Taco al pastor is one of the most popular tacos in Mexico, the meat is typically pork and is marinated in a combination of onion, garlic, dried chilies, spices and rubs (such as cumin, oregano, achiote) and pineapple.

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Forget about basic tacos! Impress your friends and family on your next Taco Tuesday with this tangy, sweet and smoky treat. The Mexican style pork Tacos aka Tacos Al pastor!

Why is taco al pastor different than a normal taco? Well, it’s how they are made, the authentic tacos al pastor is cooked layer by layer on a vertical rotisserie (trompo) with a gas flame just like making doner kebab (Turkey dish). It is made using different kinds of spices and rubs and is sliced into thin shavings as it cooks then it is placed on a tortilla and topped with onions, chopped coriander leaf, pineapple chunks, and salsa.

While not everyone has a trompo hanging around in their kitchen, I am going to show you the easy way, step by step, my own style, how I did a homemade Al Pastor Tacos using the One Grill Stainless Steel Rotisserie Kit and your bbq grill at home .

Erwina

Tacos al Pastor (Rotisserie Grilled)

Marinated pork (or chicken) grilled rotisserie-style with sweet pineapple, then served in warm tortillas with onion, cilantro, and lime for an authentic taco al pastor at home.

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Prep Time 40

Cook Time 1 30

Marinating Time 2

Total Time 4 10

Servings: 10 tacos

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Mexican

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients

For the Meat:

3 lb pork boneless shoulder or Boston butt, cut thin, about 3/4 inch
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
2 tsp kosher salt
2 tsp taco seasoning
1 fresh pineapple

For the Marinade:

1 large onion
6 cloves garlic
1 tbsp cumin powder
1 tbsp black pepper
1 tbsp oregano
4-6 dried chiles or guajillo
1/2 cup adobo paste
1-2 tbsp chipotle peppers
2 packs sazon seasoning
2-3 cups pineapple juice

For Serving:

10 small tortillas corn or flour
1 white onion finely chopped
1 cup fresh cilantro finely chopped
2 tomatoes finely chopped, or 1 cup salsa
2 avocados sliced, or guacamole
1 jalapeno sliced, for extra kick
2 limes cut into wedges

Equipment

Grill with rotisserie attachment
Meat thermometer

Method

Slice the pork (or chicken) thin, about 1/4 inch thick, against the grain.
Massage the sliced meat with apple cider vinegar, kosher salt and taco seasoning. Set aside.
Blend the marinade ingredients (onion, garlic, cumin, black pepper, oregano, dried chiles, adobo paste, chipotle peppers, sazon seasoning and pineapple juice) into a thick spice paste.
Add the paste to the meat gradually, massaging it in well. Marinate for at least 2 hours, or overnight for best flavor.
Cut the fresh pineapple into thick slices, about 3, to grill alongside the meat.
Assemble the marinated meat and pineapple slices onto the rotisserie skewer, alternating layers for even flavor.
Grill on the rotisserie, checking the internal temperature with a meat thermometer every half hour, until the pork reaches 145°F (or chicken reaches 165°F).

Notes

Choosing the Meat: Pork shoulder (or boneless, skinless chicken thighs) works best here — look for cuts with a bit of marbling so the meat stays juicy on the rotisserie.

Use Fresh Pineapple: Fresh pineapple caramelizes beautifully on the grill and balances the smoky, spicy marinade — canned pineapple won’t give you the same char or flavor.

Assembling the Skewer: Layer the marinated meat and pineapple slices evenly onto the rotisserie skewer so everything cooks at the same rate and the flavors mingle as it turns.

Balancing Your Grill: Keep the heat moderate and consistent, and check the meat’s internal temperature regularly with a thermometer to avoid drying it out while the outside chars.

🛒 Shop the Ingredients

¼ Cup Apple Cider Vinegar
2 Tsp Kosher Salt
2 Tsp Taco Seasoning (Optional but recommended)
1 Tbsp cumin powder
1 Tbsp Black pepper
1 Tbsp Oregano
4- 6 Dried Chiles/Guajillo
½ Cup Adobo paste (Optional)
1-2 Tbsp Chipotle peppers – to give a smokey taste and add extra spice
2 Packs Sazon seasoning
2-3 Cup Pineapple Juice (to give sweet taste)
Small Corn Tortillas

USEFUL TIPS:

– HOW TO CHOOSE MEAT:

Use boneless shoulder or Boston butt and slice them thin, I would recommend ¼ inch because it is easier to build the stack.

You can also use chicken, in this video I am making for a party, so to add variety, I added 3 Lb of boneless chicken. A mix of thigh and breast meat. I cut them thin also just like the pork, so it cooks at the same rate. The marinade paste is enough to marinade 3 Lb pork shoulder and 3 Lb boneless chicken.

– USE FRESH PINEAPPLE

The difference between Tacos Al Pastor and normal tacos is that Al Pastor tacos comes with grilled pineapple to add sweetness on your taco. Please use fresh pineapple instead of canned. If you’ve never had grilled pineapple – I highly recommend it – it takes on a smokey, caramel flavor and it tastes absolutely amazing.

– HOW TO ASSEMBLE THE MEAT:

You want to put a pineapple slice at the beginning, middle and end of the spit, because when you trim the meat, the blade of the knife doesn’t hit the steel and it also will separate the pork and the chicken.

One pineapple slice and marinated pork meat in a spit rod

2 slices of pineapple and a bunch of marinated pork meat in a spit rod

– PREPARE YOUR GRILL:

The authentic Taco Al pastor cooks the meat is using a Trompo (vertical skewer) but since it’s a homemade we are going to use this OneGrill Heavy Duty Rotisserie kit. Prepare the grill by removing the grates before turning on the burner. Using my. world famous soon to be patented plastic bag method keeps your hands clean!

Then you need to balance the meat, why? Because, this is going to puts less stress on the motor. A bit like balancing your car tires. Rotate to find the heavy side and then lock the counter weight in the opposite direction. Make sure it spins nicely before inserting into the motor. Grab your extension cord and switch on. Cook initially on a low temperature to make sure the outside of the meat doesn’t burn.

stacked of pineapple and marinated pork meat in a bbq ready for grilling

Now enjoy the sweetness, spiciness, smokiness from the meat. All the components come together to make a magical bite. And that is how tacos al pastor is made. Spicy and delicious!