This Slow-Cooker Spicy Pork Carnitas is a game-changer. With just a few ingredients and minimal prep time, you can enjoy the most incredible spicy, slightly sweet, fall-apart tender pork goodness. This recipe is sure to become a favorite in your household.
Tender, Spicy, and So Easy: Your New Favorite Pork Carnitas Recipe!
This Slow-Cooker Spicy Pork Carnitas recipe is the easiest you will ever make—it takes less than 5 minutes to throw the ingredients into a slow cooker. You honestly can’t go wrong with this recipe. You only need to let this baby cook in all its glory for 8 hours for the most amazing fall-apart tender pork goodness!
These pork carnitas are also great because they only require a FEW ingredients, most of which you’ll probably have in your pantry.
I should also mention that this recipe creates enough to feed a big crowd, so it’s perfect for game day gatherings or casual get-togethers. They’re incredibly versatile and make for delicious leftovers.
What To Love About This Recipe
It’s So Easy That Anyone Can Do It!: Seriously, if you can toss ingredients into a slow cooker, you’re golden. It’s a breeze! You’ll spend less than 5 minutes prepping, and then you can just let the slow cooker do its thing while you go about your day. Easy peasy!
Flavor Explosion!: This recipe is all about flavor – spicy, slightly sweet, and oh-so-tender pork that practically melts in your mouth. It’s like a party for your palate!
You Won’t Need a Ton of Ingredients: Forget complicated shopping lists. With just a handful of ingredients, you’ll create a dish that tastes like it came straight from a fancy restaurant. Plus, you probably have most of these items in your pantry already!
Perfect for Feeding a Crowd: Planning a game-day gathering or a casual get-together with friends? This recipe has you covered! It makes enough to feed a small army, so you can be sure everyone leaves happy and satisfied.
Meal Prep Made Simple: Say goodbye to mealtime stress! Whip up a batch of these Spicy Pork Carnitas and you’ve got meals sorted for days. They’re incredibly versatile and make for delicious leftovers.
Freezer Friendly: Got leftovers? No problem! Pop them in the freezer for a future feast. It’s like having a delicious homemade meal waiting for you whenever needed. How awesome is that?
Ingredients You’ll Need, Substitutions & Notes
Please check the recipe card at the bottom of the post for exact quantities and detailed instructions (scroll down).
- Pork Shoulder: This cut of meat is perfect for slow cooking. It becomes incredibly tender and shreds easily.
- Salt and Black Pepper: Seasoning your pork before cooking is essential for flavor.
- Dried Oregano: Adds a hint of earthiness and depth to the dish.
- Pace® Picante Sauce: The salsa adds flavor and a bit of acidity to tenderize the meat.Pace® Picante sauce is made with tomatoes, onions, and their famous, hand-picked jalapeños- this sauce really kicked up the flavor! Pace® Picante Sauce comes in mild, medium, and hot. I used the medium level for this recipe because I didn’t want to make it too spicy for children to eat, but feel free to use any version that fits your taste.
- Worcestershire Sauce: Provides depth of flavor and a savory kick.
- Brown Sugar (optional): If you like a touch of sweetness, add brown sugar to balance the heat. If you prefer a spicier dish, you can omit it.
- Bay Leaf: Adds a subtle herbal note.
- Rosemary Sprigs (optional): These aromatic herbs infuse the pork with a lovely fragrance.
Process Overview: How To Make Spicy Pork Carnitas In The Slow Cooker Step-by-Step
Please check the recipe card at the bottom of the post for exact quantities and detailed instructions (scroll down).
- Season the Pork
Season the pork shoulder with salt, black pepper, and oregano, rubbing in thoroughly on all sides. Be generous.
- Throw everything in the slow cooker
Place the pork in the slow cooker. Add picante sauce, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, bay leaf, and rosemary.
