Slow Cooker Carnitas - Chipotle Copycat

overhead shot of carnitas rice bowl with cheese, black beans, and pico de gallo.

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Slow Cooker Carnitas - Chipotle Copycat

Slow cooker carnitas are a Chipotle copycat complete with fall apart tender meat and flavorful crispy ends. Juicy, slow-cooked, and perfectly seasoned pork that is just waiting to be turned into a burrito or a rice bowl!

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 4

Total Time 4 5

Servings servings

Author Melissa Williams

Equipment

Slow Cooker

Ingredients

4 pound boneless pork loin
2 cups chicken stock
2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons black pepper
1 teaspoon dried thyme
3 bay leaves
3 sprigs fresh rosemary
cilantro for garnishing

Instructions

To the basin of a 6 quart slow cooker, add the pork roast and top with the chicken stock.
4 pound boneless pork loin, 2 cups chicken stock
Sprinkle on the salt, pepper, thyme and place the bay leaves and rosemary on top.
2 teaspoons salt, 2 teaspoons black pepper, 1 teaspoon dried thyme, 3 bay leaves, 3 sprigs fresh rosemary
Cover and cook on LOW for 6 hours or HIGH for 4 hours.
Once tender, strain any fat from the crockpot and then use two forks to shred the pork.
Move the shredded pork to a roasting pan and broil for 3-5 minutes to crisp up the meat. Return to the juices in the slow cooker.
Sprinkle with chopped cilantro and serve.
cilantro

Notes

Use a 3-4 pound boneless pork loin.
Store leftovers covered in the fridge for up to 3 days.
If you have extra time, searing the roast before adding it to the crockpot helps to lock in moisture.
Pork should cook until the internal temperature reaches 145°F.
For a crispy finish, broil the shredded pork for a few minutes. This step is optional, but recommended. It can also be pan fried.
Turn the carnitas into a burrito bowl with cilantro lime rice, black beans, pico de gallo, sour cream or Greek yogurt, and shredded cheese.
Use the same toppings to turn the carnitas into a burrito (wrapped in a tortilla) or pile them on top of some tortilla chips to make nachos.

Every slow cooker runs differently. Times given are a general recommendation and should be tested in your own slow cooker and adjusted as needed.

Nutrition