Chipotle Braised Pork Tacos

Feed a crowd with this family friendly chipotle braised pork taco recipe! Garnish the tacos with quick pickled red onions, grated cotija cheese, and squeeze of fresh lime juice.

This is a special post with a recipe courtesy of my boyfriend (now: husband). I didn’t understand the deliciousness and diversity of Mexican food until I met him.  Occasionally, I’d go get tacos or burritos, but I never really craved it.

I grew up in a heavily Asian populated suburb where I was surrounded by noodles, rice, and dumplings. But now that I live in Northeast Los Angeles, I must have Mexican food at least once a week.  Give me all the tamales, menudo, elotes, and horchata.

Chipotle Braised Pork

Although this recipe isn’t traditionally Mexican, the ingredients and flavor profiles are indicative of the cuisine.  This is our take on easy homemade California-Mexican food.  

Chipotle braised pork tacos are super simple to make and great for parties.

Guests will be shocked you made your own red onion pickles. Just smile and take in the compliments.  No need to tell everyone how easy it was to prepare.

Quick Pickle Red Onions

These quick pickles are ridicously easy and simple to make! They are a wonderful balance of sweet and tart. The bright color just brings a much needed pop of color to all foods!

1. Take one medium red onion. Split in half and slice into thin strips.
2. In a small sauce pot, mix together distilled white vinegar, sugar, and salt. Add in sliced onions. Heat just until the sugar has dissolved.
3. Transfer onions and liquids into a pint mason jar. Add enough cold water to submerge the onions.
4. Seal jar and let it chill the fridge until you prepare the pork.

How to Braise Pork

Start with about 6-7 pounds of pork butt. Trim off the fat and cut the pork into medium-sized chucks. You should be left with about 5 pounds of trimmed pork. Toss the meat in kosher salt and black pepper. Cover with plastic wrap and let the meat sit for about half an hour.

Meanwhile, prepare the remaining ingredients.  Put a large enamel cast iron dutch oven pot on the stove over medium high heat.  Dice two medium red onions in large chunks and place in pot with canola oil. Add 1/4 tsp kosher salt to get the onions to sweat.  Cook until onions start to soften.

Open a can of chipotle peppers in adobo sauce.  Add all the sauce into the pot with the onions. Depending on your spice level preference add as many of the chipotle peppers as desired.  I say half the can gives you moderate heat.  I used the entire can because I like my food spicy.

Natural Umami Flavor Enhances

Discard the juice of a 28-oz can of whole plum tomatoes. Crush all the tomatoes and add to the pot. Add a bunch of whole peeled garlic, 1 cup of beer, followed by the seasoned pork.

Don’t worry that the pork is not submerged in the liquid.  You want some of the pork to be exposed because it helps the meat brown in the oven.  Bring the mixture to a boil on the stove.  This helps lessen the time the pork needs to cook in the oven.

Transfer pot to a 350 degrees F oven.  Cook for about 3 hours, removing the pot every hour to rearrange and stir the mixture. You want to give all the pieces of meat enough time out of the liquid and exposed to the heat to brown.

Eventually you’ll get this perfectly browned and cooked pot of meat.  Remove the pork chunks and place in a clean bowl.  Using an immersion blender (or standard blender) carefully puree the sauce until smooth.

Roughly shred the pork and toss in the sauce.  Heat up corn tortilla over the stove or in a grill pan until warm.  By this time, the red onions should be cold and pickled.

 Then start building your taco with shredded green cabbage, cotija cheese, chopped cilantro, sour cream and lime.

Dinners for two is fun and all, but this recipe makes enough to serve a decent sized party.  Invite your friends over, get to know your neighbors, and enjoy this tasty meal al fresco.  Did I mention that this dish goes well with margaritas and beer?

More Taco Recipes

• Slower Cooker Shredded Beef Tacos
• Chicken Tacos
• Chorizo Potato Tacos