Easy Chicken Carnitas … in a Crockpot!
Move over pork carnitas, these chicken carnitas are a new favorite! While pork may be the meat that comes to mind traditionally when making this dish, carnitas actually means ‘little meats’ in Spanish and can be made with most any protein you would like. In this case, chicken is slow-cooked in a super flavorful spice mixture with chipotle peppers, garlic, cumin, chili powder, oregano and more. Then it’s shredded and broiled briefly to obtain those classic crispy ends while retaining its overall moisture. These carnitas de pollo also have a secret ingredient that makes them so tender you will make them over and over again to satisfy any Mexican food craving. I love that this is a true set it and forget it meal that’s perfect for busy weeknights. Blend up spice mixture, pour it over the chicken breasts (or thighs) in your slow cooker, and slow cook away. Then shred it, broil, and serve your chicken carnitas in tacos, burritos, over rice, or make a burrito bowl. Keep on reading because I’ve got lots of serving suggestions and ideas below how to use it.
Ingredients in Slow Cooker Chicken Carnitas
To make the best chicken carnitas of your life, you’ll need the following fridge and pantry ingredients. Tip – If you’ve never bought them before, canned chiles with adobo sauce are usually found in the Mexican section or aisle of your grocery store. Here is what you will need to get started:
Boneless skinless chicken thighs or breasts Fresh orange juice Fresh lime juice Garlic cloves Chipotles in adobo sauce Jalapeno Cumin Chili powder Mexican oregano (or regular) Salt Black pepper Mexican Coke (or regular) Bay leaves
Note: All ingredients amounts are listed in the recipe card section when you keep scrolling down.
How to Make Slow Cooker Chicken Carnitas
Using the slow cooker makes this easy dinner a true set-it-and-forget-it dinner. It cooks while you’re at work or out-and-about. When you get home all you have to do is shred it and put it under the broiler. Follow these easy step-by-step directions, pile the meat high in a tortilla, and top with all your favorite taco toppings! Step 1: Place the chicken in a 6 to 7-quart Crock-Pot. Don’t use anything smaller. Step 2: To the canister of a high-speed blender, add the orange juice, lime juice, garlic, chipotle, jalapeno, cumin, chili powder, Mexican oregano, salt, and blend. Step 3: Pour the sauce over the chicken and pour the Coke over. Step 4: Add bay leaves, stir to combine, place the lid on top, and cook carnitas chicken on high for 4 hours OR low for 6 hours. Check it with a digital thermometer to make sure it’s 165F and done. Step 5: Remove the bay leaves and shred the cooked chicken, and you can do it right in the Crock-Pot. Step 6: Turn the broiler to high, and move an oven rack to the top of the oven. Of course, you can always shred with a couple of forks too. Take it out and shred it on a cutting board so the forks don’t accidentally scratch your Crock-Pot. Step 7: Place the shredded chicken on a large baking sheet and broil for 5 minutes just to toast the ends. Don’t leave them too long! Step 8: Serve in tacos and top with your favorite toppings. Make sure to keep reading for my favorite toppings and serving suggestions!
Chicken Carnitas Toppings and Serving Suggestions
The fun part of this Mexican dish is how you will top your carnitas! To serve traditional carnitas tacos you will need at least fresh cilantro, limes, and soft flour tortillas or corn tortillas. From there, you can customize things. Some of my favorite toppings and ways to serve Crock-Pot chicken carnitas include:
Tortillas – flour or corn Cilantro Lime wedges Red onions or pickled red onions Jalapenos Shredded cabbage Radishes Salsas: Avocado Tomatillo, Restaurant-Style Red Salsa, Pineapple Chipotle Salsa (use your extra chipotles in adobo and make this easy salsa), pico de gallo Guacamole or Avocado: DIY Guacamole, Chunky Guacamole
For burrito bowls, you may also want to include this Mexican Rice, Black Beans, and Refried Beans, too. You can also repurpose any leftover chicken carnitas and put them in burritos. Follow how I made these Smothered Beef Burritos for a general idea, but use the leftover chicken instead.
