Smoked Al Pastor Tacos Recipe

Salty savory delicious smoked al pastor tacos made with pork butt are one of our very favorite tacos! They are just not very easily replicated at home- so we decided to make our own version of a delicious smoked pork taco al pastor recipe.

What are Tacos al Pastor?

Al Pastor tacos are made from tender marinated pork shoulder served up on corn tortillas and topped with finely diced onions, cilantro, and diced pineapple.

It's originally from the central part of Mexico around Puebla and Mexico City.

The meat is sliced thin and marinated in a pineapple chili red sauce. Then the meat is placed on a large skewer and cooked rotisserie style, similar to shawarma. To make tacos, the meat is sliced off the outside while it continues to spin and roast.

Why You Will Love This Recipe

• Enjoy great-tasting tacos al pastor without leaving the house!
• Tacos are a family favorite! Al pastor tacos are great because they aren't that spicy so they work for everyone!
• Though they take time to make, the recipe is super easy and of course, totally worth it in the end!
• Pork shoulder makes a budget-friendly option for meals.

About the Ingredients

Making smoked pork tacos will require a handful of basic ingredients. Since a few might be a bit less familiar, you will find a bit more about them below. Be sure to check the recipe card for the full list and quantities.

• Pork: You will want to choose a bone-in pork shoulder or butt. Make sure it's about 3-4 pounds in weight. This type of pork roast has the optimal amount of fat so that it comes out perfectly juicy and tender when cooked on the grill.
• Pineapple: Fresh pineapple gives smoked al pastor its signature sweet flavor that perfectly balances the spiciness of the chilies.
• Chipotle pepper in adobo: Actually smoked jalapeno, chipotles can be found in a can on the international aisle of the grocery store.
• Dried chilis: We will be using two different types of Mexican chilis. The pasilla-ancho chile and guajillo chili. These also will be found in the international aisle. They are pretty inexpensive ($1-$4).
• Aromatics: Onion and garlic cook up with the pork to enhance the flavor.
• Lime: Adds a burst of brightness to the al pastor marinade.

While this method of either rotisserie or spit-grilled pork creates the most delicious al pastor taco not all of us have a giant rotisserie sitting in our kitchen so we are putting our own little twist on the classic tacos al pastor recipe to make them at home.

Step 1: Prep the Chilis and Marinade

1. The dry chilis will need a bit of work prior to preparing the marinade. They will need to be softened before blending.
2. Place your whole chilis in a pan
3. Add water and bring them to a boil and boil them for 10 minutes.
4. Once they are soft and boiled you will need to remove the stem and seeds. The easiest way to do this is to slice the chili down the middle and rinse out the seeds.

Step 2: Make the Al Pastor Marinade

Once you've got the chilis prepped, the next part is SO EASY! You just blend all the ingredients!!

5. Start with your liquids or foods that are high in water. This includes vinegar, orange juice, pineapple, onion, and garlic.
6. Add the chipotle pepper, a few tablespoons of the adobo sauce, sugar, a good amount of salt, and lime juice!

PRO TIP: When it comes to the adobo sauce, more sauce = more spice. We found that two tablespoons added enough flavor that wasn't too spicy.

7. Add the boiled chilis, Mexican oregano, and cumin.
8. Once you've got it all in your blender all you need to do is BLEND!

PRO TIP: This recipe makes enough al pastor marinade for injecting and marinating the pork. However, if you don't plan on injecting your pork or you plan to inject but use a rub on the outside then you can cut the marinade in half.

Step 3: Inject the Pork Shoulder with Marinade

Since traditional al pastor is thinly sliced and marinated ALL OVER, we are going to try to incorporate that marinade through the entire cut of meat to get the same delicious flavor everywhere.

9. Lay the pork shoulder on the counter or a tray to start injecting the meat.
10. Place the needle into the pork and move it in four different directions squirting marinade into each direction.
11. Continue this all over the pork shoulder until you have used about half of the marinade OR you have put all that you can into the meat.
12. Pour the remaining al pastor sauce over and under the pork butt.

❓What should I use to inject the marinade? You are going to need an injector. I bought this one from Amazon and love it. I use it often! Especially on my Smoked Turkey Breast and Fried Turkey.

Is it important to marinate the meat?

Yes, it is especially for the best-tasting pork al pastor! I recommend marinating the meat overnight. However, if time is a factor you can get away with a few hours, but really the best flavor comes with time. So try your best to plan ahead.

Step 4: Smoke the Al Pastor

Once the meat has had a chance to marinate, you're ready to start cooking!

13. Preheat the smoker to 270° F and wait until it burns clean. Put your pork fat side up on the smoker along with a dish of water to the side. Let it smoke for 3 hours. For more flavor, you can also place pineapple on the top if desired.
14. At the three-hour mark, begin spritzing the top of the pork with apple cider vinegar every hour.
15. At about hours 6-7, you should see the fat cap separating and splitting. Remove the pork from the smoker using a clean dry towel. Using a towel, instead of tongs will keep the meat from squeezing and juices from excreting.
16. Wrap the pork shoulder up in aluminum foil.

17. Return the foil-wrapped pork to the smoker to cook for another at 270° F. Then raise the temperature to 290° F and keep the pork on the smoker until the internal temp is about 200-204° F.  
18. Remove from the smoker and let it rest. Once it's cooled enough to handle, remove the bones from the pork.
19. Shredding the pork is quite easy because it literally falls into juicy shreds all by itself. You can help it along by pulling it with two forks. See the delicious red sauce inside the pork, and its crispy flavor on the outside? SERIOUSLY PERFECTION. It's time to eat!
20. Once the meat is shredded, use your favorite toppings and assemble your tacos. For traditional al pastor toppings add some fresh pineapple, crema, cilantro, and onion. Try this pineapple mango salsa and it will knock your socks off!

What to Serve with Tacos

Wondering what to serve with tacos al pastor? Here are some favorites!

• Serve up with your favorite taco side dishes! We love these instant pot pinto beans or seasoned black beans with some freshly cooked instant pot Mexican rice. You can also cook them together and serve up these tangy black beans and rice in the instant pot.

• The fruitiness of these pork tacos goes great with fruit salsa such as this pineapple mango salsa. But if you want something a bit more traditional, serve up fresh salsa or a homemade pico de Gallo.

• Serve up some fun appetizers while the pork is finishing up cooking! Chips with chili cheese dip and guacamole are always a huge hit. Bacon wrapped jalapeno poppers are great too!

Expert Tips

• Make sure to use a bone-in pork shoulder or butt! The bone helps keep the meat from drying out and also adds flavor.
• Serve up tacos al pastor however you want! But traditionally the meat is served in a corn tortilla and topped with diced onions, cilantro, and fresh pineapple.
• Give yourself time and plan ahead! This is a slow-cooking recipe and the flavor will be so much better if you marinate overnight and cook the next day.
• Let the meat rest when you take it off the grill. This allows the juices to absorb back into the meat rather than running out when you start to cut it.

FAQs

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