Pork Carnitas Recipe (Slow Cooker or Instant Pot)
Pork Carnitas (Slow Cooker or Instant Pot) delivers 30g protein and 240 calories per serving—one of the leanest pork-based options available. Produces 10 servings with hands-off cooking, freeing up your prep day for other meals or training. Ideal for cutting phases when you're prioritizing protein while keeping calories controlled.
Ingredients
- •2 bay leaves
- •Oregano, Dried(10g)
- •Chili powder(10g)
- •2 teaspoons kosher salt
- •Cumin, Ground(10g)
- •1 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
- •Cayenne Pepper, Ground(1g)
- •Yellow Onion
- •Orange
- •Lime Juice, Fresh
- •Low Sodium Chicken Broth(480g)
- •Pork Loin(1361g)
Instructions
- 1Preheat the oven to 375°F with a rack in the center position.
- 2In a large Dutch oven, combine the bay leaves, oregano, chili powder, kosher salt, cumin, pepper, cayenne pepper, onion, orange juice and rind, lime juice and chicken stock.
- 3Nestle in the meat, cover, and roast for 2½ to 3 hours or until the pork is very tender and can be pulled apart easily with a fork. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the pork to a large baking dish or rimmed sheet pan, discarding any large pieces of fat. Use two forks to shred the pork into 1-inch pieces. Generously brush the meat with reserved liquid.
- 4Turn on the broiler. Broil the shredded meat until the edges are crispy and caramelized, 5-8 minutes. Remove the baking dish from the oven and using a spatula, flip the meat over. Broil for 5 more minutes, or until crispy on top.
- 5Use the carnitas as desired. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week or in the freezer for up to 1 month.
Nutrition — Per Serving
240
calories
30g
protein
13g
fat
- Carbohydrates
- 2g
- Saturated fat
- 4.5g
- Sodium
- 148 mg
- Dietary fiber
- 0.9g
10 servings per batch · ~187g each
Macro data sourced from USDA FoodData Central
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How much protein does Pork Carnitas Recipe (Slow Cooker or Instant Pot) have per serving?
Each serving delivers 30g of protein and 240 calories with 13g fat and 2g carbs. This is a very lean, high-protein, low-carb option with minimal calories.
How long does Pork Carnitas Recipe (Slow Cooker or Instant Pot) take to prep?
This is a quick prep recipe that batch-makes 10 servings from a single slow cooker or Instant Pot session. You're spreading the cooking effort across ten meals for excellent batch prep efficiency.
Is Pork Carnitas Recipe (Slow Cooker or Instant Pot) good for fat loss?
At 240 calories per serving with 30g protein and only 2g carbs, this recipe is highly suited for fat loss phases. The minimal carbs and calories allow flexibility to pair with vegetables while staying well within calorie targets.
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