Slow-Cooker Carnitas

10 ingredients
7 steps

Ingredients

  • 5 tablespoons grapeseed or other neutral-flavored oil, divided
  • 1 boneless pork shoulder roast (3 1/2 lbs.; aka Boston butt)
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 1 tablespoon pepper
  • 1 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth
  • 1 tablespoon adobo sauce from canned chipotle chiles
  • 1 teaspoon achiote paste
  • 4 wide strips orange zest
  • 12 corn tortillas (6 in.)
  • Pico de gallo, store-bought or homemade

Directions

  1. 1
    Heat 3 tbsp. oil in a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Season pork with the salt and pepper. Add pork to skillet and brown on all sides, 12 to 14 minutes. Place pork in a 6-qt. slow-cooker.
  2. 2
    Discard fat from skillet and wipe clean with paper towels. Stir together broth, adobo sauce, and achiote paste in skillet and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Pour over pork, then add orange zest.
  3. 3
    Cover slow-cooker and cook on low until pork is very tender, about 8 hours. Lift meat to a cutting board or platter. Pour cooking liquid through a fine wire-mesh strainer into a measuring cup, then discard solids. Skim fat from cooking liquid. Using two forks, shred meat into large chunks.
  4. 4
    Heat 1 tbsp. oil in cleaned cast-iron skillet over high heat. Arrange half of meat in an even layer in skillet and cook, undisturbed, until deeply caramelized, 4 to 5 minutes. Stir in 1/2 cup cooking liquid; transfer to a bowl. Repeat with remaining 1 tbsp. oil, pork, and 1/2 cup cooking liquid.
  5. 5
    Toast tortillas over an open flame 20 to 30 seconds per side and wrap in a clean kitchen towel until ready to serve. Or, wrap in towel and microwave 1 minute to warm.
  6. 6
    Serve pork with warm tortillas and pico de gallo.
  7. 7
    Wine pairing: Lone Madrone 2013 Sheep Camp Zinfandel (Paso Robles; $45).

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