This is one of the better budget keto recipes I make, a cheap cut of meat turned into something that tastes like it cooked all day, because it did. Keto Al Pastor pork carnitas gets big flavor for very little money.
This post may contain affiliate link(s). As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. See Disclosure.
Yes, there is pineapple juice in the ingredient list, but it is strictly for flavor and tenderizing. You are not drinking the cooking liquid, so none of it actually ends up on your plate or in the carb count.
I serve this plain or in lettuce wraps, while my family gets theirs with rice or tortillas on the side.
This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn commissions from qualifying purchases. For more information, see my Privacy Policy.
Jump-start your keto success! Grab a copy of my 4-week Easy Keto Menu Plan or check out my other cookbooks to help you along.
Join our Facebook group for friendly keto support, and for videos on how to make these recipes, subscribe to my YouTube channel!
Chef Jenn’s Take on Al Pastor Pork Carnitas
Most carnitas recipes stop after the slow cooker does its job. The real key is browning the meat twice, once before it goes into the slow cooker and again after it’s shredded. Skipping either step leaves real flavor on the table.
Rub the spice mixture onto the meat and sear it in a hot skillet before it hits the slow cooker. That first sear locks the spices onto the meat instead of letting them fall off during the long cook. After shredding, crisp the pork again in a large skillet with plenty of surface area, and do not move it once it’s in the pan, just let one side get properly crisp before turning.
If you skip the pineapple juice, add an extra cup of chicken broth or water instead. You’ll lose some flavor, but the technique stays the same.
The nutrition count here does not include the pineapple juice or cooking vegetables, since none of that ends up on your plate, nor any sides or garnishes like avocado or tortillas. For serving, I thin sour cream with a bit of water so it drizzles easily over the top.
What You’ll Love About Al Pastor Pork Carnitas
- Freezes well several different ways, so leftovers stay flexible.
- Big, bold flavor from a genuinely inexpensive cut of meat.
- Makes enough for at least two dinners, all from one pot.
Ingredients
- Pork shoulder or pork butt – Boneless if you can find it, about 3 pounds. It cooks down a lot.
- Mexican oregano – Not Italian oregano, the flavor is grassier with a hint of citrus.
- Cumin and chipotle powder – Standard pantry spices.
- Onion – Peeled and quartered.
- Jalapeno – Seeds removed.
- Garlic – Fresh cloves, smashed.
- Chicken broth – Low sodium.
- Pineapple juice – For flavor and tenderizing only, discarded with the rest of the cooking liquid. Skip it and add an extra cup of broth or water if you’d rather not use it.
- Lemon and lime – Juice and zest from one of each.
How to Make Al Pastor Pork Carnitas
Scroll down for the full recipe card with exact measurements and printable instructions.
Combine the Mexican oregano, chipotle powder, salt, and cumin in a small bowl. Rub it all over the pork.
Sear the meat on all sides in a hot skillet with oil, until browned. Transfer the meat and pan juices to the slow cooker.
Peel thin strips of lemon and lime zest with a vegetable peeler and add to the slow cooker, along with the juice from both.
Add the chicken broth, pineapple juice, garlic, onion, and jalapeno. Cook on high for 3 to 4 hours, turning the meat halfway through, until fall-apart tender.
Remove the meat and let it cool enough to handle, then pull it into large shreds, discarding any fatty bits.
Heat oil in a large skillet over fairly high heat. Add the shredded pork and let it sit undisturbed for a few minutes to crisp before turning.
Season with salt and pepper, and serve in lettuce wraps or with your favorite keto Mexican sides.
Make It A Meal
If you’re a fan of keto slow cooker recipes, this pairs well with Southern Style Green Beans or Beef Stew on a different night.
For the family, Low Carb Cauliflower Fried Rice is a good keto-friendly stand-in for the rice or tortillas everyone else might want on the side.
Storage
This freezes well several ways: raw and seared in a freezer bag before slow cooking, cooked but not yet shredded with extra liquid to keep it moist, or fully shredded and browned with the air pressed out of the bag. Refrigerated leftovers keep for up to 4 days.
Frequently Asked Questions
This recipe runs about 5 net carbs per 1/2 cup serving. This does not include any sides or garnishes like avocado, lettuce, or low-carb tortillas. The number in the recipe card below will recalculate once this post is republished, so use it as an estimate until then.
