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The Ultimate Spicy Tacos Al Pastor Recipe

This Spicy Tacos Al Pastor recipe is perfect for serving a crowd. You can bake it in an oven or on the grill. It’s impressive to look at and even more delicious to eat.

A tortilla filled with Al Pastor pork, Cotija cheese, and cilantro. A dish cheese sits in the background next to fresh cilantro.John and I love to make our Sunday dinners together. He is my grill guy and I’m usually his sous chef responsible for a side dish or salad. When he ran across a recipe for Tacos Al Pastor, we knew we had to give it a try.

A tortilla filled with Al Pastor pork, Cotija cheese, and cilantro. A dish cheese sits in the background next to fresh cilantro.I’ve never heard of anyone that doesn’t like Mexican food. We all have our favorite style and John and I tend to enjoy the authentic recipes versus “Tex-Mex”. Especially if we can eat it in Mexico! We’ve been to different areas and love the culture and its people.Stacked pork seasoned with Al Pastor sauce & spices then topped with a slice of pineapple ready for grilling.

I don’t know how authentic this Spicy Tacos Al Pastor recipe is but it sure is delicious. The meat is marinated and so tender and flavorful. John chose to put it on the grill by setting it in a cast iron dutch oven. The meat was so lean that we didn’t get a lot of dripping. A skillet would have worked well too. I just loved the char that some of the meat got. John sliced it thin and we served it on corn tortillas topped with the simplest of toppings.Grilled and stacked pork seasoned with Al Pastor sauce & spices then topped with a slice of pineapple.

We love celebrating Cinco de Mayo. Actually, it’s just an excuse to enjoy Mexican food and maybe a Margarita or two with our friends. I can’t wait to serve this one. The pictures may look impressive or a little intimidating like it was to me, but it’s a very simple recipe to make. I know my friends are going to love it!

Grilled and stacked pork seasoned with Al Pastor sauce & spices that\'s been cut in half showing the layers.
Don’t have time to make it now? Pin it for later!

Taco and Al pastor garnished with Cotija cheese and cilantro.

The Ultimate Spicy Tacos Al Pastor Recipe

Author: Hostess At Heart
This Spicy Tacos Al Pastor recipe is perfect for serving a crowd. You can bake it in an oven or on the grill. It's impressive to see and even more delicious to eat.
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 2 hours 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Total Time 3 hours 45 minutes
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American, Mexican
Keyword: Spicy Tacos Al Pastor
Servings: 12

Ingredients
  

  • 2 lbs boneless pork shoulder cut into just under 1/2 inch (3/8) slices
  • 3 tbsp achiote paste
  • 2 tbsp guajillo chili powder
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp dried Mexican oregano
  • 2 tsp cumin
  • 2 tsp kosher salt
  • 1 tsp ground black pepper
  • 1/3 cup white vinegar
  • 1/2 cup pineapple juice
  • 1 pineapple

Toppings

  • Fresh cilantro chopped
  • Green onion diced
  • Cotija cheese crumbled
  • Tomatoes seeded and diced
  • Corn tortillas

Other

  • 1 thick wooden skewer or wooden dowel soaked in water 20 minutes.

Instructions
 

  • In a large glass bowl combine achiote paste with vinegar and stir until no large lumps exist. Stir in Guaillo powder, garlic powder, Mexican oregano, cumin, salt and pepper and pineapple juice. Add meat, cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours in the refrigerator.
  • Skin the pineapple and slice into 1-inch rounds. Thread one pineapple round onto the wooden skewer and if baking in the oven, set it on a rimmed baking sheet covered with foil. You can also set it in a cast iron skillet or dutch oven and place it on the grill as we did. Layer slices of pork onto the skewer until 1 inch remains at the top. Place another slice of pineapple over the top.
  • Preheat oven to 350°F oven for approximately 90 minutes or until the outside is slightly charred on the outside. Briefly grill remaining pineapple slices or bake for 15 minutes until they begin to brown.
  • Remove the meat and let it rest for 10 minutes.
  • Slice meat thinly. Assemble tacos and serve immediately.

Notes

Prep time includes inactive marinating time. 
Nutritional information doesn't include whole pineapple or tortillas.

Nutrition

Calories: 146kcalCarbohydrates: 12gProtein: 17gFat: 2gCholesterol: 45mgSodium: 452mgPotassium: 415mgFiber: 1gSugar: 8gVitamin A: 445IUVitamin C: 37mgCalcium: 25mgIron: 1.4mg

Nutritional Disclaimer

This recipe was calculated using the exact brands and measurements I used to make this recipe. If you are following a strict diet please note changing anything will cause the nutritional info to change. My calculations are intended as a guide only.

Tried this recipe?Let me know how it was!

Here are some more amazing Mexican recipes that we love:

Crockpot Chipotle Chicken Tacos

Three shredded chicken tacos garnished with tomato, avocado, and cilantro.

Raspberry Jalapeno Shrimp Tacos

Taco shell filled with grilled shrimp, tomatoes, cheese, and jalapeno. A white bowl of pico sits in the background.

Homemade Jalapeno Tortilla Recipe

A stack of cooked homemade tortillas sitting on a cooling rack. Fresh jalapenos sit in the front.

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Recipe Rating




Sally

Wednesday 26th of May 2021

This recipe looked really intimidating to me but we just had to try it (said the hubby). I couldn't believe how easy it was and how delicious. We're making it again for company. I just love the ooohs we get LOL.

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Wednesday 20th of February 2019

[…] The Ultimate Spicy Tacos al Pastor Recipe from Hostess at Heart […]

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Friday 21st of July 2017

[…] we’re talking Mexican food, you might like to try a couple others from her recipe stash, like the Ultimate Spicy Tacos Al Pastor recipe or perhaps this Homemade Jalapeno Tortilla […]

Teagan R Geneviene

Monday 15th of May 2017

Marvelous, Julie! It's so lovely to think of two people cooking dinner together. Hugs.

Julie Menghini

Tuesday 23rd of May 2017

Thank you, sweet Teagan! Big hugs coming your way!

frugal hausfrau

Sunday 14th of May 2017

This has always been on my bucket list of things to make! Maybe I'll have the courage now that you've paved the way! Looks scrumptious.

Julie Menghini

Sunday 14th of May 2017

Thank you so much Molly! I was a little shy in taking this on too but it turned out so easy to do.

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