Dogs. Man’s best friend, fur babies, sneaky food stealers. Turn you back for TWO seconds with human food accessible, and it’s gone. Thank goodness I had enough photographs of this whole30 slow cooker pork carnitas recipe before a fluffy white burgler devoured it all….
True story, before my husband popped the question, he thought we should get a cell phone plan together to save money. I totally flaked and got cold feet. It seemed like a big commitment. Yet we got a dog before we were engaged. Makes ZERO sense.
Mr. Physical Kitchness always wanted a big, manly dog while I dreamed of a cute little lap snuggler. So when I found her sweet face online with a plea for someone to adopt her, it was meant to be. She was little, fluffy, and had the angelic face of a bichon/maltese teddy bear – even the man who wanted a German Shephard couldn’t resist. So we decided to bring her home. It was a very sweet moment…
Until we got in the car and she bit me. Seriously, the little sh*t bit my hand and I was petting her.
“Ok, ummm…we need to take her back!” I stammered as I counted all my fingers to make sure I hadn’t lost one.
“It’s fine Chrissa. She’s scared. She’ll warm up to us,” said my all-too-nonchalant future husband. (HE wasn’t the one that got bit).
I didn’t touch her the rest of the way home. This white cotton princess had to be the devil’s spawn, I was convinced. But as soon as she realized we weren’t going to hurt her (a few treats helped with that) and once we changed her name from Mi Mi to Bucca (yes, named after the famed restaurant Buca Di Beppo), her attitude changed as if she was just bitter about her previous namesake.
I could write a book about this dog. The process of putting ‘magic sprinkles’ on her food just so she’d eat, how she acts like a ferocious tiger when birds are outside but whimps out when she gets close to one, or about her psychological meltdown when she was spayed – going through postpartum depression over a squeaky shoe toy (I’m not making this stuff up).
But for now, she’s in the doghouse because she ate our dinner.
Was this meal difficult or time-consuming to make? Ha, no. So I could easily make it again. But it’s the principle of it all – she ATE the whole30 slow cooker pork carnitas she KNEW were off limits.
I can’t really blame her though. What’s not to love about tender pulled pork with hints of chili powder, cumin, oregano, onion, fresh lime juice, and hints of jalepeno? Add a big heap of fresh cilantro and diced avocados on top and you have a meal that dogs (and humans) will go bonkers over. The best part, it’s pretty much effortless to make this easy, whole30 compliant meal in your slow cooker. Even BETTER part? These carnitas make amazing leftovers too! Just DON’T leave them on a low, doggie-accessable platform and turn your back.
I love throwing a big pile of this no-fuss dinner in a few romaine lettuce leaves and gettin’ all messy as I stuff my face. Luckily I don’t have a white fur beard, so unlike my dog, I don’t have to take a bath after eating these…
Recreating this meal is easy with a few prep steps before starting the slow-cooker process. Rinse and pat dry the pork shoulder. Next, combine the spices and sprinkle all over the pork and gently pat the dry rub on to the meat so it sticks. Drizzle the olive oil on top. Slice one small yellow onion very thinly, de-seed and dice one jalepeno, and add to the slow cooker. Squeeze the juice from two limes over the top and cook on low for 4-6 hours. The thicker the roast, the more time it will take to cook.
After the meat is fully cooked, shred with two forks, removing any large chunks of fat that remain. Mix the the pulled pork with all the juices in the crockpot. If desired, spread the pork on a baking sheet and broil for five minutes for crispy shreds of pork.
You can serve the meat in corn or flour tortillas, inside leaves of bib or romaine lettuce, or on top of a salad. Garnish fresh cilantro and avocado.
I reinvent any leftovers by putting leftover pork in sandwiches with salsa or avocado crema or make a pulled pork white chili made with chicken stock, salsa verde, cumin, and white beans (optional).
If you are a slow cooker lover like myself, and interested in more clean eating recipes – you HAVE to also try this A1 inspired slow cooker beef roast (also whole30 compliant).
From out sweet Bucca, (aka the miniature albino German shepherd as my husband calls her) to you, enjoy!!
