Tacos al Pastor are a Northern Mexico tradition that combines a beautiful rich rustic red chile sauce with sweet pineapple and tender chunks of grilled marinated pork steaks. Served on warm tortilla shells, what’s not to love?
And don’t miss this Pulled Pork Taco Recipe. Seasoned to resemble pork carnitas, your family will flip over this one. It’s one of our favorite taco recipes.
It seems like Tacos al Pastor are everywhere lately…my favorite little taco joint here in Denver has them on the menu… Rick Bayless sent over a recipe via his newsletter.
Food and Wine Magazine talked about them in their taco truck article.
Gourmet Magazine referenced a Denver Mexican restaurant with Tacos al Pastor as a “must order”. So it seemed like this was a “must make” for me.
So what makes this Tacos al Pastor recipe so special? The rich and robust red sauce and grilled pork steaks.
Table of contents
I mean really, who can resist grilled pork shoulder steaks slathered in a Mexican Red Sauce served on steamy corn tortillas topped with sweet grilled pineapple and caramelized onions.
The al pastor sauce (marinade) is simply out of this world using Guajillo chiles, warming Mexican spices and citrus.
What is Al Pastor?
Al pastor is a dish developed in Northern Mexico where a pig is slow roasted in an outdoor spit for two days. It literally means “shepherd style” in Spanish. It’s a very popular taco dish consisting of marinated pork roast, sliced thin, and preferably grilled.
Let’s get started.
For my red sauce al pastor marinade, I used some mild and earthy flavored dried red peppers as my base. Guajillo peppers are a popular choice and readily available on the Mexican aisle in your grocery store.
The Guajillo pepper is a dried Mirasol Chile Pepper which is a chile pepper commonly grown in Southern Colorado.
I also like to use a combo of Guajillo and Pasilla chile peppers. The Pasilla are spicier and darker in color. This will make the sauce even a deeper earthier red.
Step by Step Instructions
Please see recipe card and video for complete
- Step 1: You’ll combine the ingredients for the al pastor sauce and use your food processor, or blender to puree softened dried chile peppers and spices into this luscious red chile paste.
- Step 2: With a very large sharp knife, slice the pork shoulder into steaks, about ¾ inch wide and place in a platter so you can marinate them. A large zip lock plastic bag would also work very well here.
Tip: If the pork is slightly frozen, it will be easier to cut. And if the pork roast is too large, slice in half vertically and cut the steaks from the two pieces.
- Step 3: Slather those pork steaks with the red chile paste. Use either a spatula or a basting brush to get the marinade evenly distributed.
- Step 4: Grilled al pastor: Once the pork steaks are grilled, let them rest for a few minutes under foil. Stack three of the steaks on a cutting board, with the grain of the meat all running the same direction.
- Step 5: With a very sharp knife, slice the steaks very thin, across the grain.
To Build Those Tacos Al Pastor
- Step 6: Warm the corn tortillas. Place slices of pork on the tortillas and sprinkle on pieces of the grilled pineapple and onions. Add some chopped cilantro and serve with lime wedges. Some chopped avocado would work well here.
Due to the deep red color of the al pastor sauce, one might think them to be spicy in nature. In fact, the marinade does carry a little heat, but the pork, once cooked is smoky, tangy and with a bit of sweetness from the citrus. If you want them spicier, sprinkle on some New Mexico Red Chile Powder or garnish the tacos with with rings of Jalapeno pepper or Pickled Jalapeno Pepper.
Tips For Success:
- Seek out a boneless pork shoulder roast. If bone-in is the only cut you can find, ask your butcher to slice the roast into pork steaks. Over the past few years, packaged pork steaks have been available in the meat department.
- Dried guajillo peppers are readily found on the Mexican aisle of your grocery store. You’ll find them in clear plastic packages along side Mexican spice packets.
How To Serve Them
- Serve on warmed flour or corn tortillas to make al pastor tacos.
- Cubed fresh pineapple, or grilled pineapple slices then cubed after grilling.
- Chopped Cilantro
- Lime wedges. A squeeze of lime will brighten flavors.
- Chopped raw onion, sweet or red.
