Smoked Pork Tacos Recipe: How to Make Smoked Pork Tacos
Written by MasterClass
Last updated: Dec 5, 2022 • 3 min read
Warm tortillas and traditional taco toppings join forces with a classic barbecue dish in juicy, flavorful smoked pork tacos, which will be the hit of your cookout.
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What Are Smoked Pork Tacos?
Smoked pork tacos are a riff on the classic handheld Mexican dish featuring smoked and shredded pork carnitas tucked inside of a warm flour or corn tortilla. Instead of baking or roasting the pork shoulder for the carnitas, home chefs can slow-cook the meat over indirect heat on a wood smoker until it is savory, succulent, and smoky for a flavorful taco filling.
4 Tips for Making Smoked Pork Tacos
Whether you’re an experienced BBQ smoker or just learning how to operate a grill, follow these tips to craft the best smoked pulled pork tacos possible:
- 1. Adjust the seasonings. Customize the Mexican-inspired pork shoulder dry rub to suit your taste preferences. Add heat to the dish with cayenne pepper, hot sauce, or chipotle peppers in adobo sauce. Incorporate additional spices and herbs (like ground coriander and thyme) for herbaceous flavor.
- 2. Use a thermometer as your guide. The amount of time required to cook your smoked pork shoulder will vary widely, depending on the size of the cut of meat and the grill. Use a high-quality thermometer inserted into the pork as your guide, rather than the clock. Typically, the pork will take two hours per pound to cook at the recommended 225-degree Fahrenheit temperature.
- 3. Experiment with toppings. Customize your smoked pork tacos with various toppings, such as pickled jalapeños, pickled red onions, sour cream, guacamole, cotija cheese, or homemade salsa. For some added flavor and nutrients, top your tacos with roasted and raw vegetables like fajita peppers and onions, shredded lettuce, and pico de gallo.
- 4. Store leftovers properly. Store your leftover pork and taco toppings in separate airtight containers in the refrigerator, which will keep for up to 3 days. Gently reheat the pork in a pan or a 350-degree-Fahrenheit oven before assembling your tacos.
Homemade Smoked Pork Tacos Recipe
makes
prep time
15 mintotal time
9 hr 15 mincook time
9 hrIngredients
Note: The total time does not include 30 minutes of inactive time.
- 1
Preheat the smoker to 225 degrees Fahrenheit.
- 2
Pat the pork shoulder with a paper towel to remove any excess moisture.
- 3
Apply a thin layer of olive oil to the entire surface of the pork.
- 4
In a small bowl, whisk together the dry rub ingredients. Combine brown sugar, salt, chili powder, onion powder, garlic powder, smoked paprika, black pepper, cumin, oregano, and cayenne pepper until incorporated.
- 5
Sprinkle the seasoning mixture over the pork. Use your fingers to massage the seasoning mixture into the meat.
- 6
Place the pork shoulder onto the smoker grates over indirect heat, close the lid, and smoke until a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the shoulder registers 165 degrees Fahrenheit, about 6 hours.
- 7
Remove the pork shoulder from the smoker and place it inside of an aluminum roasting pan.
- 8
Add the beef broth to the base of the pan, cover it with aluminum foil, and return the pork to the smoker. Continue smoking the meat until it is extremely tender and the internal temperature reaches 200 degrees Fahrenheit, about 3–4 hours.
- 9
Remove the roasting pan from the smoker and let the pork rest at room temperature for 30 minutes. Discard the fat from the meat, and shred the pork.
- 10
Transfer the smoked pork to a serving bowl and serve family-style with tortillas, cilantro, pico de gallo, pickled red onion, shredded cheese, and Mexican crema.
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