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Home Blog Cooking Method Crockpot

Crockpot Carnitas with Pork Tenderloin or Loin (Paleo, Whole30)

Cheryl Malik
Cheryl Malik Posted: 06/27/18 Updated: 09/18/20
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GF Gluten Free P Paleo 30 Whole30

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Whole30 Crockpot carnitas in a bowl and in the Crockpot
Whole30 Crockpot carnitas in a bowl
Whole30 Crockpot carnitas in a bowl and in the Crockpot
Whole30 Crockpot carnitas in a bowl and in the Crockpot

These Crockpot carnitas are made in the slow cooker for a super easy paleo or Whole30 dinner. Pork loin or tenderloin makes these Crockpot carnitas a budget-friendly, healthy Mexican recipe, and they’re so full of flavor! Used in my Whole30 carnitas chilaquiles recipe, as well as my copycat Chipotle carnitas bowl.

Paleo Crockpot carnitas in a bowl with oranges, limes, and cilantro

Why This Recipe Works

  • Using pork loin or tenderloin means no hard-to-find ingredients, and the result is super tender.
  • Fresh citrus tenderizes the carnitas while they cook in the Crockpot and leaves you with plenty of juices for browning and serving.
  • Cooking these carnitas in the Crockpot means an easy and flavorful Mexican dinner ready for you when you get home from work or school.
  • Browning the carnitas at the end adds a beautiful crispiness to a few pieces that you’ll love.
  • This Crockpot is super functional, and I highly recommend it! (<<< affiliate link)

I was never a huge fan of carnitas before my first Whole30. Nah, I didn’t have anything against the Mexican pulled pork, but I’d always, always opt for steak if given the chance. Problem is…

Well, two problems.

a) The steak at Chipotle is not Whole30 compliant, and

b) Um, steak is expensive?

Pork loin with other ingredients in the slow cooker

So on our first Chipotle outing during a Whole30, I wandered up to the glass with my phone in my face and ordered off a post I’d found on the Whole30 forums.

“Carnitas and lettuce and, um… extra guac, of course,” I emphasized. “And like 2 cups of each salsa.”

Because, you know, that roasted salsa verde is damn good, but not as good as the one I made!

I was surprised, then, when I liked the carnitas bowl as much as I did, considering there was no, GASP, cheese, and no, ALSO GASP, steak, and no corn salsa and no crunchy chips and generally lots of saying no to lots of things. But what I got instead was crunchy and crisp, tender and juicy, bright and flavorful and garlicky and a little smoky. I left feeling satisfied but not grossly full, and I didn’t immediately need to take a nap or top off my steady caffeine drip.

Paleo Crockpot carnitas in a bowl with a lime off to the side

Really, though, I found myself craving carnitas bowls on a recent Whole30 and had a couple pork loins in the fridge that I’d recently found on sale at Sprouts for insanely cheap. At about 4 bucks for half a loin (8 bucks for the whole thing, and we used the other half for a pan-roasted tenderloin with apples and bacon DROOL), this Whole30 Crockpot carnitas recipe made enough carnitas for an entire week of lunches for O and me. And did I mention I literally put it in the Crockpot on Sunday afternoon and just let it do its thing? Y’all.

Just Y’all.

Tips for Success

  • Don’t skip browning the carnitas after they’re shredded! Browning them in a bit of oil with some leftover juices takes them to the next level with crispy bits and a juicy texture.
  • You can use pork loin or pork tenderloin for these Whole30 Crockpot carnitas:both are delicious.
  • Make sure you only use 2 pounds of either pork loin or pork tenderloin, though, rather than just a whole pork loin or whole pork tenderloin.
  • The order in which you add the ingredients after the pork doesn’t really matter, but I usually do salt, garlic, onion, jalapeños, then the juice.

Paleo Crockpot carnitas in a bowl with oranges, limes, and cilantro

Variations

  • Deseed your jalapeño for milder Crockpot carnitas.
  • Try this recipe with chicken breasts. The cooking time should remain the same.
  • Add a cinnamon stick with your citrus juices for a super rich flavor.
  • Add 1/2 cup beer, preferably Mexican, to the cooking liquid for really tender Crockpot carnitas. Don’t do this if you’re on a Whole30, though!

FAQs

Can I use my Instant Pot?

Sure! First, you could try my perfect paleo Instant Pot carnitas and cook them under pressure. The result is seriously amazing.

