Grilled Mezcal-Marinated Pork Skewers with Pineapple Salsa

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-12 · Updated 2026-05-12

Tender pork marinated in smoky mezcal and spices, grilled on skewers and served with a fresh pineapple salsa to balance smoky and sweet flavors. This Mexican-inspired pork recipe, ready in about 30 minutes, pairs pork shoulder, cut into 1-inch cubes, mezcal, orange juice for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 320 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

• 1 lb pork shoulder, cut into 1-inch cubes
• 1/4 cup mezcal
• 1/4 cup orange juice
• 3 minced garlic cloves
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 2 tbsp vegetable oil
• 1 cup diced fresh pineapple
• 1/4 cup finely chopped red onion
• 2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro
• 1 small, seeded and minced jalapeño pepper
• 2 tbsp lime juice

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Instructions

1. Step 1: In a medium bowl, whisk together 1/4 cup mezcal, 1/4 cup orange juice, 3 minced garlic cloves, 1 tsp ground cumin, 1 tsp smoked paprika, 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp black pepper, and 2 tbsp vegetable oil to create the marinade.
2. Step 2: Add 1 lb 1-inch cubed pork shoulder to the marinade, toss to coat evenly, cover, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or up to overnight.
3. Step 3: While pork marinates, prepare pineapple salsa by combining 1 cup diced fresh pineapple, 1/4 cup finely chopped red onion, 2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro, 1 minced seeded small jalapeño, and 2 tbsp lime juice in a bowl; mix and refrigerate.
4. Step 4: Preheat grill or grill pan to medium-high heat and thread the marinated pork cubes onto skewers.
5. Step 5: Grill pork skewers for 10-12 minutes total, turning every 3-4 minutes until pork is cooked through with slight char marks.
6. Step 6: Remove skewers and let rest for 5 minutes before serving with pineapple salsa spooned on top or on the side.