Description
Slow Cooker Chicken Carnitas are tender, flavorful pulled chicken perfect for tacos, burritos, or grain bowls, enhanced with fresh lime and spices.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 onion, chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Juice of 2 limes
- Fresh cilantro, for garnish
Instructions
- Sauté the aromatics: Begin by heating the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and garlic, sautéing until they turn soft and fragrant—about 3-4 minutes.
- Combine ingredients: In your slow cooker, combine the sautéed onion and garlic with the raw chicken thighs.
- Add the spices: Generously sprinkle cumin, chili powder, paprika, oregano, salt, and pepper over the chicken, ensuring each piece is well-coated.
- Add the zest of limes: Squeeze the fresh lime juice over the chicken mixture and give everything a gentle toss to infuse those flavors.
- Cook to perfection: Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours. You know it’s ready when the chicken shreds easily with a fork.
- Shred the chicken: Once cooked, place two forks into the tender chicken and shred it, mixing it gently with the delicious juices in the pot.
- Serve and customize: Spoon the carnitas into warm tortillas or over a fresh bed of greens—garnish with cilantro as a finishing touch.
Notes
For enhanced flavor, allow the chicken to rest in its juices before serving. Experiment with spices to suit your palate.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 240 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 220
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 500mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 3g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 60mg
Keywords: chicken carnitas, slow cooker, Mexican recipe, tacos, pulled chicken