Or you could use the Slow Cooker setting and follow this recipe as written.

Does the liquid need to cover the pork loin or pork tenderloin?

Nope!

Can I use two 1-pound pork tenderloins?

Absolutely. The key here is just to use 2 pounds of pork loin or pork tenderloin; however you come to that figure is fine.

Can I double this recipe?

Absolutely! Simply double all ingredients exactly and follow the same time recommendations, perhaps erring on the side of the longer end (5-6 hours on high and 7-8 hours on low).

How to Make It

Combine the rub ingredients and rub all over the pork tenderloin or loin.

Coat pork tenderloin with rub

Cover pork with remaining Crockpot carnitas ingredients.

Cover pork with remaining Crockpot carnitas ingredients.

Cover and cook on low 6-8 hours or high 4-6 hours.

Cover and cook on low 6-8 hours or high 4-6 hours.

Remove pork from Crockpot and shred.

Shred carnitas

Heat a drizzle of avocado oil (or olive oil or coconut oil) in a skillet over medium heat. Add a layer of shredded carnitas (but don’t crowd) and spoon a couple ladles of cooking juice over. Cook until crisp on the underside then flip and crisp briefly on the second side. Serve with a bit of extra juice.

Brown carnitas in skillet and drizzle with cooking juice

Cook until crisp

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Paleo carnitas
4.95 from 86 votes

Crockpot Carnitas from Pork Tenderloin (Paleo, Whole30, Low Carb, Keto)

Prep:10 minutes
Slow Cooker Time:4 hours
Total:10 minutes
Whole30 Crockpot carnitas made from pork tenderloin or pork loin in the slow cooker. An easy, healthy Mexican dinner recipe that's paleo, Whole30, low carb, and keto.
Print Save Saved! Click Here to Remove Ads
6 servings

Ingredients

Rub

  • 1 tablespoon dried oregano
  • 2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 1 tablespoon avocado oil or olive oil

Crockpot Carnitas

  • 2 pounds pork tenderloin or loin
  • 1/2 onion chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 jalapeño chopped
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • Juice of one lime
  • Juice of one navel orange

To Serve

  • avocado oil

Equipment Needed

  • slow cooker

Instructions 

  • Pat dry pork tenderloin with paper towels. Combine rub ingredients and rub all over tenderloin then place in your Crockpot.
  • Top with remaining ingredients, cover, and cook on high for 4-6 hours or low for 6-8 hours. When done, the meat will be cooked through and very tender, easily separated with a fork.
  • Remove the tenderloin from the Crockpot and shred the meat with two forks. Do not discard juices.

To Serve

  • Heat a drizzle of olive oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add enough carnitas to cover the surface without crowding and ladle a little of the carnitas juice over. Cook until juice has evaporated and the bottom of carnitas is crispy and browned. Flip and cook briefly, but not until too brown.
  • Remove from skillet and drizzle with a little more juice. Serve.

Notes

It's important that you do not use a WHOLE pork loin but the recommended poundage. If you use a whole pork loin, you will not have enough liquid. If you would like to up your poundage, simply multiply the sauce ingredients to make up for the extra meat!
Wait until you're ready to serve to sear the meat in the skillet. Keep in the refrigerator in an airtight container with juices drizzled over until ready to serve.
I recommend this programmable Crockpot.

Video

Nutrition Information

Calories: 213kcal, Carbohydrates: 2g, Protein: 31g, Fat: 7g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Cholesterol: 98mg, Sodium: 855mg, Potassium: 636mg, Vitamin A: 50IU, Vitamin C: 4.7mg, Calcium: 33mg, Iron: 2.2mg, Net Carbs: 2g

Number of total servings shown is approximate. Actual number of servings will depend on your preferred portion sizes.

 

Nutritional values shown are general guidelines and reflect information for 1 serving using the ingredients listed, not including any optional ingredients. Actual macros may vary slightly depending on specific brands and types of ingredients used.

 

To determine the weight of one serving, prepare the recipe as instructed. Weigh the finished recipe, then divide the weight of the finished recipe (not including the weight of the container the food is in) by the desired number of servings. Result will be the weight of one serving.

