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Shredded Pork Carnitas for Slow Cookers or Instant Pots – Easy Recipe for Your Busy Weeknights

By Lori, Last updated on October 4, 2021
The links in the post below may be affiliate links. Read the full disclosure.

Shredded Pork Carnitas for Slow Cookers or Instant Pots – Easy Recipe for Your Busy Weeknights

The easiest dinner for busy nights is Pork Carnitas. Just pre-make the shredded pork in your slow cooker or Instant Pot and have an authentic delicious meal in a matter of minutes.

Shredded Pork Carnitas for Slow Cookers or Instant Pots – Easy Recipe for Your Busy Weeknights

 

Navigate This Article

  • 1 Super Easy Pork Carnitas – in Slow Cooker or Instant Pot
    • 1.1 Pork Carnitas Shopping List
    • 1.2 Carnitas Dry Rub
  • 2 How To Make Easy Shredded Pork Carnitas
    • 2.1 Carnitas Marinade
  • 3 Pork Carnitas Recipe For Busy Nights – Dinner in a Flash
    • 3.1 Ingredients  
    • 3.2 Instructions 
  • 4 Can You Use An Instant Pot as a Slow Cooker?
  • 5 What to Serve With Pork Carnitas

Super Easy Pork Carnitas – in Slow Cooker or Instant Pot

You know what I love about Pork Carnitas? One batch can be used throughout the entire week!

I love making these Pork Carnitas on Sundays so I can use them in various dishes for lunch and dinner for the next couple of days. Tacos are my favorite dish to serve during the week — not just on Taco Tuesday! It is a filling and delicious meal for any busy weeknight.

With leftovers (if you have them!) you can use the Pork Carnitas in a salad, make a quesadilla, or even add it to a soup or chili.

I prefer to make this in my slow cooker, but it can be made in either a slow cooker or an Instant Pot. I’ll share instructions for both.

Shredded Pork Carnitas for Slow Cookers or Instant Pots – Easy Recipe for Your Busy Weeknights

Pork Carnitas Shopping List

This is what you need before you make the Tex-Mex Carnitas for dinner.

  • Apple Cider Vinegar
  • Olive Oil
  • Chopped Garlic
  • Oregano
  • Smoked Paprika
  • Cumin
  • Chile Lime Seasoning or Chile Powder
  • Fresh Chopped Rosemary
  • 1 Lemon
  • Pork Shoulder Roast
  • 1 cup Bone Broth

Carnitas Dry Rub

These spices also make one of the best rubs for pork chops too. Just rub it on the chop and then pan fry – the spices have a kick which makes it more authentic and delicious.

How To Make Easy Shredded Pork Carnitas

Here are some step-by-step directions with pictures. You’ll be making your own pork carnitas in no time.

Shredded Pork Carnitas for Slow Cookers or Instant Pots – Easy Recipe for Your Busy Weeknights

Carnitas Marinade

The first step is to make the marinade. If you are reading this and want to make this today and don’t have time for your meat to marinate, don’t worry! You can also just rub this on the meat and cook immediately. Both ways are delicious.

Whisk together vinegar, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, salt, pepper, oregano, rosemary, smoked paprika, cumin, and chili powder in a bowl and then pour over pork roast to marinade. Marinade overnight or just rub into the roast and cook immediately.

Shredded Pork Carnitas for Slow Cookers or Instant Pots – Easy Recipe for Your Busy Weeknights

In a large skillet, heat 1 tsp olive oil add roast, and brown on each side. We don’t want to cook the meat on the skillet entirely, we just want to brown all sides to seal in the flavor and create a crispy exterior.

Shredded Pork Carnitas for Slow Cookers or Instant Pots – Easy Recipe for Your Busy Weeknights

Now it’s looking good! Those charred edges are exactly what you want!

Next, you will add 1 cup of bone broth to an Instant Pot or Crock-Pot, and place the roast inside, then cook it all.

