Surprisingly easy to recreate at home, Instant Pot al Pastor is also quick to make thanks to the pressure cooking method! You’ll get perfect juicy and tender pulled pork, with a spice level you can customize to your preference. Served with big chunks of sweet pineapple, crisp red onion, and cilantro, these authentic tacos are always a crowd pleaser at parties!
The Perfect al Pastor Taco Recipe
After years of living in San Antonio and now Austin, Texas, I’ve learned what makes a good al pastor taco.
You need flavorful and tender meat with subtle hints of pineapple, perfectly pliable tortillas, and the right balance of spice from your homemade salsa or pineapple pico de gallo.
This recipe for al pastor tacos hit all the marks—and it’s super easy, to boot. With a pressure cooker, it uses a true set-it-and-forget-it method that feeds a crowd.
Why Instant Pot Tacos al Pastor Rock!
- Quick and Convenient: Instant Pot Tacos al pastor are a lifesaver for busy nights or spontaneous taco cravings, thanks to the super fast cooking time of the pressure cooker.
- Tender and Juicy: The pressure cooking method ensures that the pork turns out incredibly tender and juicy without overcooking it.
- Easily Customizable: Don’t like it as spicy? Leave out the peppers. Want a little more sweet? Toss in more sugar!
- Scalable and Perfect for Parties: You can easily double or triple the recipe without much added effort. They’re also so easy to keep warm in the pot so everyone can serve when they get hungry.
Ingredients
- Pineapple marinade. It’s so quick and easy to make the marinade for this pork. You only need 2 cups of fresh pineapple, red onion, garlic, maple syrup (or brown sugar), apple cider vinegar (or white wine vinegar), chipotle peppers in adobo, lime juice, chili powder, cumin, paprika, salt, and pepper. Fresh pineapple is KEY here. If you get the canned variety they will taste WAY too sugary. Don’t forget the chipotle peppers in adobo sauce. These bad boys give the tacos al pastor their signature taste.
- Pork. These tacos are absolutely delicious with pork shoulder. It is the perfect balance of lean meat and fat. If you go with another cut, look for something similar, like a butt.
- For the taco. Corn tortillas are the perfect base. Be sure to lightly fry them in coconut oil for the best texture. Top them with fresh pineapple, red onion, cilantro, and avocado. (Or try this pineapple pico de gallo!)
How to Make al Pastor Tacos in the Instant Pot
Please see the recipe card below for ingredient amounts and more detailed instructions.
1. Marinate the Pork
The secret to the most tender meat is this awesome marinade. Plus, it’s super simple to make.
Combine the pineapple, onion, garlic, maple syrup, vinegar, chipotle peppers, lime juice, chili powder, cumin, paprika, salt, and pepper in the pitcher of a high-speed blender or food processor. Blend for 1 to 2 minutes, until the sauce is completely smooth.
Add the trimmed and cubed pork shoulder along with the marinade to a large Ziplock bag or airtight container. Refrigerate for at least one hour, or up to 8 hours.
Note: Please marinate for AT LEAST 1 hour. The longer the better. I marinated mine overnight and they were perfect!
2. Cook in the Instant Pot, then shred
After the meat has marinated, add the pork along with the sauce to the Instant Pot. Place the lid on top, and make sure the pressure valve is sealed.
Cook the pineapple pork on high pressure for 45 minutes. When the timer goes off, allow for a 10-minute natural pressure release. Open the valve and allow the remaining pressure to release.
Open the lid and use two forks to shred the pork. Allow it to sit for another 10 minutes to absorb all the juices.
4. Serve with Toppings
While there is no one right way to serve tacos al pastor, there are some irresistible toppings to choose from:
- Pineapple chunks
- Diced red onions
- Chopped cilantro
- Lime wedges
- Roasted Tomato Salsa
- Or try this Pineapple Pico de Gallo!
Too Much Liquid?
If your pork shoulder was very fatty you may have a bit too much liquid. If so, double up the corn tortillas to make sure your tacos do not fall apart!
Are Tacos al Pastor Spicy?
Traditionally, tacos al pastor are not super spicy. However, they can vary depending on the heat from the chili peppers. If you want more heat, add more peppers. Or, use less for a milder flavor.
