This easy recipe for Tacos Al Pastor starts with your slow cooker and authentic Mexican spices! Savory tender pork tacos in the slow cooker topped with diced fresh pineapple salsa.
Next time try Crockpot Crack Chicken - filled with bacon, tender chicken, and cheese!
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❤️ Why you'll love this recipe
✔️ Tacos al Pastor is super easy to make in your crockpot.
✔️ It makes the most tender meat for taco night and will quickly become a family favorite!
✔️ This simple meal will have the family heading back for seconds.
✔️ It makes the BEST leftovers! This traditional al pastor meat can be used for BBQ Pork Pizza, quesadillas, and pulled pork sandwiches!
Ingredients
Please refer to the bottom of this post for the exact measurements for the crockpot al pastor recipe.
- boneless pork shoulder roast - you can also substitute pork tenderloin or pork loin
- yellow onion or red onion
- tomato sauce or enchilada sauce
- fresh lime juice or lemons - orange juice would also work!
- salt, black pepper, cumin, coriander, chili powder
- fresh pineapple slices or canned juicy pineapple slices (be sure to save the juice)!
- corn or flour tortillas
Instructions
This is an overview of the instructions. Slow-cooking the pork makes it fork-tender! For the complete directions for crockpot al pastor, just scroll down to the bottom!
- Place the roast in the crockpot.
- Pour over the al pastor marinade.
- Sprinkle all of the seasonings overtop.
- Place the slices of sweet pineapple on top of the pork.
- Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours until the pork is fork-tender.
FAQ's
Tacos al Pastor, roughly translated, means pork that has been marinated, roasted, and thinly sliced. Often marinated with citrus, and that's where the pineapple comes in.
The story of these tacos might surprise you! They originated from Mexico, but the method is actually from Lebanon and originated in the early 1900s. To learn more, click here!
Pork shoulder is best. It's an inexpensive cut of meat that gets super tender and succulent as it slowly cooks in the crockpot.
Tips
When the meat is cooked, use two forks or meat claws to shred the cooked marinated pork.
Variations
- If you use a fresh pineapple, use the remaining pineapple to make homemade salsa!
- Top with your favorite salsa. Pineapple Salsa would be the traditional choice, but Mango, Strawberry or Salsa Verde would also be delicious!
- Spice up the pork by adding minced chipotle peppers to the crockpot as it simmers and cooks all day. Go light! They can be spicy!!
- Some people prefer crispy pork. If that's the case, fry the cooked pork in a skillet and a little butter until crispy.
Storage
Allow leftovers to cool completely. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to four days.
The cooked pork can be frozen up to three months.
Serving suggestions
How do you enjoy tacos? We love shredded cabbage, thinly sliced red onions and a little salsa. Tacos are one of my favorite meals!
Enjoying your tacos with Cilantro Garlic Sauce is another tasty topping.
Here are some recipes that go really well the pork al pastor!
- Chicken Chimichanga Recipe - everyone loves these!
- Black Beans - perfect with this meal! Get step-by-step directions how to cook black beans here!
- Southwest Salad Recipes - light and easy to make this is a delicious salad!
Serve the slow cooker tacos topped with chopped fresh cilantro, lime wedges and plenty of pineapple salsa.
More easy taco recipes
There are so many types of tacos on the blog!
- Baja Fish Tacos - easy to make and completely delicious!
- Barbacoa Beef Taco Recipes - these tacos are slowly roasted in the oven for a delicious flavor!
- Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos - another easy weeknight meal!
- Dirty Rice and Black Bean Tacos - great flavor- are a wonderful vegetarian option!
- Easy Shrimp Tacos - topped with a spicy slaw these are delicious tacos!
- Vegetable Tacos - Simple to make and roasted in the oven - yum!
- Veggie Tacos with Avo Lime Sauce - Creamy sauce tops these cauliflower tacos - one of my favorites!
And if one of those didn't tickle your tastebuds, be sure to try the Taco Salad Casserole!
If you're looking for the perfect side dish like refried beans or pico gallo? , check out this post with 50+ Mexican Food Recipes! There's a ton of delicious recipes here!
This is such a great meal, I hope you try it soon! What are your favorite tacos?
Tacos al Pastor
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4.5 lb. pork shoulder roast
- 1 yellow onion cut into thick slices
- 8 oz. tomato sauce
- 3 limes juiced
- 2 teaspoon salt
- 1 tsp pepper
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon coriander
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 20 ounces pineapple slices along with pineapple juice from can
- flour or corn tortillas
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Instructions
- Spray slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray.
- Place pork roast into the crock pot.
- Pour the tomato (or enchilada) sauce over the roast.
- Sprinkle the spices over the roast, top with the sliced pineapple skin
- Cover and slowly roast for 8 hours on low or 4-5 hours on high
- When the meat is cooked, cut it into thin slices or shred it with two forks.
Sandra Shaffer
Slow cooked to perfections! This came out nice and tender and we intended to share with my neighbor who just came home from the hospital, but we ate the whole meal ourselves in two days! On to making another batch of tacos al pastor!
Michaela Kenkel
YOu said the magic word "TACOS!" I am making these Tuesday!! I can't wait!
debi at Life Currents
My husband has been making carnitas in the slow cooker & Instant pot lately. It'll be nice for him to have a bit of a change and try these tacos al pastor. I think he'll really like the flavors. Forwarding your recipe to him.
Bowl Me Over
Fabulous! I think he will love these tacos!!
Healing Tomato
What a great recipe to make for Taco Tuesday! I love the idea of making it using the slow cooker.
Bowl Me Over
Thank you so much, we just love this recipe and leftovers were transformed into more meals!!
Liza
What a great recipe! My kids love Mexican but it seems to hard to make it! You made it so easy and simple! Thanks!