Slow-Cooked Pork Carnitas with Orange and Mexican Spices

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-06 · Updated 2026-05-06

Tender pork slowly braised in citrus and aromatic spices, perfect for filling tacos or burritos with a rich, tangy flavor. This Mexican Cinco de Mayo recipe, ready in about 500 minutes, pairs pork shoulder, cut into 2-inch chunks, orange juice, and lime juice for a weeknight-friendly dinner. Each serving lands at about 450 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 "Build a week of meals around this recipe" 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 lbs pork shoulder, cut into 2-inch chunks
• 1 cup orange juice
• 1/4 cup lime juice
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1 tbsp salt
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 2 bay leaves
• 1/2 cup water
• 8 small corn tortillas

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

Instructions

1. Step 1: In a large bowl, combine 2 lbs pork shoulder chunks with 1 cup orange juice, 1/4 cup lime juice, 4 minced garlic cloves, 2 tsp ground cumin, 1 tsp dried oregano, 1 tsp smoked paprika, 1 tbsp salt, and 1 tsp black pepper; toss to coat the pork evenly.
2. Step 2: Transfer the pork mixture to a slow cooker, add 2 bay leaves and 1/2 cup water, then cover and cook on low for 8 hours until pork is tender and shreds easily.
3. Step 3: Once cooked, remove the pork from the slow cooker and shred it with two forks, discarding the bay leaves.
4. Step 4: Spread the shredded pork on a baking sheet and place under a hot broiler for 5 minutes to crisp the edges, turning once halfway through.
5. Step 5: Warm 8 small corn tortillas in a dry skillet over medium heat for 30 seconds per side until soft and pliable.
6. Step 6: Serve the crispy shredded pork on the tortillas with your favorite toppings like diced onion, cilantro, and salsa.