We have a few favorite family recipes, and this is one of them. We love having these slow cooker pork carnitas in tacos, and this recipe makes amazing leftover enchiladas! I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we do!
Updated to include Instant Pot instructions!
Fresh pork tenderloin (ours was about 2 pounds)
Green Chile Salsa
Onions
Cayenne Pepper
Chili Powder
Salt and Pepper to taste
Sour cream or Greek yogurt, optional
1. Slice one onion into thick slices and line the bottom of your crock pot with them. Dice the other onion and set aside for a topping.
2. Place pork tenderloin on top of the onions and sprinkle your spices (and place bay leaves) on the pork.
3. Pour 1/2 bottle of salsa, entire can of Rotel, and diced onions on and around pork.
4. Cook on low for 5-8 hours, depending on the size of your tenderloin.
5. Pull pork out and shred it, then add it back into the crockpot.
6. Serve with the rest of the bottle of green chili salsa, warm flour or corn tortillas, diced onions, and sour cream.
On the 21 Day Fix? Click here for details about this recipe :)
Instant Pot Pork Carnitas Instructions:
- Add pork tenderloin and other ingredients into the Instant Pot. Pressure cook on high pressure for 8 minutes (I did this for a 2 pound tenderloin), then let pressure naturally release for 15 minutes.
- Pull out the pork and shred it, then place it back to the Instant Pot.
For Weight Watchers, this recipe is 3 Smart Points per serving (assuming 8 servings). If you add sour cream, a reduced fat variety is 2 extra points per serving (2 Tbsp).
On Trim Healthy Mama?
These Crockpot pork carnitas are an S recipe on THM without any needed modifications!
Crock Pot Pork Carnitas
Ingredients
- 1 pork tenderloin Smithfield fresh (we purchased ours at Walmart, it was about 2 pounds)
- 8 oz Green Chile Salsa
- 1 can Rotel
- 2 Onions
- 2 Bay Leaves
- 2 t Cayenne Pepper
- 2 t Chili Powder
Salt and Pepper to taste
Optional - Sour cream
Instructions
- Slice one onion into thick slices and line the bottom of your crock pot with them. Dice the other onion and set aside for a topping.
- Place pork tenderloin on top of the onions and sprinkle your spices (and place bay leaves) on the pork.
- Pour 1/2 bottle of salsa, entire can of Rotel, and diced onions on and around pork.
- Cook on low for 5-8 hours, depending on the size of your tenderloin.
- Pull pork out and shred it, then add it back into the crockpot.Serve with the rest of the bottle of green chile salsa, warm flour or corn tortillas, diced onions, and sour cream.
Instant Pot Directions:
- Add pork tenderloin and other ingredients into the Instant Pot. Pressure cook on high pressure for 8 minutes (I did this for a 2 pound tenderloin), then let pressure naturally release for 15 minutes.
- Pull out the pork and shred it, then place it back to the Instant Pot.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
BETTY MANOULIAN says
WHAT, IF ANYTHING, CAN BE DONE WITH THE REMAINING SAUCE IN THE COOKER?
Becca says
Hey Betty, I don’t use the extra sauce in the cooker. We use the meat out of the cooker and then discard the rest.
Kris says
I take the chunks of pork and put under broiler until crispy. Then stir the liquid until reduced. Serve the reduced sauce along side with separate green salsa. Yum crispy pork tacos with 2 sauces!
Love the flavor of this recipe! Thx for this crock pot pork Carnitas !
Abbey says
I dumped everything remaining into a blender, added extra tomatoes and spices to make a sort of enchilada sauce. Thin it out with some stock or water if you want. Delicious addition to the tacos!
Becca says
BRILLIANT!!!
Wendi says
I just want to confirm 2 teaspoons of chili powder and 2 teaspoons of cayenne go on the pork. It doesn’t look like that much in the picture!
Becca says
Yes! 2 teaspoons of each :)
Melissa says
Could I cook it on high instead of low
Becca says
I’m sure you could, just follow your slow cooker directions! Maybe a little less time if you’re cooking on high.
Margie says
I’m cooking this now and can’t wait! I see it shows how many 21 day fix servings. But how many servings of the entire recipe does it make so that I can dish out accordingly. Thanks
Becca says
Hi Margie, It totally depends on how much meat you purchased :)
Laurie says
I can’t find the 21 day fix servings this equates to. Am I missing it? Thanks!
Becca says
Hey Laurie: https://mycrazygoodlife.com/21-day-fix-pork-carnitas-recipe/
:)
Shirley says
I’m going to try this over the 4th weekend. We love Mexican with pork.
By the way – were you aware that when you click on this recipe on the main screen of Pinterest you get a recipe for orange roughy?
Keri says
Hi I was wondering how spicy you think it will be? I got mild salsa. But with the Cayenne pepper? my husband is a wimp with spicy but i want a little kick. :) maybe i’ll cut back on the cayenne pepper Thanks!
Jenn says
What size tenderloin did you use? I’m trying the recipe with about two pounds, and I would like to know if the ingredients are sufficient as listed or if I need to double them. Thank you!
sarah says
I’m also wondering about the size of the tenderloin you used (for ex. how many pounds?)
Becca says
About 2 pounds, Sarah. Sorry, I think I accidentally answered Jenn in an email and not on the blog!
Jenn Ortiz says
And how long did you cook your two lbs for?
Becca says
I usually cook it for about 7 hours!
Cecilia says
Can u do this in a dutch oven thats made of cast iron
Becca says
I’ve never done that, but I bet it would be SO good!!
Melissa Hughes says
Thank you soooooooooooooooo much for this recipe. Looks so good!!
Melissa says
Made this once already in tacos, family LOVED it. Kids and all ! Now, husband wants me to put this on enchiladas…. What should I do for sauce on top ??
Becca says
Melissa, it’s delicious with red sauce!
Also, try to use the recipe with beef-it’s sooooo good!
Drena says
Made this yesterday and it was delicious! We like spicy foods so a chopped and added about 4 tabasco peppers. So spicy! Lots of leftovers too! I was wondering if you have a printable version of this recipe?? I like to print delicious recipes and put them in a binder to reference later. Thanks!
Laura says
When do the diced onions come into play?
Laura says
Thanks, I made this today & it’s delicious
Jen Graycar says
Do you have instructions for making this in an instant pot?
Allison says
Am I correct in reading that you do not use the sauce in the pot at all? So you discard it once you take the meat out? Or do you put the shredded pork back in the sauce in the pot?
Thanks.
Breeanne says
I’m curious. Did you mean to say 80 minutes in the Instant Pot? 8 minutes does not seem like enough time to me? I’ve made this recipe many times in my slow cooker and love it but I wanted to try it in my new Instant Pot.
Jennifer says
I have a stonewear lot for my oven but at what temp. And how long would you put It in the oven for .
Like 350 for 2hrs?
Stephanie says
Hello,
I purchased the 3 quart mini Instant Pot. I’m assuming that your recipes are designed for a 6 quart. Just confirming. I’m a beginner🙂
Becca says
Yes! Most all recipes online are for 6qt, unless otherwise noted! That being said, I have had readers tell me that they can easily make the recipes I post in their 3qt without modifying them at all.