FAQs
Typically, tacos al pastor include a sweet yet spicy pork served on a corn tortilla with pineapples, lime, and cilantro. Tacos al Pastor come from Central Mexico, specifically Puebla and Mexico City. “Al pastor” means “shepherd style” in Spanish. This is a super popular style of tacos found throughout American and Latin America.
Tacos al pastor and tacos adobada are similar, yet a just a little different. While they have similar flavors, the meat in adobada is grilled. For al pastor, the meat is traditionally cooked vertically on a spit.
Tacos al pastor should be gluten-free. As always, it’s essential to check the ingredients and ensure the tortillas and spices are free of gluten.
Recipe Tips
- A little fatty. Be sure to get a cut of meat with some fat or it will turn out dry.
- Let it rest. A 10-minute natural pressure release allows the meat to become extra tender.
- An extra step. Lightly fry the corn tortillas in a little bit of coconut oil so they bend without breaking.
What sides pair well with tacos al pastor?
When you’re ready to dig in, you can’t go wrong with any of these delicious sides.
Opt for a traditional dish like Mexican Rice, Mexican Street Corn Salad, or Refried Black Beans.
Wash them down with a Mexican 75, Blood Orange Margarita, Cadillac Margarita, or a Watermelon Margarita.
More Taco Recipes
If you’re anything like me, you can’t get enough tacos! Put these recipes on the rotation soon.
- Blackened Shrimp Tacos
- Sweet Potato Black Bean Tacos
- Shredded Chicken Tacos
- Baja Fish Tacos
- Roasted Cauliflower Tacos
- Migas Tacos
- Barbacoa Tacos
- Flank Steak Fajitas
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Ingredients
- 2 cups pineapple fresh, roughly chopped
- ¾ cup red onion finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic crushed
- ⅓ cup pure maple syrup or brown sugar
- 2 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar or white wine vinegar
- 2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
- 1 lime juice
- 1 Tbsp. chili powder
- 1 tsp. cumin
- ½ tsp. paprika
- 1 ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ tsp. pepper
- 2 pounds pork shoulder trimmed of excess fat and cut into 2-inch cubes
To Make Tacos:
- 8-16 corn tortillas*
- ½ cup pineapple fresh, finely diced
- ¼ cup red onion finely chopped, optional
- Cilantro optional
- Avocado optional
Instructions
- In a high speed blender or food processor combine pineapple, onion, garlic, maple syrup, vinegar, chipotle peppers, lime juice, chili powder, cumin, paprika, salt, and pepper. Blend for 1-2 minutes or until marinade is completely smooth.2 cups pineapple, ¾ cup red onion, 2 cloves garlic, ⅓ cup pure maple syrup, 2 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar, 2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, 1 lime, 1 Tbsp. chili powder, 1 tsp. cumin, ½ tsp. paprika, 1 ¼ teaspoon salt, ½ tsp. pepper
- Place trimmed and cubed pork shoulder in a large bowl or a gallon-sized zip-top bag along with the marinade. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour or up to 8 hours.2 pounds pork shoulder
- Once ready to cook, add pork and marinade into the Instant Pot. Cover, make sure pressure release valve is sealed, and cook on high pressure for 45 minutes. Once the timer goes off, let the pork sit in the Instant Pot for 10 minutes for a 10 minute natural pressure release (NPR).
- After 10 minutes, release the pressure valve and let it ventilate until you are able to open the Instant Pot. Shred the pork and let it sit for 10 minutes before serving.
- Serve shredded pork on corn tortillas with diced pineapple, red onions, cilantro, and avocado. Enjoy!8-16 corn tortillas*, ½ cup pineapple, ¼ cup red onion, Avocado, Cilantro
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Notes
- If your pork shoulder was very fatty you may have a bit too much liquid. If so, double up the corn tortillas to make sure your tacos do not fall apart!
- Nutritional information is calculated for 1 taco with 1 corn tortilla.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I have made this multiple times and it is a huge crowd pleaser! Love it so much!
Yay! So happy to hear you enjoyed the recipe! They’re perfect for a group. Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a comment and rating!
We loved this. Next time we will double the amount of chipotle peppers and adobo. We wanted a little more heat.
Yay! So happy to hear you enjoyed the recipe, Suzie! I hope you enjoy the extra heat next time. Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a comment!