30 Minute Easy Tacos Al Pastor

My Easy Tacos al Pastor Version

Tacos al pastor are tacos made with pork, usually crisp-thin shavings of vertical spit-roasted pork, marinated with guajillo chiles, achiote, and other spices, then served on tortillas with pineapple and onions. The process of making tacos al pastor in the traditional way is quite laborious since you have to marinate the pork for several hours and then roast it on a vertical spit for at least 1 hour. It sounds like a lot of work, so since we LOVE these tacos so much, I found a way to make them quick and easy at home! This 30-minute easy version gives you all the flavor without all the fuss!

30-minute Easy Tacos al Pastor Recipe Highlights

Incredibly tasty. They are sweet, savory, smoky, slightly spicy, all in one bite! Ready in 30 minutes. Easy to make. No Fuss. You can also make this in the slow cooker or on an outdoor grill with a pork shoulder – in that case, it won’t be 30 minutes, though. See details below.

2 – Brown the Pork

Sauté onion and garlic. Add ground pork until it is no longer pink. To make tacos al pastor at home you will need pantry staples, such as ground pork, oil, vinegar, onion, garlic, etc. Plus achiote paste and ground guajillo chiles. These two ingredients are not easily found in most grocery stores, so I recommend ordering them online. You’ll need: For the pork:

Pork: For my 30-min version, you will need ground pork. I use 85% lean/15% fat ground pork. You can also make this recipe with pork shoulder in the slow cooker or on an outdoor grill – in that case, it won’t be 30-min, though. Instructions are included below. Oil: Vegetable or canola oil with work well. or Veggies: Onion and garlic for extra flavor. Chopped cilantro: If you don’t like cilantro, just skip it.

For Al Pastor Sauce/Marinade:

Pineapple juice: This sweet and acidic tropical fruit will tenderize and flavor the pork. Achiote paste: For color and flavor. It can be found in any Mexican market or online. Guajillo chile pepper: The guajillo chili heat is considered mild to medium. To make this recipe super easy, I used Guajillo Chile Powder. This ground chili is hard to find in regular grocery stores, so I highly recommend ordering online to save time. Distilled white vinegar Spices: You will need dried oregano, cumin, and ground cloves. They will add earthiness and richness to the pork. You can use Mexican oregano if available. Salt and Black Pepper: For flavor. Liquid smoke (optional): This will add an extra smoky note. I always add it.

To serve:

Tortillas: You can use corn or flour tortillas. Toppings: Red onion, fresh pineapple, and limes.

1 – Make the Sauce

In a blender or food processor, place all the sauce ingredients and blend until well combined and smooth. Set aside.

3 – Add the Sauce and Mix to Combine

4 – Cook

Cook until most of the liquid is reduced. Garnish with chopped cilantro.

5 – Assemble the Tacos!

Serve meat up hot on a warmed tortilla topped with diced grilled pineapple, sliced red onion, freshly chopped cilantro, and a lime wedge.

Slow Cooker Tacos al Pastor

PRO TIP: You can serve it just like it comes out of the slow cooker, shredded, of course, with the leftover juices, or you can crisp up the meat under the broiler for 5 minutes. Either way, it’s ridiculously delicious.

Grilled Tacos al Pastor

Vegetarian Tacos Al Pastor

You don’t eat meat? No problem! Substitute ground pork for 2 lb sliced mushrooms.

Chicken Tacos al Pastor

Substitute ground pork for ground chicken, boneless chicken breast strips, or chopped boneless chicken thighs. Make sure to cook the chicken fully.

More Taco Recipes You’ll Love!

Easy Ground Beef for Tacos Recipe Easy Shredded Chicken for Tacos Homemade Spicy Taco Seasoning Easy Instant Pot Mexican Shredded Chicken Slow Cooker Chipotle Carnitas Slow Cooker Spicy Pork Carnitas Instant Pot Crispy Pork Carnitas Instant Pot Mexican Pulled Pork

PRO TIP: if time allows, I highly recommend grilling the pineapple until lightly charred before serving.

Freeze

Let the meat cool, then place leftover ground pork into an airtight container or a freezer Ziploc bag and freeze for up to 3 months. Make sure it is well sealed to avoid freezer burn. You can defrost in the microwave or in the refrigerator overnight. To warm it up, drizzle a couple of tablespoons of chicken broth over the meat, place it in a skillet over medium-low heat, and cover and heat to your liking.