{"id":24370,"date":"2022-06-01T02:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-06-01T01:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mommyshomecooking.com\/?p=24370"},"modified":"2022-06-01T15:38:36","modified_gmt":"2022-06-01T14:38:36","slug":"slow-cooker-chipotle-carnitas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mommyshomecooking.com\/slow-cooker-chipotle-carnitas\/","title":{"rendered":"Slow Cooker Chipotle Carnitas"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
These Slow Cooker Chipotle Carnitas are smoky, juicy, tasty, and totally irresistible! They’re extremely easy to make<\/strong> and perfect for many purposes, such as family-style Taco-Bar, freezer meal, or meal prep. The recipe includes step-by-step photos and lots of tips. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Oh my goodness\u2026These Slow Cooker Chipotle Carnitas are to die for! Perfectly seasoned pork<\/strong> that is slow-cooked until it is melt-in-your-mouth tender, <\/strong>then pulled apart with forks and finally crisped up in the oven to golden perfection<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This Chipotle Carnitas recipe is extremely easy to make<\/strong> and perfect for many purposes, such as family-style Taco-Bar, freezer meal, or meal prep. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This chipotle carnitas recipe is a spin-off of traditional carnitas. It’s smoky<\/strong>, juicy<\/strong>, tasty<\/strong>, and totally irresistible<\/span>. We cook it up with chipotle peppers in adobo sauce to give it that distinctive smoky flavor that’ll have you scraping out the very last piece of pork out of your bowl.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Amounts are included in the printable recipe below (scroll down). <\/strong>You\u2019ll need:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Detailed instructions are included in the printable recipe below (scroll down)<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Place garlic, lime juice, oil, salt, black pepper, oregano, onion powder, cumin, peppers, and adobo sauce in a small food processor. Pulse until well combined, and a paste is formed.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n Rub the pork shoulder with the chipotle paste, rubbing it thoroughly on all sides. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Place orange juice, chicken broth, bay leaves, and seasoned pork shoulder into a slow cooker. Cook for 8 hours on low or 4 hours on high until internal temperature reaches 145 \u00b0F on a food thermometer. The pork should be so tender that meat falls apart easily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remove pork from the slow cooker and shred the meat using two forks, removing excess fat. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can crisp up carnitas in the oven or on the stove:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Don\u2019t have a slow cooker?<\/strong> Make this chipotle carnitas recipe in an Instant Pot. Simply add all the ingredients to the Instant Pot and pressure cook for 30 minutes on high pressure. Natural pressure release for 10 minutes before quick releasing and shredding the pork. Continue to crisp up the carnitas as instructed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This recipe only calls for 2 to 3 chipotle peppers and 2 tablespoons of the sauce. If you do not have immediate plans to use the rest of the can, you can freeze the leftover peppers and adobo sauce for the next time you plan on making this carnitas recipe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Be sure not to open your slow cooker while it is cooking. Opening the slow cooker will release the steam that your slow cooker worked long and hard to build up. With the steam released, you\u2019ll have to increase the time spent cooking as it has to rebuild all that lost steam!<\/p>\n\n\n\n When crisping up the shredded pork in the oven, I suggest getting the meat in a single layer as evenly as possible, so each piece of pork can crisp up evenly. Crisp up the carnitas in two batches if necessary. When ready to crisp up the carnitas, do not forget to add the liquid; this helps prevent the carnitas from drying out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Carnitas is essentially the Mexican version of pulled pork, but you crisp up the meat afterward, unlike pulled pork. It is definitely worth doing the extra step and crisping up your pork because it is absolutely delicious!<\/p> <\/div> Use a meat thermometer! Food is safely cooked when it reaches a high enough internal temperature to kill the harmful bacteria that cause illness. These are meat minimum internal temperatures: The best meat for carnitas is pork shoulder or pork butt. It is important to highlight that pork shoulder or butt are the same things, a cut of meat from the same section of the pig: the shoulder. These cuts of pork have a high-fat content, making for more delicious tasting carnitas. Other names you might see this cut of the pork labeled as Boston butt, Boston shoulder, Boston butt roast, or shoulder roast.<\/p> <\/div> <\/div>\n\n\n\n Use a food thermometer! Food is safely cooked when it reaches a high enough internal temperature to kill the harmful bacteria that cause illness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The best meat for carnitas is pork shoulder or pork butt. It is important to highlight that pork shoulder or butt are the same things, a cut of meat from the same section of the pig: the shoulder. These cuts of pork have a high-fat content, making for more delicious tasting carnitas. Other names you might see this cut of the pork labeled as Boston butt, Boston shoulder, Boston butt roast, or shoulder roast. <\/p>\n\n\n\n These carnitas are absolutely perfect for when we want to have a taco night. It’s not a secret that tacos are one of our favorite foods. They are not only delicious, but they are adaptable to the tastes of all family members, including my picky eaters. So, when it\u2019s taco bar night, I make sure to have everyone\u2019s fave. Here are my taco bar ingredients suggestions: <\/p>\n\n\n\n I love making extra so we can have leftovers to enjoy for later. There’s no extra work to double the recipe, so it’s worth making extra. Here’s how to store the extra servings of crispy shredded pork.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This slow cooker carnitas recipe keeps great in the fridge for 4 to 5 days in an airtight container. Store the carnitas with the cooking liquid to keep them moist and juicy. When you\u2019re ready to enjoy it, heat it in the microwave or over the stovetop until heated through.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This chipotle carnitas recipe is freezer-friendly. Once the pork has cooled, transfer the crispy shredded pork to an airtight freezer-safe container or bag. I suggest freezing it in portions so you can pull out just the carnitas you need. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge the night before and reheat until heated through. <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n \u2764\ufe0f Love what you see? <\/strong>Subscribe<\/strong><\/a> to Mommy\u2019s Home Cooking so you\u2019ll never miss a recipe! Follow along on <\/strong>Instagram<\/strong><\/a>, <\/strong>Pinterest<\/strong><\/a>, and Facebook<\/a> for more fun! <\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Easy Chipotle Carnitas Recipe Highlights<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Ingredients You\u2019ll Need<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Ingredients Notes & Substitutions<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Step By Step Recipe Photo Tutorial<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1 \u2013 Prepare the Sauce<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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2 – Prepare the Pork<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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3 – Cook the Pork<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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4 – Shred the Meat<\/strong> <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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5 – Crisp Up the Carnitas<\/strong><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Extra Recipe Notes<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Frequently Asked Questions<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Beef, pork, veal, and lamb at 145 \u00baF with a three-minute \u201crest time\u201d (roast, steaks, and chops) after removal from the heat source. Ground meats 160 \u00baF. Poultry (whole, parts, or ground) 165 \u00baF.<\/p> <\/div> Meat Minimum Internal Temperatures<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Best Cut of Pork to Make Carnitas<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Taco Bar Ingredients Suggestions<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Storing & Freezing Instructions<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Leftovers<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Freeze<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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More Meat Recipes for Tacos That You\u2019ll Love!<\/strong><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Slow Cooker Chipotle Carnitas<\/h2>\n