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Home » Gluten-Free

January 25, 2020

Easy Crockpot Carnitas {Whole30}

Easy Crockpot Carnitas {Whole30}
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This crockpot carnitas recipe is so simple to make and it’s packed with flavors. They’re Paleo, Whole30 friendly, Gluten-free, Keto-friendly, and the easy-to-find pork shoulder is light on your wallet as well. So tender and juicy, it’s like having Chipotle in your own kitchen, but better!

I’m a sucker for the slow cooker, crockpot recipes because they just make life so much easier.

You can put something in it at night and wake up to a fresh warm breakfast, or put something in it in the morning before you go to work, then come home to a hearty dinner.

I get it. No one wants to spend a full day at work just to come home and spend hours cooking, then clean up too.

The ease and convenience of fast food are all too appealing in these situations, which is why I’m super excited to share these easy, healthy, crockpot carnitas with you.

It’s affordable and doesn’t take much effort, so there’s no excuse for you not to eat healthily!

Why I Love this Whole30 Carnitas Recipe

There is a bowl of pulled pork topped with cilantro. There are lime and orange halfs on the table as well.

The star ingredient of this recipe is pork shoulder which is budget-friendly and very easy to find. If for some reason you do have some difficulty finding pork shoulder you could always use pork loin or pork tenderloin as well.

The great thing about using the slow cooker is that you can use tougher cuts of meat (aka cheaper) because they cook low and slow, which makes them more tender.

I always just buy whatever is available or most affordable at the grocery store, no need to be picky here.

Moreover, this recipe is so versatile and is great for meal prep since you can use it in so many different ways. You can make tacos, burritos, taco/burrito bowls, loaded nachos, loaded fries… the list goes on.

I really like Siete Foods brand chips and tortillas. They taste great and have all the clean ingredients.

Orange juice to make it naturally sweet 

The orange juice in this recipe is a great substitute for sugar, and the citrus helps tenderize the meat even further what makes it even juicier.

You’ll see a lot of recipes call for brown sugar, or sometimes sodas like Dr. Pepper or Cola as a sweetener, but the orange juice in this recipe works even better in my opinion. It’s healthier and creates a better flavor and texture for the meat.

How to Make this Healthy Crockpot Carnitas

As I said previously, these healthy, Whole30 carnitas are super easy to make. All you’ll need is 8 simple ingredients and a crockpot. For this recipe you will need:

  • Pork shoulder or pork loin
  • Onion
  • Garlic
  • Orange (to juice)
  • Salt, Pepper
  • Smoked paprika
  • Cumin
  • Optional: diced jalapeno pepper if you want to add a little heat!

Throw all of the ingredients in the crockpot, let it cook for 8 hours, then take the pork out to shred it. Once you’ve finished shredding, place the pork back into the crockpot and let it sit for about 30 more minutes so that it can soak up all of those mouth-watering juices.

 

How to Serve these Whole30 Crockpot Carnitas

Whether you’re making tacos, burritos, taco/burrito bowls, or even throwing it in a soup or chowder, all you’ll need is a couple of fresh ingredients to top it off and have an all-star dish.

Some great ways to top off your carnitas would be with fresh lime, fresh chopped onion, fresh cilantro, salsa, pico de gallo, avocado, or guacamole.

Add some cauliflower rice to keep your dish low carb and bump up your veggie intake as well.

Another great way to eat this carnitas is in lettuce wraps. There’s a nice fresh crunch from the crisp lettuce and it keeps this dish low carb, paleo, Whole30, and keto-friendly. So many possibilities!

What are your favorite ways to eat carnitas? Leave a comment below!

I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOUR CREATIONS! YOU CAN USE “TRIED IT” ON PINTEREST OR SHARE ON INSTAGRAM BY TAGGING #SHUANGYSEATS

A bowl of pulled pork carnitas with a few pieces of cilantro on top. And there is half of a piece of orange in the back. pinterest image.

. 

