easy to throw everything in the crock pot in the morning, pull the pork apart in the afternoon and let everyone make their own carnitas for dinner. 

Pretty sure that slicing some fresh peaches and adding them to the plate - makes this a complete meal.  (It's Wednesday people!)  Meat (Protein) + Corn Tortillas (Vegetable?) + Peaches (Fruit) = Complete Meal.  Just go with. 

Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas
3 pound boneless pork butt
1 small onion, cut into 1" pieces
3 strips of orange peel
juice from orange juice
3 strips lime peel
juice from 1 lime
5 cloves garlic, smashed
1 Tablespoon cumin
1 Tablespoon oregano
2 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 1/2 teaspoons pepper
2 bay leaves
2 Tablespoons vegetable oil

Cut pork into 2 inch cubes.

Combine pork, onion, orange peel and  juice, lime peel and juice, garlic, cumin, oregano, salt, pepper and bay leaves in slow cooker. 

Cook on low 8-10 hours.

Using slotted spoon, remove pork pieces from slow cooker and transfer to another bowl.

Strain remaining juices and solids through a strainer into a separate bowl.

Shred pork with forks. (or fingers.)

Discard strained solids.  Heat 1 T. oil in large skillet.  Add pork.  Pour 1 cup of reserved juices over pork.  Cook until liquid nearly evaporates and meat begins to brown.

Transfer meat to a serving bowl or platter for the table.

Wednesday night dinner never tasted so good.  The lime and orange flavors really take these carnitas from ordinary to extraordinary.  My family still loves their BBQ sauce so despite the fabulous flavor of the pork, they added BBQ sauce to their carnitas.  (Some battles I just can't win.) 

Pull out your crock pot and give these carnitas a try - you will not be disappointed.

Ciao!

Click here for a printable version of this recipe