Tacos are very popular in my household, but sometimes I want to jazz it up a bit. The solution? Asian-inspired Pulled Pork Tacos. A pork butt slowly braises in a wonderful mix of soy and ginger and other lovelies until it literally melts in your mouth. Pile it high on a tortilla and top off with a light and refreshingly crunchy slaw. Absolute pork tacos perfection!
Let's get started!
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And, If you're in the mood for more tacos, my friend, you're in the right spot!
Try my Instant Pot Carnitas, Steak Tacos, or my Taco Bowls. All easy and all so good!
Pull Up A Chair and Let's Chat!
Pulled Pork Tacos are such a fun twist on your regular weekly tacos. Because, if you're like us, tacos are a mandatory, weekly meal. This recipe is also a great weekend recipe when you're hanging out watching the game.
My kids love this meal. My husband and his buddies request it. I usually turn mine into a bowl situation with some cauliflower rice. Pulled Pork Tacos will truly make everyone a happy camper. Try it once and I promise you'll go back to this recipe again and again.
What Goes In It
Pork Butt - You can also use pork shoulder. Either one will work. A shoulder cut will be a bit leaner.
Green Onions, Ginger, Tamari (or soy sauce), Rice Vinegar, Fish Sauce, Sesame Oil - The Asian twist for our braising liquid.
Cabbage and Carrot - For a very simple, tangy slaw. Grab a bag of coleslaw mix if you're not feeling like chopping!
Lime, Sesame Seeds, Honey - For the slaw along with a little more of the rice vinegar for tang. It's light and refreshing and perfect paired with the richness of the pork.
Corn Tortillas - The vehicle for getting the pork from Point A to Point B (your mouth). You can also use flour tortillas.
How To Do It
Cooking a pork butt for pulled pork tacos is super easy. You will just need a little time. By the way, this recipe will also make your kitchen smell like a million dollars. That's always a good thing!
I cooked my pork butt for the tacos in the oven at a low temp, but you could also do this in a slow cooker or Instant Pot. You just want to simmer the meat in the cooking liquid until it just falls apart. It should be so tender it will fall apart just by looking at it.
This is a very simple recipe. I'll give you the quick rundown here, but the full recipe and instructions will live in the recipe card below. All you need to do is:
- Add the pork to the dutch oven.
- Add the ingredients for the cooking liquid. (Soy sauce, rice vinegar, fish sauce, sesame oil, chunks of fresh ginger, and green onion with some water)
- Cook low and slow.
- Make the slaw.
- Shred the meat
- Assemble the tacos.
See. Easy. Peasy.
Searing vs Not Searing
You will notice I didn't sear the pork before cooking. I usually recommend this. Why didn't I do it here? Short answer? I didn't feel like it.
Somedays we are busy, somedays are overwhelming, somedays you need to get dinner on the table with as little stress as possible. For me, this was one of those days. And, you know what? These Pulled Pork Tacos turned out absolutely incredible.
Cooking should never be overwhelming or stressful, and even someone like myself, who cooks for a living, needs a breather and some grace sometimes. So just take a deep breath when you need it, and everything will be all ok.
Serving Ideas
This recipe for pulled pork tacos is amazing just as is, but it's also super easy to make it your own. I love turning this recipe into a taco bowl for myself. I simply pile the pork and slaw on top of a mound of cauliflower rice or mashed cauliflower. This keeps it low-carb, but high-flavor!
Continuing on with more serving ideas, nachos would be a fantastic twist on the pulled pork taco situation! Layer tortillas chips and pork. I think queso fresco copiously sprinkled on top and slightly broiled would be the stuff dreams are made up. Garnish with the slaw and serve at your next party!
Also, and equally as tasty, turn the Pulled Pork Tacos into wraps and burritos. These are phenomenal for lunches on the go!
Instant Pot and Slow Cooker Instructions
For the slow cooker, add the pork into the slow cooker bowl along with the cooking liquid ingredients. Cook on high for 4 hours or on low for 8 hours, until the pork is tender. Finish the tacos recipe as instructed below.
