Artificial Food Coloring Free Crockpot Pork Carnitas with Lime
Slow-cooked pork shoulder gets an incredible transformation here — braised low and slow until fall-apart tender, then finished under the broiler so the edges turn irresistibly crispy and caramelized. The seasoning blend of turmeric, ginger, Ceylon cinnamon, oregano, and thyme builds deep, layered flavor without a single dye or synthetic additive in sight. For anyone navigating artificial food coloring concerns, store-bought taco seasonings and marinades are a minefield of unnecessary additives, so making your own spice rub from scratch is genuinely the smarter move. Bone broth, fresh lime juice, and apple cider vinegar do the heavy lifting in the braising liquid, keeping everything bright and savory while staying completely clean. That final drizzle of reserved braising liquid over the crisped pork is the kind of detail that takes this from weeknight dinner to something you'd proudly serve to company. Pile it into warm tortillas, spoon it over rice, or eat it straight off the baking sheet — no judgment. Fresh cilantro and a squeeze of lime at the end tie the whole thing together beautifully.
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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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