• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Nicky's Kitchen Sanctuary logo

  • > Start Here
  • The Recipes
    • Browse all categories
    • Asian
    • Dinner
    • Pasta
    • Roast Dinner
    • Curries
    • Sides
    • Soups
    • Big Batch
    • Quick Dinner Recipes
    • Skinny Recipes
    • Street Food
    • Lunch
    • Gluten Free
    • Vegetarian
    • Cakes & Treats
    • BBQ
    • Breakfast & Brunch
    • Drinks
    • Appetizers
    • Sauces and Dips
  • My New Book
  • Blogger Resources
    • Living The Blog
    • How to start a food blog
    • Income Reports
  • About
    • About
    • Contact
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
    • Cookie Policy
  • Sign-Up
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
go to homepage
Homepage link
  • > Start Here
  • All Recipes
  • Never miss a recipe!
  • 20 Minute Meals
  • Appetizers & Party Food
  • Asian
  • Curries
  • Dinner
  • One Pot
  • Pasta
  • Roast Dinner
  • Sides
  • Slow Cooked
  • Soups
  • Street Food
  • Terms and Conditions
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home > Meat

    Lamb Barbacoa Carnitas

    Published: Jul 30, 2020 · Modified: Aug 9, 2021 by Nicky Corbishley

    Go to Recipe Go to Video Print Recipe

    Tender slow-cooked shredded Welsh lamb in a spicy Mexican-style barbacoa sauce, piled onto soft tacos and loaded with toppings.
    I'm making a taco FEAST today, and most of the work is done by the slow cooker.
    Everyone will adore this special dish. So great for a family get together and it makes a brilliant alternative to the traditional Sunday Roast!

    Overhead shot of Lamb Barbacoa Carnitas Tacos on a plate with a bowl of guacamole

    This post was created in partnership with PGI Welsh lamb. All opinions are my own.

    Last year Chris and I spent a fantastic couple of days down in south Wales, learning all about lamb.
    We visited the Salt Marshes at Gower Salt Marsh Lamb and made this delicious slow roast shoulder of lamb with it when we got back home.

    Now we're working with Welsh lamb again!
    You may not notice, but we do very little brand work. We work with just a handful a year, so we only pick our absolute favourite brands to work with.
    We adore Welsh lamb, so that's why we're working with them again!

    This time I really wanted to show of the versatility of lamb and how it can take on some seriously big flavours. So we're going Mexican and making these amazing barbacoa-style lamb carnitas tacos.

    What do we need?

    • 2 kg bone-in shoulder of Welsh lamb
    • For spicy rich heat - adobo paste and chipotle paste
    • Aromatics and spices - garlic, cumin, ground coriander, dried oregano, ground cloves
    • Chicken or lamb stock
    • Salt and Pepper
    • 2 Limes
    Ingredients for lamb barbacoa on a wooden table

    To Serve:

    • Soft tacos - I like to warm them in the oven or brown them on the griddle or homemade flatbreads.
    • Plenty of choices for toppings - my favourites include: red onion, fresh coriander (cilantro), jalapenos, cherry tomatoes, sour cream, salsa, guacamole and lime wedges.
    Tacos and toppings for lamb carnitas tacos on a wooden board

    How to make it

    Full recipe with detailed steps in the recipe card at the end of this post.

    • Sear the lamb on all sides in a large frying pan, then add in adobo paste, chipotle paste, minced garlic, cumin, coriander, oregano, stock, salt, pepper, cloves and lime juice and bring to the boil.
    • Transfer to a slow cooker and cook on low for 8-9 hours or high for 6 hours (see tip in the recipe card for cooking in the oven).
    • Remove the lamb from the slow cooker and shred the meat using two forks.
    6 image collage showing how to make lamb carnitas
    • Fry the shredded meat in a pan in a little oil until crisp and golden.
    Shredded lamb carnitas in a frying pan
    • Divide the meat between warmed tacos. Drizzle on some of the sauce from the slow cooker and top with red onion, fresh coriander, jalapenos, tomatoes, salsa sour cream and guacamole.
    • Serve with wedges of lime.
    Lamb Barbacoa Carnitas Tacos piled up on a plate

    Don't be shy with those toppings now.
    And be sure to drizzle on some of the cooking liquid from the slow cooker - it tastes AMAZING. In fact, I like to include little individual bowls of the cooking liquid for dipping.

