AIP Friendly Crockpot Pork Carnitas with Lime
Slow-cooked pork shoulder that falls apart at the touch of a fork and then gets finished under the broiler for those irresistible crispy edges — this is the kind of meal that makes a crowd of six feel genuinely taken care of. The spice blend of turmeric, ginger, Ceylon cinnamon, oregano, and thyme delivers deep, layered flavor without leaning on any nightshade-based seasonings, which is exactly what makes this version work so well for the autoimmune protocol. Bone broth, fresh lime juice, and apple cider vinegar do the heavy lifting in the braising liquid, keeping everything bright and savory while the pork slowly becomes melt-in-your-mouth tender over eight hours. The coconut oil toss before broiling is the move that takes this from good to great — it helps the shredded pork caramelize at the edges into something genuinely crave-worthy. A spoonful of the reserved braising liquid stirred back in at the end ties all those flavors together beautifully. Finish with fresh cilantro and a squeeze of lime and you have a dish that tastes like it came from a restaurant, not a healing protocol.
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Learn more →Ingredients
6 servings
- 3 lb boneless pork shoulder, cut into 3-inch chunks
- 2 tsp fine sea salt
- 1 tsp ground turmeric
- 1 tsp ground ginger
- ½ tsp ceylon cinnamon
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 6 cloves garlic, smashed
- 1 medium yellow onion, roughly chopped
- ½ cup bone broth
- 3 tbsp fresh lime juice (from about 2 limes)
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 2 tbsp coconut oil
For serving
- 1 lime, cut into wedges (optional)
- ¼ cup fresh cilantro, roughly chopped (optional)
Instructions
- 1
In a small bowl, combine the salt, turmeric, ginger, Ceylon cinnamon, oregano, and thyme. Pat the pork shoulder chunks dry with paper towels, then rub the spice mixture evenly over all sides of each piece.
- 2
Scatter the smashed garlic and chopped onion across the bottom of a 6-quart slow cooker. Nestle the seasoned pork pieces on top in a single layer as much as possible.
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