Chipotle Pulled Pork Carnitas

4.97 from 32 votes

These chipotle pulled pork carnitas are the perfect weeknight meal or fun addition to your next Taco Tuesday. Tender, boldly-seasoned pulled pork and your favorite toppings are wrapped up in crunchy tortillas to create a handheld feast everyone loves.

Prep Time15

Cook Time30

Total Time45

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Mexican

Keyword: carnitas, chipotle, chipotle pineapple carnitas, easy dinner recipe, pineapple, pork, pork tacos, taco night

Servings:

Calories: 315kcal

Author: Nicole Kendrick

Ingredients

Carnitas

2-3 lbs Pork tenderloin or shoulder
½ teaspoon sea salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
½ teaspoon chili powder
½ teaspoon onion powder all spices @badiaspices
2 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon oregano
½ teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon chipotle purée
1 teaspoon lime juice
Fresh cilantro
¼ cup apple juice
1 small can pineapple chunks

Plating

1 pack tortilla tortilla
Purple cabbage shredded
Pork pulled
Sour cream
Queso fresco

Instructions

Place your pork tenderloin in the crock pot.
Add all dry ingredients to a small bowl and mix.
Pour all wet ingredients over pork, then sift your dry ingredients over.
Cook on low for 8 hours or in high for 4-5 hours. Pork will shred easily when done.

Notes

Storage

Refrigerate for up to 3 days in an airtight container.
Freeze for up to 3 months in an airtight, freezer-safe container or heavy-duty freezer bag.
Defrost overnight if frozen, then microwave individual portions at 1-minute intervals.

Tips

For food safety, always check your roast with a meat thermometer for an internal temperature of 165°F.
Your cooking time will increase if you use a pork shoulder. It needs more time for its fat and connective tissues to break down in the slow cooker.
It's easiest to shred your pork while it's still hot. Shred the meat as soon as you're safely able to handle it.
Both bottled and fresh lime juice can be used in this recipe. Opt for fresh if possible, as it gives a brighter, less bitter flavor.
If you plan to save the juice for later use, refrigerate it first. Then, you can easily remove the solidified fat on the top and avoid adding excess fat to your next meal.

Nutrition