Name: Pork Carnitas Lettuce Wraps
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 310 min
Ingredients: 2 pounds boneless pork shoulder roast; 1 teaspoon salt; 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper; 2 teaspoons dried oregano; 1 teaspoon cumin; 1/2 teaspoon chili powder; 1 tablespoon olive oil; 1 onion (coarsely chopped); 4 garlic cloves (minced); 1 jalapeño (seeded and ribs removed, chopped); 1 orange (cut in half); 3 tablespoons vegetable oil; Fresh lettuce (green, butter, romaine, iceberg); Shredded cheddar cheese; Chopped cilantro; Salsa; Guacamole or avocado slices; Sour cream

Recipe

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Check out these slow-cooker Pork Lettuce Wraps for a refreshing and low-carb way to enjoy Taco Tuesday!

Prep this epic dinner in 10 minutes and let the crockpot do the rest. The outcome is delicious and tender pork carnitas that will wow everyone!

pork carnitas lettuce wraps on a white plate

Low Carb Pork Carnitas Lettuce Wraps

I love crunchy foods so imagine how awesome wrapping lettuce around flavorful carnitas meat plus other fresh taco toppings can be! It’s a great way to make this classic taco night recipe into a low-carb meal!

This low-carb dinner lets you enjoy the same deliciousness of the classic pork carnitas tacos while adding extra veggies! Totally a win! The pork is cooked inside the slow cooker and once it’s been shredded, it can be served in numerous ways.

And let’s talk about leftovers. The recipe below is generous and one of those that tastes better the next day! You can also use it to make these low-carb bell pepper nachos.

Ingredients

Pork, seasonings, and lettuce are enough to assemble an epic carnitas dinner! Check the simple ingredients you need to make this Pork Carnitas Lettuce Wrap recipe:

Boneless pork shoulder roast: other great cuts for carnitas are pork butt, pork loin, and boneless pork chops.
Seasonings: salt, pepper, and a pork rub made with dried oregano, cumin, chili powder, and olive oil.
Aromatics: coarsely chopped onion and garlic cloves.
Jalapeño: seeded and ribs removed.
Orange: adds more flavor and a slightly sweet note.
Vegetable oil: to pan-fry the roast, if you want to!
Lettuce: to serve these mouthwatering pork carnitas.
Toppings: cheddar cheese, cilantro, salsa, sour cream, guacamole, or avocado slices; your favorites!

How to Make Pork Lettuce Wraps

Easy recipes like these pork carnitas lettuce wraps are perfect for busy weeknights! You just have to season the pork and let the slow cooker do its magic. It’s super simple:

Season the pork
Rinse and dry the pork shoulder roast with a paper towel. Salt and pepper liberally.
Rub the pork
Combine oregano, cumin, chili powder, and olive oil, and rub all over the shoulder roast. Place the pork roast inside the slow cooker. Toss in onion, garlic, and jalapeño. Squeeze orange halves into the slow cooker and add them in.
Cook
Cook for 8 to 10 hours on low or 4 to 5 hours on high. Once the meat is tender, place it on a large cutting board and allow it to cool before shredding it between two forks.
Make it crispy!
For crispy, charred carnitas, you can pan-fry the roast in a large pan by adding the meat in batches and sautéing until some of the edges are crusty. This step is optional.
Assemble
Assemble the pork lettuce wraps and add your favorite toppings.

And, of course, I have a quick video for you to make sure these carnitas turn out great for you!

Best Toppings

And then, there are the toppings. Tacos and lettuce wraps are the equivalent of pizza toppings, but cold. My favorite addition is avocado slices, fresh guacamole, some quick blender salsa, a little shredded cheese, and a little cilantro, which goes a long way.

What to Serve with Lettuce Wraps

Combine these delicious carnitas lettuce wraps with a corn and tomato salad or this chunky avocado salsa to keep dinner fresh and simple. To keep this meal low-carb, serve these wraps with this epic cilantro lime cauliflower rice. Flavor, nutrition, all the good stuff! Hey, and don’t forget to sip a Skinny Margarita. So good!

More Low-Carb Tacos

Enjoy a delicious and guilt-free Taco Tuesday by serving your favorite tacos over lettuce! Some of my go-to recipes when I crave a tasty low-carb dinner are Buffalo Chickpea Lettuce Wraps, Thai Chicken Lettuce Wraps, and Cobb Salad Lettuce Wraps. Delish and healthy!

This low-carb recipe can be found on page 127 of The Taco Tuesday Cookbook.

Pork Carnitas Lettuce Wraps

Servings: 6 servings

Prep Time: 10

Total Time: 5 10

Check out these slow-cooker Pork Lettuce Wraps for a refreshing and low-carb way to enjoy Taco Tuesday!

5 from 22 votes

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Watch how it’s made:

Ingredients

2 pounds boneless pork shoulder roast
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon freshly ground pepper
2 teaspoons dried oregano
1 teaspoon cumin
½ teaspoon chili powder
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 onion, coarsely chopped
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 jalapeño, seeded and ribs removed, chopped
1 orange, cut in half
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
Fresh lettuce, green, butter, romaine, iceberg

Toppings:

Shredded cheddar cheese
Chopped cilantro
Salsa
Guacamole or avocado slices
Sour cream

Instructions

Prep the pork:

Rinse and dry the pork shoulder roast with a paper towel. Salt and pepper liberally.
In a small dish, combine the oregano, cumin, chili powder, and olive oil and rub all over the shoulder roast. Place pork roast inside the slow cooker. Toss in onion, garlic, and jalapeño. Squeeze orange halves into the slow cooker and add them in.

Cook the pork:

Cover and cook for 8 to 10 hours on low or 4 to 5 hours on high. Once the meat is tender, remove it from the slow cooker onto a large cutting board and allow the meat to cool down prior to shredding it between two forks.
For crispy, charred carnitas, you can pan-fry the roast. Heat vegetable oil in a large pan. Once hot, add the meat in batches and sauté until some of the edges are crusty. This step is optional.