Steak Carnitas Meat in the Crock-Pot

By Melissa

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on Jul 03, 2019, Updated Apr 19, 2024

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Smoky and hearty Steak Carnitas Meat in the Crock-Pot is one of the best set-it-and-forget-it meals that’s exquisitely flavored and makes some tender and rich tacos.

Smoky and hearty Steak Carnitas Meat in the Crock-Pot is one of the best set-it-and-forget-it meals that's exquisitely flavored and makes some tender and rich tacos.
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Steak Carnitas Meat in the Crock-Pot

What’s better than tacos? There isn’t much that I can think of… Maybe my kids and husband and, on a good day, our new puppy. Right below them on my list of favorite things? Tacos. Obviously. This Crock-Pot recipe will take your taco game to a whole new level, too, so get ready. I could eat these over and over and over again — they just don’t get old.

Perfectly seasoned with some hearty veggies to beef it up (pun intended), these steak carnitas bring some serious flavor to all your favorite Tex-Mex dishes, including tacos (of course), as well as quesadillas, nachos, and big-as-your-face burritos. Plus, this recipe is super-duper flexible. For real — I’ve used this method and spice rub on elk steaks, pork, and lamb, and it goes well on all the things. Just give it a try for yourself to see what I mean!

Smoky and hearty Steak Carnitas Meat in the Crock-Pot is one of the best set-it-and-forget-it meals that's exquisitely flavored and makes some tender and rich tacos.

What’s the difference between barbacoa and carnitas?

Barbacoa comes from the same word as “barbecue,” while carnitas means “little meats.” Barbacoa is often braised meat from a cow head, and carnitas are often made of pork and are fried in their own fat. (Although, my rendition, as you know, uses steak!)

How do you make steak carnitas?

Steak carnitas in the slow cooker are easier than you could imagine. Simply rub the flank steak down with your dry spice rub (recipe below), place it in the Crock-Pot, cover with additional veggies (onion, bell pepper, and jalapeno), and cook on low for 7 or 8 hours. When the time is up, remove the meat from the cooker, and shred in a bowl using two forks. Serve on tortillas for tacos, or on your favorite Tex-Mex meal!

Can you make steak carnitas in the Instant Pot?

You can! You’ll want to be sure to add some beef broth so it doesn’t dry out. Use the “saute” setting for a few minutes before pressure-cooking it for about 30 minutes.

Smoky and hearty Steak Carnitas Meat in the Crock-Pot is one of the best set-it-and-forget-it meals that's exquisitely flavored and makes some tender and rich tacos.
inside view of the steak carnitas filling
No ratings yet

Steak Carnitas Meat in the Crockpot

By: Melissa Griffiths
Smoky and hearty Steak Carnitas Meat in the Crock-Pot is one of the best set-it-and-forget-it meals that’s exquisitely flavored and makes some tender and rich tacos.
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 7 hours
Total: 7 hours
Servings: 10
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Ingredients 

For the Carnitas:

  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons cumin or smoked cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper, or more to taste
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 pounds flank steak
  • 1 yellow onion, chopped
  • 1 green bell pepper, chopped
  • 1 jalapeno, seeded and chopped

Serving Options:

  • Corn tortillas
  • Shredded lettuce
  • Grated cheese
  • Tomato
  • Sour cream
  • Salsa

Instructions 

  • Mix all of the spices together in a small bowl for the spice rub. Rub the spices into each side of the steak, using all of the mixture.
  • Place the spice-rubbed steak in the bottom of the slow cooker. Place the chopped onion, bell pepper, and jalapeno on top of the steak.
  • Cook for on low for 7 to 8 hours.
  • After the cooking time has lapsed, remove the steak from the Crock-Pot and shred with two forks. Serve immediately, or return to the Crock-Pot for a few hours until you are ready to eat.
  • Serve on corn tortillas with your favorite toppings.

Notes

  • Flank steak is generally a tougher, and therefore cheaper, piece of meat. It’s a great candidate for the Crock-Pot. I have actually used everything from elk steaks to lamb and pork with this recipe, and loved them all. It’s VERY versatile, so use what you have on hand or what’s on sale — if it’s a leaner cut of meat, you may need to add a bit of beef stock at the end to make sure it doesn’t dry out before it’s done cooking.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 of 10 servings, Calories: 136kcal, Carbohydrates: 2g, Protein: 20g, Fat: 5g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.3g, Monounsaturated Fat: 2g, Cholesterol: 54mg, Sodium: 295mg, Potassium: 375mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 322IU, Vitamin C: 12mg, Calcium: 29mg, Iron: 2mg
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Complete the meal with some of these sides:

This post was originally published in 2012 and has been updated and rephotographed in June 2019.

Smoky and hearty Steak Carnitas Meat in the Crock-Pot is one of the best set-it-and-forget-it meals that’s exquisitely flavored and makes some tender and rich tacos.

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63 Comments

    1. I used so much elk making this recipe… it’s really such a great use for it! And I made it for so many people and just never mentioned it was game meat! No one could even tell 🙂 So glad you liked it!

    2. Awesome! Thanks! I love this blog btw. I stumbled on it via pintrest and I think i pinned almost every recipe I coukd. I love to cook and everything looks amazing!

  3. I have to ask, I cook with my slow cooker all the time and always use liquid. Should there be a liquid, or is it really just the meat and veggies? This looks delicious, but I’m worried about that detail.

    Reply

    1. Great question! That totally depends on your slow-cooker and it’s instructions. I’ve made this at least a dozen more times since posting the recipe and it works great. My crock pot doesn’t need all the liquid… and the meat does make some of it’s own. I say find your instruction manual online and see what it says, but if it’s ok to do, then I know it works! Good luck 🙂

  4. This recipe looks delicious. I am always looking for new healthy slow cooker recipes. I have set some goals to eat healthy and workout and creating this plan has really helped me reach my goals. It is about setting goals and sticking to them and there are some great support tools to help you succeed.

    Reply

  5. Hi. What’s a crockpot? Is it a cast iron pot that goes into the oven or an electric slow cooker? (I’m from that foreign speaking place- the UK ;)) I am really excited about your 2 week plan. Maybe you could include a shopping list! I know its a cheeky request!

    Reply

  6. I’m trying this one tonight… but since I’m so late getting started I’m going to put it in my pressure cooker 🙂

    Reply

  7. We have been following your 2 week plan for our resolution to eat clean! This is the recipe I’m making today! I love that you use your left-overs for other meals too–thanks for doing the planning for us!

    Reply

    1. How did you not get one for your wedding. We got 5, and I’m not even kidding. I should have given you one 🙂