PrintWhole30 Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas
- Yield: 6-8 servings 1x
Ingredients
- 4 pounds boneless pork shoulder
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- juice of 2 limes
- 1 small onion, finely sliced
- 1 large jalapeño, seed removed and finely diced
Instructions
- Rinse and pat dry the pork shoulder
- Combine the chili powder, ground cumin, salt, and pepper then sprinkle all over the pork. Gently pat the dry rub on to the meat so it sticks. Place the pork shoulder into the slow cooker
- Drizzle the olive oil on top and add the onion and jalepeno
- Squeeze the juice from two limes over the top and cook on low for 4-6 hours. The thicker the roast, the more time it will take to cook
- After the meat is fully cooked, shred it with two forks, removing any large chunks of fat that remain. Mix the the pulled pork with all the juices in the slow cooker. If desired, spread the pork on a baking sheet and broil for five minutes for crispy shreds of pork
- Serve with cilantro and diced avocados
I love slow cooked pork! Now this needs to be made for dinner soon 🙂
Fab idea. I like where your head is at!
Hahahaha 😛
O man, but I need to bring up the slow cooker right now…no AC in the house during our biggest heat wave!!!
Noooooo!!! That sounds AWFUL!!!! Yes, bust out that slow cooker or maybe just go out for dinner tonight! 😉
I can’t believe your dog swiped your food!!! Too much! I’m a cat person so…LOL. This looks really good! I have never slow cooked pork but this looks tempting!
Might have to trade her in for a cat (kidding)! You’ll have to try this Janelle – it’s really great and so tender!
have a pork shoulder in the freezer.. guess what i will be making this week 🙂
ps. I think a whole blog about the cute dog called Bucca.. laughed out loud! thanks for sharing her with us!!
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She deserves her own blog for sure. I would have PLENTY to write about! Thanks Shar!
These look so easy and yummy. I would make it for taco filling then use it for quesadillas as leftovers.
YES YES YES! Love it. Reinventing leftovers is soooooo clutch!
MY kids love pork in the slow cooker. Do you use any liquid in the crock pot?
Hey Deborah – no liquid needed! The olive oil keeps things moist and the natural juices from the pork keeps everything really tender!
I love cooking in the crock pot during the summer. It’s so easy and no hot oven to contend with.
Exactly! I kind of forget about it because it seems like such a fall/winter staple but it gives us love year round 😉
Yum, yum, yum!! This looks so tender and flavorful. Now I’m officially hungry-haha
Then I’ve done something right! LOL. Thanks Cara!
wow – that sounds delicious!!! saving this for a future dinner! thanks!
Thanks! Enjoy this super easy meal!
Love that this is made in the slow cooker! I don’t eat pork, but I bet it would be fantastic with a beef roast, too!
Definitely Jessica! Great idea!
Aw aren’t puppies fun? Sure, they can be real assholes sometimes, but at the end of the day they’re just too darn cute to be mad at! Love the recipe! It looks delish!
Bahaha I giggled out loud at your comment. Yes, couldn’t agree more. Half the time I want to give her away but I never, ever could!
Wow do those look phenomenal! I am not a pork kind of girl, but I could get it on with some chicken – and this slow cooker! I registered for one for when I get married!
Oh you get that Gigi! It’s essential for a cute ‘lil future newlywed like yourself!
Cooking in the slow cooker in this heat is where it’s at!! These pork carnitas look ahhmazing and need to be in my life asap!
Yes you doooooo! And really, how can you NOT love the slow cooker any time of year. Best invention EVER!
Love the salad wraps and the slow cooker idea sounds great!
I hope you try it Ilka!
I LOVE using the slow cooker on these hot days! Perfect way to cook a proper meal without expending too much heat in the house 🙂
Exactly! Still a warm, hearty meal without sweating while it cooks! Thanks Christina!
These look so good! I need to get the slow cooker back out. I hate to turn on the oven in the warm months. I would literally eat tacos every day.
I hate doing anything in the oven or stove top in the summer too. But at least the slow cooker won’t make the entire house HOT. And summer is perfect for tacos. So it’s a win/win, right?!
This story about your dog is too funny!! These pork carnitas must be just that delicious!! They look wonderful!
They ARE delicious and smell really yummy, hence why the pooch went to TOWN on them! 😉 Thanks Emily!
lololol omg your dog. your family. i love it.
i’m like your husband, i LOVEEEE me a big dog. but yours must be pretty damn amazing if he was swayed to such a little guy haha. And as i’m sure you know, MEN ARE SO NONCHALANT when it comes to pets. Umm mine is heavily overweight and Adam would be happy to continue feeding him until he couldn’t walk. UGHHH.
