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Tender Slow Cooker Carnitas Tacos Recipe Easy Homemade with Pickled Red Onion

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This slow cooker carnitas recipe yields tender, juicy pork with crispy edges, complemented by tangy pickled red onions for a flavorful and easy homemade taco experience.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 3–4 lbs pork shoulder (well-marbled)
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 cup orange juice (fresh-squeezed preferred)
  • 1/4 cup lime juice
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 1 tbsp chili powder
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 large yellow onion, sliced
  • 2 tbsp vegetable or canola oil
  • 1 medium red onion, thinly sliced (for pickled onions)
  • 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tbsp sugar
  • 1 tsp salt (for pickling)
  • 1/2 cup water (for pickling)

Instructions

  1. Trim excess fat from pork shoulder and cut into 3-4 inch chunks.
  2. In a small bowl, mix cumin, oregano, chili powder, salt, and pepper. Rub seasoning all over pork chunks.
  3. Place sliced yellow onion and minced garlic at the bottom of the slow cooker. Pour in orange juice and lime juice, add bay leaves, then place pork on top.
  4. Cover and cook on LOW for 8-10 hours or HIGH for 4-6 hours until pork is tender and shreds easily.
  5. While pork cooks, combine apple cider vinegar, water, sugar, and salt in a bowl. Stir until sugar dissolves, add sliced red onion, and let sit at room temperature for at least 30 minutes or refrigerate longer for best flavor.
  6. Remove pork from slow cooker, discard bay leaves and large fat pieces, shred pork with two forks.
  7. Heat oil in a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add shredded pork in a single layer, press down slightly, and cook without stirring for 3-5 minutes until crispy and browned. Flip and crisp the other side. Work in batches if needed.
  8. Warm tortillas on a dry skillet or over a gas flame. Assemble tacos with crispy carnitas, pickled red onions, fresh cilantro, and a squeeze of lime.

Notes

Pat shredded pork dry with paper towels before crisping to achieve best texture. Crisping adds essential texture and flavor. Pickled onions can be made ahead and refrigerated for better flavor. Avoid overcrowding skillet when crisping to prevent steaming.

Nutrition

Keywords: slow cooker carnitas, carnitas tacos, pickled red onion, easy tacos, homemade carnitas, slow cooker pork, Mexican tacos

Find it online: https://emmayum.com/tender-slow-cooker-carnitas-tacos-recipe-easy-homemade-with-pickled-red-onion/