Simple Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Tacos
Winter weather has been in full force in New York this week. We’ve been blanketed with that awful combination of rain and snow (snowain, if you will) that doesn’t quite merit an umbrella but still requires busting out the waterproof boots. The storm was the only nudge I needed to dust off my trusty slow cooker for an 8-hour braise involving all the good things in life: pork, beer and chocolate.
Yes, indeed. Chocolate. It’s my go-to ingredient for kicking up the flavor of savory spice rubs, and it provided just the flavor punch needed for these Simple Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Tacos. Pork shoulder is slathered in fresh garlic and spices before going for a long, slow simmer in a hot tub of beer and orange juice. The result is a tender-tastic mountain of pulled pork that’s piled high in corn tortillas and topped off with pickled onions and crumbled Cotija cheese. Who needs carolers when your holiday guests will be singing your praises?
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Simple Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Tacos
Yield: 10 - 12 servings
Prep Time: 10 min
Cook Time: 8 hours
Ingredients:
1 (4- to 5-pound) pork shoulder
5 cloves garlic, minced
1 Tablespoon salt
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon oregano
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoons cocoa powder
4 Tablespoons fresh lime juice
1/2 cup orange juice
12 ounces beer (See Kelly's Notes)
1/2 cup store-bought or homemade salsa
Corn Tortillas
Taco toppings: diced avocado, sour cream, cheese or pickled red onionsDirections:
Rub the pork shoulder on all sides with the minced garlic, massaging it into the meat.
Combine the salt, cumin, chili powder, black pepper, oregano, cayenne pepper and cocoa powder in a small bowl then sprinkle the spice mixture evenly over the meat. Transfer the pork shoulder to the slow cooker then add the lime juice, orange juice, salsa and beer.
Cover the slow cooker and cook on "low" for 8 hours, or on "medium" for 6 hours.
Remove the pork from the slow cooker (leaving behind any liquid), shred and serve in corn tortillas with assorted toppings.
Kelly's Notes:
You can opt for a Spanish-style beer, such as Negra Modelo or Corona, or just use whatever beer you have on hand.
Recipe inspired by Pinch of Yum.
Nicola — November 28, 2012 @ 5:57 am
Its a real shame your rss feed does not pull though your beautiful photos, i often miss your posts because everyone else i subscribe to has their photos in the rss. Anyway you could fix that if not intentional??
This looks really yummy!!!
Kelly Senyei replied: — November 28th, 2012 @ 7:34 am
Thank you, Nicola! I’m working on getting the photos added to the feed
Alison @ Ingredients, Inc. — November 28, 2012 @ 10:26 am
these look amazing!
katie — November 28, 2012 @ 11:33 am
Oh my… this looks right up my alley. I’m trying to find more crockpot meals. I think both my husband and I would love this!
Bev @ Bev Cooks — November 28, 2012 @ 11:39 am
Mooooooooommy.
fabiola@notjustbaked — November 28, 2012 @ 1:30 pm
YES YES YES. Please and thank you. That is all I have. I now need to go get a pork shoulder.
Cassie | Bake Your Day — November 28, 2012 @ 6:02 pm
I think chocolate is a great ingredient, especially for the slow cooker. It’s perfect for these spices. Love these, Kelly!
shelly (cookies and cups) — November 29, 2012 @ 8:09 am
I love a crock pot taco! And you added beer and chocolate…yes!
Sarah K. @ The Pajama Chef — November 30, 2012 @ 12:00 pm
oh, this sounds so wonderful! beautiful photos too
Cook In / Dine Out — December 3, 2012 @ 9:40 pm
This looks delicious. I love pork tacos. I’d probably set them under a broiler for a few minutes after coming out of the crock pot to crisp them up a bit to be more like carnitas.
Joanne — December 4, 2012 @ 7:59 am
I remember exactly which day you were referring to…and yeah it was pretty gross here! UGH. hoping we don’t get many of those this winter! I love how you went all-out on the comfort food front though. This sounds awesome!
Emily @ She Makes and Bakes — December 5, 2012 @ 5:55 pm
A. I want to be in that hot tub. B. This would go over swimmingly at my house. Get it? har har.
Kristi @ Cherry Jasmine — December 6, 2012 @ 9:38 am
Looks delicious! I love slow cooker recipes – great for weekday cooking!
Aggie — December 7, 2012 @ 3:21 pm
Oh this looks so good. The slow cooker is starting to become my BFF…I love the beer & chocolate you added! My kind of cooking
Joy @ Baking-Joy — December 9, 2012 @ 12:40 pm
If I needed an excuse to get a slow cooker, this recipe would be it!
P.S Have recently bought your book, thank you for the great advice!
Brooke Green Bragger — December 9, 2012 @ 2:44 pm
Just got everything loaded up in the crock pot this morning..only I was out of cocoa powder, so I subbed dark chocolate chips which I had on hand. We’ll see how it turns out! Looks so delish!
Rachel — December 13, 2012 @ 12:49 pm
my boyfriend made this last night- absolutely hands down the best pulled pork he’s ever made. he brews his own beer and used it in the recipe– DELICIOUS!
Tammy — December 26, 2012 @ 10:10 pm
I have all my ingredients ready to get the pork shoulder in the slow cooker tomorrow morning. Can’t wait to eat these! I will repost to let you know how great they were!
Jessica — January 7, 2013 @ 5:03 pm
I know this is crazy to want to complicate things, but is it possible to make this WITHOUT a crock pot? I don’t own one!
Arlie — January 29, 2013 @ 7:19 pm
My husband and I made this recipe today for tonight’s dinner. He just proclaimed this was so good he could eat it everyday. Thanks!
Kelly Senyei replied: — January 29th, 2013 @ 7:20 pm
Love it! Thanks for the note, Arlie!
Taryn — February 5, 2013 @ 8:27 am
Thanks so much for this! I’ve been looking for a good pulled pork recipe and this is the one that finally hit the spot! My husband had to tell me how good it was after each bite
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Mo — April 10, 2013 @ 12:53 pm
Can you use the left over liquid at all?