Best 5 Slow Cooker Al Pastor Bowls Recipes

facebook share image   twitter share image   pinterest share image   E-Mail share image

Are you looking for a flavorful and easy-to-make dish that will tantalize your taste buds? Look no further than the slow cooker al pastor bowl! This mouthwatering dish combines the zesty flavors of al pastor pork with a variety of fresh and colorful ingredients, all cooked to perfection in your slow cooker. With its blend of savory, sweet, and tangy flavors, the slow cooker al pastor bowl is a surefire hit that will satisfy even the most discerning palates.

Here are our top 5 tried and tested recipes!

SLOW COOKER TACOS AL PASTOR



Slow Cooker Tacos al Pastor image

My buddy says it ain't al pastor unless I use a spit. Well, I don't own a spit so there's that. Garnish with lime wedges and crema or sour cream.

Provided by TheElusivePastry

Categories     World Cuisine Recipes     Latin American     Mexican

Time 7h30m

Yield 10

Number Of Ingredients 21

⅔ large pineapple - peeled, cored, and chopped into small chunks
1 small white onion, quartered
1 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, or more to taste
2 dried guajillo chiles, stemmed and seeded, or more to taste
1 dried chile de arbol pepper, stemmed and seeded, or more to taste
3 cloves garlic, halved
1 tablespoon minced fresh oregano
½ cup orange juice
2 tablespoons white vinegar
2 tablespoons achiote powder
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon lime zest, or to taste
½ teaspoon ground ancho chile powder
¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 (3 pound) boneless pork loin, cubed
1 tablespoon canola oil, or more as needed
20 (6 inch) corn tortillas
½ cup diced fresh pineapple
½ cup chopped fresh cilantro
⅔ white onion, diced

Steps:

  • Place pineapple, onion, chipotle peppers plus 1 1/2 teaspoons adobo sauce, guajillo chiles, chile de arbol, garlic, and oregano in a food processor. Blend until smooth. Transfer to a bowl and add orange juice, vinegar, achiote powder, salt, cumin, lime zest, chile powder, and black pepper. Mix sauce well.
  • Place pork in a slow cooker and cover with the sauce. Cover and cook on Low until pork is very tender, 7 to 9 hours. Begin heating tortillas 35 to 40 minutes before pork is done.
  • Heat oil in a saucepan over high heat. Cook tortillas one at a time until brown spots appear, 30 seconds to 1 minute per side. Plate tortillas in stacks of two for each taco.
  • Shred pork using 2 forks; mix to coat with the sauce. Scoop pork onto tacos using a slotted spoon. Top each with a portion of pineapple, cilantro, and onion.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 397.7 calories, Carbohydrate 43.2 g, Cholesterol 64.6 mg, Fat 14.2 g, Fiber 5.4 g, Protein 26 g, SaturatedFat 4.5 g, Sodium 542.9 mg, Sugar 14.6 g

AL PASTOR TACO SALAD WITH SPICY SALSA VERDE RANCH



Al Pastor Taco Salad with Spicy Salsa Verde Ranch image

This is the combination of classic taco salad "in the delicious, deep-fried tortilla bowl" and my favorite taco filling. Al pastor is smoky pork with pineapple, and it brings so much flavor to this salad. It gets covered in ranch because we're in the Midwest and that's how we stay warm in winter. Traditionally, al pastor is cooked on a spit, but this is an at-home version that mimics the flavors and crispy, juicy texture.

Provided by Molly Yeh

Categories     main-dish

Time 5h10m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 45

1 gallon neutral oil
4 large flour tortillas (burrito size), at room temperature
Kosher salt
1/2 cup store-bought ranch dressing
1/2 cup store-bought salsa verde (or homemade, see recipe below)
2 romaine hearts, shredded
1 bunch fresh cilantro, leaves and tender stems, roughly chopped
2 cups Al Pastor, recipe follows
4 radishes, thinly sliced
Pickled Red Onions, recipe follows
1/2 cup crumbled queso fresco (from a 10-ounce wheel)
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
10 ounces tomatillos, husked, rinsed and stems removed
1/2 white onion, peeled, root kept intact and cut into 8 wedges
1 poblano chile
4 large cloves garlic, skin intact
1 jalapeño, stem removed, halved and seeded (optional, keep seeds for spicy)
1/2 cup loosely packed fresh cilantro leaves and tender stems
1 lime, juiced
1 green onion, roughly chopped
1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste
Half a 3.5-ounce package achiote paste
3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
2 tablespoons light brown sugar
1 tablespoon smoked paprika
2 teaspoons ground cumin
2 teaspoons kosher salt, plus more to taste
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 pounds boneless pork shoulder, trimmed of excess fat and cut into 2- to 3-inch chunks
Two 20-ounce cans crushed pineapple
1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
6 large cloves garlic, smashed
2 fresh bay leaves
1 red Fresno or green jalapeño chile, stemmed and sliced
1 white onion, cut into 4 wedges, root kept intact
1 handful fresh oregano
1 handful fresh sage
1 red onion, sliced
1 1/2 cups red wine vinegar
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
2 tablespoons kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds
1 fresh bay leaf