Tips for Making the Best Chicken Carnitas
Slow cooker recipes really are a cinch and this one is no-fuss. You don’t need to sear the chicken in a skillet first and then transfer it, no marinating required, it’s truly easy-peasy. However here are a few tips to make your life even easier: – Use a hand mixer to shred the chicken right in the slow cooker. – If there’s a lot of juice in your slow cooker, you may want to remove some of it before shredding. Do that easily by putting a 1 cup measuring cup in and ladle it out into another bow; don’t toss it, you may want it later. Don’t try to pick up your Crock-Pot and just dump some out though. It’s hot, heavy, awkward, and you’ll either burn yourself or make a huge mess! – Don’t leave it under the broiler too long – 5 minutes or so is all it will take. Carnitas are known for their crispy parts. However, because chicken is so lean, it can quickly and easily get too dry if you over “toast” it. So don’t overdo it. Just a few minutes to get crispy parts, then remove it, and serve. – Spices: This recipe uses a homemade blend of spices including cumin, chili powder, and Mexican oregano. Use taco seasoning instead if you wish. However use taco seasoning from a spice container and NOT a packet of “taco seasoning” like you’d sprinkle over ground beef in a skillet to make tacos. Taco seasoning packets not only have the spices and seasonings, but there is also something in them to thicken up sauces which is an advantage when making tacos, but not here.
Storing Leftover Chicken Carnitas
Store your chicken carnitas leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. You can also freeze it for up to 4 months. When reheating, take it easy with the microwave which can accidentally dry out the chicken in a hurry. Save some cooking liquid in a container in your fridge for this, just in case. Also, adding salsa, lime juice, or sour cream is especially nice to serve with any extra chicken carnitas meat.
More Easy Slow Cooker Dinners:
Slow Cooker Green Chile Chicken — Tender, juicy, chicken that’s simmered with green chiles, jalapeno, salsa verde, onions, garlic, and spices for the most FLAVORFUL and versatile green chile chicken! Use it in tacos, burritos, casseroles, sandwiches, or as a meal prep recipe. Best of all, it’s SO EASY because your slow cooker does ALL the work! Tried this recipe? Leave a review! Consider leaving a 5 star rating if you’ve made and loved one of my recipes! Slow Cooker Fiesta Chicken — An EASY Crock-Pot recipe for fiesta ranch chicken that the whole family LOVES! There’s tender chicken, cream cheese, salsa, black beans, green chiles, and more which creates a little fiesta in your mouth! Serve it as-is, over rice, or in tacos. Perfect for busy weeknight dinners or make it for your next game day party! Slow Cooker or Instant Pot Barbacoa Beef — Learn how to make authentic-tasting barbacoa beef in your Instant Pot or slow cooker!! EASY, tastes BETTER than a restaurant, and is a dinnertime WINNER! Pulled Pork Tacos — The BEST pulled pork tacos made with slow cooker pulled pork, nestled in tortillas, and then topped in abundance with Cilantro Lime Slaw, Pickled Red Onions, and Avocado Crema! Learn how to make these Mexican-inspired classic recipes at home! Easy enough for weeknights but also great for events, game day parties, get-togethers like Cinco de Mayo fiestas or graduation parties! Slow Cooker Pork Tenderloin — Tender and juicy boneless pork tenderloin is slow cooked with hearty vegetables for a complete and EASY meal! Reminiscent of a hearty and rustic recipe, yet fancy enough for a special dinner or holiday entertaining! Slow Cooker BBQ Ribs — Tender, juicy, fall-off-the-bone baby back pork ribs that are finger-lickin’ good! With just 5 minutes of active prep, your slow cooker does all the work in creating ribs that your friends and family will beg you to make over and over! Slow Cooker Mississippi Pot Roast — A foolproof recipe for tender, juicy pot roast with just FIVE main ingredients! Your slow cooker does all the work in this comfort food classic pot roast that the whole family will adore! EASIER than any pot roast you will ever make and with more robust flavor!