For Crockpot set on low for 8 hours or high for 6 hours.

In an Instant Pot, set on slow cooker for 6-8 hours.

Shredded Pork Carnitas for Slow Cookers or Instant Pots – Easy Recipe for Your Busy Weeknights

The roast will shred apart very easily with tongs or a fork when done. Shred the roast and separate the meat from the fat.

For crispy carnitas, set oven to 375 degrees, place shredded pork in a baking dish and bake for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, flip the meat over and bake for another 10 minutes. If you skip this step, your meat won’t be as crispy, it will be more tender.

Shredded Pork Carnitas for Slow Cookers or Instant Pots – Easy Recipe for Your Busy Weeknights

Serve on tortillas for tacos, use on a salad, add BBQ sauce for pulled pork sandwiches, top with Trader Joe’s Chile Verde for a Green Chile dish. So many options!

Are you ready for the printable recipe card? Here you go!

Shredded Pork Carnitas for Slow Cookers or Instant Pots – Easy Recipe for Your Busy Weeknights

Pork Carnitas Recipe For Busy Nights – Dinner in a Flash

Lori
These easy pork carnitas can be made in a slow cooker or an Instant Pot.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 1 hr
Cook Time 8 hrs
Total Time 9 hrs
Course Main Course
Cuisine Mexican
Servings 8 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 1 tsp Apple Cider Vinegar
  • 1 tbs Olive Oil
  • 1 tsp Chopped Garlic
  • 1 tsp Oregano
  • 1 tsp Smoked Paprika
  • ½ tsp Cumin
  • 1 tsp Chile Lime Seasoning or 1 tsp Chile Powder
  • ½ tsp Salt
  • ½ tsp Pepper
  • 1 tsp Fresh Rosemary , chopped
  • 1 lemon , squeezed
  • Pork Shoulder Roast
  • 1 cup Bone Broth

Instructions
 

  • Whisk together vinegar, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, salt, pepper, oregano, rosemary, smoked paprika, cumin, and chili powder in a bowl and then pour over pork roast to marinade.
  • Marinade overnight or just rub into the roast and cook immediately.
  • In a large skillet heat 1 tsp olive oil add roast and brown on each side.
  • Add 1 cup of bone broth to an Instant Pot or Crock Pot, place roast inside and slow cook.
  • For Crockpot set on low for 8 hours or high for 6 hours.
  • In an instant pot set on slow cooker for 6-8 hours.
  • The roast will shred apart very easily with tongs when done. Shred roast separating meat from fat.
  • For crispy carnitas set over to 375 degrees, place shredded pork in a baking dish and bake for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes flip the meat over and bake for another 10 minutes.
Keyword Dinner
Shredded Pork Carnitas for Slow Cookers or Instant Pots – Easy Recipe for Your Busy Weeknights

 

Can You Use An Instant Pot as a Slow Cooker?

Yes, you can definitely use an Instant Pot as a slow cooker. It has a slow cook setting. But the only thing to watch out for is how much broth or water you use.

The lid of slow cookers lets more steam out, which evaporates more liquid from the dish. But an Instant Pot locks it all in. So if you want crispier carnitas, either use it as a slow cooker or finish them in the oven.

If you are new to cooking with an Instant Pot, here is the most popular one. Be sure and read the reviews.

Instant Pot DUO60 6 Qt 7-in-1 Multi-Use Programmable Pressure Cooker, Slow Cooker, Rice Cooker, Steamer, Sauté, Yogurt Maker and Warmer

 

What to Serve With Pork Carnitas

Make this with some of my other favorite Mexican recipes:

  • Mexican food recipes for the family
  • Easy Chicken Enchiladas
Shredded Pork Carnitas for Slow Cookers or Instant Pots – Easy Recipe for Your Busy Weeknights

 

PIN it Now and Make it Later

Shredded Pork Carnitas for Slow Cookers or Instant Pots – Easy Recipe for Your Busy Weeknights
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