Crock Pot Al Pastor

Name: Crock Pot Al Pastor
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 8 h
Total time: 10 h 20 min
Yield: 12 Servings
Ingredients: 3 to 5 lbs Pork shoulder roast; 4 dried ancho chiles; 3 dried guajillo chiles; 1 white onion; 4 cloves garlic; 2 tsp Mexican dried oregano; 1 tsp dried cumin seed; 2 Tbsp achiote paste; ½ cup orange juice; ¼ cup white vinegar or rice vinegar; 1 Tbsp pure maple syrup or sugar; 2 tsp sea salt; tortillas; chopped white onion; cilantro; fresh chopped pineapple

User Reviews

4.7

42 reviews

Excellent

Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
8 hrs
Additional Time
2 hrs
Total Time
10 hrs 20 mins
Servings
12 Servings
Calories
150 kcal
Cuisine
Mexican

Crock Pot Al Pastor

Tyler Espinosa

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Easy Crock Pot Al Pastor results in tender yet crispy pork for the most amazing al pastor tacos!

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Ingredients

Servings

3 to 5 lbs Pork shoulder roast chopped into bite sized pieces
4 dried ancho chiles
3 dried guajillo chiles
1 white onion chopped
4 cloves garlic
2 tsp Mexican dried oregano
1 tsp dried cumin seed
2 Tbsp achiote paste or powder
½ cup orange juice
¼ cup white vinegar or rice vinegar
1 Tbsp pure maple syrup or sugar
2 tsp sea salt

For Serving:

tortillas
chopped white onion
cilantro
fresh chopped pineapple

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Instructions

Reconstitute the chiles by adding them to a saucepan with 3 cups of water and bringing them to a full boil. Once the mixture comes to a full boil, turn off the heat and allow the chiles to sit in the hot water for at least 10 minutes while you prepare the rest of the sauce.
Add the chopped onion, garlic, dried oregano, cumin seed, achiote paste, orange juice, white vinegar, pure maple syrup, and sea salt to a high-powered blender.
Remove the stems and seeds from the chiles and place them in the blender along with 2 cups of the liquid used to boil them. Blend on high until the sauce is smooth.
Transfer the chopped pork to a large bowl or sealable glass container.
Pour the marinade over the pork and stir everything around (this is easiest to do with your hands, but be sure to wear gloves!) until the pork is well-coated in marinade. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap (or seal the airtight container with a lid) and refrigerate for 12 to 36 hours. Note: you can absolutely marinate the meat for less time, but for best results, marinate for 1 full day or longer.
When you’re ready to cook the al pastor, plug in your slow cooker and transfer the marinated pork (with the marinade) to your slow cooker. Secure the lid and cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4 to 5 hours.
Strain the meat from the juices and transfer it to a large baking sheet in a single layer. Broil in the oven on the High broil setting for 5 to 10 minutes, or until crispy.
As an alternative, you can crisp up the meat in a large cast iron skillet. Just be sure to heat it in a single layer for optimal crisp.
Serve al pastor as tacos, burritos, or with rice and beans or your choice of sides. You can spoon the juices from the crock pot over the pastor meat for added flavor.

Notes

Notes: Additional taco toppings such as homemade salsa (salsa verde is great with these tacos!), avocado, guacamole, chopped lettuce, slaw, or cheese are always welcome.
Nutrition Facts are calculated for the taco meat only, not including tortillas or any toppings. Nutrition information is calculated based on 12 servings (for 12 tacos)