Rice Free Crockpot Pork Carnitas with Lime
Slow-cooked pork shoulder rubbed in warm spices, braised until fall-apart tender, then finished under the broiler for those irresistible crispy edges — this is the kind of meal that makes the whole house smell incredible. The spice blend of turmeric, ginger, Ceylon cinnamon, oregano, and thyme gives the pork a deeply layered flavor that goes way beyond your average taco night. Bone broth, fresh lime juice, and apple cider vinegar do the heavy lifting in the slow cooker, keeping the meat juicy while building a braising liquid you'll want to spoon right back over the finished dish. The coconut oil toss before broiling is the secret move — it helps those shredded edges get genuinely crispy rather than just dry. Because the whole recipe is built around whole, unprocessed ingredients, there's no hidden grain filler or starchy binder to worry about, making it a naturally satisfying option for anyone navigating grain-free eating. Serve it with lime wedges and fresh cilantro, pile it into lettuce cups, or eat it straight off the pan — 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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