Slow Cooker Al Pastor Loaded Tacos

I feel like I haven’t really, like REALLY talked to you guys in a while. I’m trying to bring you so much new and fun stuff, that sometimes I forget what’s really important here: building our friendship. Is it weird that we’ve never met in person and we still have some sort of connection? Of course it’s weird, but it’s just us. Other people just don’t understand.

Well…honestly not a lot has been going on over here. Back to normal life since I’m not traveling. Which means lots of working. Especially since football season is here. I’ve complained about it before, but my husband works Mon-Sat and now spends his Sundays watching football. Don’t get me wrong, I still find it completely f*cking annoying, but I’ve learned to deal with it a little better with each week. Mostly by just filling my time with more work. So then I’m working Mon-Sun. Luckily, I really love my job. But I love having a husband as well, so it’s a fine line. If we ever end up going to therapy, it will be because of football. Not because he likes to watch it, but because of my extreme hatred for it. We will have to seek therapy because I hate football THAT much. Until then, I’ll be making cake balls and brunching with friends on Sundays.

A couple days ago on a Sunday, when football was going on in the background and I already got all my work done, I decided to sit with him while listening to podcasts. Ever since starting my own, I can’t stop listening to others. It’s super inspiring and I love hearing the banter between people. And of course, I got hooked on murder mystery podcasts. But when you get hooked on that kind of sh*t, it’s a never ending hole into gloom and despair. And then you think everyone is a murderer. And now at night, I obsessively checked all the doors and windows to make sure they are locked. And here every single sound when I’m trying to fall asleep.

So I took a break that night and turned to Anna Faris and her interview with Olivia Munn, who is a total babe and dating Aaron Rodgers (the only football player I know by name since his brother was on the Bachelor and talked sh*t about him. yaaaaaassss to all the drama) and they went on to talk about childbirth. And how no downstairs is the same afterwards. Which led me to think about a podcast episode entitled “why having children scares the ish out of me” and all the subtopics I would cover in this episode. Which led me to sleep a total of 3 hours. Because I was having nightmares of someone outside my door and birthing a human.

This is what has been going on in PaleOMG world. Not a lot, but yet, soooooo much.

KLOVEYOUBYE.

PS – I wonder how many people stopped following me based on this one post. Shame, they are really missing out on a super delicious and easy recipe.

PaleOMG Slow Cooker Al Pastor Loaded Tacos

Print

Slow Cooker Al Pastor Loaded Tacos

  • Yield: about 10 tacos 1x

Ingredients

Scale

For the pork

  • 2 cups fresh diced pineapple
  • ½ white onion, roughly chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • ½ cup orange juice
  • 2 tablespoons white vinegar
  • 2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
  • 1 tablespoon chipotle chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • juice of 1 lime
  • 2 pound pork loin, cubed

For the tacos

Instructions

  1. Place all pork ingredients (except for the pork) in a high speed blender and blend until smooth. Place cubed pork loin in a crockpot and cover pork with pureed mixture. Cover crockpot and cook on low for about 8 hours.
  2. Once pork has cooked through, use two forks to shred the meat and mix to coat with the cooked down sauce.
  3. To heat tortillas: place tortilla over a gas stovetop until slightly browned on both sides (about 10-15 seconds per side).
  4. To build tacos: use a slotted spoon to scoop out the meat and place in taco shell. Top with pineapple, onion, cilantro, a small amount of creamy ranch, and squeeze fresh lime juice on top!
  5. Serve up, buttercup!

Did you make this recipe?

Share a photo and tag us — we can't wait to see what you've made!

PaleOMG Slow Cooker Al Pastor Loaded Tacos

____________

More Taco Tuesdays!

PaleOMG Picadillo Tacos

Picadillo Tacos

PaleOMG Mahi Mahi Mango Ceviche Tacos

Mahi Mahi Mango Ceviche Tacos

______________

Click Here To Get All My PaleOMG Recipes Into Your Meal Planner With Real Plans!

PaleOMG + Real Plans

I may be compensated through my affiliate links in this post, but all opinions are my own. This compensation helps with expenses to keep this blog up and running!

Oh, Hi! I’m Juli.

I’m a food hoarder. And a really bad dancer. If you don’t know me well, you will probably not understand my humor. Therefore, I apologize ahead of time. Thanks for listening to my ramblings of my ever-changing life and trusting my kitchen mishaps. Your trust in me is appreciated.

