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Slow Cooker Spicy Pork Carnitas: Your Ultimate Game Day & Fiesta Recipe
Get ready to elevate your game day experience or any festive gathering with these incredibly tender, flavorful, and perfectly spicy Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas. Imagine succulent pork, slow-cooked to juicy perfection, infused with a vibrant kick, ready to be piled high on warm tortillas, nachos, or even sandwiched between bread. This versatile dish is an absolute crowd-pleaser, guaranteed to score a touchdown with friends and family alike, whether it’s for the big game, a casual family dinner, or a lively fiesta!
Conquer Game Day Cravings with Comforting Carnitas
Who’s ready for some thrilling football action? Here in our home, we are die-hard football enthusiasts, eagerly anticipating every game day. Even when our favorite team isn’t in the playoffs, the excitement of the season never fades. Football gatherings are synonymous with spirited cheering, good company, and, most importantly, an unforgettable spread of delicious food. I absolutely love preparing a grand game day feast, filled with delectable appetizers, satisfying main courses, and charming, football-themed desserts.
One thing is certain: playoff season and the ultimate championship game always fall in the colder months. This makes me constantly seek out warm, hearty dishes that can keep everyone feeling full and content, regardless of the chilly weather outside. I vividly recall watching a playoff game recently where the announcer reported a frigid 0-degree temperature at kickoff! The players’ hot breath visibly fogged the field. While I’m a devoted Chicago Bears fan, you’ll never catch me braving temperatures below freezing at a live game. Instead, you’ll find me cozied up inside, passionately cheering at the television, and savoring these incredible Slow Cooker Spicy Pork Carnitas in the warmth of my own home!
The Secret to Stress-Free Hosting: Slow Cooker Carnitas
As I mentioned, football is a big deal in our household, and we adore hosting game day parties for all our friends and family. Being the foodie that I am, I always ensure there’s an impressive spread to satisfy every hungry guest. My ultimate secret weapon for entertaining is the slow cooker. It allows me to start cooking in the morning, have a perfectly prepared dish by noon kickoff, and keep it warm throughout the entire afternoon’s festivities. This is where Slow Cooker Spicy Pork Carnitas truly shine. They offer maximum flavor with minimal effort, ensuring everyone is delighted and no one will ever complain about eating delicious tacos!
This past weekend marked the start of the football playoffs, and as usual, we had friends coming over. I had recently caught an episode of “The Kitchen” on Food Network – truly my favorite show, those five hosts have such great chemistry. Marcela Valladolid was preparing pork carnitas, and they looked absolutely divine. A lightbulb went off: these would be the perfect game day recipe, and a fantastic bonus, they could easily feed a crowd! As soon as the show ended, I headed straight to Jewel-Osco to gather all the essential ingredients. While Marcela’s recipe didn’t call for a spicy element, our family has a deep love for bold, fiery flavors. My mission was clear: find the perfect spice to elevate these carnitas. And there it was, gleaming in all its red, tomato-infused glory in the international aisle: El Yucateco Red Habanero Hot Sauce. Bingo! I had found the ideal heat for my Slow Cooker Spicy Pork Carnitas. I grabbed the vibrant red bottle, but also made a mental note of the green habanero variety, keeping it in mind for future dishes when I might want a touch more garlic flavor.
Crafting Flavorful Pork Carnitas: A Step-by-Step Guide
After completing the rest of my grocery list, I eagerly returned home to begin preparing the pork. I had purchased a 6lb pork shoulder at the store, but this specific recipe only required 2lbs. So, I portioned the pork, saving the remainder in the freezer for future culinary adventures. I took the 2lbs of pork, cut it into four equally sized chunks, and generously seasoned all sides with garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. These seasoned pieces were then placed in a nonstick pan set over medium-high heat, where I seared them until beautifully browned on all sides, locking in those essential flavors. Once seared, the pork was transferred directly into the slow cooker.
Next, I poured about half a cup of cola into the same pan where the pork was browned. This helped deglaze the pan, allowing me to scrape up all those flavorful brown bits – the true essence of deliciousness – and add them to the slow cooker with the seared pork. Then, I added the remaining cola, water, fresh herbs like tarragon and thyme, bay leaves, and a generous dose of El Yucateco Red Habanero Hot Sauce to the slow cooker. With all ingredients in place, I set the slow cooker to low for a steady four hours.
I must tell you, my entire house smelled absolutely incredible for all four of those hours! My husband couldn’t stop asking when it would be time to eat. “Game time,” I declared, knowing full well that if I let him taste it before our friends arrived, there wouldn’t be any left! When the cooking time was up, the pork was unbelievably tender; it practically fell apart with the slightest touch. I barely needed two forks to shred it – that’s how moist and juicy it turned out.
To prepare for serving, I lightly charred some flour tortillas, though corn tortillas would also be fantastic. I sliced creamy avocados, cut fresh lime wedges, thinly sliced radishes, and chopped fresh cilantro to offer as additional vibrant toppings. When setting up the spread, I also made sure to place the bottle of El Yucateco Red Habanero Hot Sauce right alongside, so our guests could easily add an extra layer of spice if they desired a more intense kick.
