Crockpot Beer Carnitas Tacos.
Let’s discuss the real reason we should all be celebrating and consuming fantastic amounts of tequila on Saturday: my favorite holiday. I’m pretty sure I used to totally blow off Cinco de Mayo during Spanish class in high school, but I like to chalk that up to my ignorance surrounding guacamole and my innocence in relation to the liquor stash.
NOW I relish in this day. I mean, the fact that I have to share it this year with my husband (who doesn’t even love Mexican food… what is wrong with him?) sort of dampers my mood, but not enough to squash it completely. I sense I will be actively alternating between margaritas and mint juleps come Saturday.
I sense that come Sunday I will want to die.
My true ideal would be to celebrate by eating some sort of Mexican food everyday this week, and now that I’ve type up those words I think I will. I highly suggest these crispy shrimp tacos, thai beef tacos, crockpot cheddar beer chicken tacos and buffalo chicken enchiladas. Together. Like, all at once. And to be washed down with fresh lime margaritas, fresh strawberry margaritas, blood orange margaritas, fresh peach margaritas and an extra shot of tequila.
My utopia, described.
It would probably make me forget the fact that I wasn’t carded once in my multiple trips to the liquor store last week and that the gum I’m chewing right now is seriously killing my jaw and that if I tried to consume all four of those margaritas in one night I’d most likely be in bed by 7:13PM and have to receive the remaining drinks intravenously and that I’m getting, unfortunately, old and boring. But hey… whatever it takes.
Since we all know I’m a huge fan of the pork, I don’t think this needs much describing. Slow cooked in beer with some taco-like spices, then pulled until tender and topped with guacamole, jalapeño lime sour cream, fresh mango chunks and cilantro? Save me before I die of gluttony.
Crockpot Beer Carnitas
serves at least 6 generously with leftovers
5-6 pounds pork shoulder roast (or butt)
1 tablespoons canola oil
8 ounces of your favorite beer
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/2 tablespoons smoked paprika
1/2 tablespoon cumin
1 1/2 teaspoons onion powder
1 1/2 teaspoons chili powder
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
for serving: corn tortillas, guacamole, fresh cilantro, freshly chopped mango.
Combine seasonings together in a bowl and mix until combined. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add oil. Once hot, add pork and sear on all sides until golden brown (about 2 minutes per side).
Add pork to the crockpot and sprinkle seasonings all over. Pour in beer, then cook on low for 10-12 hours. Check once or twice if possible and if needed, add more beer (I did not add any). Before serving, use forks or kitchen tongs to shred pork. Let sit on low or warm for another 20-30 minutes before serving.
Jalapeno Lime Sour Cream
1 cup sour cream
1 jalapeno, seeded and diced
juice of 2 limes
2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
a pinch of salt and pepper
Whisk all ingredients together then serve. Refrigerate for up to 3 days.
Someone please come over and eat tacos with me.
117 Comments on “Crockpot Beer Carnitas Tacos.”
I have chosen to forget all about Cinco de Mayo this year, due to the fact that I cannot partake in the deliciousness called Tequila. Man, and its even on a Saturday!! Such is life.
I guess I’ll have to make a delicious dish, such as this instead of a margarita.
Try Tequila Chicken (Drunken Chicken) for the flavor of the Tequila without the Alcohol!
Oh Girl! This looks fabulous! Yum!! I love the recipe for the jalapeno lime sour cream! You gave me a taco craving today!!
I love pork too, and this one sounds extra delicious!! The jalapeno sour cream is nothing I have heard before, but such a genius idea!! I just checked the peach margarita, I am sending the link to my husband – he has to make me one!!!
Cinco de Mayo is one of my favorite holidays…for the food, of course! I love any and all kinds of Mexican food. These tacos look deeeelish! :-D
Jessica, our cinco de mayo feast this weekend was going to be your buffalo chicken enchiladas (with loads of margaritas, obviously) but i have a feeling it’s going to end up being a toss up between those and these amazzzzzzzzing tacos. slow cooker recipes = the best! you can just forget about them. and those mango chunks and jalapeno lime sour cream put these over the top! soooooo darn good.
Umm, yes please. Let the binge eating begin.
I wish I was having a cinco de mayo party so I could have an excuse to make a huge batch!
All those recipes sound fantastic! And margaritas do make everything better. I think I’m going to hit up my little authentic mexican taco stand for cinco de mayo this year. It’s the best!
These look incredible. And I’m vegetarian. Might be enough to change my mind! ;)
I’ll be making that sour cream for sure!
There better be a sweet on the menu tmrw :) lol…
You might be super jealous that I’m in San Diego and Cinco de Mayo is going to be insane….but even with all the great Mexican food around me – I’m still jealous of your tacos.
I’ll eat tacos with you any day of the week.
I love this! I’m a Cinco de Mayo enthusiast. I requested that my wedding shower be held on cinco de mayo! I figure a shower with margaritas flowing is fun for all. Now I want to add these to Saturday’s menu…
How fun!
My boyfriend and I have been meaning to make authentic carnitas in the crockpot, but weren’t really sure which direction to go in. I’m psyched we have a recipe now :) Thanks for a great cinco de mayo dish – I’ll let you know if I make this on Saturday!