No, the pineapple juice and cooking vegetables are discarded with the rest of the cooking liquid rather than eaten, so they aren’t included in the nutrition count.
Yes, add an extra cup of chicken broth or water in its place. You’ll lose some of the flavor, but the recipe still works.
Just sour cream, thinned with a little water so it’s easy to drizzle over the top.
Add Preferred SourceAl Pastor Carnitas (Keto, Low-Carb)
Ingredients
- 3 pounds pork shoulder roast
- 1 tablespoon Mexican oregano
- 1 tablespoon cumin powder
- 1 teaspoon chipotle powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 small onion peeled and quartered
- 1 small jalapeno seeds removed
- 6 cloves of garlic smashed
- 1 cup chicken broth low sodium
- 1 cup pineapple juice
- Juice and zest from one lemon
- Juice and zest from one lime
Instructions
- Combine the Mexican oregano, chipotle powder, salt, and cumin in a small bowl. Rub it all over the meat. Heat 2-3 tbsp of oil in a skillet over medium-high heat and sear the meat on all sides until it is brown. Transfer the meat and pan juices to the slow cooker.
- Wash the lemon and lime. Using a vegetable peeler, peel thin strips of the skin and add them to the slow cooker. Juice the lemon and lime, adding the juices to the slow cooker.
- Add the chicken broth, pineapple juice, peeled and smashed garlic cloves, onion, and jalapeno to the slow cooker. Cook over high for 3-4 hours or until meat is fall-apart tender. Turn halfway through the cooking time.
- Remove the meat from the slow cooker and set it aside until it is cool enough to handle.
- Pull the pork into large shreds, picking out and discarding any fatty bits.
- Heat 2 tbsp of oil in a large skillet over fairly high heat, but not smoking. Add the meat to the pan, letting it sit a few minutes to crisp up some of the edges.
- Remove from the skillet, season it with salt and pepper, and serve in lettuce wraps, or serve with your favorite keto Mexican sides like avocado, lime crema (sour cream and lime juice), or low-carb tortillas.
Video
Notes
Recipe Card Tips
- Sear the meat twice, once before slow cooking and once after shredding. This double browning is where most of the flavor comes from.
- Use a large skillet with plenty of surface area for the final crisping step, and don’t move the meat until it’s had time to brown.
- Skip the pineapple juice if needed and add extra broth or water instead. You’ll lose a little flavor, but the technique stays the same.
- I’ve not included the pineapple juice and veggies in the nutritional count because you’re not consuming them.
Nutrition
A Note on Nutritional Information
Nutritional information for this recipe is provided as a courtesy and is calculated based on available online ingredient information. It is only an approximate value. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site cannot be guaranteed. Erythritol carbs (sugar substitutes) are not included in the carbohydrate counts as they have been shown not to impact blood sugar, and they have zero calories and zero carbs. Net carbs are the total carbs minus fiber.
Like this? Also try:
- Bacon-wrapped pork tenderloin
- Sausage Parmigiana
- Egg Roll in a Bowl
- keto authentic Chicken Enchiladas
- and be sure to check out my cookbook page!
The slow cooker is hands down the best way to cook this, and I like that you used it in a lettuce wrap!
This is so easy to make! Delicious too
I’ve never actually had Al Pastor Carnitas before, but I’ll definitely be giving these keto versions a try!! 🙂
I have never had this dish before but it sounds amazing. I cannot wait to try it.
You didn’t mention the onion in the instructions, but it’s ok! I got this!
You’re right, I did forget! No matter how much you proofread… I’ve updated the post. Thanks for catching this!
HI, Jenn. You mention not including the pineapple juice in the nutrition numbers, but I don’t see the nutrition label anywhere. Did you forget to add it, or am I blind today? haha Also, is that sour cream drizzled over the top, or is there a sauce recipe for this dish? Thanks.
You are not blind! I guess I forgot to hit a button somewhere along my process so the nutrition info didn’t load. It is there now. Thanks for bringing this up! And yes, that’s just a bit of sour cream on top. I thin it with a bit of water to get it to squirt out of squirt bottles.
Thanks for the recipe. Does the nutritional information include the avocado and lettuce that is served with the pork? Trying to figure out if I can eat this with additional carbs from a low carb tortilla
The nutritional info does not include any sides or garnishes you might have with the dish. Enjoy!