Grilled Citrus-Marinated Pork Tacos with Avocado and Pickled Onions

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-16 · Updated 2026-05-16

Juicy pork marinated in bright citrus juices and spices, grilled to perfection and served in warm tortillas with creamy avocado and tangy pickled red onions. This Mexican recipe, ready in about 30 minutes, pairs pork shoulder, orange juice, lime juice for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 400 calories and feeds 6, 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 pounds, cut into 1/2-inch strips pork shoulder
• 1/2 cup fresh orange juice
• 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
• 4 cloves, minced garlic cloves
• 1 tablespoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 12 small corn tortillas
• 2 medium, sliced avocado
• 1 small, thinly sliced red onion
• 1/2 cup white vinegar
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1/4 cup, chopped cilantro leaves
• 1 small, thinly sliced (optional) jalapeño

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Instructions

1. Step 1: In a large bowl, combine 1/2 cup fresh orange juice, 1/4 cup fresh lime juice, 4 minced garlic cloves, 1 tablespoon ground cumin, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper. Add 2 pounds pork shoulder strips and toss to coat. Marinate in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour, preferably 3 hours.
2. Step 2: While pork marinates, prepare pickled onions: in a small bowl, mix 1/2 cup white vinegar, 1 tablespoon sugar, and a pinch of salt until sugar dissolves. Add 1 small thinly sliced red onion and let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes.
3. Step 3: Preheat grill or grill pan to medium-high heat. Thread pork strips onto skewers or place directly on grill grates. Grill for 3-4 minutes per side until nicely charred and cooked through.
4. Step 4: Warm 12 small corn tortillas on the grill for about 30 seconds per side until pliable.
5. Step 5: Assemble tacos by layering grilled pork strips, slices from 2 medium avocados, pickled red onions, 1/4 cup chopped cilantro leaves, and optional 1 thinly sliced jalapeño per taco. Serve immediately.