Artificial Flavors Free Crockpot Pork Carnitas with Lime
Slow-cooked pork carnitas hit differently when every single flavor comes from real, whole ingredients — no mystery seasonings, no flavor packets, just spices you can actually name. The rub here is built from turmeric, ginger, Ceylon cinnamon, oregano, and thyme, which sounds unexpected but creates this warm, deeply savory crust that makes the pork smell incredible before it even hits the slow cooker. After eight hours on low, the shoulder is fall-apart tender, and then comes the move that separates good carnitas from great ones: a quick blast under the broiler with a drizzle of coconut oil to get those irresistible crispy edges. Fresh lime juice and apple cider vinegar keep the braising liquid bright and tangy, and spooning some of that liquid back over the crisped pork at the end ties everything together beautifully. Garlic, onion, and bone broth do the heavy lifting in the slow cooker, so the flavor is rich and complex without a single artificial shortcut. Finish with fresh cilantro and a squeeze of lime, and you've got a taco night centerpiece that's as clean as it is crowd-pleasing.
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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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