For the Instant Pot, add the pork and cooking liquid ingredients to the Instant Pot Bowl. Cook on high pressure for an hour and let natural release. Finish the tacos recipe as instructed below.
Storage and Reheating Instructions
- Store leftovers in the fridge, separately, for up to 3 days.
- The pork will freeze well if stored in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
- Reheat the pulled pork leftovers on a skillet until warmed through.
Tips, Tricks, and Variations
- You can use pork shoulder instead of pork butt.
- A chuck roast would also be a fantastic protein option here and makes great tacos!
- Add fresh jalapeño slices to the slaw for a crunchy pop of heat.
- If you don't have fish sauce, I recommend you buy some. The flavor is absolutely incredible and it is very easy to find. However, if you just cannot, add the same amount in tamari or soy sauce.
- If you aren't a fan of corn tortillas, use your favorite flour tortillas or wrap.
Make It Your Own
You can absolutely customize these Pulled Pork Tacos recipe! Have fun and make it your own! Here's some ideas.
Make It Spicy - Add jalapeños or some serranos to the dutch oven. If you're feeling really adventurous, throw in a habenero!
Make It Smokey - Add some canned chipotle in adobo. The flavor is incredible!
Protein Swaps - If you're not feeling pork, you can use a beef chuck roast or even chicken!
Recipe Frequently Asked Questions
Is this recipe gluten-free? Dairy-free?
Yes! No need to worry about gluten here as long as you use GF corn tortillas. There's nothing you need to substitute!
What are other topping ideas?
This is my love language. Grab a seat.
-The slaw recipe included below is crunchy and tangy and is lovely.
-Add pickled onions
-A sprinkle of cotija cheese
-Fresh cilantro
-Jalapeño slices
-Radish slices
Recipe
Pulled Pork Tacos
Ingredients
Pulled Pork
- 1 4-5 lb pork butt
- 6-7 green onions roughly chopped
- 3 inch knob of ginger cut into chunks
- ½ cup tamari or soy sauce
- ⅓ cup rice vinegar
- 2 tablespoon fish sauce
- 2 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1-2 cups water enough to bring water up the sides of the pork about 2-3 inches
- kosher salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste
Cabbage Slaw
- 1 cup cabbage, shredded
- ½ cup carrot, sliced
- 2 green onions, diced
- 2 tablespoon rice vinegar
- juice of 1 lime
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
- 1-2 tablespoon honey, more or less per your sweetness preference
Tortillas
- 16 corn tortillas, warmed use whatever tortilla you prefer
Instructions
Pulled Pork
- Preheat the oven to 250°.
- Add the green onions, ginger, soy sauce, rice vinegar, fish sauce, sesame oil, and water to a dutch oven. Add the pork butt to the liquid and into the preheated oven for 4-6 hours, or until the meat is fall apart tender.
- Remove the pork from the oven and shred with two forks. Set aside.
Slaw
- Toss the cabbage, carrot, green onion together.
- Add the rice vinegar, lime juice, honey and sesame seeds and mix to combine.
Build your taco
- Add meat and slaw to your tortilla of choice.
- Top with extra crunchy things. Think radish, fresh jalapeño, cilantro, etc.
- Nom and repeat!
Nutrition
If you guys make this Pulled Pork Taco Recipe, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! I absolutely love to hear from you all and always do my best to respond to each and every one of your comments!
Don't forget to try my fun spin on chicken noodle soup, too! My Asian-Inspired Chicken Noodle Soup is just what you need on a cold day!
For another great recipe when you are in a hurry and need something comforting, try my Instant Pot Mustard Cream Chicken With Orzo.
This awesome recipe is for a more Mexican-inspired Pull Pork Taco situation.
Thank you!
I am so incredibly happy that you are here! I hope you try my Pulled Pork Taco recipe and fall in love with it. If you make this recipe, please share and tag me on Instagram! I absolutely love seeing each and every one of your kitchen masterpieces! And, as always, if you ever have any questions about any of my recipes, please don't hesitate to contact me!
Happy Cooking!
-Rufus
Rufus for Real is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. I may earn a commission, with no additional cost to you, if you purchase through those links.
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