Slow-Cooker Sweet Pork Tacos
These slow-cooker pork tacos are sweet, savory and beyond flavorful. The pork is rubbed with spices, slow-cooked, and shredded. Wrap the pork in tortillas and top with pickled onions and jalapenos!
- Prep time
- 15 min
- Cook time
- 7 hr 30 min
- Yield
- 6 servings
- Difficulty
- HARD
Ingredients
- 2 lb pork tenderloin
- 2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 2 tbsp chopped garlic
- 1 tbsp Tabasco sauce
- 1/2 a red onion (very thinly sliced)
- 1 jalapeno (very thinly sliced)
- 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 1+1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup water
- Warm corn tortillas
- Optional toppings: Avocado, feta or queso fresco cheese, hot sauce
Instructions
- 1
On a large plate, combine the salt, pepper, cumin, chili powder, and cinnamon. Rub the spice mixture evenly over the pork tenderloins.
- 2
Heat the oil over medium high heat in a large skillet. Add the pork and brown on all sides, 4-5 minutes per side. Remove the heat from the pan. Transfer the pork to the slow cooker.
- 3
Add 1/2 cup of water to the hot, now-empty pan and scrape any browned bits to deglaze. Pour the liquid into the slow-cooker. Add the brown sugar, garlic, and hot sauce. Combine and cook on low for 4-6 hours. (Now is a good time to make the pickled onions so they can sit!)
- 4
Shred the meat before serving and mix with the sauce. Season it with more salt, hot sauce and sugar if needed. I almost always add a little more salt.
- 5
Thinly slice the jalapeños and onions. Whisk together the vinegar, sugar, salt, and water. Stir until dissolved.
- 6
Layer the onions and jalapeños in a jar. You can also simply place them in a bowl. Pour over the vinegar mixture and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, preferably a few hours.
- 7
Lightly cook some corn tortillas if desired. Do this by heating a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1-2 teaspoons of oil and once heated add 2-3 tortillas. Cook on each side for 1-2 minutes. Place the cooked tortillas on a paper-towel lined plate to drain.
- 8
Top with some of the pork, pickled onions, feta (or cheese of choice), avocado and hot sauce. Enjoy!