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If it's been a while since you've had a good taco, then these ground pork tacos are just what you need for taco night. Seasoned with fresh spices and smoky pepper, these easy pork tacos are so simple to make and super delicious!
Tacos are just one of those meals that make you feel good inside! After you make the tacos and then sit down to eat them, all just feels right in the world - that's why we love Taco Tuesday!!
Of course, if you're going to make the best ground pork tacos, you will want to make this amazing roasted tomatillo salsa or this roasted tomato salsa. This mango peach salsa is also a favorite topping on top of these tacos!
We love tacos around here so much that I'm always looking for different ways to make them (we LOVE these sous vide carnitas tacos or these cheesy tacos). I think it's safe to say that tacos go well with almost any meat! Tacos are life! Here are some of my favorite taco recipes:
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Why this ground pork tacos recipe works
- You don't have to try too hard with these tacos. The recipe is quick and easy and the end result is deliciousness.
- Everyone loves tacos, which means this is a fantastic go to recipe, when you don't feel like thinking about what to make.
- The flavor is just what you're looking for in a taco. Fresh limes, salsa, and pickled red onion all make this tacos even better!
- Ground pork cooks up nice and juicy and the fresh ground spices add an amazing dimension of flavor.
- The chipotle pepper adds an amazing smokiness with the perfect touch of spice to the recipe.
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Ingredients
For a full list of ingredients and quantities used to make this easy taco recipe, please refer to the recipe card below.
If you've tried every other type of meat for tacos, but haven't used ground pork, now is your chance. I think it's the perfect meat option for tacos. It's not too expensive, yet it is juicy and flavorful! You can also substitute ground meat like beef to make beef tacos, chicken or turkey for this recipe if you'd like.
The fresh cumin and coriander seeds in this recipe are toasted and ground. They add such a great flavor to the taco filling! You can just use a store-bought taco seasoning or homemade taco seasoning if you want to keep it classic.
The chipotle pepper adds a nice smokiness and the perfect amount of spice to these tacos - just make sure it's the kind in adobo sauce (that's the best part).
Step by step instructions to make easy ground pork tacos
Step 1: To toast the coriander and cumin, heat a skillet over medium heat and add the whole spices. Cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring often to prevent burning, until fragrant. Remove and use a spice grinder or mortar and pestle to grind the spices.
Step 4: Assemble tacos with the pork taco filling and top with your favorite taco toppings. Serve the ground pork mixture on corn tortillas (or flour tortillas) with diced tomato, fresh cilantro and lime juice, sour cream (or crema) and cotija cheese. Mix it up and serve it with whatever other toppings you like!
Serving options for this taco recipe
- Serve cilantro chimichurri in place of Mexican salsa, or try this roasted tomatillo salsa or mango peach salsa (goes great with pork)!
- Serve drizzled with Mexican cream or sour cream and sprinkled with Cotija cheese. This avocado crema is delicious also.
- Serve these roasted jalapenos on the side along with diced tomatoes, diced white onion, pickled onion, slices of fresh jalapeno and/or pico de gallo.
- A squeeze of lime (or even lemon) adds brightness and acidity to the tacos. Slices of fresh radish will add a nice bitter component as well.
- Corn or flour tortillas will both work great. Use lettuce wraps if you are going low carb or store-bought taco shells if you like the crunch of hard shell tacos.
- Chopped fresh cilantro leaves add a freshness - substitute whatever herbs you prefer, but I recommend the cilantro.
- Some chopped pineapple or a pineapple salsa goes really well as a condiment to this too - almost like making pork adobaba taco meat!
- Serve alongside instant pot Mexican rice or instant pot cilantro lime rice.
- Add refried beans or black beans to your taco filling.
Expert tips
- Let the pork brown fully on one side before mixing it up. This allows some crispy pieces to form, which adds a ton of flavor and texture.
- Add additional cayenne, chili powder and/or chipotle pepper for additional spice.
- Toast the corn tortillas in a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat OR warm the flour tortillas in a skillet over medium heat.
- Use the browned pork taco meat to make burritos or enchiladas as well.
Common questions
Yes, you can cook ground pork in the same way as ground beef. Just make sure to cook until the internal temperature reaches 160 degrees Fahrenheit.
There are many different kinds of Mexican pork tacos, so there is not just one name. A couple common types of Mexican pork tacos are carnitas and adobada tacos. Both are made with marinated pork butt - carnitas is simmered in seasoning and fat until ultra tender, and adobada is roasted and served often with pineapple.
You can easily make the ground pork taco meat filling for these tacos in advance and store it in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Reheat on the stove in a skillet over medium heat until warmed through, then service on warm tortillas with toppings.
Filling can be frozen in an airtight container for up to 3 months as well. Thaw in the fridge overnight, then reheat per the instructions above.
More pork recipes
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Recipe
Ground Pork Tacos
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground pork
- 1 chipotle pepper in adobo sauce, crushed
- 1 teaspoon coriander toasted and ground
- 2 teaspoon cumin seeds toasted and ground
- 1 garlic clove minced
- 1 teaspoon salt (add additional to taste if desired)
- ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ¼ cup chicken stock
For serving:
- Corn tortillas
- Cilantro
- Limes
- Salsa
- Red onion, diced
- Sour cream (or crema)
- 1 small tomato diced
- Cotija
Instructions
- Heat a skillet over medium-low heat and add the pork. Break it up with a spoon and cook undisturbed for 4-5 minutes.
- Cook until it's no longer pink, using a spoon to break it up into small pieces after the bottom has browned for about 4-5 minutes.
- Add the remaining ingredients and cook for 2-3 minutes, mixing to combine all the ingredients.
- Let simmer until al the liquid has absorbed. Remove from heat.
- Serve on corn tortillas with diced tomato, fresh cilantro and limes, sour cream (or crema) and cotija cheese.
Expert Tips:
- Let the pork brown fully on one side before mixing it up. This allows some crispy pieces to form, which adds a ton of flavor and texture.
- Add additional cayenne, chili powder and/or chipotle pepper for additional spice.
- Toast the corn tortillas in a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat OR warm the flour tortillas in a skillet over medium heat.
- Use the browned pork taco meat to make burritos or enchiladas as well.
Nutrition
Danielle
Love how easy and flavorful these are!