Spicy Chipotle Tacos with Slaw
Soft corn tortillas filled with slow-cooked pork, topped with a zesty chipotle slaw and avocado crema for a smoky Mexican twist. This mexican-inspired mexican ready in about 90 minutes turns pork shoulder, chipotle peppers in adobo, red onion into a satisfying snack for between meals, packed lunches, or game-day spreads — minimal active time and easy to scale up for a crowd. Each serving lands at about 480 calories and feeds 4, so it fits into lunchboxes, road trips, or an afternoon-energy gap without derailing the day. 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
- 500g pork shoulder
- 4 chipotle peppers in adobo
- 1 red onion
- 200g cabbage
- 1 medium avocado
- 1 lime
- 8 corn tortillas
- 2 tbsp mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup cilantro
Instructions
- Step 1: Preheat oven to 180°C. Season pork shoulder (500g) with salt and pepper. Place in a roasting dish and cook for 1 hour, basting with adobo sauce from chipotle peppers (4) every 20 minutes.
- Step 2: Meanwhile, finely chop red onion (1) and cabbage (200g). In a bowl, mix with mayonnaise (2 tbsp), 2 tbsp adobo sauce, and chopped cilantro (1/4 cup). Add lime juice (1 lime, juiced) and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
- Step 3: Once pork is tender, shred using two forks. Mix with 2 tbsp adobo sauce and 1 tbsp mayonnaise.
- Step 4: Warm tortillas (8) in a dry skillet over medium heat. Fill each with pork mixture, then top with chipotle slaw and a dollop of avocado crema (made by mashing avocado (1 medium) with 1 tbsp lime juice and 1 tbsp mayonnaise).
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Spicy Chipotle Tacos with Slaw take to make?
Total time is about 90 minutes (30 min prep + 60 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 Spicy Chipotle Tacos with Slaw?
Store in an airtight container at room temperature for crisp items, or in the fridge for anything dairy- or produce-based, for up to 3–5 days. Re-crisp baked snacks in a 300°F oven for 5 minutes if they soften.
Can I substitute ingredients in Spicy Chipotle Tacos with Slaw?
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 Spicy Chipotle Tacos with Slaw 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 Spicy Chipotle Tacos with Slaw?
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
- ★★★★★
Swapped butter for olive oil to keep it lighter. Still delicious.
- ★★★★☆
Reliable weeknight option. Not going to blow your mind but always satisfying.
- ★★★★☆
Tasty recipe. I'd add a bit more seasoning next time.
