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eat well on a budget with easy recipes from Jessica Fisher

Carnitas Tostadas (Slow Cooker Prep!)

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Carnitas Tostadas are a fantastic alternative to tacos. Load up a crispy tortilla shell with refried beans, chunks of tender carnitas, lettuce, tomato, and onion. Super yum!

carnitas tostada on white plate

Ready for an easy and delicious dinner? Carnitas Tostadas are it! Bean tostadas are pretty amazing to start, but you’ll really up your game when you add tender chunks of carnitas, or “little meats” to the mix.

Whether you fry your own tortillas or just buy the packaged tostada shells, you’re in for a treat when you put tostadas on the meal plan. They are a perfect addition to a Mexican food buffet, since they share so many ingredients with your other taco night favorites, such as tacos, burritos, and taco salad.

The best thing is that the prep is super hands-free. The carnitas cooks in the slow cooker all day so that you can come home to a simple yet filling supper.

platter of carnitas next to tostada shells and toppings

Carnitas Tostadas

Carnitas tostadas are delicious and easy to make. The filling cooks up tender and juicy in the slow cooker. Cut into chunks and browned in the oven, the meat develops crispy bits that are absolutely tasty.

Loaded on a tostada shell with beans and taco fillings, carnitas tostadas are super fun for Taco Tuesdays.

What cut of meat are carnitas?

Carnitas are made from pork shoulder, a well-marbled cut that when braised becomes tender and melt-in-your-mouth delicious. 

How are carnitas served?

Carnitas are delicious served as a roast, a taco or burrito filling, or a topping for burrito bowls or tostadas. They go exceptionally well with pinto beans, guacamole, and traditional taco toppings.

step by step photos of carnitas collage

How do you make carnitas?

Making carnitas taco filling is a simple process. 

  1. Season the pork shoulder with salt, pepper, garlic, and oregano.
  2. Place the roast in the slow cooker. Add the chopped onion. Cover and cook on low for 8 to 10 hours  or high for 4 toto 6 hours, or until the meat is fall apart tender.
  3. Remove the meat from the slow cooker and cut into chunks. 
  4. Place the meat in a baking dish and cook in the oven until browned and crispy in bits.

Are carnitas supposed to be crispy?

Carnitas should have crispy bits as well as tender chunks of meat. Honestly, little bits of fat make it super tasty!

How do you eat tostada shells? 

Tostada shells can prove puzzling to some. Is it a hand-held food or one you eat with knife and fork? 

It depends on what you prefer. You can do either or both.

carnitas tostada on plate with other ingredients on table

How much does it cost to make carnitas tostadas?

Carnitas tostadas can be a very affordable meal to make, especially since pork is such an inexpensive cut of meat.

Here’s how the ingredients for this recipe pencil out when you buy them not on sale at a mid-range grocer in San Diego county. Your mileage may vary.

  • tostada shells – $1.09 ($1.99/22) or you can get tortillas ($0.72 for 12) and oil ($0.33 for 1 cup) for $1.05
  • refried beans – $1.86 
  • 4# pork shoulder roast – $7.16 ($1.79/lb)
  • iceberg lettuce – $0.65 ($1.29/1 head)
  • tomatoes $0.60

This prices out to be $11.36 for a dozen or 95 cents each! You’ll be hard pressed to find a meaty tostada elsewhere for less than a buck!

Do you need any special equipment to make carnitas tostadas?

You don’t need any special equipment to make this dish, other than a slow cooker and a cutting board.

carnitas on platter next to bowls of tomatoes and lettuce

If you prepare this recipe, be sure to take a picture and hashtag it #GOODCHEAPEATS. I can't wait to see what you cook up!
carnitas tostada on white plate
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5 from 2 votes

Carnitas Tostadas

Prep Time5 mins
Cook Time4 hrs 15 mins
Total Time4 hrs 20 mins
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: bean tostadas, carnitas tostadas, tostada, tostadas
Servings: 12 tostadas
Calories: 169kcal
Author: Jessica Fisher

Ingredients

  • 4 lb pork shoulder roast bone-in
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 1 onion chopped
  • 1 dozen tostada shells
  • 2 cup Refried Beans homemade or canned
  • toppings for tostadas : shredded lettuce, guacamole, salsa, sour cream, chopped fresh cilantro
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Place the pork shoulder in the crock of a slow cooker. Season the pork with garlic powder, oregano, salt, and pepper. Add the chopped onion and cover.
  • Cook on low for 8 hours or on high for about 6. The meat should be fall-apart tender. Save the juices for chili, stew, or soup.
  • Preheat the oven to 400° F.
  • Remove the meat from the pot and shred it/chop it into chunks. Place it in a baking dish and bake for about ten minutes to crisp the edges just a bit and brown the meat.
  • Warm the tostada shells according to package instructions.
  • Heat the beans in a small sauce pot.
  • Assemble tostadas by layering tostada shell, beans, carnitas, and other toppings.

Notes

To freeze: the shredded meat can be frozen for a later date. Simply cool and store in an airtight container. Chill completely before freezing. To serve: thaw completely in the refrigerator. Reheat and serve.
Note: the cooked pork is very versatile and can be used in tacos, soups, stews, chili, and sandwiches.
Promptly store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator, for up to 4 days.
Nutritional values are approximate and based on 1 tostada.

