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Gloria’s Slow Cooker Shredded Pork Tacos

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These shredded pork tacos are made with a few simple ingredients including pork shoulder which is slowly cooked to tender, juicy perfection. 

Slow Cooker Shredded Pork Tacos

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Slow Cooker Shredded Pork Tacos - the ultimate Mexican pork taco recipe

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As much as I’d like to take credit for these mouth-watering slow cooker shredded pork tacos, the recipe belongs to my friend Raul’s mother, Gloria. While I’ve yet to meet this beautiful woman, I adore her son and am so grateful she is willing to share her family recipes with me.

Crock Pot Pulled Pork Tacos - The best Mexican slow cooker taco recipe

The best part? This authentic Mexican pulled pork recipe really couldn’t be any easier if I tried. The secret ingredient is achiote paste which you can find at a Mexican grocery store or purchase on Amazon. Achiote paste is a spice mixture popular in Mexico and throughout South America made from annatto seeds and other warm spices.

Slow Cooker Shredded Pork Tacos with Pickled Onions - the BEST Mexican taco recipe

To serve, Gloria thinly slices red onions and douses them in fresh lime juice and salt. Scattered on top of the pork tacos before serving, fresh cilantro and quick-pickled red onions provide the ultimate balance of flavors.

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Shredde Pork Tacos with Pickled Onions - the best Mexican taco recipe

Gloria's Slow Cooker Pork Tacos

These shredded pork tacos are made with a few simple ingredients including pork shoulder which is slowly cooked to tender, juicy perfection. 
4.67 from 3 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Entree
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: pork tacos, slow cooker
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 4 hours
Total Time: 4 hours 15 minutes
Servings: 12
Calories: 214kcal
Author: Liz DellaCroce

Ingredients

  • 3 pound boneless pork shoulder roast
  • 4 tablespoons achiote paste
  • 1 tablespoon garlic powder
  • 1 tablespoon onion powder
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon kosher salt
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons black pepper
  • 1 orange juiced
  • 12 ounces pale ale such as Dos Equis

Pickled Red Onions (optional)

  • 1 large red onion - thinly sliced
  • 1 lime juiced
  • kosher salt to taste
  • corn tortillas pickled red onions and minced cilantro - to serve

Instructions

  • In the base of the slow cooker, use a fork to mash together the pork marinade: achiote paste, garlic powder, onion powder, vinegar, salt, pepper and orange juice.
  • Add pork to the slow cooker and rotate with tongs until pork is evenly coated with marinade.
  • Pour in beer and cover with lid.
  • Cook on Low for 8 hours or High for 4 hours.
  • While pork is cooking, prepare the pickled red onions by combining all ingredients in a small bowl and tossing to combine. Let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes or in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Set aside until you're ready to serve.
  • Remove pork from the slow cooker and let rest until it's cooled down enough to handle. Use your fingers or two forks to shred pork, removing any large pieces of fat.
  • To remove fat even further from the dish, pour out all of the liquid that is remaining in the slow cooker into a measuring cup with a fat separator. Let the fat come to the top and discard.
  • Add shredded pork back into the slow cooker and pour in the remaining broth that has been separated.
  • Serve pork in corn tortillas and garnish with reserved pickled red onions and minced cilantro.

Notes

Achiote paste can be found at a Mexican grocery store or online at Amazon.
Gloria uses fresh onions and garlic but I prefer to use powder when using the slow cooker as I find it sometimes results in a bitter taste otherwise.
Nutrition Facts
Gloria's Slow Cooker Pork Tacos
Amount Per Serving
Calories 214 Calories from Fat 77
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 8.6g 13%
Saturated Fat 2.9g 15%
Polyunsaturated Fat 5.7g
Cholesterol 75mg 25%
Sodium 843mg 35%
Total Carbohydrates 10.7g 4%
Dietary Fiber 1.1g 4%
Sugars 1.3g
Protein 23.5g 47%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Tried this recipe?Mention @thelemonbowl

Photography by Alejandro Photography // Recipe by The Lemon Bowl

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Slow Cooker Shredded Pork Tacos with Pickled Onions Recipe - This ULTIMATE Mexican comfort food makes the perfect easy dinner or lunch! - The Lemon Bowl

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Great recipe. I do, however, have one criticism. Dos Equis is a lager not a pale ale, not that this will greatly affect the flavor of this dish. You could use almost any Mexican lager or so called American premium beer like Budweiser, Coors, or the like, or even just water and probably you would have difficulty telling the difference if at all. If you want to make a positive influence in the flavor of this dish with beer, I suggest you try a full flavored pale ale from the UK like Samuel Smith’s or from your local craft brewery in the US.

    Reply

      • It is a very small issue given the strong flavors this wonderful recipe combines. I just put a roast together a minute ago using a very strongly flavored IPA from Marble Brewery located here in Albuquerque. I occurs to me that the strong achiote flavors need a strong hoppy beer for balance. I will let you know tomorrow how it comes out.

        Reply

          • Well, I did prepare these tacos faithfully according to the recipe except using an IPA and adding a little shredded cabbage to the finished product. I can say unequivocally it was a success with my wife and son. I cannot say that using the IPA improved the flavor (since I have nothing to compare) but I can say that the pork was delicious, tender, and moist. Thanks for this recipe. Being a New Mexican I love variety in Mexican food but really appreciate authenticity. This recipe hits the mark.

    • Pork tenderloin would work but you would want to be sure to compensate for the lack of fat that is found in pork shoulder. The reason that pork shoulder is traditionally used is because it keeps the meat tender and juicy during a slow cook process. If you want to use pork tenderloin you may want to add a little chicken broth and keep an eye on it as it might cook in much less time. Does that help? Let me know how it turns out!

      Reply

  4. This is such an awesome giveaway with many great prizes. I have vowed to get healthy this year and have started but still have a long ways to go.

    Reply

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