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Crispy Slow Cooker Carnitas Nachos

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These crispy slow cooker carnitas nachos with pickled red onion are an easy, flavorful fiesta snack featuring tender slow-cooked pork layered over crunchy tortilla chips and topped with melty cheese and tangy pickled onions.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 3–4 lbs pork shoulder, trimmed of excess fat
  • 1/2 cup fresh squeezed orange juice
  • 2 tablespoons fresh squeezed lime juice
  • 4 large garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon dried Mexican oregano
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 whole bay leaves
  • 1 medium yellow onion, quartered
  • 10–12 oz sturdy tortilla chips
  • 2 cups shredded Mexican blend or sharp cheddar cheese
  • Pickled Red Onion:
  • 1 medium red onion, thinly sliced
  • 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup water
  • Fresh cilantro, chopped (optional)
  • Jalapeño slices (optional)

Instructions

  1. In a large bowl, combine orange juice, lime juice, minced garlic, cumin, oregano, chili powder, salt, and pepper. Toss the trimmed pork shoulder in the marinade and let sit for 15-20 minutes.
  2. Place quartered yellow onion and bay leaves at the bottom of the slow cooker. Lay the marinated pork shoulder on top and pour leftover marinade over it.
  3. Cover and cook on low for 7-8 hours or on high for 4-5 hours until pork is tender and shreds easily.
  4. While pork cooks, prepare pickled red onions by whisking apple cider vinegar, sugar, salt, and water until dissolved. Add sliced red onions, submerge, and let sit at least 30 minutes or refrigerate overnight.
  5. Remove bay leaves and onions from pork. Shred pork finely with two forks, reserving about 1/4 cup cooking liquid if desired.
  6. Preheat oven broiler. On an oven-safe platter or sheet pan, spread a layer of tortilla chips. Evenly distribute shredded carnitas over chips and sprinkle with shredded cheese.
  7. Broil for 3-5 minutes until cheese melts and pork edges crisp, watching closely to avoid burning.
  8. Top nachos with pickled red onions, fresh cilantro, and jalapeño slices if using. Serve immediately.

Notes

Use gluten-free tortilla chips for a gluten-free version. Substitute cheese with vegan alternatives or omit for dairy-free. Thinly slice red onions for faster pickling. Broil nachos carefully to avoid burning. Drizzle reserved pork cooking liquid on nachos if they seem dry before adding pickled onions.

Nutrition

Keywords: carnitas, slow cooker, nachos, crispy, pickled red onion, fiesta snack, easy recipe, pork shoulder

Find it online: https://cooksybite.com/crispy-slow-cooker-carnitas-nachos-recipe-easy-homemade-fiesta-snack/