- Cook
Cook for 8 hours on low or 4 hours on high. The pork should be so tender that it falls apart easily. Remove the pork from the slow cooker and shred the meat using two forks, removing excess fat. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
- Broil (Optional)
Heat the oven to broil. Line one baking sheet with foil and spray with cooking oil. Place the carnitas onto the baking sheet with half of the juices and broil until most of the pork looks golden, crisp, and crusted, about 4 minutes. Remove from the oven. Serve immediately.
Recipe Tips
- Trim Excess Fat: While some fat adds flavor, too much can make the dish greasy. Trim any large pieces of fat from the pork before cooking.
- Use Fresh Herbs: If you have fresh rosemary on hand, it adds a wonderful fragrance to the dish. Simply tie the sprigs together with kitchen twine for easy removal before serving.
- Adjust Heat Level: You can tailor the spiciness of the dish to your preference by choosing your preferred level of Picante sauce.
- Shred with Ease: Once the pork is cooked, it should be so tender it practically falls apart. Use two forks to shred it effortlessly.
- Finish It In The Broil!: You can either eat the pork right out of the slow cooker or broil it in the oven to give it a crisp edge. I highly recommend finishing these carnitas under the broiler to get them nicely caramelized. Believe me, you need those crisp outside edges in your life.
Food Allergy Swaps
Gluten-Free: Ensure your Worcestershire sauce is gluten-free, or use a gluten-free alternative.
Variations & Additions
Pork: While pork shoulder is the best choice for carnitas due to its tenderness and flavor, you can also use pork butt or pork loin. However, keep in mind that the texture may vary slightly.
Heat Level: You can tailor the spiciness of the dish to your preference by choosing your preferred level of Picante sauce, which comes in hot, medium, or mild heat levels.
Serving Suggestions
There are many ways to serve carnitas, but one of our favorites is tostadas. It’s like a taco but flat. It’s usually made with a fried corn tortilla and topped with whatever your heart desires! Today, it’s mashed avocado, mango salsa, and queso fresco. Here are other serving ideas:
- Tacos: Serve the Spicy Pork Carnitas in warm tortillas with your favorite taco toppings – shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, avocado, and a squeeze of lime.
- Burrito Bowls: Create a delicious burrito bowl with a base of rice or quinoa, topped with shredded pork, black beans, corn, salsa, and guacamole.
- Quesadillas: Fill flour tortillas with the pork and your choice of cheese, then cook until golden and crispy for a tasty quesadilla.
- Nachos: Pile the shredded pork onto tortilla chips along with melted cheese, jalapeños, and sour cream for epic nachos.
Storing and Freezing Instructions
Any leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. For longer storage, freeze the cooked pork in freezer-safe bags or containers for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating.
Reheat Pulled Pork Leftovers
1. Stovetop Method: Place a non-stick skillet or a saucepan on the stove over medium heat. Add some of the reserved cooking juices to the skillet to help keep the pork moist. Once the liquid is warm, add the leftover pulled pork to the skillet. Stir occasionally to ensure even heating. Cook for 5-10 minutes or until the pork is heated through.
2. Microwave Method: Place the leftover pulled pork in a microwave-safe dish—splash of some of the reserved cooking juices. Cover the pork with a damp paper towel. Microwave on high for 1-2 minutes. Check the pork and stir it halfway through to ensure even heating. Continue microwaving in 30-second intervals until the pork is heated through. Carefully remove it from the microwave, as the dish may be hot.
Frequently Asked Questions
According to my testing, NORMAL = LOW mode in a traditional slow cooker. MORE = HIGH mode in a traditional slow cooker.
While pork shoulder is the best choice for carnitas due to its tenderness and flavor, you can also use pork butt or pork loin. However, keep in mind that the texture may vary slightly.
Absolutely! Cook on high pressure for about 60-70 minutes, then allow a natural pressure release for 15 minutes before manually releasing any remaining pressure.
The spiciness level depends on the type of Picante sauce you use. Adjust the heat by choosing mild, medium, or hot sauce according to your taste preference.
More Pork Recipes You’ll Love!