Steps:

  • For the tortilla bowls: Heat the oil in a large, heavy, deep pot to 350 degrees F.
  • Gently press a tortilla into the center of 7-inch spider to form a bowl. Using a 5-inch spider, gently press down into the tortilla to hold its shape. Carefully submerge the spiders into the hot oil and fry the tortilla until puffed, crispy and golden brown, about 5 minutes. Remove and gently place upside down on a cooling rack set over a baking sheet to drain of excess oil. Season with salt. Repeat with the remaining 3 tortillas.
  • To make the spicy salsa verde ranch: Mix together the ranch dressing and salsa verde in a bowl. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
  • To assemble the salad: In a large mixing bowl, add the shredded lettuce, cilantro and about 1/3 cup of the salad dressing, adding more if desired. Divide the salad among the 4 tortilla bowls. Top each with 1/2 cup Al Pastor, radishes, Pickled Red Onions and 2 tablespoons queso fresco. Drizzle some dressing on top. Serve immediately.
  • Heat the oil in a 12-inch cast-iron pan over medium-high heat. Add the tomatillos, onion, poblano, garlic and jalapeño. Cook, flipping the veggies as needed to evenly char and soften, about 30 minutes. Remove from the heat and allow to cool to room temperature. Carefully remove the stem from the poblano chile, so as to not let the juices spill out (we want that yummy pepper juice!) and add to the carafe of a high-speed blender. Squeeze the garlic from the skins into the blender. Add the remaining roasted veggies and any juices from the bottom of the pan. Add the cilantro, lime juice, green onion and salt. Blend on high speed until pureed and smooth.
  • In a large bowl, add the achiote paste, red wine vinegar, brown sugar, smoked paprika, cumin, salt, cloves, black pepper and 2 tablespoons olive oil. Use a wooden spoon or spatula to fully combine into a paste. Add the pork and rub the paste all over to completely coat. Set aside.
  • In the bowl of a pressure cooker, mix together the crushed pineapple, chicken broth, garlic, bay leaves, chile, onion, oregano and sage. Add the achiote-rubbed pork. Pressure cook on low for 4 hours or high for 1 hour until the pork is fork-tender. Carefully release the steam away from your face. Remove the pork to a plate or baking sheet and shred using 2 forks.
  • Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large cast-iron pan over medium-high heat. Add the pork and spoon some of the braising liquid over to moisten, as needed. Season with salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until crispy, 4 to 6 minutes. Set aside.
  • Place the onions in a food storage container and set aside while you prepare the pickling liquid.
  • In a small saucepan over medium-high heat, add the vinegar, granulated sugar, salt, cumin seeds, bay leaf and 1 cup water. Bring to a boil and cook until the sugar and salt are dissolved, 6 to 8 minutes. Remove from the heat and cool completely. Pour the cooled pickling liquid over the onions and allow to pickle for at least 30 minutes. At this point, you can either strain the onions to prevent from further pickling and use immediately, or put the lid on top and store in the refrigerator to further pickle until ready to use.

SLOW-COOKER AL PASTOR BOWLS



Slow-Cooker Al Pastor Bowls image

You'll love this easy version of a traditional Mexican favorite. Serve this al pastor bowl over rice or in tortillas with your favorite toppings. -Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Dinner

Time 6h10m

Yield 8 cups.