    More Mexican inspired recipes

    If you love Mexican food, how about trying one of these recipes:

    • Slow Cooker Barbacoa Beef
    • Morro Bay Fish Tacos
    • Chilli Con Carne
    • Easy Chicken Fajitas with ALL the toppings!
    • Mexican Shakshuka
    • Loaded Mexican-Style Carrot Fries
    Close up of Lamb Barbacoa Carnitas Tacos with sour cream and red onions

    More Delicious Lamb Recipes

    • Slow-Cooked Pulled Lamb Curry
    • Greek Lamb Souvlaki Kebabs
    • Slow Roast Shoulder of Welsh Lamb with Vegetables and Cider Gravy (One Pot!)
    • Traditional Lancashire Hotpot
    • Crispy Lamb Salad (sounds unusual but it's SO GOOD)
    • Homemade Lamb Koftas < perfect on the BBQ

    Watch how to make it

    Stay updated with new recipes!
    Subscribe to the newsletter to hear when I post a new recipe. I’m also on YouTube (new videos every week) and Instagram (behind-the-scenes stories & beautiful food photos).

    Square image of a plate of Lamb Barbacoa Carnita Tacos with a bowl of guacamole

    Lamb Barbacoa Carnitas

    By: Nicky Corbishley
    Tender shredded lamb in a spicy barbacoa sauce, piled onto soft tacos and loaded with toppings. All the work is done in the slow cooker!
    5 from 3 votes
    Rate this Recipe Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 mins
    Cook Time 6 hrs 15 mins
    Total Time 6 hrs 30 mins
    Course Dinner, Party Food
    Cuisine Mexican
    Servings 10 servings
    Calories 385 kcal

    Ingredients
     

    • 4 tbsp vegetable oil
    • 2.2 kg (4.8 lbs) bone-in shoulder of Welsh lamb
    • 1 tbsp adobo paste
    • 1 tbsp chipotle paste
    • 4 cloves garlic - peeled and minced
    • 1 tbsp cumin
    • 1 tsp ground coriander
    • 1 tbsp dried oregano
    • 480 ml (2 cups) chicken or lamb stock
    • 1 tsp salt
    • 1 tsp ground black pepper
    • ¼ tsp ground cloves
    • Juice of 2 limes - (about 4 tbsps of fresh lime juice)

    To serve:

    • 10-12 soft tacos - warmed
    • 1 red onion - peeled and sliced
    • 4 tbsp chopped fresh coriander
    • 2 jalapenos - sliced
    • 10 cherry tomatoes - quartered
    • 4 tbsp salsa
    • 120 ml (½ cup) sour cream
    • 200 g (1 cup) guacamole - – shop-bought or homemade guacamole
    • 2 limes - sliced into wedges

    INSTRUCTIONS
     

    • Heat 2 tbsp of oil in a large frying pan. Add the lamb and sear on all sides.
    • Add the adobo paste, chipotle paste, minced garlic, cumin, coriander, oregano, stock, salt, pepper, cloves and lime juice to the pan.
    • Bring to the boil, then turn off the heat and transfer to a slow cooker. Cook on low for 8-9 hours or high for 6 hours (see tip below for cooking in the oven).
    • Once cooked, remove the lamb from the slow cooker.
    • Place on a board and shred the meat using two forks. Discard the bones.
    • Heat the remaining 2 tbsp oil in a large frying pan over a high heat. Fry the shredded lamb for 3-4 minutes, turning every minute or so, until crisp and golden.
    • Divide the meat between warmed tacos and drizzle on some of the sauce from the slow cooker.
    • Top with red onion, fresh coriander, jalapenos, tomatoes, salsa, sour cream and guacamole.
    • Serve with wedges of lime.

    Video

    ✎ Notes

    Cooking in the oven rather than the slow cooker:
    If you don't want to cook the lamb in a slow cooker, you can cook it in a heavy-based, oven-proof pan, with a lid, in the oven at 160C for 3 hours.
    Add an extra 180ml (¾ cup) of stock and check a few times during cooking to ensure the lamb doesn't cook dry. Add good splash of boiling water or stock if it starts to look too dry.
    Can I make it ahead?
    Yes - you can make up the carnitas right up to the point you shred the meat. Then cool, cover and refrigerate the lamb for up to two days. 
    Cool, cover and refrigerate the cooking liquid too.
    To reheat, fry the lamb in a large frying pan in two tbsp of oil until golden and piping hot throughout.
    The cooking liquid can be reheated in a saucepan until piping hot.
    Can I freeze it?
    Yes. Make up the carnitas right up to the point you shred the meat. Then cool, cover and freeze.
    Freeze the cooking liquid too (leave a little space in the container as the liquid will expand slightly upon freezing.
    Defrost in the refrigerator overnight, then reheat as per the 'make it ahead' instructions above.
    How to scale down this recipe to serve fewer people
    If you want to scale down this recipe for 2-3 people (around 6 tacos), replace the lamb shoulder with a half shoulder joint or 2 lamb shanks. Reduce the all of the other ingredients by one quarter and cook in the same way.
    Nutritional Information is approximate, per serving, including the tacos and toppings (this whole recipe serves 10).

    Nutrition

    Calories: 385kcalCarbohydrates: 23gProtein: 29gFat: 20gSaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 87mgSodium: 1069mgPotassium: 624mgFiber: 3gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 251IUVitamin C: 17mgCalcium: 89mgIron: 4mg
    Keywords slow cooker
    Tried this recipe?Mention @KitchenSanctuary or tag #KitchenSanctuary on Instagram!

