These Slow Cooker Pork Pineapple Carnitas are not only healthier than your typical carnitas, they are gluten-free. If you love pulled pork, you’ll love carnitas (the Mexican version of Pulled Pork)! Loaded with grilled pineapple, red onion and cilantro, they are spicy, fresh and delicious!
2kg(4 lb) pork shoulderpork butt, skinless, boneless (5lb/2.5kg bone in
½- 212ml can of gluten-free chipotle pepper in adobo sauce*Roland's and La Costena brands are gluten-free and can be ordered from Amazon (if you can't find it in stores)
½ teaspoongluten-free cumin powder
1teaspoongarlicchopped (or use jarred minced garlic)
lime (the juice from 1 lime)
1cupgluten-free BBQ Sauce* I used Amazing Dad's BBQ sauce- found it at Superstore
1cuppineapple, diced* if using can, drain liquid
Filling
8pineapple ringshalf inch thick, if using canned (drained and patted dry) or fresh
Combine chipotle with adobo sauce, cumin, garlic, lime juice and the pineapple cubes (diced pineapple) in a blender. Blend until smooth - about 30 seconds. Mix with the BBQ sauce.
Spray slow cooker/crockpot with non-stick cooking spray and place the pork in a slow cooker and pour the sauce over the meat.
Slow Cook on low for 10 hours or on high for 6 hours. * I use low, as I prefer the results of a really long, slow cook.
Remove pork from slow cooker with a slotted spoon and let cool slightly. Remove any fat or bone (you will also be removing a little when you shred the pork, but most of it just falls off during the cooking process. Then shred using two forks. If you have never shredded pork before, SEE VIDEO IN RECIPE NOTES FOR INSTRUCTIONS!
Skim any visible fat off the top , then drain sauce from slow cooker through a sieve and set aside. Discard the remnants.Â
To Crisp:
Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a large non stick pan or well seasoned skillet over high heat. * You will need at least 2 frying pans to spread it out evenly - don't overcrowd the pan. Alternatively, you could use a Dutch oven.
Mix 2 tablespoon of the sauce to pork and mix until combined.
In the pan, drizzle over some sauce from the slow cooker and freshly squeezed lime or a little pineapple juice (about a tbsp).
Wait until the juices evaporate and the bottom side is golden brown and crusty. Turn and just briefly sear the other side - you don't want to make it brown all over because then it's too crispy, need tender juicy bits.
Remove meat from skillet and add in at least 2 more tbsp's of the sauce. If you like it really spicy, add more. *You can discard any remaining sauce or use it for whatever you like.Â
Topping/filling:
Meanwhile, coat the onion and pineapple rings with olive oil and grill in frying pan and set aside.
Divide the shredded meat evenly between the tortillas and add the grilled pineapple and onion (whole or chopped) and chopped cilantro on top. Serve immediately.
Notes
🎥VIDEO:  How to pull pork * I shred mine a little more than he does in this video** Please note: the recipe is calculated assuming that all the sauce is consumed in 8 servings. I only use a small portion of the sauce and discard the remaining, so the calorie and fat content is great reduced. However, it's nearly impossible for my nutrition calculator to get an accurate calculation of this.Â