Updated on September 11th, 2025
Tacos Al Pastor are one of those dishes that immediately make you think of flavorful street food, and making them at home is just as fun as eating them. The pork is marinated in a blend of pineapple, orange juice, spices, and chipotle, which gives it both a tender texture and a smoky-sweet flavor. Once grilled, the pork is diced into bite-sized pieces and mixed with charred pineapple for that signature balance of sweet and savory. Add warm tortillas, cilantro relish, and a few toppings of your choice, and you’ve got tacos that are fresh, colorful, and loaded with flavor.
Why this recipe works
- Flavorful marinade: The combination of pineapple, orange juice, chipotle, and spices not only seasons the pork deeply but also keeps it juicy and tender while it grills.
- Perfect pairing of sweet and savory: Grilled pineapple balances out the smoky and spicy pork, creating that signature taste Tacos Al Pastor are known for.
- Fresh relish: The cilantro and onion topping adds a crisp and refreshing bite that lightens the richness of the meat.
- Flexible cooking: While grilling adds the best char, a grill pan or skillet works too, so you can enjoy these tacos year-round.
- Customizable finish: You can keep the tacos simple or dress them up with cheese, salsa, or extra toppings without losing the essence of the dish.
Serving suggestions
- Traditional style: Serve the tacos with warm corn tortillas, topped with pork, pineapple, cilantro, and onion for a classic approach.
- With sides: Pair with Mexican rice, refried beans, or charred street corn for a full meal that feels like a taqueria spread.
- Add sauces: Offer a variety of salsas like salsa verde, chipotle crema, or a mild tomato salsa so everyone can adjust the heat to their liking.
- Make it cheesy: Add a sprinkle of Monterey jack or queso fresco if you like a melty or creamy touch alongside the pork.
- Party platter: Prepare a batch of tacos al pastor for gatherings, and set out toppings buffet-style so guests can build their own.
Tacos Al Pastor Recipe
Make tacos al pastor at home for a flavorful Mexican recipe that’s easy, fun, and always a hit for dinner or gatherings.
- Total Time: 5 hours
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 1 (3 pounds) boneless pork loin
- 1 large white onion (cut in half)
- A 1/2 cup of orange juice
- 1 pineapple (peeled and cut crosswise into 1/2” rounds)
- 1/4 cup white vinegar
- 1/4 cup chili powder
- 3 garlic cloves (cut in half)
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 2 small chipotle chilies in adobo sauce (plus 1–2 teaspoons adobo sauce)
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro
- 1 package corn tortillas
Instructions
- Take 2 pineapple rounds and seal and refrigerate the rest. Chop 2 pineapple rounds (discarding the core) and place chopped pineapple, orange juice and ½ of the onion into a food processor.
- Add vinegar, chili powder, garlic, salt, oregano, cumin, chipotle chilies, and adobo sauce. Puree in the food processor until the mixture is smooth. Place pork in a large sealable plastic bag, add marinade and refrigerator 4 hours (or overnight).
- Heat grill to medium-high heat. Grill remaining pineapple until warm and slightly charred. Remove from grill and chop, discarding the core.
- Remove pork from the marinade and place onto the grill. Grill until cooked through and slightly charred. Remove from grill and chop pork into small cubes. Toss diced pork with chopped pineapple.
- Finely chopped the remaining onion half and put it into a medium bowl. Add chopped cilantro and toss to combine. Grill tortillas until warm (about 10 seconds per side).
- Add pork/pineapple mixture on top of each tortilla, and then add cilantro relish. You can also add salsa and cheese if desired.
Nutrition
- Serving Size:
- Calories: 77
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 589.9 mg
- Fat: 1.4 g
- Carbohydrates: 13.7 g
- Protein: 2.6 g
- Cholesterol: 2.3 mg