Authentic Tacos al Pastor

4.7
(6)
4 Reviews
3 Photos

Tacos al pastor is a quintessential Mexican dish, with tender pork and pineapple marinated in a savory and aromatic chile sauce. Serve with warm corn tortillas, tomatillos salsa, and lemon or lime wedges.

Submitted by docmancito
Updated on April 5, 2023
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Prep Time:
30 mins
Cook Time:
30 mins
Additional Time:
4 hrs
Total Time:
5 hrs
Servings:
10
Jump to Nutrition Facts

Prepare your taste buds for this deliciously tender and flavorful tacos al pastor recipe.

What Are ​​Tacos al Pastor Made Of? 

Two pounds of thinly sliced boneless pork loin is marinated in a blended mixture of tomatoes, two types of peppers (guajillo chile peppers and ancho chile peppers), sliced pineapple, orange juice, an onion, vinegar, chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, salt, garlic, cumin seeds, and dried oregano.

How to Make Tacos al Pastor

You’ll find the full, step-by-step recipe below — but here’s a brief overview of what you can expect when you make homemade tacos al pastor: 

  1. Roast, peel, and de-seed the tomatoes. Boil and drain the peppers. 
  2. Make the marinade in a blender. 
  3. Marinate pork in the refrigerator for four hours or up to overnight. 
  4. Grill and chop the remaining pineapple slices. 
  5. Cook the pork on a grill pan until browned. 
  6. Chop and serve the pork. 
close up view of Tacos al Pastor garnished with fresh herbs on a colorful plate
AllrecipesPhoto

What to Serve With ​​Tacos al Pastor

Recipe creator docmancito suggests serving tacos al pastor with warm corn tortillas, tomatillos salsa, lemon or lime wedges, grilled pineapple, chopped onion, and cilantro. You can also explore our entire collection of Mexican Side Dishes for mouthwatering serving inspiration. Here are a few of the top-rated recipes you’ll find: 

How to Store ​​Tacos al Pastor

Store the tacos al pastor meat separately from the tortillas and toppings. Place the meat in a shallow, airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to three days. For the best results, reheat the pork on the stove. 

Editorial contributions by Corey Williams

Ingredients

  • 1 tomato

  • 3 dried guajillo chile peppers, seeded

  • 2 dried ancho chile peppers, seeded

  • 1 pineapple, sliced 3/4-inch thick

  • ½ cup orange juice

  • 1 onion, quartered

  • ¼ cup white vinegar

  • 2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce

  • 1 tablespoon salt, or to taste

  • 2 cloves garlic, crushed

  • 3 cloves

  • 1 teaspoon cumin seeds

  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano

  • 2 pounds boneless pork loin, thinly sliced

To Serve:

  • ½ cup chopped onion

  • ½ cup chopped fresh cilantro

Directions

  1. Cook tomato on a ridged grill pan over medium-high heat until slightly blackened, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and cool until easily handled. Peel off skin and remove seeds.

  2. Bring a small pot of water to a boil. Add guajillo and ancho chile peppers; cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Drain.

  3. Combine tomato flesh, softened chile peppers, 2 slices pineapple, orange juice, quartered onion, vinegar, chipotle peppers, salt, garlic, cloves, cumin seeds, and oregano in a blender; blend until smooth.

  4. Arrange pork slices in a glass or ceramic baking dish. Pour blended mixture over pork, ensuring all sides are evenly coated. Cover baking dish with plastic wrap.

  5. Marinate pork in the refrigerator, 4 hours to overnight.

  6. Cook remaining pineapple slices on a ridged grill pan over medium-high heat until slightly blackened and soft, about 5 minutes per side. Chop into small pieces.

  7. Wipe out grill pan and preheat over medium-high heat. Cook marinated pork in the hot pan, turning once, until browned, 4 to 5 minutes.

  8. Chop pork coarsely into small pieces against the grain. Serve with pineapple, chopped onion, and cilantro.

    close up view of Tacos al Pastor garnished with fresh herbs on a colorful plate
    AllrecipesPhoto

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

204 Calories
6g Fat
23g Carbs
17g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 10
Calories 204
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 6g 7%
Saturated Fat 2g 10%
Cholesterol 44mg 15%
Sodium 748mg 33%
Total Carbohydrate 23g 8%
Dietary Fiber 3g 11%
Total Sugars 16g
Protein 17g 34%
Vitamin C 84mg 93%
Calcium 45mg 3%
Iron 1mg 8%
Potassium 512mg 11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.

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