Thursday, September 17, 2015

Crockpot Pork Tacos w/ Pineapple Salsa

I'm the type of person that finds inspiration for recipes from all over, even on Facebook.  I recently became connected with another food blogger, Homemadezagat, who uses all of these great Caribbean inspired spices and fruit in her dishes.  It's not something I typically do, but I decided to give it a try and these Slow Cooker Pork Tacos w/ Pineapple Salsa were born!

Three pork tacos with the pinapple salsa on them and the title at the top of the image.

They couldn't be easier to make and they are PACKED full of flavor.  You are going to love them and I can't wait to share the recipe with you so...

Let's Get Started!
Slow Cooker Pork Tacos w/ Pineapple Salsa:  
*Prep Time: 15 min.  *Cook Time:  8 hours  *Difficulty:  Easy  *Servings:  8-10 Tacos

Ingredients:

All of the ingredients needed to make the tacos.


  • 4 Boneless Pork Loin Chops
  • 1 pint of Cherry Tomatoes
  • 1 Onion, diced
  • 1 can of Coke
  • 1 c. Water
  • 1/2 c. Lime Juice
  • 4-6 Cloves of Garlic, minced
  • 1 Pineapple, peeled, broke down, and grilled
  • 3 Bay Leaves
  • Cilantro
  • 1 tsp. Chili Powder
  • 1 tsp. Cumin
  • 1 tsp. Salt
  • 1 tsp. Oregano
  • 1 tsp. Onion Powder
  • 1/2 tsp. Smoked Paprika
  • 1/4 tsp. Cayenne Pepper
  • 1 jalapeno, seeds and ribs removed
  • 1 lime 

The frozen pork chops in the slow cooker.

To begin you will place the pork chops into the slow cooker.
You will notice that these are actually frozen.  Yes, from the freezer!  You are going to love this!

A coke being poured into the slow cooker, over the frozen pork chops.

Pour in the coke.
This will be the sweet component of the "sauce".

Water being poured over the frozen pork chops in the slow cooker.

Pour the water into the slow cooker.

Lime juice being poured over the frozen pork chops in the slow cooker.

Then pour in the lime juice.

A measuring spoon filled with smoked paprika over the slow cooker.

Now it's time to add the seasoning.
Smoked paprika,

A slow measuring spoon with cayenne pepper, over the slow cooker with the pork in it.

Cayenne pepper,

A measuring spoon with salt in it, over the slow cooker with the pork in it.

Salt,

A measuring spoon with onion powder in it, over the slow cooker with the pork in it.

Onion,

A measuring spoon with chili powder in it, over the slow cooker with the pork in it.

Chili,

A measuring spoon with cumin in it, over the slow cooker with the pork in it.

Cumin,

A measuring spoon with oregano in it, over the slow cooker with the pork.

Oregano,

A palm full of roughly chopped garlic.

Garlic,

A palm with three bay leaves in it.

And bay leaves to the slow cooker.

The slow cooker, with the lid on, sitting on the counter.

Place the lid on the slow cooker, and turn to low for 8-10 hours.

A whole pineapple, on a cutting board, with the top and bottom cut off.

While the pork chops are cooking, you can make the pineapple salsa.
To breakdown the pineapple cut the bottom and the top off.

A whole pineapple, on a cutting board, peeled.

Next take your knife and cut the skin off of the sides, cutting in strips from top to bottom.

A pineapple, on a cutting board, with the cheeks cut off.

Once the peel is off, cut the cheeks from the core.

A cast iron grill pan, on the stove, with cooking spray being sprayed on it.

Preheat your grill pan or grill and oil it.

Pieces of pineapple cooking on the grill pan.

Cut the pineapple into long slices, and grill on each side for 2-3 minutes.

The grilled pineapple on a cutting board.

Look at how lovely that is.

The cherry tomatoes chopped, on a cutting board.

Next you will chop the tomatoes.
I know that usually you would use Roma tomatoes for this, or even vine ripened, but my husband is not a fan of tomatoes.
I found the cherry tomatoes to be sweeter and less acidic, and he seems to like these better.
Once diced, add them to a mixing bowl.


Diced onions in a mixing bowl.

Now to the bowl of tomatoes you can add the onion,

Minced garlic, and diced onions in a mixing bowl.

The garlic,

Minced jalapeno, garlic, and diced onion in a mixing bowl.

and jalapeno.

Diced grilled pineapple in a mixing bowl.

Now you can dice up the pineapple and add it to the bowl as well.

A lime being juiced in a lime juicer over the diced pineapple in a bowl.

Squeeze the lime juice into the bowl.

Chopped cilantro in the mixing bowl with the pineapple.

Then toss in the chopped cilantro.

A measuring spoon with salt in it, over the bowl of cilantro.

Season with a little salt.

The grilled pineapple salsa all mixed together in the bowl.

Stir everything together, taste for seasoning, cover, and place in the refrigerator to chill.  
But before you do that, just take a minute and look and how colorful and festive it is!  Beautiful!

The pork, shredded on a plate, with forks on the plate.

Once the pork chops have finished cooking you can remove them to a plate and shred.
The meat will be super tender and will literally just fall apart.

The shredded pork in the slow cooker, with the sauce.

Return the shredded meat to the sauce in the slow-cooker and you are ready to assemble the tacos.

Three tacos fully assembled in a taco holder on a plate.

I like to warm my tortilla shells on my grill pan, but you can wrap them in a damp paper towel and place them in the microwave for 1 minutes.
Place the pork in the shell, top with the grilled pineapple salsa, and ...

Three tacos, in a holder, on a plate, fully assembled.

You are ready to eat!

These Pork Tacos with Pineapple Salsa are not only flavorful, but they are so bright and colorful as well.  When you see them on the plate, you can't help, but to grab one and put it in your mouth!  The sweetness of the pineapple compliments the smokiness of the pork.  So very good.  I know you are going to LOVE this simple meal so get in the kitchen and give a try TONIGHT!

And as always...

Happy Reading, Happy Eating, Happy Living,
~The Kitchen Wife~


0 comments:

Post a Comment