Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas Tacos

Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas Tacos costs about $15.24 to make ($1.91 per serving) at U.S. grocery prices reviewed August 2026, and each serving has roughly 806 calories, 48 g protein, and 50 g net carbs. Total time: 8 hr 15 min.

$1.91per serving

A 4-pound pork shoulder in the slow cooker turns into two nights of carnitas tacos plus leftovers. One of the cheapest ways to feed a family real meat.

What it costs

Servings: 8cost per serving stays $1.91
IngredientCost
4 lb pork shoulder$9.16
1 medium onion, quartered$0.33
4 cloves garlic$0.17
16 flour tortillas$3.98
1 cup salsa$1.09
cumin, oregano, salt, pepper, bay leaf$0.50
Total $15.24

How to make it

  1. Rub the pork all over with salt, pepper, cumin, and oregano.
  2. Place in a slow cooker with onion, garlic, a bay leaf, and half a cup of water. Cook on low 8 hours.
  3. Shred with two forks, discarding the bone and excess fat. For crispy edges, spread on a sheet pan and broil 4–5 minutes.
  4. Serve in warmed tortillas with salsa.

Nutrition per serving

Calories806
Protein48 g
Fat43 g
Carbohydrates54 g
Fiber4 g
Net carbs50 g
Saturated fat15 g
Sodium1067 mg

Substitutions

Make it cheaper

Pork shoulder regularly goes on sale under $1.79/lb — buy two, cook one, freeze one. Skip the broil step and it's zero extra cost either way.

Common questions

How much does it cost to make Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas Tacos?

About $15.24 total, or $1.91 per serving, using U.S. average grocery prices reviewed August 2026. Actual cost depends on your store and region.

How much protein is in Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas Tacos?

Each serving has roughly 48 g of protein (806 calories per serving), computed from USDA-typical ingredient values.

How can I make Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas Tacos cheaper?

Pork shoulder regularly goes on sale under $1.79/lb — buy two, cook one, freeze one. Skip the broil step and it's zero extra cost either way.

Do leftovers of Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas Tacos keep well?

Outstanding — carnitas freeze for 3 months and get better reheated in a skillet.

Related budget recipes

$1.88 /serving
Chicken & Broccoli Rice Bowl
48 g protein · 35 min
$2.12 /serving
One-Pot Turkey Marinara Pasta
38 g protein · 35 min
$1.16 /serving
Eggs & Crispy Potatoes Breakfast Skillet
18 g protein · 30 min
$3.37 /serving
Slow-Cooked Chuck Roast with Carrots
42 g protein · 8 hr 15 min

9 of 49 ingredient prices come from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics average price data; the remaining 40 are estimates. Last reviewed 2026-08-12. Your store will differ — treat every figure as a planning estimate, not a quote. Nutrition is computed from USDA-typical ingredient values and rounded.