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Print Recipe
Slow Cooker Spicy Pork Carnitas
Prep Time
Cook Time
Total Time
Author Strawberry Blondie Kitchen
Yields 10 servings
These Slow Cooker Spicy Pork Carnitas are a game-changer! Tender, juicy, and packed with flavor, they are perfect for your next big game party, a lively fiesta, or a delicious weeknight dinner. Serve them on tortillas, nachos, or sandwiches for a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.
Ingredients
- 2 lbs pork shoulder or pork butt, cut into 4 equal chunks
- 1 Tablespoon garlic powder
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
- 1 1/2 cups Cola beverage, divided
- 1/4 cup El Yucateco Red Habanero Hot Sauce
- 3/4 cup water
- 2 Sprigs fresh Tarragon
- 2 Sprigs fresh Thyme
- 2 Bay Leaves
- For Serving (Optional Toppings)
- Tortillas (flour or corn), charred
- Sliced avocado
- Thinly sliced radishes
- Lime wedges
- Extra El Yucateco Red Habanero Hot Sauce
- Shredded cheese
- Diced tomatoes
- Chopped fresh cilantro
- Diced onions
Instructions
- Liberally season all sides of the pork chunks with garlic powder, salt, and black pepper.
- Heat a large nonstick pan over medium-high heat. Place the seasoned pork chunks in the pan and sear until deeply browned on all sides, creating a flavorful crust.
- Carefully transfer the seared pork pieces into your slow cooker.
- In the same pan used for browning the pork, pour in 1/2 cup of cola. Use a spatula to scrape up all the flavorful browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Pour this rich liquid into the slow cooker over the pork.
- To the slow cooker, add the remaining cola, water, El Yucateco Red Habanero Hot Sauce, tarragon sprigs, thyme sprigs, and bay leaves.
- Cover the slow cooker and set it to cook on the low setting for 4 hours, or until the pork is fork-tender and easily shreddable.
- After 4 hours, remove the pork from the slow cooker and place it on a cutting board or shallow dish. Using two forks, easily shred the pork into desired consistency. Stir the shredded pork back into the flavorful cooking liquid in the slow cooker to keep it moist and infuse it further with taste.
- For Serving:
- Warm or char tortillas. Assemble your carnitas by topping tortillas with the shredded pork, a squeeze of fresh lime juice, slices of creamy avocado, thinly sliced radishes, diced onions, fresh cilantro, and a dash of extra El Yucateco Red Habanero Hot Sauce for those who love an added kick. Feel free to add cheese or tomatoes as well.
Notes
This recipe is slightly adapted from Marcela Valladolid’s Cola Carnitas, with our spicy twist!
Cuisine Mexican
No Leftovers, No Regrets: A Carnitas Sensation!
My only regret about making these Slow Cooker Spicy Pork Carnitas? Not cooking all 6lbs of pork shoulder! There were absolutely no leftovers, and I had been eagerly anticipating a delicious carnitas lunch the following day. These were, without a doubt, absolutely exquisite. The pork itself wasn’t overwhelmingly spicy; its flavor profile was rich, savory, and incredibly satisfying, even for those who might not be huge fans of intense heat. Then, when topped with creamy avocado, fresh cilantro, a zesty squeeze of lime, and a bit more El Yucateco Red Habanero Hot Sauce, it reached pure perfection.
Let me assure you, if you serve these irresistible Slow Cooker Spicy Pork Carnitas at your home, you will become the designated host for football fans all season long. People will be begging you for the recipe, wanting to recreate this magic all year round. They are not just for game day; they make an equally fantastic and exciting dinner at any time.
So, whether your team is battling it out in the playoffs or going for glory in the big game, you are guaranteed to score a culinary touchdown with these Slow Cooker Spicy Pork Carnitas. And even if football isn’t your passion, do yourself a huge favor and dedicate a night to Mexican cuisine at home, featuring these incredible carnitas. You certainly won’t regret it!
Spice Up Your Life with El Yucateco
If you, like us, appreciate food that’s both hot and packed with flavor, be sure to explore the El Yucateco Gear Store. It’s the perfect place to grab some cool merchandise and proudly display your love for all things spicy and El Yucateco. I’m personally eyeing one of their Ladies Jersey Varsity Embroidered Tees – they’re super cute, and we genuinely adore El Yucateco products! I might even get my husband the limited edition tailgating shirt for when he attends games in Chicago. What gear would you choose? Share your picks in the comments below!
While I chose the El Yucateco Red Habanero Hot Sauce for this specific carnitas recipe, it’s worth noting that El Yucateco offers an impressive variety of hot sauces designed to please any palate. Their range extends from smoky chipotle and delightful sweet heat options all the way to their intensely fiery XXX hot sauces. There’s truly a flavor for every spice enthusiast!
Serve these fantastic carnitas with refreshing margaritas, ice-cold cervezas, or zesty micheladas, and you’ve got yourself an unforgettable football party that everyone is sure to enjoy!
What are your go-to spicy dishes for game time gatherings? Did your favorite team make it to the playoffs this year? Share your thoughts and traditions with us!
Enjoy this incredible recipe! If you make these Slow Cooker Spicy Pork Carnitas, please share a photo on social media and use the hashtag #strawberryblondiekitchen. I absolutely love seeing your delicious creations! Happy Eating!