LATEST BOOK

72 thoughts on “Slow Cooker Al Pastor Loaded Tacos”

  1. You had me at Meow

    I’m just going to rant here because I pretty much can’t say this outloud: As a thirty year old working full time, all my friends with kids complain about their kids constantly but then ask me and pressure me about when I’m having kids.

    Listen, I get it. I will love my own kids differently. It will be worth it. That’s all awesome! But then they seem really down about not being able to go out for dinner anymore with the girls or get that crossfit session in after work. I understand you make sacrifices for your kids but I’m still not ready for that! Call me selfish but I’m enjoying the freedom at the moment 🙂

    1. I’m selfish, and I totally own up to it. No kids for me. I met an amazing man when I was 29 who already had one child and had gotten himself fixed (yeah, I said it) and I could not be happier. I am no a 36 yr old married woman whose friends and family finally stopped bugging about kids. We travel, we workout 6 days a week and we spend quality time with ourselves!! Love your rant, which more of us who feel this way could tell our friends and family to just shut it!! lol

  2. I want to make this but simultaneously gagging/cracking up over the mental image of someone putting the pork in the blender!

  3. Definitely feel like I know you. Sometimes it makes me feel kinda creepy but generally I enjoy it haha.

    Can’t relate to your hatred, I LOVE football!

    Just recently learned that Tessemae’s has creamy ranch, but totally didn’t know I could order that ish on amazon. Winning!

  4. This sounds amazing, and I can’t wait to try it. I don’t hate football the same way you do, but, I do find it be fairly boring. I can watch it but mostly that means eating things. I do have a really cute Broncos tshirt that I got in the boys section of Old Navy, though…

    And speaking of football, where is the recipe for cake balls?? (it’s okay, I get that they might not be paleo…)

    Love your podcast, your blog, Juli Bauer’s Paleo Cookbook, and your weekly emails. Oh, and your fashion sense is on point, too. Thanks so much for all you do!

  5. I’ve been wanting to try Tessemae’s creamy ranch ever since I saw you post about it! And I also just heard that Primal Kitchen has come out with a Ranch dressing – will definitely need to try that one as well!

  6. I also hate football. I told my boyfriend I would watch 2 games with him and he can pick but other than that, nope.

    Re: babies. I am a 31y/o working professional and do not think I want kids. But I can’t help thinking that maybe one day I will change my mind and it will be too late. My cousin, who is my age, recently froze her eggs and told me all about the process and I learned a ton about it and fertility in general that I did not know. Maybe you can have some kind of fertility specialist on the show that you can talk with about these things? How aging affects fertility, etc. There are a lot of misconceptions out there.

  7. This post made me laugh. I have been following your blog for quite a while and love all of your recipes, awesome wardrobe posts and have even started following you on Snapchat! I work from home as well and it seems you and I have a similar schedule. I am HOOKED on podcasts and recently started listening to a few Murder Mystery ones as well. Your snap yesterday had me tearing up laughing. Cannibalism just might throw me over the edge too….even though I will probably listen to that one, and have a few sleepless nights because of it! Ugh! Why do I do this to myself? 🙂

    I just wanted to reach out and tell you thank you for your posts and your content. I know that you put a lot into your work, and it certainly is appreciated.

    Cheers,
    Nicole

    P.s. Joe Rogan has an awesome podcast too that you might want to check out if you haven’t already.

  8. Sounds great. I go through phases where I get grossed out by pork (yeah, I know I’m weird). Could I sub chicken for this?

    Love your blog and made the chicken enchilada bake last night. SO GOOD.

  9. Do you (or anyone) have a good crockpot to oven conversion? Maybe 325 degrees for 3 hours or so? This looks delish! Tacos Al Pastor is one of our favorite things about going to Mexico!

    At least your husband doesn’t also watch college football Saturdays. I’ve got it on ALL weekend! 🙂

    1. My crockpot is almost 50 … yes, I said 50 years old. It still works great, but, it is a total PITA to clean as it is all one piece. So, I hardly ever use it. I do most of my stuff that calls for a crockpot either in the oven or on the stove top, Inga. Yes, this would definitely work in the oven at 325 degrees for about 3 hours, depending on the size of the pork. I usually give pork and beef about 45 to 50 minutes per pound and it comes out great! I use my cast iron La Creuset Dutch oven and it comes out beautifully.

