Chicken Free Crockpot Pork Carnitas with Lime
Slow-cooked pork shoulder gets the full treatment here — rubbed in a warming blend of turmeric, ginger, Ceylon cinnamon, oregano, and thyme, then braised low and slow with garlic, onion, bone broth, and a bright hit of lime juice. After hours in the crockpot, the meat shreds effortlessly and gets finished under the broiler with a drizzle of coconut oil, giving you those irresistible crispy, caramelized edges that make carnitas so craveable. The apple cider vinegar and fresh lime juice cut through the richness of the pork shoulder beautifully, keeping every bite balanced and bold. This is a naturally poultry-free dish built entirely around pork, so there's no substitution gymnastics or label-reading required — just straightforward, satisfying ingredients from start to finish. A spoonful of the reserved braising liquid tossed over the crisped meat at the end is the kind of low-effort finishing move that makes the whole thing taste like you really know what you're doing. Pile it into tortillas, spoon it over rice, or eat it straight off the baking sheet with a squeeze of lime and a handful of fresh cilantro — no judgment here.
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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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