Savory Beef Al Pastor Tacos (Printable)
Al pastor-style marinated beef grilled, topped with pineapple, red onion and cilantro in warm corn tortillas.
# What You'll Need:
→ Beef & Marinade
01 - 1.1 pounds beef flank or sirloin, thinly sliced
02 - 2 tablespoons adobo sauce
03 - 2 tablespoons pineapple juice
04 - 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
05 - 2 tablespoons orange juice
06 - 1 tablespoon chipotle chili powder
07 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
08 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
09 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
10 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
11 - 1 teaspoon kosher salt
12 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
13 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
→ Tacos & Toppings
14 - 8 small corn tortillas
15 - 1 cup fresh pineapple, diced
16 - 1/2 cup red onion, finely chopped
17 - 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
18 - 1 lime, cut into wedges
19 - Salsa verde or preferred salsa, to serve
# Directions:
01 - In a bowl, whisk together adobo sauce, pineapple juice, apple cider vinegar, orange juice, chipotle chili powder, dried oregano, ground cumin, smoked paprika, minced garlic, kosher salt, black pepper, and olive oil until well combined.
02 - Add sliced beef to the marinade, ensuring all pieces are evenly coated. Cover and refrigerate for at least 20 minutes or up to 4 hours for optimal flavor development.
03 - Heat a grill pan or large skillet over medium-high heat. Grill the marinated beef in batches, allowing each batch to lightly char and cook through, about 3–4 minutes per side. Transfer to a board and slice or chop into bite-sized pieces.
04 - Briefly warm corn tortillas on the grill pan, skillet, or directly over a gas flame until pliable and aromatic.
05 - Fill each tortilla with grilled beef. Top with diced pineapple, finely chopped red onion, chopped fresh cilantro, and spoonfuls of salsa. Serve immediately with lime wedges on the side.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- You can easily dial up the flavor by grilling pineapple for a caramelized twist—trust me, it’s worth it.
- This marinade was such a hit that even my most traditional taco lovers didn’t miss the usual pork.
02 -
- If you overcrowd the pan when grilling the beef, you’ll steam it instead of getting those craveable charred bits.
- Letting the beef rest a few minutes before slicing helps keep every bite juicy and flavorful.
03 -
- Set up all your toppings before grilling the beef so you can assemble tacos while everything is hot and fresh.
- Using the broiler for a minute can mimic that open-flame char if you don’t have a grill pan handy.