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!
Ingredients needed for my pork carnitas recipe:
You’ll need some delicious fresh ingredients for this pork carnitas recipe. Here’s the list of ingredients you’ll need and you can find the total amounts in the recipe card below! You can leave out ingredients you don’t like or add more of the ones you do enjoy, the truth is that this recipe is very versatile and flexible.
- Fresh pork tenderloin (ours was about 2 pounds)
- Green Chile Salsa
- Rotel
- Onions
- Bay Leaves
- Cayenne Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Sour cream or Greek yogurt, optional
- Salt and Pepper to taste
Here are some substitutions you could make / change / add to the recipe if you so desire. Remember that you’ll need to recalculate nutrition and diet info if you do! You could probably make this recipe work with pork shoulder as well. The shredded pork will have the same texture and taste after slow cooking. When you shred the meat it should fall apart relatively easily like a pork butt would after being smoked or slow cooked!
Onion, garlic, and pico de Gallo are great toppings and flavors that will blend well with the meat. Lime juice spritzed on top is also tasty so you can serve with a wedge of lime! If you have a little extra time you can sear the meat on all sides by cooking for a few minutes on high heat with some olive oil. It will help lock in the flavors!
Here’s how to make pork carnitas crock pot style:
Making pork carnitas in the crock pot might not be the traditional preparation but it is one of the easiest options. I love that I can set it and forget about it for the day while I work, play, or do just about anything else! The flavors are great, the pork is tender and delicious, it’s perfection in a dish!
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.
Is this pork carnitas in the slow cooker recipe 21 Day Fix approved?
You know I love the 21 Day Fix program so I have all the details that you need to enjoy these pork carnitas on the FIX! On the 21 Day Fix? Click here for details about this recipe.
The 21 Day Fix version of this post has all the container counts and dietary info you’ll need to work this great recipe into your meal plan!
Can I make these pork carnitas in the Instant Pot?
You can! I’ve updated this post since it was originally posted to include the directions below. They’ll show you how to make this pork carnitas recipe quickly and easily in your electric pressure cooker.
- Add pork tenderloin and other ingredients into the Instant Pot. Pressure cook on high pressure for 45 minutes (I did this for a 3 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.
Can I have this pork carnitas recipe on Weight Watchers?
For Weight Watchers, this recipe is 3 Blue, Green, or Purple points per serving (there are 8 servings). If you add sour cream, a reduced fat variety is 1 extra points per tablespoon.
This is a great and healthy pork carnitas recipe that you can make in the slow cooker. You can also whip up a batch in the Instant Pot. I love that the carnitas are only 3 Points on blue, green, and purple programs. Even on bad days when I’m over on points I have enough to enjoy this recipe as a filling and delicious dinner.
Even though these pork carnitas in the slow cooker are a low points, Weight Watchers friendly recipe, the whole family loves them! There is nothing better than being able to make one simple recipe that everyone eats without any complaints.
On Trim Healthy Mama?
These Crockpot pork carnitas are an S recipe on THM without any needed modifications! That means you can enjoy this delicious recipe for pork carnitas crockpot style without any added steps or maneuvering.
Are you looking for more great crockpot recipes?
I have lots of great recipes here for Crockpot or Instant Pot recipes. Here are a bunch of our favorite Crcokpot or slow cooker recipes that I think you will enjoy. Add them to your meal plan to help take some stress out of meal times this week.
- Crockpot Chicken for Meal Prep
- Easy Crockpot Pork Chops with Pears
- The Easiest Crockpot Chicken Fajitas
- Healthy Drunken Noodles | Instant Pot, Stovetop, Crockpot
- How To Make Crockpot Chicken Bone Broth
- Crockpot Jambalaya Recipe
- Healthy Pot Roast Recipe | Crockpot Pot Roast
- Crockpot Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese Frosting
Don’t forget to stop by our eBook store to pickup some of the inexpensive digital cookbooks with great recipes included. My Healthy Slow Cooker Meals eBook is simple to print or save, cheap, and perfect for those of you who are looking for all my best Crockpot recipes in one place.
There’s no ads, no complicated processes, and you can use the code mcglb2g1 to get one eBook free with the purchase of any two others!
Crock Pot Pork Carnitas Recipe | Instant Pot Pork Carnitas
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pork tenderloin Smithfield fresh (we purchased ours at Walmart, it was about 3 pounds)
- 8 oz green chile salsa or diced green chiles
- 1 can Rotel or tomatoes with diced green chilies
- 2 onions sliced thick
- 2 bay leaves
- 2 tsp cayenne pepper
- 2 tsp chili powder
Instructions
Crock Pot:
- 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:
- Add pork tenderloin and other ingredients into the Instant Pot. Pressure cook on high pressure for 45 minutes (I did this for a 3 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
Nutrition
WHAT, IF ANYTHING, CAN BE DONE WITH THE REMAINING SAUCE IN THE COOKER?
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.
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 !
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!
BRILLIANT!!!
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!
Yes! 2 teaspoons of each :)
Could I cook it on high instead of low
I’m sure you could, just follow your slow cooker directions! Maybe a little less time if you’re cooking on high.
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
Hi Margie, It totally depends on how much meat you purchased :)
I can’t find the 21 day fix servings this equates to. Am I missing it? Thanks!
Hey Laurie: https://mycrazygoodlife.com/21-day-fix-pork-carnitas-recipe/
:)
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?
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!
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!
I’m also wondering about the size of the tenderloin you used (for ex. how many pounds?)
About 2 pounds, Sarah. Sorry, I think I accidentally answered Jenn in an email and not on the blog!
And how long did you cook your two lbs for?
I usually cook it for about 7 hours!
Can u do this in a dutch oven thats made of cast iron
I’ve never done that, but I bet it would be SO good!!
Thank you soooooooooooooooo much for this recipe. Looks so good!!
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 ??
Melissa, it’s delicious with red sauce!
Also, try to use the recipe with beef-it’s sooooo good!
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!
When do the diced onions come into play?
Thanks, I made this today & it’s delicious
Do you have instructions for making this in an instant pot?
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.
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.
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?
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🙂
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.