      Fortunately, my hubby isn’t a HUGE football fan … he’ll watch the Seahawks when they’re on, but that’s about it! Yea for me!! *Ü*

  10. Ugh, football season is the bane of my existence! I have tried SO hard to care about football because my husband LOOOVEES it. But I just cannot do it!

    Also, what murder mystery podcasts are you listening to?! I haven’t found one I like as much as Serial and would love suggestions!!

  11. Hey Juli! Any other cuts of pork you’d recommend trying? I’m currently working through a 1/2 pig in my freezer and always looking for ways to use it. I don’t think I have loin though – shoulder/butt? chops? Thanks!

  12. I totally feel you on the football thing. I live with my boyfriend and football season is just the worst. I don’t think I hate it AS MUCH as you do, but weekends are pretty brutal this time of year. With college football all day Saturday and then NFL all day Sunday, it’s just too much. I don’t understand how he can sit there literally all day and watch it!

  13. Love Tacos! Any thoughts on doing a Jackson podcast? My husband and I just got our first frenchie and I would love to hear your thoughts on training and anything else that is useful for first timers!

  14. My husband used to LOVE football and I absolutely hate it. I just find it soooo boring. I started emailing him articles about traumatic head injuries in teen players and talking about it. He was intrigued and started watching documentaries on it. The science behind football injuries/suicides is actually super disturbing. 3 years later, we’re almost a football free household! Did I manipulate my exceptionally kind and caring husband? Perhaps a little. The good news is we now have a lot more weekend time free and our future children (you know, when that “biological clock thing” finally kicks in…) will be little soccer/tennis/volleyball players instead. Far superior sports in my opinion 😉

    1. right?! that shit is absolutely insane. and so fucking scary. especially since football pretty much runs the US at this point but they like to completely ignore all the other shit behind it. such bullshit.

  15. I am laughing today … I love that you type how you would talk and have been LOVING your podcasts, so thank you for starting them! I listen at work while I sit at my desk … helps my days go by!

    Holy shit I get the whole baby talk. I would say 98% of my friends all have kids and will give you the ins and outs of their labor and what their kiddos so on a day to day basis. I’m 37 and as single as it gets (no pets or plants in this casa)…I’m simply not home enough for a dog a feel it would be unfair. So, if I can’t even have a dog, no way am I having babies for the sake of just having one. There are so many great things in life besides kiddos…not everyone has to have them. The older I get the more selfish I am with my time and I don’t feel like an empty soul for not having any. There are tons of cute kiddos at my gym that I can see and hold and then they have to go home and keep their parents awake while I can make dinner, watch some Bravo and go to bed. I recently had a total stranger ask me my age and suggest I freeze my eggs … umm, I’m good thanks. I feel like sometimes it’s the worst thing you can say to someone, “I don’t think I want kinds … I like my life'”…holy flipout. When did it become taboo to be happy as is? Weird …. anyway, fuck it, do what you want. It’s your body, it’s your life.

    Keep the podcasts coming!! Thanks for another bomb recipe too! I’m making your show cooker buffalo chili this week 🙂

  16. Hi Juli! I’ve never had tacos al pastor, so can you tell me, what is the flavor profile like? It is mostly sweet because of the pineapple? Does the sauce end up thick, or it is more thin/brothy? Thanks in advance!

  17. So I should have asked this when you were asking for paleo on a budget questions but I didn’t think of it until today. I love to buy fresh veggies. But now that we are going into fall the abundance of local, fresh, reasonable priced vegetables are down. How do you feel about canned or frozen veggies in paleo? I read my labels, and I don’t buy anything with weird ingredients. But I feel like no one in the paleo world actually talks about canned or frozen veggies. Is it frown upon? Is it something everyone does but no one talks about? Just curious more than anything because at the end of the day as long I’m getting my vegetables in my meals, I feel like I’m doing good. I know fresh is best, but I want to know your thoughts on it. Am I bad at paleo for buying frozen and canned vegetables?

    1. I feel like canned veggies are not good because of all the sodium and added things for preserving. Frozen veggies are good though. I use them all the time especially when I don’t have time to prep fresh veggies!

