This crockpot copycat chipotle carnitas recipe is an ode to the one made famous by Chipotle. Using simple ingredients, this produces succulent shredded pork. After crisping under the broiler, the carnitas are ready to be served many different ways. Instructions to make this easy pork recipe in the Instant Pot are also included.
Anyone else love Chipotle? They’ve taken some beatings in the press over the last couple years (remember that salmonella outbreak) but I still love them. Whether or not to call them healthy is debatable but to me, Chipotle is as healthy as you make it. Some days I get a salad (yes, they have salads), other days a burrito bowl. The one thing that stays constant is the protein of choice which is always carnitas.
Chipotle keeps the ingredients in their recipes simple and they’re transparent about it. On their website, they used to list the ingredients for their carnitas: pork shoulder, bay leaf, salt, black pepper, thyme, juniper berries, sunflower oil. Sounded easy enough until it came time to find juniper berries. After a bit of Google research, I found that a suitable juniper berry substitute is a small minced sprig of rosemary in lieu of each juniper berry OR add a large rosemary sprig that’s removed at the end of cooking. I went with the latter.
You can use dried thyme if you don’t have fresh. I did something you shouldn’t do. I put the rosemary on top of the pork and let it cook. As a result, I ended up picking out what looked like black sticks (cooked rosemary) from the meat. Don’t put the rosemary sprig on top of the pork, just add it to the slow cooker on the side.
Shredded Meat
The pork should shred easily when it’s done. If it doesn’t then cook it a bit longer. I know it might not look like much when it’s done but who cares as long as it tastes good.
I’m listing this as an optional step but you should really do it. After the carnitas are cooked and shredded, add them to a baking sheet then BROIL them in the oven for 3-5 minutes or until the edges are crisp.
If your meat gets overcooked or dry, toss in a couple of tablespoons or so of low-sodium broth. Directly the slow cooker with the meat or stir it in after broiling.
PrintSlow Cooker Copycat Chipotle Carnitas
- Total Time: 4 hours 5 mins
- Yield: 4 1x
Ingredients
- 3 pounds pork shoulder
- 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 3 sprigs fresh thyme
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 large sprig of fresh rosemary
Instructions
- Season pork with salt & pepper and add to the slow cooker.
- Add thyme, bay leaves and broth to the slow cooker.
- Add rosemary spring into the slow cooker.
- Cook HIGH 3-4, LOW 6-8.
- Remove rosemary spring and bay leaves
- Remove meat from the slow cooker and shred. Place back in the slow cooker until ready to use.
Optional step – lay the shredded meat flat on a baking sheet and BROIL 3-5 minutes or until crisp.
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Cook Time: 4 hours
What do to with this meat?? Sky is the limit! Tacos, burritos, enchiladas, burrito bowls, etc.
Double this recipe to feed a larger crowd.
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Brittany
Thursday 18th of June 2020
This recipe was so easy but made for an excellent meal. The house smelled wonderful and yet there was little to no clean up. I used a single tenderloin as there is only two of us, but still used all the spices. I am working from home currently, so I opted for 8 hours on low. As my hubby is not a huge rosemary fan, I took the thyme, rosemary, and bay leaves out after four hours, and the flavor was perfect. I did finish it under the broiler, which made the house smell even more amazing and kind of added a smokiness to the meat (or so it seemed). We made this into burrito bowls over cilantro lime cauliflower rice, with pico, salsa, and shredded cabbage. Perfect!
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[…] Slow Cooker Carnitas (Copycat Chipotle) […]
Lorenzo
Monday 26th of February 2018
The meat looks so tender, and in the tacos? omg