Authentic Mexican Slow-Cooked Tacos al Pastor
Tender marinated pork cooked on a vertical grill, served with pineapple and spicy salsa on warm corn tortillas. This mexican-inspired mexican ready in about 45 minutes pairs Pork shoulder, diced Pineapple, thinly sliced Onion for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 480 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 2 lbs Pork shoulder
- 1 cup diced Pineapple
- 1/2 cup thinly sliced Onion
- 4 cloves minced Garlic
- 1 tbsp Cumin
- 1 tbsp Chili powder
- 1/4 cup Orange juice
- 8 Corn tortillas
- 1 cut into wedges Lime
Instructions
- Step 1: In a large bowl, combine 2 lbs pork shoulder, 1/2 cup diced pineapple, 1/2 cup thinly sliced onion, 4 minced garlic cloves, 1 tbsp cumin, 1 tbsp chili powder, and 1/4 cup orange juice. Marinate in refrigerator for 4-6 hours.
- Step 2: Preheat a grill or grill pan to medium-high heat. Add marinated pork and cook 6-8 minutes per side until well-browned and tender. Add remaining 1/2 cup diced pineapple and cook 2-3 minutes until caramelized.
- Step 3: Warm 8 corn tortillas in a dry skillet over medium heat until pliable. Serve pork with pineapple on tortillas, topped with lime wedges. Accompany with spicy salsa on the side.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Authentic Mexican Slow-Cooked Tacos al Pastor take to make?
Total time is about 45 minutes (20 min prep + 25 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.
How do I store leftover Authentic Mexican Slow-Cooked Tacos al Pastor?
Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep pork shoulder from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Authentic Mexican Slow-Cooked Tacos al Pastor?
Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.
How do I scale Authentic Mexican Slow-Cooked Tacos al Pastor for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 4 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 4). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.
What goes well with Authentic Mexican Slow-Cooked Tacos al Pastor?
Mexican mexican like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.
What others are saying
- ★★★☆☆
Average. The concept is good but execution needs work on seasoning.
- ★★☆☆☆
Followed exactly and it was underwhelming. Maybe my expectations were too high.
- ★☆☆☆☆
Followed exactly and it was underwhelming. Maybe my expectations were too high.