HAHAHA you know what’s funny? My dog LOVES cats (I think because cats are small like her). And based on your snaps, I feel like your kitty and my naughty pup would be besties (kind of like us). Adam has a kat, Josh has a girly dog. Our dudes would probably be bff’s too 😉
You really can’t blame her, I bet the smell alone was impossible to resist! I love the versatility of preparation like this, too. Great in lettuce wraps, bowls, tortillas, etc!
I know, I know! My husband said the same thing. It’s my fault for leaving it out and available for her consumption. I’ve forgiven that little fur ball. YES, this meal is so versatile! Thanks Alisa!
This looks so good! Anything easy and in the crockpot has my attention. My boyfriend and I are thinking about getting dog. I’m nervous since it is such a huge responsibility. We are already on the same cell phone plan though..lol!!
Hey, you’re already committed. The cell thing is a big step, I’m convinced! Go for the pup – it’s a lot of work but man, when they love up on you it’s totally worth it!! Love my naughty pup!
I make one very similar, and if I had a dog and they took it – I probably wouldn’t have a dog anymore!! LOL food is serious business! 😉 Funny story!!
RIGHT?! I wanted to attack her! But I mean, it DOES smell pretty amazing so I can’t totally blame her for sneaking a plateful. It’s forgivable I guess!
I’m always looking for new recipes to make for my family. I think they’ll like this.
It’s a family favorite in this house for sure. Thanks Jill!
LMAO I remember this on snap chat!! LOVE that your dog’s name is Bucca. Annnnnd I feel like you and I need to get together for post-baby wine night, it’d be so much fun 😛
PS this looks FAB, and I’ve pinned it so that I can remember to make it!
Oh girlfriend, I’m soooooo in for wine night. If only I still lived in VA! BOO. Glad you enjoy my crazy life snap chats – I can always count on you for ‘getting’ my sense of humor! Love ya 😉
It’s hard to blame him…it does look delicious! Pinning! Thanks for sharing at Welcome Home Wednesdays!
Thanks so much Crystal. You can’t not love those little fur balls!
Oh yummy, slow cooker pork tacos. WE do a lot of slow cooker recipes this time of year. Thanks for the recipe.
So glad you found this recipe Theresa! Enjoy and keep up all that good slow cooker work!
This looks really easy. Question for you – other recipes I have used call for 1 lb of fat (I’ve always used real, whole pork lard from Epic), but yours only says 1 tbsp of oil. Why is there such a difference in the fat added? Is your recipe more/less oily or moist?
Alicia @ http://www.GirlonaHike.com
Hey Alicia – good question. I find the pork naturally has enough fat/lard on it that keeps it moist during cooking. I’m not sure it it’s less oily than other recipes, but it definitely isn’t dry! Thanks 🙂
I’ll admit I didn’t have the patience to read through all of the comments to see if someone else has already asked this, but do you think it would be acceptable to use just a regular loin in place of the shoulder? Hoping it would work because my mom accidentally bought loin instead.
Thanks for any info!
Loin will not shred like shoulder does – it’s a much leaner cut. So you could try the recipe but you will probably end up with slices of pork rather than shredded pieces. Sorry!!
Do you have an actual recipe for the chili you mentioned at the end? Because that sounds super yummy too!
I don’t have one posted – I usually just throw it together. But great idea for a future post!
Hi! I’ve been following you on IG for a while and love your 30 Minute Meal Revolution! I’m making this recipe for my husband’s sisters and one of their husbands here in Japan today. It’s in the slow cooker now and I’m ready to wow them this evening!
Thanks so so much Wendy! Glad you love the meal plan!
Do you know how long to cook in the instapot? Thanks!!
I haven’t tried it in my IP yet, but my guess is 45 minutes!
Have to admit I was skeptical about the lack of liquid – i cook a lot of shoulders in the crockpot and most recipes ask for lots of liquid! But this was PERFECT! The pork released enough juice and it wasn’t dry at all! Shredded very easily and is delicious! – planning to serve with cauliflower rice for meal prepped lunches! Thanks!
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I’m SO glad this meal exceeded your expectations Kimberly!
Daughter just started whole30 and this made with chicken was amazing!
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