Recipe for Grilled Tacos Al Pastor
I hope you give these pork Tacos al Pastor a try, and if you do, please come back and give the recipe a star rating and leave a comment about your experience with the recipe. There’s a reason tacos al pastor are so very popular, they’re irresistibly delicious.
And if you’re looking for recipes using pork steaks, this is a winner. And check out my recipe for Grilled Ham Steaks. With a sweet and tangy glaze, it’s a super easy dinner recipe.
Recommended Related Recipes
And take a look at the most popular Mexican pork recipe on my site for Hatch Green Chile. Check out my Mexican/Southwestern category for a ton of delicious ideas.
If you liked this recipe, please leave a star ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating in the recipe card below and leave a comment. I always appreciate your feedback and hearing how everything went.
And, don’t forget to subscribe to my newsletter for more delicious recipes and cooking tips. Make it a delicious day … every day.
Tacos Al Pastor Made With Grilled Pork Steaks
Ingredients
- 6 dried chile peppers I used 3 Guajillo and 3 Pasilla. Pasilla are hot
- 2 chipotle chiles in adobo sauce seeds and veins removed
- ½ cup fresh orange juice
- 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
- ¼ cup cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon anise seeds
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano Preferrably Mexican Oregano
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- ¼ teaspoon ground clove
- ⅛ cup brown sugar
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 pounds boneless pork shoulder (Boston butt), sliced ¾" thick
- 6 rings Fresh pineapple cut into chunks
- 2 sweet onions sliced
- 16 Corn tortillas
- cilantro and avocado chopped for serving
Instructions
- For the pastor sauce (marinade)
- Stem and seed the dried chiles and place them in a microwave-safe bowl. Cover with water and microwave at high power until softened, about 3 minutes.
- Let cool slightly, then drain and transfer to a food processor. Add the chipotle chilis, orange juice, lime juice, vinegar, anise seeds, oregano, cumin, ground cloves, sugar and garlic powder. Blend until smooth.
- Transfer the marinade to a saucepan. Add the 2 tablespoons of oil and cook over moderate heat, stirring constantly, until very thick, about 5 minutes; let cool.
- To Make Tacos Al Pastor
- Cut the pork roast into ¾ inch slices. Arrange slices into an oven proof baking dish. A 9/13 Pyrex pan works good here.
- Slather those pork steaks with the red chile paste. Use either a spatula or a basting brush to get the marinade evenly distributed.
- Cover and chill 3 – 12 hours.
- Preheat grill to 500 degrees, then lower to 350. Remove pork from marinade and grill pork steaks about 12 minutes per side. Grill pineapple and onion rings until caramelized, turning to cook on each side.
- Transfer pork onions and pineapple to a cutting board and let rest 10 minutes, tented.
- Stack three of the steaks on a cutting board, with the grain of the meat all running the same direction.
- With a very sharp knife, slice the steaks very thin, across the grain. Tip from cooking school: A sharp serrated knife works well for slicing meat very thin. Chop the onions and pineapple.
- Warm the corn tortillas. Place slices of pork on the tortillas and sprinkle on pieces of the grilled pineapple and onions. Add some chopped cilantro and serve with lime wedges. Some chopped avocado would work well here.
Video
Notes
- Seek out a boneless pork shoulder roast. If bone-in is the only cut you can find, ask your butcher to slice the roast into pork steaks. Over the past few years, packaged pork steaks have been available in the meat department.
- Dried guajillo peppers are readily found on the Mexican aisle of your grocery store. You’ll find them in clear plastic packages along side Mexican spice packets.
Nutrition
Tacos al Pastor …It’s What’s For Dinner.
Why Trust These Recipes? Lea Ann Brown has lived, worked and played in Colorado for 45 years. She has immersed herself in the Colorado Culinary space, is a Culinary School Graduate and publishes her Colorado food Blog, Cooking On The Ranch.
Wow, I have never heard of that recipe before, I am dying to try it, all my favorite flavors!
Wow, these tacos look awesome, and sure I can have at anytime…great pictures!
I’m really intrigued by the sauce with cola in it! I’m also delighted because there is no tomato in it. I’m definitely going to have to try this one!
