Slow-Cooked Chipotle Pork Carnitas with Fresh Lime
Tender slow-cooked pork shoulder simmered with chipotle peppers, garlic, and citrus, served with a fresh squeeze of lime for a tangy finish. This Mexican-inspired Cinco de Mayo recipe, ready in about 495 minutes, pairs pork shoulder, chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, garlic cloves for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 350 calories and feeds 6, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 2 pounds pork shoulder
- 2 peppers, chopped chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
- 4, minced garlic cloves
- 1/2 cup orange juice
- 1/4 cup lime juice
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
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Equipment for this recipe
Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.
Instructions
- Step 1: In a large bowl, combine 2 pounds of pork shoulder cut into 2-inch chunks, 2 chopped chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, 4 minced garlic cloves, 1/2 cup orange juice, 1/4 cup lime juice, 1 teaspoon ground cumin, 1 teaspoon dried oregano, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper. Toss well to coat the pork evenly.
- Step 2: Transfer the pork mixture to a slow cooker and cook on low for 8 hours, until the pork is very tender and easily shredded with a fork.
- Step 3: Heat 2 tablespoons vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Using tongs, transfer shredded pork from the slow cooker to the skillet and cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the edges are golden and slightly crispy.
- Step 4: Serve immediately with fresh lime wedges for squeezing over the top, perfect for tacos or rice bowls.








