Crock Pot Honey Citrus Pulled Pork Tacos
Sticky sweet pork, tangy citrus, and a hint of spice—all slow-cooked to perfection for irresistibly flavorful tacos. This easy slow cooker dinner is perfect for busy weeknights, parties, or feeding a crowd, with leftovers that taste even better the next day.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 7–8 hours (LOW) or 4–5 hours (HIGH)
- Total Time: 8 hours
- Yield: 6–8 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients
- 2.5–3 lbs boneless pork shoulder
- 1/3 cup honey
- 3/4 cup fresh orange juice (from 2 large oranges)
- 1/4 cup fresh lime juice (from 2 limes)
- Zest from 2 limes
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 1/2 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 cup low sodium chicken broth
- 12–16 corn tortillas, warmed
- Toppings: shredded cabbage or slaw mix, fresh cilantro (chopped), crumbled cotija cheese or feta, thinly sliced red onion, avocado or guacamole (optional)
Instructions
- Trim excess fat from the pork shoulder, leaving a little for flavor. Cut into large chunks if needed to fit in your slow cooker. Pat dry with paper towels.
- In a small bowl, whisk together honey, orange juice, lime juice, lime zest, minced garlic, smoked paprika, cumin, chili powder, salt, pepper, and chicken broth until honey is fully dissolved.
- Place the pork shoulder in the slow cooker. Pour the honey citrus sauce evenly over the pork.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 7–8 hours or HIGH for 4–5 hours, until the pork shreds easily with a fork and the sauce is bubbling.
- Transfer the pork to a cutting board and shred with two forks. Return the shredded pork to the slow cooker and stir into the sauce. Taste and adjust salt if needed.
- Optional: For crispy edges, heat a skillet over medium-high with a little oil. Sear shredded pork in batches for 2–3 minutes until golden and crispy.
- Wrap tortillas in foil and warm in a 350°F oven for 10 minutes, or heat individually in a dry skillet for 30 seconds per side.
- Spoon honey citrus pulled pork into each tortilla. Top with slaw, cilantro, cheese, onions, and avocado. Squeeze extra lime over the top if desired.
Notes
For best results, use pork shoulder for juicy, shreddable meat. Add orange and lime zest for extra citrus punch. Crisping the shredded pork in a skillet adds delicious texture. To make dairy-free, skip the cheese or use a vegan alternative. For a low-carb version, serve over lettuce wraps instead of tortillas. Leftovers are great for nachos, enchiladas, or breakfast tacos.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 2 tacos per serving
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 10
- Sodium: 700
- Fat: 14
- Saturated Fat: 5
- Carbohydrates: 32
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 29
Keywords: pulled pork, tacos, slow cooker, crock pot, honey citrus, Mexican, easy dinner, pork shoulder, family meal, gluten-free, crowd-pleaser