Nutrition

Calories: 169kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 20g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 62mg | Sodium: 495mg | Potassium: 331mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 39IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 30mg | Iron: 2mg

This post was originally published on May 4, 2011. It has been updated for content and clarity.

pinnable image for carnitas tostadas

Reader Interactions

Comments

  2. Erica says

    I love carnitas! My recipe is long and involved, I can’t wait to try yours in the crockpot, with a full baseball schedule dinner that can be prepped ahead and eaten in shifts is a blessing to this tired mom

  4. jane says

    I love your blog and all of the recent Central American food!

  5. Beth says

    I’d love to win–my family enjoys a Mexican feast!

  6. Rebecca P says

    This looks delicious! All of your Cinco de Mayo food has been making my mouth water…

  9. susitravl says

    Carnitas are a favorite at our house – YUM!
    susitravl(at)gmail(dot)com

  11. Lyn T says

    We LOVE Mexican food in our house. I serve tacos, enchiladas, burritos, tostadas, or fajitas at least twice a week.

  14. Aleisha says

    I can’t wait to finally try your recipe for carnitas! I hope my family loves it as much as yours does.

  15. Wanda Eichler says

    MMM! Now I know what I’m going to do with the country style pork ribs in freezer! Thank you for the idea.

  16. Stacy Nunez says

    LOVE it!! Thanks for all your great ideas- Feliz Cinco de Mayo!

  17. blossomteacher says

    I never thought to do pork country strips in the crockpot for carnitas…smart idea!

  18. se says

    Cant wait to try your recipe it sounds so yummy and looks delicious.

  20. Melanie says

    I LOVE Mexican food! It is a weekly mush have at our house. When I was expection our son that is what I ate most days! He loves it too no! 🙂

  21. Amy L. says

    YUM! I could eat Mexican food every night, if my family would allow it!

  22. Ginny says

    Definitely a kid-pleasing group of goodies – with just enough zing!

  25. Leslie W says

    YUM! I was going to make regular tacos for dinner tonight but now I’m gonna have to try these. They look so good!

  26. Leslie says

    Ohhhhhhhhhhh this recipe looks DELISH!! Added ingredients to my shopping list and look forward to making it on Saturday! Thank you for sharing!

  30. Deanna says

    That recipe looks delicious! I love crock pot recipes as I’m a busy full time working Mom and it really saves on time. Thanks!

  33. Bette Barkley says

    We like Mexican food and will probably have some this evening!!

  35. Melissa L. says

    We eat Mexican food all the time!!! That’s something that everyone in the family will eat ; ) So can you guess what we are eating today on cinco de mayo????

  38. Lori says

    Just threw my pork in my crockpot to cook all day long. Your recipes inspire me & my husband thanks you greatly!!!

  40. Karen says

    We have tacos or some Mexican food once or twice a week for supper. Would love to win the prize! Happy Cinco de Mayo!

  45. Melanie says

    This recipe sounds delicious and very easy, I will have to give it a try!

  46. misty gorman says

    we are celebrating cinco de mayo tonight as a family at the local mexican restaurant.

  51. Ann M says

    Yum! I love Mexican! We’re having your Mexican rice tonight for dinner 🙂

  52. Tanja says

    Was just searching for something to make for cinco de mayo and here it is!

  53. Katherine says

    I love recipes with ingredients like this! so simple to assemble but fun to eat

  54. joanna mattas says

    We love Mexican food, and thanks for the great giveaway!

  56. Joellen says

    My husband loves Mexican food–I’m always looking for new recipes to go beyond the usual tacos and taco salad.

  57. teresa cunningham says

    my husband and i could eat mexican dishes every day!!!!!!

  63. jenny says

    I had my cinco de mayo dinner all planned- but then my son’s track meet ran late and we didn’t leave there until almost 7 so my hubby picked up a couple pizzas instead…. so sad… I guess that margarita will have to be enjoyed tonight!

  64. Stephanie says

    We eat mexican the time and much to my surprise the first time I made your famous beans and rice we have not looked back. I like to make a big crock pot of beans and freeze in 2 cup porions for easy quick meals, bean burritos, or mexican lasagna, even an pintos and cheese snack can be had.
    On a side note we love your pizza dough it is our friday night staple.

  68. amybee says

    Thank you! We had black bean and spinach enchiladas last night to celebrate.

  69. Hilary Richards says

    Your Mexican food always looks so fresh and delicious. Thank you for all the meal ideas.

  71. jessie says

    Tostadas look delicious! We went with plain old tacos for cinco de mayo this year.

  73. Dana says

    Those sound really good! I have never tried pork strips, just made from a pork butt.

  74. Carmen Erickson says

    Yummo! Since we eat a gluten-free diet, Mexican food makes a regular appearance in our weekly meal plans!

  75. Polara says

    Mmm. i’m making carnitas later this week with some pork roast I bought on sale…my husband likes to eat it with rice, beans and pico de gallo. Now I just need to dig out my cilantro-lime rice recipe. Yum!

  77. Rita says

    I love tostadoes! My mom would make them frequently when I was growing up for a quick weeknight dinner.

  79. Joan Callaway says

    I just found Good Cheap Eats, but I’ve been reading Live as Mom for some time…This is one of my favorite dinners. Always looking for new ways to prepare the carnitas. Thanks.

  81. Kathryn Vanderpol says

    We love Mexican food! Delicious and cheap!

  82. Michele says

    I could eat Mexican almost every day of the week.

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