Easy Ground Pork Tacos Al Pastor
Craving tacos al pastor but short on time? This quick and delicious ground pork version comes together in just 30 minutes—no trompo needed! Perfectly spiced, juicy, and easy to make at home.
Ingredients
- 2 lbs ground pork
Adobo Sauce
- 1/4 tsp cumin seed
- 1/2 tsp black peppercorns
- 1/4 tsp whole allspice
- 3 cloves
- 4 guajillo chile, de-seeded, stemmed
- 1 ancho chile, de-seeded, stemmed
- 2 chiles de arbol, stemmed
- 1 tsp Mexican dry oregano
- 1 1/2 tsp ground onion
- 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
- 4 garlic cloves, peeled
- 1.5 oz achiote paste
- 1/4 cup orange juice, freshly squeezed
- 1/2 cup pineapple juice, no added sugar
- 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 2 tsp kosher salt
Other Items
- 12 oz Oaxaca cheese, grated
- Oil as needed
- Corn Tortillas
- Pineapple Salsa
- Avocado Salsa
Instructions
Adobo Sauce
- Prepare the pineapple salsa and avocado salsa ahead of time
- In a dry skillet over medium-low heat, lightly toast the spices (cumin, peppercorns, allspice, cloves) and dried chiles (guajillo, ancho, chile de árbol) until fragrant, stirring constantly to prevent burning.
- Remove chiles, rinse, and soak in hot water for 10 minutes until soft. Reserve the soaking liquid.
- Transfer the hydrated chiles (not the soaking liquid), toasted spices, oregano, ground onion, cinnamon, garlic, achiote, orange juice, pineapple juice, vinegar, and salt to a blender.
- Blend into a smooth, thick sauce, adding 1-2 tbsp of chile soaking liquid only if needed to blend (use as little as possible). Set aside briefly.
Tacos al Pastor
- Heat 2 tbsp of oil in a large oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. Lay the pork in a single layer and let it brown on the bottom. Once browned, break it apart and give it a quick mix.
- Lower the heat to medium-low, stir in the adobo, cover, and cook for another 5-10 minutes or until the pork is fully cooked. Add salt to taste and top with grated Oaxaca cheese.
- Broil on high until the top has golden-brown spots and melted, about 3-5 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and serve the pork with cheese in warm corn tortillas, topped with pineapple salsa and avocado salsa.
Nutrition
Serving: 1TacoCalories: 382kcalCarbohydrates: 18gProtein: 21gFat: 25gSaturated Fat: 12gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 65mgSodium: 700mgPotassium: 382mgFiber: 3gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 1131IUVitamin C: 6mgCalcium: 59mgIron: 1mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated and intended as an approximation only.