    2. Maria, you wrote this ages ago. But I’ll answer. You are fine with the frozen and canned. I mean yeah, the canned tends towards being salty, and the aluminum part doesnt thrill me, but if you can afford fresh, do what you have to. I would lean towards frozen, but JMO.
      Besides, who cares what anybody else thinks. I used to be so caught up in Paleo perfection, but all it does is cause stress, and that’s bad for your health too.

  18. I do feel like I know you! And not just in a “I just read two of your posts and now I know everything about you” kind of a way. More in a I feel like we’ve had this long lasting friendship since I went paleo 5 years ago and we were still dating idiots and hating it kind of a way. But I feel like it’s pretty one sided because I see you on snapchat and instagram and feel sort of like I stalk you. But I think you’re okay with it. I just listened to your latest podcast and you read my comment and it finally felt like we were having a real life conversation!! … Maybe one day.

    Ugh, good on you for even trying to deal with the football. I told myself I’d never date another football watcher again and thankfully my husband doesn’t watch any sports. I consider myself spoiled in that regard and you have my sympathies.

    These look delicious. Pineapple + pork forever.

  19. First off, I am obsessed with your podcast. KEEP EM COMING. I wish you had one everyday but I guess that is what snap is for. Second, this recipe was the best. I have been making paleo recipes lately (against my boyfriends will) and he has loved every single one of your recipes. Third, i wish we were friends because I would totes love to hang out. Am I creepy? probs but you’re just the coolest! huge fan

  20. Omg yes!! Perfect timing, I was literally just thinking what the eff can I do with the pork loin sitting in my fridge and this is perfect! Also, your podcast rocks! You make me laugh.

  21. Ummm, same and same! Have been listening to way too many crime podcasts and freaked myself out. Then everyone is having babies (I’m 29) and that’s freaked me out even more…baby bumps remind me of the movie alien when an alien is growing inside (i think) Sigourney Weaver which is pretty much what being pregnant is. And I don’t even want to think about what happens to your v. sad face all around.

  22. What murder mystery podcasts have you been listening to? I was super into the first Serial (and even the follow-up one about the appeals that wasn’t by Sarah Koenig) and I’ve been looking for more that are in a similar vein. Any recommendations?

  23. My boyfriend is the SAME WAY…..about car shows.
    There is an ENTIRE FREAKING NETWORK dedicated to cars:old cars, new cars, car renovations, car auctions (literally he watches super freaking expensive cars be sold at an auction….HOW IS THAT ENTERTAINING???) He monopolizes the downstairs tv with that one channel and it literally pisses me off every time I even HEAR the car show downstairs (and I’m upstairs taking my sweet a$$ time getting ready…I’m not even near the car show….but the fact that its on makes me mad). I agree….a tv station will send us to therapy one day.
    Sidenote: I love my boyfriend very much…I just wish he didn’t watch re-runs of the same car being renovated all the time.

    Ok. Rant over. Thanks for the new recipe Juli!

  24. Ok, I love crime dramas (books, TV, etc.) but have just started Serial…and I’m hooked! What other similar podcasts have you found since finishing Serial??

  25. This recipe looks fantastic!

    People ask others about having babies so often and don’t realize how personal and emotional the question can be. I’ve considered answering people who I barely know in detail and describing what I’ve struggled through on this subject in order to shed some light on how loaded this topic is.

    Also, is having a blog that readers comment and reply to like have a diary that writes back?!

  26. Hi,
    I made these tacos last night and man oh man, had I not diluted the initial recipe, I’m doubtful they would have been edible! Can you say spicy!! Flavor was amazing, but next time I think I will stick with just one adobe pepper and maybe even remove the inner seeds. Served on a bed of coleslaw with guac, yum yum! Thanks for making football Saturday a success!!

    1. each pepper can definitely range in size AND how spicy it is (and i’ve heard i tend to like things pretty spicy haha) so glad you still enjoyed it!!