    Some of the links in this post may be affiliate links – which means if you buy the product I get a small commission (at no extra cost to you). If you do buy, then thank you! That’s what helps us to keep Kitchen Sanctuary running. The nutritional information provided is approximate and can vary depending on several factors. For more information please see our Terms & Conditions.

    Hi I’m Nicky

    I love to cook and I want to share with you my favourite, delicious family friendly recipes. I want to inspire you to create fantastic food for your family every day.

    Read More
    « Chicken Tikka Recipe
    Easy Guacamole Recipe »

    Other Recipes You Might Like:

    Slow Cooker Beef Short Ribs with Rich Gravy
    Square image of beef curry, topped with coriander, chillies and toasted coconut on a black bowl. The bowl is on a dark brown surface and there are some ingredients scattered around the bowl, just in shot.
    Slow Cooker Beef Coconut Curry
    Overhead square image of slow cooked beef stroganoff, with parsley on top, in a slow cooker, on a wooden table.
    Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff
    Mexican Shakshuka - dippy eggs poached in a rich Cajun tomato sauce.
    Mexican Shakshuka

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Rate the recipe




      This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    1. Houston713 says

      May 08, 2022 at 1:08 am

      5 stars
      I made a few changes but followed all the measurements to a tee. I switched the cloves to cinnamon, added extra lime juice and half an orange. Had some spring onions in frig so I threw those in too. This is a delicious recipe! Looking forward to making this at our next Sunday Brunch. Thank you!

      Reply
    2. Olivia says

      April 17, 2021 at 9:12 pm

      5 stars
      This is the most tender lamb I’ve ever cooked and it goes perfectly crispy in the pan. I couldn’t find the adobo paste but it’s still full of flavour without it. The lamb goes beautifully in tacos and burritos. I also like to use this lamb in my own rice concoction with pepper, carrot, red onion, garlic, egg, coriander and turmeric 😋

      Reply
    3. Juan g says

      August 23, 2020 at 3:59 am

      I would not add sour cream or guacamole I used for chips as a appetizer?

      Reply
    4. simon says

      July 31, 2020 at 12:05 pm

      Not sure where I'd purchase Adobo paste from as I've never seen it in the shops?

      Reply
      • Nicky Corbishley says

        October 01, 2020 at 3:56 pm

        It's normally in the spice aisle of larger supermarkets in little jars. In the mexican section, or with other paste jars (such as chipotle and tamarind paste).

        Reply
    5. Kath says

      July 30, 2020 at 5:10 pm

      5 stars
      This post has coinsided with me visit g North Wales, I'm definitely going to pick up some Welsh lamb. Can't wait to try it😋

      Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    Hi I’m Nicky

    I love to cook and I want to share with you my favourite, delicious family friendly recipes. I want to inspire you to create fantastic food for your family every day.

    Read More

    Recipes by category:

    • Popular Recipes
    • Asian
    • Curries
    • Quick Dinner Recipes
    • British Classic Recipes
    • BBQ
    • Roast Dinner
    • Street Food
    • Pasta
    Search For a Recipe

    Our Top Trending Recipes:

    • Crispy Sesame Chicken with a Sticky Asian Sauce
    • Honey Garlic Chicken
    • The Best Crispy Roast Potatoes
    • Cheesy Pasta Bake With Chicken And Bacon
    • Easy Chicken Curry
    • Easy Satay Sauce Recipe
    • Korean Fried Chicken
    • Creamy Tuna Pasta Bake

    FREE recipes direct to your inbox!

    Never miss a recipe and sign up for our completely FREE emails.

      Featured Recipes:

      • Chilli Con Carne
      • Traditional Lancashire Hotpot
      • Creamy Chicken Pot Pie
      • Egg Fried Rice
      • Korean Fried Chicken
      • Copycat Firecracker Chicken
      • Buffalo Chicken Pasta
      • Slow Cooker Spicy Chicken Curry
      As Featured On
      brit and co logo
      buzzfeed logo
      cheshire life logo
      country living logo
      beautiful home and life logo
      my fitness pal logo
      Neff logo
      The telegraph logo
      The Kitchn logo
      Vegetarian society logo

      Footer

      Nicky Corbishley is the recipe creator and photographer for Kitchen Sanctuary. Wife to Chris (chief techie and videographer) and mum to Lewis and Gracey. Read More…

      DMCA.com Protection Status

      Most Recent Recipes

      • Slow Cooker Beef Short Ribs with Rich Gravy
      • Simple Pesto Recipe
      • Salted Caramel Millionaires shortbread
      • Creamy Slow Cooked Pork Casserole
      • Sweet and Sour Vegetables

      Copyright © 2022 LoveFoodCreative Ltd - Privacy Policy - Cookie Policy - Terms & Conditions