Slow-Cooked Mexican Pork Carnitas with Fresh Cilantro Lime Salsa

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-07-27 · Updated 2026-07-27

Tender, slow-cooked pork shoulder simmered until juicy and shredded, served with a bright and tangy cilantro lime salsa that perfectly balances rich flavors. This Mexican-inspired pork recipe, ready in about 500 minutes, pairs pork shoulder, olive oil, orange juice for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 410 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 tablespoons olive oil
• 1/2 cup orange juice
• 1/4 cup lime juice
• 4, minced garlic cloves
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 medium, quartered yellow onion
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 1 small, seeded and minced jalapeño
• 1 medium, finely diced tomato
• 1 teaspoon honey

The slow cooker we’d leave this in all day → Best Slow Cookers in 2026: Top Picks + Buying Guide

Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add 2 tablespoons olive oil. Sear 2 pounds pork shoulder on all sides until deeply browned, about 3-4 minutes per side.
2. Step 2: Transfer the pork to a slow cooker and add 1/2 cup orange juice, 1/4 cup lime juice, 4 minced garlic cloves, 1 teaspoon ground cumin, 1 teaspoon dried oregano, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, and 1 medium quartered yellow onion. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours until pork is tender and shreds easily.
3. Step 3: While pork cooks, combine 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro, 1 small seeded and minced jalapeño, 1 medium finely diced tomato, 1 tablespoon lime juice, and 1 teaspoon honey in a bowl. Mix well and refrigerate until serving.
4. Step 4: After pork is done, shred it using two forks directly in the slow cooker and stir to coat with cooking juices.
5. Step 5: Serve pork carnitas topped with the fresh cilantro lime salsa, accompanied by warm tortillas or rice.