© Author: Cheryl Malik of 40 Aprons

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This recipe is used to make…

Chipotle Copycat Whole30 Carnitas Bowl

This Chipotle copycat Whole30 carnitas bowl is a take on the Whole30 Chipotle favorite and is a fantastic Whole30 dinner, especially for warmer weather! I just can't think of a better way to eat Whole30 Mexican food. Sorry, Chipotle!

Epic Paleo Nachos

These paleo nachos are epic, aka the best paleo nachos ever. What makes paleo nachos epic, you ask? Well, what do you think of plantain chips topped with tender carnitas, the best paleo queso blanco, guacamole, pico de gallo, smoky guajillo salsa, and creamy chipotle sauce? If those doesn't sound like the best paleo nachos to you, I just don't even know who you are anymore.

Note: This post was originally published April 2017, but was republished with step by step instructions and tips June 2018.

Cheryl Malik

Meet Cheryl Malik

Cheryl Malik is the recipe developer, writer, and photographer behind the healthy, flavorful, family friendly recipes at 40 Aprons. She's been a blogger for 10+ years and is known for her delicious recipes and detailed recipe instructions. Cheryl is a mom of three who lives in Memphis, TN.

Read more...

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  1. Nicole says

    Posted on 2/7/23 at 9:52 pm

    I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve made this. My fiance and his boys love it too. I add a can or two of green chiles to it! This recipe is a staple in my life.5 stars

    Reply
    • Molly | 40 Aprons TeamMolly | 40 Aprons Team says

      Posted on 2/8/23 at 8:57 am

      Yum! So glad it’s a hit with the family, Nicole! Thanks so much for the review!

      Reply
  2. Kate L. says

    Posted on 1/24/23 at 3:57 pm

    My husband’s most requested recipe!!5 stars

    Reply
    • Molly | 40 Aprons TeamMolly | 40 Aprons Team says

      Posted on 1/24/23 at 4:05 pm

      So glad it’s a favorite! Thanks so much for the review, Kate!

      Reply
  3. Kristina F says

    Posted on 1/18/23 at 7:47 pm

    This is one of my go-to pork tenderloin recipes! Got my not-so-adventurous Mom loving this recipe too!5 stars

    Reply
    • Molly | 40 Aprons TeamMolly | 40 Aprons Team says

      Posted on 1/20/23 at 10:50 am

      That’s great!! Thanks so much for the review, Kristina!

      Reply
  4. Deanna says

    Posted on 11/5/22 at 8:52 pm

    We love this recipe. I’ve made it several times since going Whole30. Great flavor!!5 stars

    Reply
    • Molly | 40 Aprons TeamMolly | 40 Aprons Team says

      Posted on 11/7/22 at 9:10 am

      So happy to hear it’s one of your repeat recipes, Deanna! Thanks so much for the review!

      Reply
  5. Wendy Mains says

    Posted on 9/20/22 at 1:39 pm

    I make this at least once a month and everyone loves it:) I wouldn’t change a thing.5 stars

    Reply
    • Megan | 40 Aprons TeamMegan | 40 Aprons Team says

      Posted on 9/21/22 at 12:19 pm

      Thank you so much, Wendy!

      Reply
  6. Rosie says

    Posted on 2/20/22 at 3:04 pm

    I’ve used this recipe before and loved it! But I’ve since gotten rid of my crockpot. Any recommendations for creating this recipe in an Instant Pot?5 stars

    Reply
    • Anna Claire | 40 Aprons TeamAnna Claire | 40 Aprons Team says

      Posted on 3/1/22 at 11:10 am

      We have a recipe for exactly that! Here you go: https://40aprons.com/perfect-paleo-instant-pot-carnitas-whole30/.5 stars

      Reply
  7. Parker says

    Posted on 12/30/21 at 4:20 pm

    This is by far the best carnitas recipe and it’s so easy. Juicy, crispy bits, and great on everything from salads to tacos and tamales.5 stars

    Reply
    • Anna Claire | 40 Aprons TeamAnna Claire | 40 Aprons Team says

      Posted on 1/3/22 at 7:44 pm

      So glad you enjoyed this recipe!5 stars

      Reply
  8. Jamie says

    Posted on 6/23/21 at 11:26 am

    This recipe is delicious!! I have to confess. I don’t serve this as a “healthy ” meal. I put this meat on lightly fried corn tortillas with coleslaw, onions, cilantro and a little pico and it is PERFECT!! thank you! This is and will remain a regular dish in my home.

    Reply
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