If you’ve never had Cochinita Pibil before, get ready! This is the most tender, fall apart, perfectly seasoned pork you’ll ever have!

Cochinita Pibil from www.whatsgabycooking.com (@whatsgabycookin)

When we were in Mexico City last year, one of our favorite meals was from a hole in the wall taco shop next to our hotel. They literally ONLY served Cochinita Pibil! They had Cochinita Pibil tacos, tortas and quesadillas and we were in heaven. Cochinita Pibil is Yucatán-Style Barbecued Pork that is typically slowly cooked in a giant hole in the ground. It’s not spicy, has a subtle sweetness and works like a charm on tacos, nachos, sandwiches etc.

I don’t know about you guys, but I’m not planning to dig a hole in the ground anytime soon. I’ve done it once before when we were in Belize and it didn't end well. Instead, we’re making this in our shiny new All-Clad Electric Dutch Oven. If you haven’t seen this cast iron Dutch oven before, let me give you the quick lowdown. You can use this like a typical slow cooker and utilize the simple one-touch menu to "set and forget" until it’s time to eat. OR you can use the cast-iron Dutch oven insert to sear and sauté food on the stovetop before programming the slow cooker. GENIUS. 1-pot meals just got a lot easier. You can also throw the Dutch oven insert into the oven should you need to transfer anything in there as well. It can do basically everything and it’s been living on my counter the last few weeks!

Okay now that we’re all informed on the best slow cooker out there, let’s get to the recipe!

Grab some pork, citrus juice, achiote paste (which can easily be ordered online or found at your local Hispanic market) and some cumin. Before you know it, your kitchen will smell incredible and you’ll be making all the food with Cochinita Pibil for the foreseeable future! Also bonus - this freezes great if you want to portion it out and freeze for a later date!

This post is sponsored by All-Clad Metalcrafters. All opinions and content are my own.

Cochinita Pibil

Author: Gaby Dalkin

5 from 12 votes

A super simple slow cooker Cochinita Pibil recipe that replicates all that incredible Cochinita Pibil we had in Mexico City last year

Print Recipe Pin Recipe Review Recipe

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 5

Total Time 5 15

Course Main Course

Cuisine Mexican

Servings people

Ingredients

▢ 4-5 pounds pork shoulder or pork loin, cut into 1.5-inch chunks
▢ 1 cup freshly-squeezed orange juice
▢ ⅓ cup freshly-squeezed lime juice
▢ 1 3.5 ounce package achiote paste
▢ 1 teaspoon ground cumin
▢ Kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper

Instructions

Combine the achiote paste, orange juice, lime juice and cumin in a blender or food processor. Pulse briefly until combined.
Place the pork in the All-Clad Electric Dutch Oven, then drizzle the pork evenly with the marinade. Toss to combine. (Make sure to rinse out your blender IMMEDIATELY, so that the achiote does not stain it.)
Place the lid on the All-Clad Electric Dutch Oven and cook on high for 5 hours or on low for 8 hours, until the pork is tender and shreds easily with a fork. Remove the lid. Use two forks to shred the pork into bite-sized pieces, then toss it briefly with the remaining juices.
Taste and season with salt, pepper and/or lime juice as needed. Serve warm with assorted garnishes, family style, so people can DIY their own tacos / bowls.

Notes

Don't forget to rinse your blender right away! The peppers will stain it if it's plastic.
You can use a Dutch oven in the oven or a slow cooker.

Nutrition Information

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55 Comments

Made this today in the crockpot and WOW. Such great flavor and so simple. This will be a go to for gatherings. It’s so delicious.

Fantastic recipe, everyone loved it. Put in a crockpot for 8 hrs on low. One of the most delicious and easiest recipe’s that I’ve ever tried. Don’t hesitate on this one.

Any recommendations for how to cook in a regular Dutch oven? Like what temps to set to?

hI!
How long to cook on stovetop/oven?

I purchased bone-in pork shoulder and I wasn't able to cut as much of the meat off of it as planned. Should I add the bone+attached meat to the slow cooker or will it burn?

Gaby says:

September 8, 2020 at 3:56 PM

it won't burn! might take a bit longer to cook tho!

Made this over the weekend, we really liked it and had leftovers a few time. I did add a little bit of Taco Fajitas Señorita to spice it up a bit, hope that ok . Super easy to make and .