Al Pastor means ‘herdsman fashion’ and historically refers to pork that’s sluggish cooked on a spit or vertical rotisserie, very similar to shawarma. The meat is marinated forward of cooking, and a few the place alongside the best way pineapple was added into the combination. For me, tacos al pastor style much like carnitas however with a candy and spicy taste from the chipotle chilies and pineapple.
Whereas conventional al pastor is made on a spit, most dwelling cooks (myself included) don’t have a simple solution to accomplish this; so we’re pulling out the sluggish cooker! This al pastor recipe will not be conventional, but it surely’s simple to make and yields tender, flavorful pork that can be utilized in tacos, rice bowls, quesadillas and extra.
Associated: If you happen to love this recipe you MUST strive our carnitas recipe subsequent!

Components
- Pork Shoulder
- Salt
- Oregano
- Cumin
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Cayenne
- Hen inventory
- Chipotle peppers in adobo
- Lime
- White onion
- Pineapple

make tacos Al Pastor
Mix the dry spices to make the rub: salt, oregano, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne. Rub the pork shoulder throughout with the combination and place within the sluggish cooker.
Add the hen inventory, chipotle peppers in adobo, lime juice, diced onion, and 1/3 of the pineapple lower into small chunks. I additionally place the outer pores and skin of the pineapple excessive of the meat whereas cooking.
Cowl and cook dinner on excessive for five hours or low for 10 hours.
Take away the meat from the sluggish cooker and shred, this must be simple to do with two forks. Fill tacos shells with the meat and high with diced onion, pineapple and chopped cilantro.

Suggestions and Notes
- Pork shoulder can also be known as Boston butt, picnic shoulder and picnic roast. If you happen to can’t discover this or need a pork substitute a very good different is beef chuck roast.
- I don’t trim the fats earlier than sluggish cooking. I discover leaving it on provides tenderness to the ultimate dish. I additionally suppose it’s simpler to take away any massive fats sections in the course of the shredding course of.
- You should utilize water as an alternative of hen inventory. If you happen to do I’d really useful including just a little extra salt, possibly 1/2 teaspoon or extra.
- I like this al pastor proper out of the sluggish cooker as soon as shredded. However if you wish to add some texture or crispy ends you may shortly pan fry it in just a little oil, very similar to my carnitas recipe.
- Al pastor meat makes nice leftovers! Retailer in an hermetic container within the fridge for at the least 3 days. You may simply rewarm it on the stovetop or microwave.

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Tender pork made with chipotle peppers, onion and pineapple in a sluggish cooker.
Directions
-
Mix the dry spices to make the rub: salt, oregano, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne.
-
Rub the pork shoulder throughout with the combination and place within the sluggish cooker.
-
Add the hen inventory, chipotle peppers in adobo, lime juice, diced onion, and 1/3 of the pineapple lower into small chunks. I additionally place the outer pores and skin of the pineapple excessive of the meat whereas cooking.
-
Cowl and cook dinner on excessive for five hours or low for 10 hours.
-
Take away the meat from the sluggish cooker and shred, this must be simple to do with two forks.
-
Fill tacos shells with the meat and high with diced onion, pineapple and chopped cilantro.
Notes
- Pork shoulder can also be known as Boston butt, picnic shoulder and picnic roast. If you happen to can’t discover this or need a pork substitute a very good different is beef chuck roast.
- I don’t trim the fats earlier than sluggish cooking. I discover leaving it on provides tenderness to the ultimate dish. I additionally suppose it’s simpler to take away any massive fats sections in the course of the shredding course of.
- You should utilize water as an alternative of hen inventory. If you happen to do I’d really useful including just a little extra salt, possibly 1/2 teaspoon or extra.
- I like this al pastor proper out of the sluggish cooker as soon as shredded. However if you wish to add some texture or crispy ends you may shortly pan fry it in just a little oil, very similar to my carnitas recipe.
- Al pastor meat makes nice leftovers! Retailer in an hermetic container within the fridge for at the least 3 days. You may simply rewarm it on the stovetop or microwave.
Vitamin
Vitamin Details
Al Pastor
Quantity per Serving
% Day by day Worth*
* % Day by day Values are primarily based on a 2000 calorie food regimen.
Discover: Vitamin is auto-calculated, utilizing Spoonacular, to your comfort. The place related, we suggest utilizing your individual vitamin calculations.