Crock Pot Citrus-Infused Pork Delight

Ingredients

- 4 lbs pork shoulder or pork butt, trimmed of excess fat
- 1 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
- 1/2 cup freshly squeezed lime juice
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 medium onion, thinly sliced
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Zest of 1 orange
- Zest of 1 lime

Instructions

1. Preparation
Start by trimming the pork shoulder of any significant excess fat. Cut into large chunks (around 2-inch pieces) for even cooking and set aside.

2. Create the Marinade
In a large bowl, whisk together the orange juice, lime juice, garlic, cumin, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper. Stir in the chopped cilantro, orange zest, and lime zest until well combined.

3. Marinate the Pork
Place the pork chunks into the bowl with the marinade, ensuring each piece is well-coated. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or, for better flavor, overnight.

4. Prepare the Crock Pot
Once marinated, heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Remove the pork pieces from the marinade, reserving the liquid, and sear them in the skillet until browned on all sides (about 6 minutes). This will enhance the flavor and lock in juices.

5. Cooking in the Crock Pot
Transfer the seared pork to the Crock Pot. Pour the reserved marinade over the pork and add the sliced onion. Cover and cook on low for about 8 hours or on high for 4 hours, until the pork is tender and can be pulled apart easily with a fork.

6. Final Touch
Once cooked, use two forks to shred the pork directly in the Crock Pot, mixing it with the citrus-infused juices. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary.

Preparation & Cooking Times

Preparation Time: PT15M
15 minutes

Cooking Time: PT8H
8 hours

Total Time

PT8H15M
8 hours 15 minutes

Type of Dish

Dinner

Keywords

Pork recipe, Crock Pot dinner, Citrus pork, Slow cooker pork, Easy dinner, Savory meals, Shredded pork, Citrus marinade, Comfort food, Family dinner

Recipe Yield

Feeds 4 adults

Calories

Total Calories: 2,000

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