Slow Cooker al Pastor
SERIOUSLY legit al pastor at home made in the slow cooker! Tons of flavor and perfect for meal prep - you will love this!
Ingredients
- 3-4 pounds boneless pork shoulder (or pork butt) cut into large chunks
- 1 whole pineapple cut into bite-sized pieces (see note)
- ½ cup orange juice
- ¼ onion cut into chunks
- 4 cloves garlic peeled
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 3 teaspoons kosher salt (or 2 teaspoons table salt)
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
Instructions
- Marinade: In a blender, combine the orange juice, onion, garlic, chili powder, cumin, salt, smoked paprika, and one cup of the pineapple chunks (this is where I use up the core to avoid waste). Blend until very smooth.
- Slow Cooker: Place the pork chunks in the bottom of a slow cooker and pour all the marinade over top. Stir to coat the pork evenly with the marinade.
- Cook: Cook the pork on HIGH for 3-4 hours or LOW for 5-7 hours, checking at the lower end of the time. The pork is done when it is fork tender but not mushy – this will depend on your slow cooker as well as the size and type of pork you use.
- Pineapple: Gently shred the pork into bite-sized pieces, then add most of the pineapple to the slow cooker. Cook for 30-45 minutes more to heat the pineapple through.
- Broil:(optional) For added texture, spoon some of the meat onto a sheet pan and broil until crispy at the edges right before serving.
- Serve over nachos, in tacos, or make burrito bowls with your favorite toppings. Enjoy!
Notes
- Pineapple: I often cut up my own pineapple, but this is a GREAT time to take some help from the store and purchase a pre-peeled/cored pineapple to save time. I use the core in the blended marinade to avoid waste – you never know it’s there.
- Pork: Since we are cutting up the pork, the cook time is a bit less on this recipe. If you are cooking this overnight, I recommend keeping the pork shoulder whole to avoid overcooking the meat, which can make it mushy and mealy.
- Meat Variations: This recipe can also be made with chicken (5-6 hours low) or beef (7-8 hours low) and is delicious both ways.
- Make In Advance: This pork is delicious made in advance, and can be freshened up from the fridge by broiling it quickly right before serving, and adding fresh toppings to a taco, burrito, or rice bowl for serving.
Tried this recipe?Let me know how it was!