I didn’t even think about the lack of tomato! You should google it and take a look at a few different sauce recipes. I think this was a combination of three different recipes. 🙂
Great looking recipe! Very tasty sounding rojo sauce. I’ll have to give it a try on the BGE. Last time I had tacos al pastor they were being carved from a trompo bigger than me at the Carnaval in Cozumel.
waaa….I want tacos al pastor carved from a trompo bigger than you at the Carnaval in Cozumel. 🙂 Would love to try the real deal.
🙂 We watched these guys loading pork onto the spit all morning and knew we had to come back later when it was ready. But I’m thinking the crockpot approach is sure a lot more feasible.
You’re killing me over here! Our Mexican and Tex/Mex in Charlotte is non existent. This looks like something I’d find back in my old stomping grounds in Texas. I will definitely be trying this one. Yum yum yum!!
I’m definitely feeling your pain over no Mexican. We only have a handful of restaurants who serve some authentic Mexican dishes. SO good.
How can you go wrong with slow roasted pork! Your sauce really puts this over the top. I’m thinking this is going to be a wonderful additon to our tailgating!
mmmm this would be good tailgating food.
Those would be perfect to eat while watching a football game.
a….noy….ing
🙂
drooling….
🙂
The tacos look great. I’ve never heard of Tacos Pastor. They sound really tasty!
OMG these tacos look fabulous! I really like the sauce that you made for these tacos too. I must be hiding in the sand as I have not heard yet about the Tacos Pastor. of course, I have read your post and will suddenly see it everywhere.
Thanks for sharing this great recipe.
That’s exactly how it works Velva…selective perception.
🙂
I’ve not heard of these, but they sound interesting – especially as I try to move beyond my paradigms of what flavors go together and I believe I have some pulled pork in the freezer. Also I’m always on the hunt for a new red sauce.
That red sauce is pretty strong…I’d be careful what I paired it with.
Nice.
I agree w/ Vickie, dig the pit and do some goats and pigs. Yaks too. I’ve heard that the Highlands Ranch arial surveillance cameras will bipass Yak roasting in backyard pits if those new outdoor wood-fire dissipation filters have been installed , because apparently it’s become trendy to have gourmet yak feasts in these upscale suburbs…
That “Mexican joint at 7th and Santa Fe” makes tacos every known way on the planet. And with every known meat or other animal body part. The place rules.
Your recipe looks absolutely splended. 1/4 cup Cocal Cola…I’m in.
Too funny!
We need to quit talking about that “Mexican joint at 7th and Santa Fe” and GO!
Wow, these look and sound wonderful. You’re making me hungry for tacos and it’s only breakfast time here. Come to think of it, why not tacos for breakfast?
Sam
I have made breakfast tacos before…and blogged it. Delicious. Thanks for stopping by Sam
Are those HOA rules in Highlands Ranch interfering with your dinner plans? Unbelievable!
What a wonderful recipe. I know that my family would love this. Thanks for sharing.
Yes they are! Think I’ll move south! 🙂
Tacos al pastor has to be one of my favorite pork dishes. Ever. It’s just so mindblowingly tasty! I love the sauce you’ve put on it.
I love your red sauce recipe!
That red sauce was pretty pungent. Not sure how it would be in another recipe, and certainly odd on a stand alone basis.
I can’t even imagine the results of combining those seasonings – sounds like a unique taste experience. I like that. I’d also like to see you being a rebel, digging a pit with a spit and trying the pig thingie. C’mon, you know you’re tempted. 😀
I also want a goat, think they’d notice?
Oh my…have not heard of them either or in truth had to have missed them cause we have some very similar subscriptions.
When are you gonna get on Twitter with me…so you can see I tweeted this to the world; well, my little corner of it anyhow. These look amazing. Won’t you be my neighbor?
Yolandas (Dayton and Arapahoe) has al Pastor, Mexican joint at 7th and Santa Fe was mentioned in an old issue of Gourmet. Thanks for the tweet Barb.
Muy Ricos!!! Can I come over for dinner!!?? Awesome tacos, looooove el pastor 😉
C’mon over Heather – you’re always welcome.
Oh My… they may be everywhere except on the islands… First time hearing about them, but i have some pork shoulder coming my way soon, and these sound like terrific left over fare
Great post!
I don’t see why some of that mango glaze stuff wouldn’t work on tacos and pork. I’m loving that stuff over at your place.