Marcia Smart's Slow Cooker Carnitas Tacos
Very easy

Marcia Smart's Slow Cooker Carnitas Tacos

5 minutesPrep time

360 minutesCook time

135 cal.Per serving

Ingredients for 1

Pork shoulder (bone-in)

1/2 lb

Pork shoulder (bone-in)

Yellow onion

1/4

Yellow onion

Bay leaf

optional

1/4

Bay leaf

Pico de gallo

1/4 cup

Pico de gallo

Guacamole

1/4 cup

Guacamole

Cilantro (fresh)

1/8 bunch

Cilantro (fresh)

Salsa verde

optional

1/8 cup

Salsa verde

Pickled jalapeño peppers

optional

1/8 cup

Pickled jalapeño peppers

Corn tortilla (soft taco)

2

Corn tortilla (soft taco)

Sour cream

optional

1/8 cup

Sour cream

Utensils

Slow cooker, Knife, Stovetop, Frying pan

recipe

  • Step 1
    Peel, halve & thinly slice the onion.
  • Step 2
    Clean & roughly chop the cilantro.
  • Step 3
    Dry the pork with paper towels. Salt (about 2.5 tsp) & pepper it all over. In a large sauté pan over medium-high heat, heat the oil. Add the pork & sear it, rotating it to sear all sides until a crust forms, about 4 min per side; be sure to sear the ends as well. (To do this, it’s easiest to hold the pork with tongs to keep it in place.)
  • Step 4
    Transfer the pork to a slow cooker & top it with the onion & bay leaf. Cover & cook on low for about 6 hrs.
  • Step 5
    After 6 hrs, shred the pork with two forks. Remove & discard the bone (if using bone-in pork). Return the shredded pork to the slow cooker. Change the temperature setting to warm until you’re ready to serve. If the meat doesn’t fall apart, return it to the slow cooker & set on high for an additional 45-60 min before trying again.
  • Step 6
    Serve the shredded pork with taco fixings: warm tortillas, pico de gallo, guacamole, cilantro & more (ex. salsa verde, pickled jalapeño peppers & sour cream). Enjoy!

Recipe tip

If you’d like to crisp up the pork after shredding, spread it in a single layer on a sheet pan & place it under a preheated broiler until the edges get caramelized & crispy.