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Savory Slow Cooker Carnitas Sliders Easy Recipe with Pickled Red Cabbage

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Tender slow cooker pork carnitas paired with tangy pickled red cabbage, served on soft slider buns for a crowd-pleasing, easy meal perfect for casual gatherings.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 3 lbs pork shoulder, trimmed and cut into large chunks
  • 1 medium onion, quartered
  • 4 cloves garlic, smashed
  • 1 cup chicken broth (low sodium preferred)
  • 1 tbsp ground cumin
  • 1 tbsp smoked paprika
  • 2 tsp dried oregano
  • 1 tsp chili powder
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 2 bay leaves
  • Juice of one orange (about 1/4 cup)
  • Juice of one lime (about 2 tbsp)
  • 2 cups red cabbage, thinly sliced
  • 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 2 tbsp sugar
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp black peppercorns
  • Optional: 1 small jalapeño, thinly sliced
  • 12 slider buns (soft, preferably brioche or potato rolls)
  • Optional toppings: fresh cilantro, sliced avocado, crumbled queso fresco, or a drizzle of crema

Instructions

  1. Pat the pork shoulder chunks dry with paper towels.
  2. In a small bowl, combine cumin, smoked paprika, oregano, chili powder, salt, and pepper.
  3. Rub the spice blend evenly over the pork chunks.
  4. Place quartered onion and smashed garlic cloves in the bottom of the slow cooker.
  5. Add the pork on top, then pour in chicken broth, orange juice, and lime juice.
  6. Toss in bay leaves.
  7. Cover and cook on low for 8 to 10 hours, or on high for 4 to 6 hours until pork is fork-tender.
  8. While pork cooks, combine apple cider vinegar, water, sugar, salt, and peppercorns in a saucepan and heat until sugar dissolves.
  9. Place sliced cabbage and jalapeño in a jar or bowl and pour hot liquid over it. Let cool, then refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
  10. Remove bay leaves from cooked pork and shred pork with two forks in the slow cooker, mixing with juices.
  11. Optional: Spread shredded pork on a baking sheet and broil for 5-7 minutes for crispiness.
  12. Lightly toast slider buns.
  13. Assemble sliders with carnitas, pickled red cabbage, and optional toppings.
  14. Serve immediately.

Notes

Trim excess fat but leave some for juiciness. Season pork early for best flavor. Shred pork while warm and mix with juices to keep moist. Broil shredded pork for crispy texture if desired. Slice cabbage thinly for faster pickling. Pickled cabbage tastes best after at least 1 hour refrigeration, preferably overnight. Use gluten-free buns or lettuce wraps for gluten-free option. Skip queso fresco and crema or use plant-based alternatives for dairy-free.

Nutrition

Keywords: slow cooker carnitas, carnitas sliders, pickled red cabbage, easy carnitas recipe, slow cooker pork, Mexican sliders, party food, casual dinner

Find it online: https://novanosh.com/savory-slow-cooker-carnitas-sliders-easy-recipe-with-pickled-red-cabbage/