Number Of Ingredients 15

2 cans (7 ounces each) whole green chiles
1 can (20 ounces) pineapple chunks, drained
1 medium onion, chopped
1/2 cup orange juice
1/4 cup white vinegar
3 garlic cloves, peeled
2 tablespoons chili powder
2 teaspoons salt
1-1/2 teaspoons smoked paprika
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
4 pounds boneless pork loin roast
Hot cooked rice
Optional toppings: Black beans, chopped avocado, corn, sliced radishes, lime and Mexican crema

Steps:

  • Puree first 12 ingredients in a blender. In a 5- or 6-qt. slow cooker, combine pork and pepper mixture. Cook, covered, on low until pork is very tender, 6-8 hours. Stir to break up pork., Serve pork in bowls over rice. If desired, add toppings.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 232 calories, Fat 7g fat (3g saturated fat), Cholesterol 75mg cholesterol, Sodium 512mg sodium, Carbohydrate 11g carbohydrate (8g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 30g protein. Diabetic Exchanges

TACOS AL PASTOR IN THE SLOW COOKER



Tacos al Pastor in the Slow Cooker image

Delicious al pastor tacos with the ease of a slow cooker. Serve on warmed corn tortillas, topped with cilantro, queso fresco, and diced red onion.

Provided by CassMyers

Categories     World Cuisine Recipes     Latin American     Mexican

Time 9h15m

Yield 6

Number Of Ingredients 18

½ (3 pound) boneless pork loin, or to taste
salt and ground black pepper to taste
1 (15 ounce) can crushed pineapple, divided
1 (14.5 ounce) can chicken broth
1 cup orange juice
1 small red onion, quartered
¼ cup white vinegar
2 tablespoons lime juice
1 chipotle pepper in adobo sauce
3 teaspoons minced garlic
2 teaspoons chili powder
1 ½ teaspoons salt
1 ½ teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon garlic salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 (10 ounce) package frozen corn

Steps:

  • Season pork loin with salt and pepper and place in a slow cooker.
  • Puree 1/2 of the pineapple with chicken broth, orange juice, red onion, vinegar, lime juice, chipotle pepper, 1 teaspoon adobo sauce, garlic, chili powder, salt, cumin, garlic salt, 1 teaspoon black pepper, onion powder, and oregano. Pour over the pork. Add remaining pineapple and frozen corn.
  • Cook on Low for 8 hours. Shred pork and warm for an additional hour.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 285.1 calories, Carbohydrate 29.1 g, Cholesterol 55.4 mg, Fat 10.2 g, Fiber 2.7 g, Protein 21.2 g, SaturatedFat 3.6 g, Sodium 1255.6 mg, Sugar 16.3 g

SLOW-COOKER PINTO BEANS



Slow-Cooker Pinto Beans image

I love pinto beans, but I always feel the flavor can easily turn too bland. I added a little this and a little that and came out with this amazing but easy slow-cooker pinto beans recipe. -Erica Vanderpool, Clarksville, Tennessee

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Side Dishes

Time 8h15m

Yield 8 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 12

1 pound dried pinto beans
1/4 cup sliced onions
8 cups water
1 garlic clove, minced
1 tablespoon chicken bouillon granules
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/4 teaspoon dried marjoram
1/4 teaspoon ground coriander
Fresh thyme sprigs , optional

Steps:

  • Sort beans and rinse in cold water. Add beans to a greased 3-qt. slow cooker. Add the next 10 ingredients; stir., Cook, covered, on high 2 hours. Reduce heat to low; cook until beans are tender, 6-7 hours. Serve with slotted spoon. If desired, top with fresh thyme sprigs. , Freeze option: Freeze cooled beans in freezer containers. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Heat through in a covered saucepan, stirring occasionally; add water if necessary.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 203 calories, Fat 1g fat (0 saturated fat), Cholesterol 0 cholesterol, Sodium 1043mg sodium, Carbohydrate 37g carbohydrate (2g sugars, Fiber 9g fiber), Protein 12g protein.

Tips:

  • Use a high-quality pork shoulder for the al pastor. This will ensure that the meat is tender and flavorful.
  • Marinate the pork shoulder for at least 24 hours. This will help to infuse the meat with flavor.
  • Cook the pork shoulder on low heat for 8-10 hours. This will allow the meat to cook slowly and become very tender.
  • Shred the pork shoulder with two forks. This will make it easy to serve in the bowls.
  • Use a variety of toppings for the bowls. This could include things like pineapple, cilantro, onions, and salsa.
  • Serve the bowls with lime wedges. This will add a bit of brightness and acidity to the dish.

Conclusion:

Slow cooker al pastor bowls are a delicious and easy meal that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. They are perfect for a weeknight dinner or a casual weekend lunch. With a little planning, you can have this meal on the table in no time. So next time you're looking for a quick and easy meal, give slow cooker al pastor bowls a try. You won't be disappointed!

Related Topics