Why You’ll Love these Crispy Carnitas
While I’ve made my fair share of dry, disappointing pork over the years, these crispy carnitas are the complete opposite – they’re juicy, flavorful, and ridiculously easy to make. You literally dump everything into your slow cooker and walk away. No browning, no fussing, no babysitting.
Just tender, pull-apart pork that gets perfectly crispy edges.
What Ingredients are in Crispy Carnitas?
The beauty of these crispy carnitas lies in their simplicity – you probably have most of these ingredients sitting in your pantry right now. This isn’t one of those recipes that sends you on a wild goose chase through specialty stores, searching for obscure spices that cost more than your grocery budget.
- 2 lbs pork tenderloin
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1/2 cup chopped onion
- 2-3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 cup orange juice
- 1-2 teaspoons chopped chipotle chile in adobo
- 2 teaspoons cumin
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1 lime
Now, let’s talk about a few swaps and considerations that might save your dinner plans. If you can’t find chipotle chiles in adobo, don’t panic – you can substitute with a pinch of smoked paprika and a dash of hot sauce, though you’ll miss out on that smoky depth.
The orange juice is key here, so skip the concentrate and go for the real deal, fresh squeezed or not. As for the pork tenderloin, you could absolutely use pork shoulder or pork butt if that’s what’s on sale, just know it might need a bit more cooking time to reach that perfect fall-apart texture.
How to Make these Crispy Carnitas
Making these crispy carnitas is honestly so straightforward that you might wonder if you’re doing something wrong – spoiler alert, you’re not. Start by gathering your 2 lbs pork tenderloin, 1 cup chicken broth, 1/2 cup chopped onion, 2-3 minced garlic cloves, 1 cup orange juice, 1-2 teaspoons chopped chipotle chile in adobo, 2 teaspoons cumin, 1 teaspoon chili powder, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, and 1 lime on your countertop. This step might seem unnecessary, but trust me on this – there’s nothing worse than realizing you’re missing the cumin when everything else is already swimming in the slow cooker.
Once you’ve got your ingredient lineup ready, it’s time for the most technically challenging part of this recipe: dumping everything except the lime into your crockpot. Yes, you read that right – just dump it all in there like you’re making the world’s most delicious kitchen sink stew. The pork tenderloin goes in first, followed by all the liquid and seasonings in whatever order makes you happy. Give it a quick stir if you’re feeling fancy, then set your slow cooker to low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours, depending on how patient you’re feeling today.
The magic happens while you go about your day, with the orange juice working its citrusy magic to tenderize the meat while the chipotle chiles add that smoky heat that makes carnitas worth writing home about. When the pork is tender enough to shred with a fork, pull it out and give it a rough chop or shred, then squeeze that lime over the top for a bright finish that cuts through all that rich, porky goodness. A quality premium slow cooker will ensure even heat distribution and perfectly tender results every time you make this recipe.
Crispy Carnitas Substitutions and Variations
Since this recipe is already ridiculously simple, you might think there’s not much room for creativity – but you’d be wrong, my friend. I love swapping pork tenderloin for shoulder when I want extra richness.
Try apple juice instead of orange for sweeter notes, or add jalapeños if you prefer less smoke, more heat.
What to Serve with Crispy Carnitas
Once you’ve mastered this tender, flavorful pork, you’ll want to pile it onto everything – and honestly, why wouldn’t you?
I love stuffing carnitas into warm tortillas with fresh cilantro, diced onions, and a squeeze of lime. They’re also incredible in quesadillas, over rice bowls, or tucked into crispy taco shells with your favorite toppings.
Final Thoughts
While this recipe might seem almost too simple to be true, that’s exactly what makes it so brilliant – sometimes the best dishes are the ones that don’t require you to stand guard over a stove for hours.
I’m telling you, this dump-and-go approach will become your weeknight dinner savior when life gets crazy.
