Tender, juicy pulled pork tacos that are just bursting with flavor. These tacos are made with sweet and spicy pulled pork and crisp, sweetened tropical slaw.
Pulled Pork Tacos
It’s taco time! Oh wait, today is not Tuesday. Then again, I don’t believe we need a specific day to enjoy some awesome tacos!
I’ve noticed that even though pork is the most popular meat in the world, I don’t prepare much of it at home. The main reason why I side-step pork in the grocery store is because most pork cuts cant be quite tough and I am just for a fan of chops. Pork tenderloin was literally the only pork product I’ve used until just a few years ago.
Because of my husband’s love for pulled meats, I started experimenting with the tastiest ways to prepare pulled pork. I’ve gotten the seasonings down pretty well and I have a few varieties of seasoning based on what I want to do with prepared pulled pork. Even though I have the seasoning down, choosing a cut still seems to be based on luck for me. One day I’d get a nice pork shoulder with a lot of meat and just enough fat and then, there are times when the cut is so fatty, I stand there forever picking all the fat out from cooked pieces of pork.
Yes, I’m one of those people who picks out all the fat. I can’t stand biting into something and tasting a chunk of fat. I even cut off all the fat from chicken breast.
Tips For Pulled Pork Tacos
When preparing pulled pork, it’s actually the most tedious part for me to pick out all the fat. Even thought it’s tedious I don’t mind at all because I know that there will be no fatty chunks in my pulled pork and I’ll take extra care to pick out the bones at the same time. When it comes to pulled pork, you have to carefully go through the meat and try to pick out all the tiny bones. After I’ve picked out all the bones and fat from pulled pork, all that is left is a delicious, tender, juicy meat.
Speaking of “juicy,” MAKE SURE TO SAVE THE EXTRA JUICE FROM COOKING PORK. I get a good two cups from preparing the pork but you can always intentionally make more. This leftover juice from preparing the pork has an amazing flavor in it. I use it to stew potatoes, make gravy, sauces, or to make soup. Stewing some red potatoes in this pork broth is the most comforting and the best tasting potatoes you will try. Trust me!
Pulled Pork Tacos
Ingredients
- 4 lb pork shoulder
- 1 medium yellow onion
- 8-10 large garlic cloves
- 1-2 cup chicken stock enough to cover the meat
- 2 bay leaves
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 3-4 tsp chipotle chili powder
- 1 tbsp cumin
- 1 tbsp coarse salt you can add more after pork is cooked
- 2 lime - juice
Slaw:
- 2 cups thinly sliced cabbage
- 3 tbsp avocado oil
- 2 tbsp lime juice
- 1 tsp white granulated sugar
- 1/2 tsp salt more or less to taste
Tacos:
- 10-12 soft taco shells corn or flour
- 1-1 1/2 cups shredded Mexican cheese mix or Colby-Jack
- 1/2 cup Pico de Gallo
- 1/2 cup pickled jalapenos drained
Instructions
To Make Pulled Pork:
- Cut pork shoulder in 2-3 pieces and place it in an Instant Pot.
- Add chopped onion, smashed garlic, and bay leaves.
- Add brown sugar, chili powder, cumin, and salt with 1 cup of stock and pour it into the pot. If needed, add a little more stock just to cover the meat. Squeeze in the lime juice.
- Close the lid and make sure it’s latched. Turn the valve to “seal” and set the Instant Pot to cook on high pressure cook mode for 65-75 minutes. (Depending on how large the meat chunks are.)
- Turn off the Instant Pot when it’s done and let it naturally release for 10 minutes. You can do manual release after that.
- Take all the meat out into a mixing bowl and let it cool enough to handle. Gently shred the meat with two forks or your hands. You can choose to discard large pieces of fat or keep it. Make sure to feel around for any small bones that could have been left behind.PRO TIP: Save some broth from cooking the pork to store with and reheat.
Heating Pulled Pork For Tacos:
- Preheat the skillet (or another cooking pan) over medium-high heat. Add a little bit of oil to grease the bottom of the pan. (You can choose to brown a portion of pulled pork or all at the same time. Whichever amount you choose, select the pan accordingly because you don’t want to overcrowd the meat.)
- Sauté for about a minute and then add some of the cooking broth into the pan, quickly stir and let the juice cook out as the bottom of the meat browns. Stir a couple of times and let a few more pieces get brown.
Slaw:
- In a small bowl, combine thinly sliced cabbage with oil, lime juice, salt, and sugar. Mix well and massage it gently with your hands. Set aside.
To Make Tacos:
- Preheat the oven to 450℉ and grease a large baking sheet. Spread the taco tortillas on the baking sheet in one even layer. Bake for about 3 minutes and take it out. Flip and spread shredded cheese evenly over each tortilla. Bake another 3-4 minutes.
- To build tacos: add some slaw, 1/3-1/2 cup of pulled pork, and your favorite toppings over the pork.
Notes
Nutrition
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Some More Tacos Recipes To Try:
Chipotle Chili Crispy Shrimp Tacos
Breanna says
I believe the big capitalized HERE for the slaw is supposed to be a link, but it’s not redirecting me anywhere. Please post the slaw recipe on this page
Kathleen says
Go to instructions and step 12 has a link that works for slaw
Linda says
I knew this was pork and I pinned it to chicken. I think this slaw would make even liver taste good. And I HATE liver.
So not to worry. I won’t do that. I guess pork is the other white meat for a reason. Thanks for sharing.
Wishes for tasty dishes,
Linda