  27. I will be making these this week, hoping they impress my MIL.
    I wanted to add to the discussion on babies… I wanted kids so badly before I had them. Now I have two, and don’t get me wrong, I love them. But, I did NOT enjoy my time as a childless single and married woman enough! I miss so many things from before kids, wah wah. My choice, so I try to make the best of it and not complain. Because of this, I never ask when people are having kids. It’s their business. It’s almost the same type of question as, “Are you using a condom.” Fucking weird and gross question you would never ask, so why ask about “trying” to have kids?
    Thanks for being real! I love your podcast, I actually lol and your home workouts have been a lifesaver (esp because I have kids now and can’t go out of the house ever or ever take a shower. jk)

    1. i love hearing this honest point of view because i think MANY people feel that way but feel they can’t actually voice it, so GOOD FOR YOU!! and i’ll remember to keep that in mind if i ever decide i want kids! and so glad you’re loving the workouts and podcast!! thanks for the support Lindsay!

  28. Were you able to save any leftovers? I made a pork al pastor dish this summer while I was batch cooking, didn’t eat any when it was done, put some in the fridge and some in the freezer. When I went to eat it later, the pineapple had digested all of the pork :'( Don’t get me wrong, I ate that slop anyway because no way am I going to waste local, pastured pork… but is it possible to save left overs of a pineapple/meat dish?

    Also, what murder mystery podcasts would you recommend? I came to the Serial party a couple years late, and love the first season, and couldn’t get into the second, so any further recommendations would be great!

  29. Planning to make this over the weekend for a lake getaway with friends. I’m wondering, how small did you cube the pork? Thanks!

  30. My husband said that you have a legitimate complaint. If he works that much, come Sunday he needs to chillax on the football. Granted, mine is most likely personality disordered, so take what he says with a grai+ of salt….or take him seriously as even a screwed up guy recognizes that every Sunday of football is an issue…

    Oh and having kids is awesome, I’d birth more if I could…..had a homebirth with #2.. amazing! Don’t listen to scary stories. If you want a small human, have one. If you don’t, that’s fine too. 🙂

  31. Could you please provide some other grain free tortilla alternatives to Siete, they are SUPER expensive! Any info would be appreciated.
    Thank you.

    1. i have a tortilla recipe in my newest cookbook!! Juli Bauer’s Paleo Cookbook – it’s available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and many other bookstores

  32. I had to stop what I was doing and praise this recipe! Wow, restaurant quality food in my own kitchen! The flavor is amazing and I feel good about all of the ingredients that are entering my body. Thank you sooooo much!

  33. Colorado Catherine

    TACOMG!!! This is second recipe I’ve cooked of yours and I am so impressed because both were absolutely delicious.

  34. This was so easy to make, the house smelled amazing, and it tasted delicious! I made it last night to have today, and at 11pm when it was cool enough to transfer to a container I was licking the pot 🙂 I had it with salad wraps and some avocado. Thanks for the inspiration!

  35. This was so good! I cut it down to one pepper in adobo and accidentally bought a grapefruit instead of an orange and it’s still delicious and just spicy enough for me. I added sliced plantains and peppers to the bottom of the crockpot and lo and behold I had lunches for the week all done.

  36. I followed the recipe to the letter and I tasted the sauce and it’s way too spicy for me, and I love spicy food. How can I make what I already have made and sitting in the crockpot less spicy?
    Lesson learned: read comments BEFORE making recipe.

    1. chipotle peppers in adobo sauce can be hella spicy, that’s for sure. you could always add some honey or agave to the mixture to calm it down!

  37. Hello! All your recipes look so good and I want to try them but I don’t see an ingredient list or measurements…… where can I find those?

    1. sadly there is a glitch in my system that i’m trying to troubleshoot, but here are the ingredients in the meantime! i’m so sorry for the inconvenience!
      For the pork
      2 cups fresh diced pineapple
      ½ white onion, roughly chopped
      2 garlic cloves
      ½ cup orange juice
      2 tablespoons white vinegar
      2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
      1 tablespoon chipotle chili powder
      1 teaspoon cumin
      1 teaspoon salt
      juice of 1 lime
      2 pound pork loin, cubed
      For the tacos
      Siete Foods Tortillas (I prefer the coconut & cassava) or make your own from Juli Bauer’s Paleo Cookbook
      ¾ cup diced pineapple
      ½ white onion, minced
      handful of fresh cilantro, minced
      Tessemae’s Creamy Ranch (optional)
      lime wedges

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published.

Recipe rating

DON’T MISS A BITE

Sign up for my PaleOMG newsletter to get recipes,
discounts, and stories straight to your inbox for FREE!

Don't Miss A Bite!

Sign up for my PaleOMG newsletter to get recipes, discounts, and stories straight to your inbox for FREE!