30 Minute Al Pastor Tacos with Smashed Avocado.

30 Minute Al Pastor Tacos with Smashed Avocado. Reinvent taco night with these quick al pastor-style street tacos. Sweet, smoky, and spicy chipotle pineapple pork gets piled into warm tortillas with pineapple salsa verde and roasted corn smashed avocado. They’re the easiest way to bring all those street taco flavors home. Make a playlist, mix up a batch of margaritas, and let this menu be the perfect excuse to turn dinner into a little fiesta.

I spent last week in Austin, and I realized something pretty special about Texas. People there seem to turn even an ordinary weeknight into a small celebration.

Every evening at the Austin Proper, the restaurants and bars are full. People of all ages are gathered over dinner, sharing drinks, catching up with friends, and simply enjoying being together. The streets have that same energy too. No one seems to be in a rush to get home.

Watching them made me wonder if Texans have figured out the balance so many of us are chasing. They work hard, but they also make time to enjoy life.

A lot of that comes down to spending time outside and gathering around food.

I’ve always believed food has this incredible way of bringing people together. It gives us a reason to slow down, put our phones away, and be present with the people sitting across the table. There’s something really refreshing about that kind of simplicity.

And one thing you’ll find just about everywhere in Texas? Really good tacos.

Al pastor has always been one of my favorites. Traditionally, it’s made with pork slow-roasted until tender in a smoky, spicy chipotle-pineapple marinade, then tucked into warm tortillas with fresh toppings.

I already have a more traditional shredded pork al pastor recipe on the site, but sometimes I want those same bold flavors without waiting hours.

So this version is my weeknight shortcut.

Instead of slow-cooked pork, I use ground pork that simmers in a quick chipotle pineapple sauce. You still get all those sweet, smoky, spicy flavors, but dinner is on the table in just 30 minutes. Add fresh pineapple salsa verde, roasted corn smashed avocado, melty cheese, and warm tortillas, then pour yourself a margarita and turn an ordinary weeknight into something worth celebrating!

These are the Details

Ingredients

The Al Pastor

• ground pork or ground chicken
• yellow onion
• smoked paprika
• chipotle peppers in adobo
• red enchilada sauce
• canned pineapple chunks in juice
• sea salt
• hard or soft taco shells
• Oaxaca cheese

Pineapple Salsa Verde

• salsa verde
• fresh pineapple
• roasted corn
• fresh lime
• fresh cilantro
• toasted pepitas

Smashed Avocado

• ripe avocados
• fresh lime
• fresh cilantro
• grilled or roasted corn

From the Kitchen

You’ll need one large skillet for the meat, plus two medium bowls for the salsa verde and smashed avocado. A cutting board, sharp knife, wooden spoon, and citrus juicer are all you need.

If you’re using fresh corn, char it on the grill, under the broiler, or directly over a gas flame for a couple of minutes before cutting off the kernels. It adds the best smoky flavor, making these tacos even better.

The Steps