Recipe Card 📖
Slow Cooker Spicy Pork Carnitas
This Slow-Cooker Spicy Pork Carnitas is a game-changer. With just a few ingredients and minimal prep time, you can enjoy the most incredible spicy, slightly sweet, fall-apart tender pork goodness. This recipe is sure to become a favorite in your household.
Instructions
-
Season the pork shoulder with salt, black pepper, and oregano rubbing in thoroughly on all sides. Be generous.
-
Place the pork in the slow cooker. Add Picante sauce, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, bay leaf, and rosemary (if using); mix to combine.
-
Cook for 8 to 12 hours on LOW. The pork should be so tender that the meat falls apart easily. Remove and discard the bay leaf and rosemary sprigs (if used). Then, remove the pork from the slow cooker and shred the meat using two forks, removing excess fat. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
-
Heat oven’s broil. Line one baking sheet with foil and spray with cooking oil.
-
Place the carnitas on a baking sheet with half of the juices, and broil until most of the pork looks golden, crisp, and crusted, about 4 minutes. Remove from the oven. Serve while warm with whatever your heart desires.Tip: Reserve the other half of the cooking juices to reheat leftovers.
Storing and Freezing: Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. For longer storage, freeze the cooked pork in freezer-safe bags or containers for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating.
Reheat Pulled Pork Leftovers:
- Stovetop Method: Place a non-stick skillet or a saucepan on the stove over medium heat. Add some of the reserved cooking juices to the skillet to help keep the pork moist. Once the liquid is warm, add the leftover pulled pork to the skillet. Stir occasionally to ensure even heating. Cook for 5-10 minutes or until the pork is heated through.
- Microwave Method: Place the leftover pulled pork in a microwave-safe dish—a splash of some of the reserved cooking juices. Cover the pork with a damp paper towel. Microwave on high for 1-2 minutes. Check the pork and stir it halfway through to ensure even heating. Continue microwaving in 30-second intervals until the pork is heated through. Carefully remove it from the microwave, as the dish may be hot.
Instant Pot Method: Season the pork. Place pork in the instant pot and pour coke around it. Add the rest of the ingredients. Cook on Manual/High pressure for 70 minutes. When the timer beeps, allow the pot to naturally release pressure for about 15 minutes longer. Remove the lid and shred the meat.
Recipe Tips:
- Trim Excess Fat: While some fat adds flavor, too much can make the dish greasy. Trim any large pieces of fat from the pork before cooking.
- Use Fresh Herbs: If you have fresh rosemary on hand, it adds a wonderful fragrance to the dish. Simply tie the sprigs together with kitchen twine for easy removal before serving.
- Adjust Heat Level: You can tailor the spiciness of the dish to your preference by choosing your preferred level of Picante sauce.
- Shred with Ease: Once the pork is cooked, it should be so tender it practically falls apart. Use two forks to shred it effortlessly.
- Finish It In The Broil!: You can either eat the pork right out of the slow cooker or broil it in the oven to give it a crisp edge. I highly recommend finishing these carnitas under the broiler to get them nicely caramelized. Believe me, you need those crisp outside edges in your life.
Food Allergy Swaps:
Gluten-Free: Ensure your Worcestershire sauce is gluten-free, or use a gluten-free alternative.
Variations & Additions:
Pork: While pork shoulder is the best choice for carnitas due to its tenderness and flavor, you can also use pork butt or pork loin. However, keep in mind that the texture may vary slightly.
Heat Level: You can tailor the spiciness of the dish to your preference by choosing your preferred level of Picante sauce, which comes in hot, medium, or mild heat levels.
Read the whole post for more tips, tricks, variations, step-by-step photos, faqs, and more.
★ Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a 5-star (⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️) rating below!
Please note that nutritional information is a rough estimate and can vary depending on the products used.
Nutrition
Calories: 346kcalCarbohydrates: 18gProtein: 37gFat: 13gSaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 123mgSodium: 1601mgPotassium: 999mgFiber: 2gSugar: 13gVitamin A: 425IUVitamin C: 4.9mgCalcium: 99mgIron: 4mg
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