Slow Cooker Chicken Carnitas

Slow Cooker Chicken Carnitas
  • PREP TIME
    25 mins
  • COOK TIME
    4 hrs 15 mins
  • TOTAL TIME
    4 hrs 40 mins
  • SERVING
    8 People
  • VIEWS
    24

A delightful and effortless twist on traditional carnitas, this slow-cooked chicken recipe offers a tender, flavorful experience with a zesty citrus kick. Perfect for tacos, salads, or bowls, it's a versatile and crowd-pleasing dish.

Ingridients

Adjust Servings

Nutrition

  • Carbohydrate
    8 g
  • Cholesterol
    66 mg
  • Fiber
    2 g
  • Protein
    26 g
  • Saturated Fat
    1 g
  • Sodium
    825 mg
  • Sugar
    4 g
  • Fat
    5 g
  • Unsaturated Fat
    0 g

Follow The Directions

01

Step

Dissolve chicken bouillon in boiling water. (2 minutes)

02

Step

Heat olive oil in a sauté pan over medium heat. Add diced onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until translucent and lightly browned (about 5 minutes). Add diced jalapenos and cook until softened (about 5 minutes). Stir in fire-roasted diced green chiles and cook for an additional 3 minutes. (13 minutes)

03

Step

In a small bowl, combine salt, dried cilantro, Mexican-style seasoning blend, ground cumin, dried basil, dried oregano, garlic powder, garlic and herb seasoning blend, chile powder, smoked paprika, dry mustard powder, and ground black pepper. (3 minutes)

04

Step

Trim any excess fat from the chicken breasts. Generously coat all sides of the chicken with the prepared seasoning blend, ensuring even coverage. (5 minutes)

05

Step

Place the onion mixture in the bottom of a slow cooker. Pour in the chicken broth mixture, lime zest and juice, orange zest and juice, and minced garlic. Place the seasoned chicken breasts on top of the mixture. Cover and cook on Low for 4 to 6 hours, or until the chicken is very tender and easily shreds with a fork. (6 hours)

For extra flavor, sear the seasoned chicken breasts in the sauté pan before adding them to the slow cooker. This adds a lovely caramelized crust.
If you prefer a spicier dish, add an extra jalapeno or a pinch of cayenne pepper to the seasoning blend.
Shred the chicken directly in the slow cooker using two forks. This allows the chicken to absorb even more of the flavorful juices.
Serve the chicken carnitas in warm tortillas with your favorite toppings, such as chopped cilantro, diced onions, salsa, guacamole, and a squeeze of lime.

Ericka Balistrerischmeler

Written by

Our recipe authors are passionate food lovers who share thousands of diverse dishes from around the world. They bring daily cooking inspiration with delicious, easy-to-make recipes for every occasion.

RECIPE REVIEWS

Avarage Rating: 4.8/ 5 ( 8 Ratings)
Total Reviews: (3)
  • Vivien Cassin

    This recipe is fantastic! So easy to make and the chicken is incredibly flavorful and tender. My family loved it!

  • Micaela Nikolaus

    I was skeptical about using chicken instead of pork, but this recipe completely changed my mind. It's now a regular in our meal rotation.

  • Roberto Rohan

    The citrus zest and juice really brighten up the flavor. I also added a little bit of oregano, which made it even better.

LEAVE A REVIEW

Please Rate