These chipotle carnitas are a great way to feed a crowd with minimal effort. Though the cooking time is long, the hands-on prep time is brief, and clean-up is a breeze. The tender, slow-cooked pulled pork can be used for tostadas, tacos, burritos and more.
These slow-cooker chipotle carnitas provide an easy, hands-off way to cook for a crowd. The combination of tender pork and chipotle peppers is a match made in heaven, with the pepper’s spicy heat complementing the pork’s richness.
Although cooking carnitas takes hours, this recipe’s actual prep time is only 20 minutes. It’s a near-effortless way to feed a crowd, either on its own or with other Mexican recipes for a potluck.
Ingredients for Chipotle Carnitas
- Pork shoulder roast: Boneless pork shoulder roast is a tough yet flavorful cut of pork. It makes the best carnitas because it becomes tender and shreddable when cooked low and slow, like in a slow cooker.
- Chipotle pepper: Ground chipotle brings a smoky heat to the pork and its juices, providing the signature flavor to this chipotle carnitas recipe. If you can’t find the powder, you could substitute another ground smoked pepper (like ancho chiles) or smoked paprika. However, the flavor will be different.
- Chicken broth: Chicken broth is a flavorful cooking liquid that keeps the pork moist as it cooks.
- Cumin: The earthy, aromatic flavor of cumin helps ground the other seasonings and gives the pork an important flavor note.
- Onion and garlic: Onion and garlic infuse the pork and juices with their aromatic, savory characters.
- Limes: A splash of lime juice near the end of the cooking time brightens the pork’s flavors and offsets its richness. Limes also provide an attractive and functional garnish.
- Tostada shells: Tostada shells are a great way to turn the carnitas into a meal.
- Optional toppings: Refried beans, salsa, sour cream, shredded lettuce, sliced avocado, crumbled queso fresco and minced fresh cilantro are excellent accompaniments for the carnitas. These toppings work whether you serve the carnitas as tostadas or tacos, burritos, salads or rice bowls.
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Just a Pennsylvania Dutch girl raised on simple good food that fills you up. Fussy recipes that leave you still hungry need not apply!
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