Slow-cooked pork, infused with tequila, lime, and spices, then transformed in to two-bite carnitas taco bites. A great snack for the big game!
Course Appetizer
Cuisine Mexican
Keyword carnitas, taco bites
Prep Time 30 minutesminutes
Cook Time 6 hourshours
Total Time 6 hourshours30 minutesminutes
Servings 24
Calories 289kcal
Author Erica
Ingredients
Crock Pot Carnitas
4-5poundpork shoulder or butt roastboneless
3clovesgarlicfinely diced
3tablespoonscumin
2tablespoonspaprika
2tablespoonsoregano
2tablespoonschili powder
3tablespoonsred pepper flakes
Salt & pepperdesired amount
1onionchopped
2bay leaves
2limesjuice of
½orangejuice of
6ouncestequila
Taco Bites
5-6large flour tortilla shells
1 ½cupsprepared Carnitas
8ouncesguacamolehomemade or store bought
½can Rotel tomato mix or pico de gallo
3ouncesshredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
Crock Pot Carnitas
Combine cumin, paprika, oregano, chili powder, red pepper, salt, and pepper in a small bowl and stir until evenly mixed.
Rub roast with diced garlic and place in crock pot. Add seasonings mix and distribute over meat evenly, being sure to get some on the underside of the roast also.
Add onion and bay leaves to crock pot, then pour in lime juice, orange juice, and tequila.
Slow cook on low for 10 hours, high for 6 hours.
When pork is done cooking, set broiler to high. Using two forks, shred meat, then transfer it to two foil-lined baking or roasting pans. Pour some of the remaining juice from the crock pot over the meat.
Broil on high about 10 minutes to give it a nice, crispy brown top.
Taco Bites
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Using a cookie cutter (a star worked great for this, but round would also work), cut taco bite shells from tortillas, pressing each one in to an ungreased mini muffin pan cup.
Bake shells for 8-10 minutes until crispy but not too dark. Let cool until you can touch the pan with your bare hands. Turn oven to high broil.
Fill each taco bite shell with about 1 Tablespoon prepared Carnitas. Top each with desired amount of guacamole, Rotel/pico, and cheese, but don't overfill too much.
Broil the finished bites another 3-4 minutes, just to warm the filling and melt the cheese.
When pan is cool to the touch, remove taco bites and serve. Enjoy!
Notes
This recipe for Tequila Lime Carnitas will make much more than you need for these taco bites. There are plenty of ways to use the rest, though! Dinner tacos, "Chipotle" style burrito bowls, as a protein on a salad, nacho topping - any use is a good use!