Tacos al Pastor

No Manches Don Juan BBQ Tacos al Pastor

Mexican Tradition. Texas BBQ Soul. No Manches Flavor.

Tacos al pastor are all about big flavor—marinated pork, chiles, spices, pineapple, onion and fresh cilantro wrapped in a warm corn tortilla.

Our No Manches Don Juan BBQ Tacos al Pastor put a Mexican-Barbecue spin on that combination by adding No Manches Don Juan Original BBQ Sauce to the finishing glaze.

You still get the smoky chile flavor, caramelized pork, sweet pineapple and fresh toppings you expect from al pastor, but with another layer of bold BBQ flavor.

Sweet. Smoky. Savory. A little spicy.

And definitely messy enough to require another napkin.

Prep Time: 30 minutes
Marinating Time: 4 hours to overnight
Cook Time: 20–30 minutes
Servings: 6–8

Ingredients

For the Pork

• 2 1/2 pounds boneless pork shoulder

• 3 dried guajillo chiles, stems and seeds removed

• 2 chipotle peppers in adobo

• 3 cloves garlic

• 1/2 small white onion

• 1/2 cup pineapple juice

• 1/4 cup fresh orange juice

• 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

• 1 tablespoon achiote paste

• 1 teaspoon ground cumin

• 1 teaspoon Mexican oregano

• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika

• 1 teaspoon kosher salt

• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

For the No Manches Al Pastor Glaze

• 1/2 cup No Manches Don Juan Original BBQ Sauce

• 1/4 cup pineapple juice

• 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice

• 1 teaspoon adobo sauce from the chipotle peppers

For the Tacos

• 12–16 small corn tortillas

• Fresh pineapple, diced

• White onion, finely diced

• Fresh cilantro, chopped

• Fresh lime wedges

• Salsa roja or salsa verde

• Sliced jalapeño, optional

• Extra No Manches Don Juan Original BBQ Sauce, optional

How to Make No Manches BBQ Tacos al Pastor

1. Prepare the Guajillo Chiles

Place the dried guajillo chiles in hot water and allow them to soften for about 10–15 minutes.

Drain them and transfer them to a blender.

Add the chipotle peppers, garlic, onion, pineapple juice, orange juice, apple cider vinegar, achiote, cumin, Mexican oregano, smoked paprika, salt and black pepper.

Blend until smooth.

You've now got the chile-forward marinade that's going to give the pork its deep color and Mexican-inspired flavor.

2. Marinate the Pork

Slice the pork shoulder into thin pieces.

Place the pork in a non-reactive container or resealable bag and pour the marinade over it.

Work the marinade into the pork until every piece is coated.

Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours.

For the deepest flavor, let it marinate overnight.

3. Make the No Manches Al Pastor Glaze

While the pork is marinating, combine:

No Manches Don Juan Original BBQ Sauce

Pineapple juice

Fresh lime juice

Adobo sauce

Stir everything together.

The pineapple and lime brighten up the BBQ sauce while the adobo brings another layer of Chile and smoke.

This isn't meant to replace the traditional al pastor marinade.

It's our No Manches finishing touch.

4. Fire Up the Grill

Preheat your grill or cast-iron griddle over medium-high to high heat.

Remove excess marinade from the pork and cook the slices in batches.

You want the pork to cook quickly enough to develop those beautiful browned, slightly charred edges.

Don't overcrowd the cooking surface.

A little char is exactly what we're looking for.

5. Glaze & Caramelize

When the pork is almost finished, lightly brush it with the No Manches al pastor glaze.

Let the sauce hit the heat just long enough to caramelize.

Flip the pork and give the other side a light coating.

We're not trying to drown the pork in BBQ sauce.

The glaze should complement the al pastor flavor, not cover it up.

Remove the pork from the heat and let it rest briefly.

Then chop it into small taco-size pieces.

6. Caramelize the Pineapple

Don't forget the pineapple.

Place fresh pineapple pieces directly on the grill or hot griddle.

Let them cook until you get some browning and caramelization around the edges.

Then dice them into small pieces.

The combination of smoky pork + sweet caramelized pineapple is what makes these tacos come alive.

7. Warm the Tortillas

Warm the corn tortillas directly on the grill or a hot skillet for about 20–30 seconds per side.

Keep them wrapped in a clean kitchen towel until you're ready to assemble the tacos.

Warm tortillas make a huge difference.

8. Build the Tacos

Now load them up.

Start with a warm corn tortilla and add:

Chopped No Manches Al Pastor Pork

Caramelized Pineapple

Diced White Onion

Fresh Cilantro

Your Favorite Salsa

Fresh Lime

For an extra BBQ kick, finish with a very light drizzle of No Manches Don Juan Original BBQ Sauce.

Then fold.

Eat.

Repeat.

🔥 Don Juan's Al Pastor Tips

Use pork shoulder rather than very lean pork. The extra fat gives you more flavor and helps keep the meat juicy over high heat.

Give the marinade time to work. Four hours is good. Overnight is even better.

Cook the pork in batches so it sears instead of steams.

Don't add the BBQ glaze too early. The sugars can burn over high heat.

And don't skip the pineapple.

That combination of chile, pork, smoke, acidity and sweetness is what brings everything together.

What to Serve With Tacos al Pastor

Keep the Mexican BBQ theme going with:

• Mexican street corn

• Charro beans

• Mexican rice

• Chips and salsa

• Guacamole

• Grilled jalapeños

• Pickled red onions

• Pico de gallo

• Salsa verde

• Grilled pineapple

• Ice-cold Mexican-style sodas

Make It a No Manches Taco Night

Set everything out separately and let everybody build their own tacos.

Put the chopped pork in the middle of the table with warm tortillas, pineapple, onion, cilantro, several salsas, lime wedges and a bottle of No Manches Don Juan Original BBQ Sauce.

That way somebody can keep it traditional while somebody else can load theirs up with BBQ sauce and jalapeños.

There are no arguments at taco night.

Well... fewer arguments.

Bring on the Sauce

No Manches Don Juan Original BBQ

Our Tacos al Pastor bring together two sides of the No Manches Don Juan story:

Mexican-inspired flavor and Texas barbecue roots.

The al pastor marinade brings the chiles, achiote, citrus and spices.

The pineapple brings the sweetness.

The grill brings the char.

And No Manches Don Juan Original BBQ Sauce brings the BBQ.

NO MANCHES DON JUAN

MEXICAN BARBECUE

Texas Roots. Mexican Soul.