Slow Cooker Santa Cruz Style Pork Carnitas with Citrus and Chilies

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-07-01 · Updated 2026-07-01

Tender, melt-in-your-mouth pork carnitas slow-cooked with citrus and chilies for a vibrant, regional twist perfect for tacos or burritos. This Mexican-inspired pork recipe, ready in about 505 minutes, pairs pork shoulder, orange juice, lime juice for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. 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 "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

• 3 lbs, cut into 3-inch chunks pork shoulder
• 1 cup orange juice
• 1/4 cup lime juice
• 5 cloves, minced garlic cloves
• 2, stemmed and seeded dried ancho chilies
• 2 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp oregano
• 1 tbsp salt
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 2 tbsp vegetable oil
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

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Instructions

1. Step 1: Toast 2 dried ancho chilies in a dry skillet over medium heat for 1-2 minutes until fragrant, then soak in 1 cup orange juice for 20 minutes until softened. Blend the chilies and orange juice into a smooth sauce.
2. Step 2: In a slow cooker, combine 3 lbs pork shoulder chunks, 1/4 cup lime juice, 5 minced garlic cloves, 2 tsp ground cumin, 1 tsp oregano, 1 tbsp salt, 1 tsp black pepper, and the blended chili-orange sauce.
3. Step 3: Cook on low for 8 hours until pork is tender and easily shredded with a fork. Remove pork and shred with two forks.
4. Step 4: Heat 2 tbsp vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the shredded pork in batches and cook for 5-7 minutes until edges are crispy.
5. Step 5: Transfer to a serving dish and sprinkle with 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro. Serve with warm tortillas, lime wedges, and your favorite toppings.