Slow Cooker Guajillo Pork Tacos are simply delicious.
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I love how easy this recipe comes together. It’s very similar to carnitas and just as tasty.
I serve them as tacos because we are HUGE taco fans at my house, but you can also serve as a tostada or filling for a burrito.
The meat is not spicy, super flavorful, and super yummy.
Table of Contents
Ingredients
FYI: The water is only for reference. You will need more water than shown in the picture.
Use either pork shoulder or pork butt. Both cuts are fatty and are easy to shred.
For a leaner cut, you can also use pork loin. Just be sure to CHOP IT UP finely when it’s cooked.
Many Mexican home cooks will use chicken bouillon instead of salt. That’s totally up to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you put raw pork in a slow cooker? Yes! Pork can be put raw into the slow cooker. Some recipes like Slow Cooker Birria de Res ask for the meat to be seared before placing it in the slow cooker, but that is optional. Searing helps develop the flavors of the meat.
What cut of pork is best for tacos? The best cut of pork for tacos is pork shoulder or pork butt because of the fat content. Higher fat helps the meat stay juicy when it’s cooked.
Can you slow cook pork too long? Yes. However, it’s hard to do in a slow cooker if it’s on the low setting. If left on the high setting for longer than needed, the texture of the meat will be mushy.
Does the pork in slow cooker need liquid? Yes, but not a lot. It can go up about ¼ of the way. Don’t cover the pork as it will make more as it cooks. Make sure to leave room for the extra liquid.
How to Make the Guajillo Sauce
- Rehydrate the guajillo chile.
- Place the chile, onion, garlic, salt, water, and cumin in a blender.
- Strain the sauce.
This is your basic Guajillo Sauce.
To make cooking easy on yourself, make the sauce ahead of time.
It freezes for up to 6 months. Simply defrost and use as normal.
- Rinse the pork and place in the slow cooker.
- Add the guajillo sauce.
- Place the cover on the slow cooker and cook.
Do you see how it makes for a great dump and go recipe? Especially if you have the sauce already made.
Here we’re making this recipe with pork, but you can also make it with chicken or beef.
This recipe is also similar to Slow Cooker Ancho Pork.
- Once the pork is ready, remove from the slow cooker.
- Shred the meat.
It should shred easily. Chop the meat up, if necessary.
Keep in mind when shredding and chopping that the meat should fit inside a tortilla.
- Line a sheet pan with foil paper.
- Brush with oil.
- Add the shredded pork.
Be sure to REMOVE as much liquid as possible.
You want the same crispy effect as carnitas, and liquid will prevent the meat from doing just that.
Broil for 7 minutes. Mix the meat and broil for another 7 minutes.
Pro Tips:
- If the meat is not crispy after 14 minutes, place under the broiler for 2 more minutes, or until it is crispy. Watch it, though, because it can BURN.
- Skip the broiling, and heat up oil in a pan. Fry the meat to get it crispy.
Ideas for Taco Toppings
- Diced onion
- Radishes
- Lime
- Cilantro
Some of my favorite salsas: Chipotle Salsa (pictured here), Chile de Arbol Salsa, Salsa de Aguacate.
All that’s left is to warm up tortillas and add the filling. Round up the family as it’s time to enjoy these yummy Slow Cooker Guajillo Pork Tacos.
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Did you make this recipe? Please rate the recipe below!
Slow Cooker Guajillo Pork Tacos
Ingredients
- 4 lbs pork shoulder
- 6 guajillo chiles
- 1 tablespoon salt
- ½ onion
- 2 garlic cloves
- ⅛ teaspoon cumin (ground or whole)
- 2 cups water (to rehydrate the chile)
- 2 cups water (to make the sauce)
- 12 corn tortillas
Toppings:
- chopped cilantro
- diced onion
- radishes
- lime
Instructions
- Remove the stems off the chiles.
- Cut lengthwise and remove the seeds.
- Place in a stock pot and cover with 2 cups of water.
- Bring to a boil. Then turn off the heat.
- Let sit for 5 minutes, or until pliable.
- Discard the water.
- Place the rehydrated chiles, salt, onion, garlic, cumin, and 2 cups water in a blender.
- Blend until smooth.
- Strain the sauce.
- Rinse the pork and place in the slow cooker.
- Cover with the guajillo sauce.
- Cook on low for 4 hours on high, or 8 hours on low.
- Remove the pork and shred.
- Chop meat up if necessary.
- Line a sheet pan with foil paper.
- Brush oil on the foil paper.
- Add shredded pork.
- Place the pan under the broiler for 7 minutes.
- Take out of the oven and toss the pork around using a spatula.
- Return the pan under the broiler for an additional 7 minutes, or until crispy.
- Heat tortillas and add pork filling.
- Serve with salsa and enjoy.
I’ve made these a bunch of times. Any leftovers, I prebatch and freeze with equal portions of the sauce frozen separately. I save the crisping up part for the reheat. This, to me, is one of those recipes that suffer no loss of anything when eaten as leftovers.
The guajillos are mandatory, but I often use a couple of other dried chiles in with them to spice things up a tiny bit. Not necessary though: this recipe is both easy to make and stunningly good.
That’s a great idea! Freezing and reheating makes life easier. Thanks for sharing.
My family loved it and it was easy to follow as usual. Thanks Maggie. These tacos were a hit.
Thank you! I’m glad to hear that your family loved the Slow Cooker Guajillo Pork Tacos and that you found the recipe easy to follow. It’s always rewarding when a recipe is a hit with the family.
These tacos are so flavorful! Loved them!
That is great to hear. Glad you enjoyed them!
Oh! These pork tacos were absolutely delightful! A new favorite for sure!
That’s great to hear. Glad you enjoyed them!
These were yum! Always looking for fun taco recipes.
We are big fan of tacos at my house too. 🙂
The crispy pork in these tacos were amazing. I only want tacos like this from now on. Great recipe.
Yes, I love crispy pork too! 🙂
Yum Tacos! Love that you are making them in the slow cooker!
In the slow cooker is my favorite way. Less fuss.
this is so tempting recipe, tacos are my fave
Yours and mine!
Yum! I’m craving a Guajillo Pork Tacos now! I will try this over the weekend. Thanks!:)
Hope you try them. They are super tasty.
Delicious!
Glad you liked them. They are DELICIOUS!
These were so good, especially the vitou parts! My new fav for taco Tuesday
YAY! Couldn’t agree more. Perfect for Taco Tuesday!
This was so flavorful and came out perfect. It was a delicious dinner recipe!
That’s awesome. Glad you enjoyed!