Yummy. I love the idea of Lime Sour Cream.
My friend arrives from Chile tonight and now I found the dish I was looking for. Thank you. Can’t wait to try it. Chef Panza.
Yum, I’m in! Just make sure that “horse channel” is kept off. Haha
Leinenkugles – YAY!
That’s the beer she used in picture #1 – I’m not advertising, just applauding.
Mr. How Sweet doesn’t like Mexican food? What’s wrong with him? I agree! ;-) Cinco de Mayo will be celebrated it my house, and I think these tacos will be on the menu. They look crazy delicious, Jessica! Count me in anytime to eat these with you! :-)
I’ll be over for dinner around 6 if that works for you. ;)
I will be right over. Let me catch a flight!
Any holiday that encourages the consumption of guacamole is muy bueno.
I just sent this to my dad for when he has his golf boys [ok, men] over in the summer. Awesome flavors!
I’m definitely doing a dish in honor of Cinco de Mayo this year! Love your idea for the jalapeno lime sour cream – sounds so flavorful! :)
The boy and I don’t eat pork. He eats beef (but I don’t, so I don’t know much of anything about it) – any thoughts on what cow part I can sub into this? I’m from Arizona, I love Mexican food, and he is slowly getting on board. I think all the margaritas I shove at him are helping tremendously :)
In the meantime, I’ll be trying out those crockpot chicken tacos fo sho!
I think you could probably do a flank steak or beef shoulder?
Oh yes please. I love pulled pork but never made it.
The sour cream and the freshly chopped mango are perfect. And so is anything you can make in a crockpot…with…beer!
i’m blowing off all plans of healthy eating this saturday because cinco de mayo is OBVI the best holiday ever. and these are at the top of the list!
greatest food holiday ever!! It’s almost hard to decide what to eat and drink on Saturday, which is why the week-long Mexican-themed menu is totally necessary.
These look fantasic! I love pork tacos. Definitely will be trying this one!
Bookmarking this to try it. It looks so so good! I love tacos but get rather boring with them. This is something I need to try for sure.
Pair this with the new Bud Lime-a-Rita over ice and you have a Cinco de Mayo party going on! Sounds delicious!!!!!! Thanks for posting!!
Yes, you can come to my house and cook me this for dinner! I’ll let you! Aren’t I nice?! ;)
OH EMM GEE! Definitely going to see if my husband is up for trying this. Sounds SOOO yummy!
Make it flour tortillas and I’ll be right over!
mmmm. I could live on carnitas, and plan to this weekend. This looks like a delicious mix on them. That sour cream also sounds like something I’d like to swim in.
Holy Lady of Guadalupe – I might die and go to heaven. Or in a food coma…..I’m on it this weekend.
I’ll come eat tacos with you!! How can anybody not like Mexican food?! Maybe my being born on Cinco de Mayo has something to do with how much I love it though, I could eat it for every meal, everyday. I have to make these soon…birthday dinner maybe?? :)
You are going to have a very happy birthday!
OMG talk about perfect timing with this post! We just went to Border Grill in vegas and has the most amazing carnitas there. Our server said they are marinaded in Tecate beer and I was going to go on a hunt to find a comparable recipe. Thanks for saving me the effort!
Hi, love your posts and check them everyday, but just for today, I wanted to remark that none of your mexican menu is actually mexican,(except for the margaritas) its more of a tex mex combination, but I’ll be more than happy to show what the mexican food is all about.
mm yum! my favorite kind of tacos! I cant wait for cinco de mayo to roll around in guacamole and margaritas all day <333 best.holiday.ever.
Okay, I am on the way… directions please….
These look Mau-va-les daaaling
This will be on the Saturday menu. Thanks for sharing!
Oh we’re so kinda sorta on the same page this week. A day early but wow. Love it so much.
Carnitas is my favorite meat to put in a taco, even more than carne asada! We had carnitas at our wedding and that is my standard meat at Chipotle. Sooo moist and tasty and the texture is just crazy! I CAN’T WAIT to try this! Also as a Mexican girl, I don’t always appreciate Mexican food (so yeah, I can kinda see where your hubby is coming from) as much as I should but carnitas has always been the exception.
Waaaaaah why didn’t I have carnitas at my wedding?
I was just searching for a crockpot beef taco recipe and something told me to check out your blog. Very weird and awesome. Thanks!
Oh, man you just made my day. This sour cream looks fabuloso!
BTW, would love to join you for tacos!!! or better yet, come eat with us, we make as many Mexican dishes as possible on Cinco de Mayo and eat until we’re stuffed…
YUMM.. i don’t eat pork, but those carnitas are lookin’ so good.
Wow my mouth is watering! This sounds so delicious!!! And I love any recipe that calls for alcohol! :) Do you think it matters if you use a darker or lighter beer?!
I’m guessing it might, but I am no where near a beer connoisseur! I just use an amble ale. :)
haha yes me either! Just a good excuse to make it a few times then, try out different beers! And drink the leftovers… :) Thanks for sharing the recipe!