You may also like these other easy crockpot recipes:

1. Crockpot BBQ Pulled Pork

2. Easy Slow Cooker BBQ Ribs

3. Masala Crockpot Pulled Chicken (Whole 30)

 

A bowl of pulled pork carnitas with a few pieces of cilantro on top. And there is half of a piece of orange in the back.
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Easy Crockpot Carnitas {Whole30}

4.38 from 8 votes
This crockpot carnitas is so simple to make and packed with flavors. Slow Cooker Carnitas is also paleo, Whole30 friendly, gluten-free, and keto-friendly.
Shuang Shuang Liang
Servings 8
Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 8 hrs
Total Time 8 hrs 10 mins

Ingredients
  

  • 2 lb pork shoulder
  • 1/4 onion chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • Juice of one medium orange

Rub

  • 2-3 tsp sea salt or to taste
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper or to taste
  • 2 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/4 tsp cumin
  • 1/8 tsp nutmeg

Instructions
 

  • Pat dry the pork shoulder with paper towels. Season with all the “rub” Ingredients and rub all over the pork then place in your crockpot.
  • Add Onion garlic and orange juice. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours or cook on high for 4- 6 house. Pull apart with a fork. The meat should be very tender easily fall apart.
  • Serve with your favorite Taco shells, or on top of burrito bowls.

Notes

Increase or decrease the ratio of seasoning depending on the amount of meat you are working with.

Recommended Products

  • Programmable Crock Pot

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 360kcalCarbohydrates: 7gProtein: 27gFat: 24gSaturated Fat: 9gPolyunsaturated Fat: 13gCholesterol: 102mgSodium: 477mgFiber: 1gSugar: 5g

The Nutrition Facts above are specific to the ingredients I chose to use for this recipe, which may vary.

Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This does not result in any extra cost for you, but it does mean that I make a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

Did you make this recipe?Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Instagram
Season: Christmas, Fall, Spring, Summer, Winter Dietary Preference: Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free, Paleo, Vegan, Vegetarian, Whole30 Key Ingredients: Apples, Bananas, Berries, Chocolate, Oats, Pumpkin, Sweet Potato Recipe Style: Air Fryer, Instant Pot, Kid Friendly, No Bake

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Comments

  1. Shonda says

    March 20, 2021 at 11:34 am

    Hello, this looks delicious and I’m excited to make it. Do you not need to add water or anything to the crockpot? Just the juice from one orange?

    Reply
    • Shuang Shuang Liang says

      March 20, 2021 at 6:15 pm

      Hi Shonda,

      It is so good and so easy too. No you don’t need any water, just the orange juice. During the slow cooking process, there will be plenty of juice that comes out of the pork. Hope you enjoy!

      Shuang

      Reply
  2. Ashley says

    September 9, 2020 at 5:07 pm

    Hi,

    I saw the nutrition facts for this but what is the actual serving size?

    Thanks!
    Ashley

    Reply
    • Shuang Shuang Liang says

      September 9, 2020 at 7:36 pm

      Hi Ashley,

      There approximately 6 – 8 servings in 2 lbs of pork. So the nutrition facts are calculated based on 1/4 lb of pork. Hope it helps.

      Shuang

      Reply
  3. Anonymous says

    June 21, 2020 at 3:51 pm

    Overall, pretty good. We had to add a lot more seasoning as it was rather plain tasting.

    Reply
    • Shuang Shuang Liang says

      June 24, 2020 at 10:24 pm

      Hi there,

      Thank you for the feedback 🙂

      Shuang

      Reply
  4. Holly Abner says

    January 29, 2020 at 1:38 am

    5 stars
    This was by far the best pork I have ever cooked in the crockpot! My shoulder was 4.5 lbs so I doubled the recipe- it cooked for 8 hours and was the most tender pork I have ever cooked! It was SO easy! It fell apart and was shredded in less than 5 minutes. Try It, you’ll be so happy that you did! Thank you for the amazing recipe!

    Reply
  5. Tom says

    January 25, 2020 at 1:48 am

    5 stars

    Reply

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