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Crock Pot Cuban Pork Tacos with Fried Plantains {Gluten Free}

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Delicious and Easy Crock Pot Cuban Pork Tacos with fried plantains! These healthy crock pot pork tacos are light, citrusy, and naturally sweetened with a plantain cabbage topping. Naturally gluten free and wholesome. Perfect for week night family meals or for make ahead multiple meals! 

Crock Pot Cuban Pork Tacos with fried plantains! A NEW gluten free recipe you're gonna LOVE! These crock pot pork tacos are light, citrusy, and naturally sweetened with a plantain cabbage topping. Easy peasy weeknight meal or make ahead for multiple meals!

 

Okay. I know I’m not suppose to start off any conversation talking about the weather, but ya’ll… I’m crying in a pool of my sweat. It’s 104F today and all I want to do is boycott heat and bake sugar cookies or anything in pie form for comfort. Ha, ain’t gonna happen. Unless anyone wants a sauna baking session in our kitchen. Hmmm… now I’m brainstorming new business ideas. Kidding kidding. But I will tell you what is one MARVELOUS idea…. making crock cuban pork tacos. Heck, we live off of crock pot recipes ALL YEAR LONG! Especially crock pot tacos. THE BEST. No mess, no oven, no sweating outside on the grill. Nope, just pure cuban delight wrapped up in a corn tortilla. Ohhh me oh my that’s what I call mid week meal planning success. Plus the leftovers make for a great crock pot taco salad.. just sayin.

Crock Pot Cuban Pork Tacos with fried plantains! A NEW gluten free recipe you're gonna LOVE! These crock pot tacos are EASY to make, light, citrusy, and sweetened with a plantain cabbage topping.

Okay, so truth is yes, it’s bloody hot out. But also, I was really itching to make another crock pot recipe with an tangy and slightly spicy marinade. Just like that garlicky green chicken, this one is so similar in the way it’s prepared but with cuban flavors and a nice piece of pork loin. Hmmmm, come to think of it, maybe Rio Olympics are rubbing off and me and my desire to cook more latin american recipes. That and my absurd obsession with toppings. Like cilantro, avocado, and fried plantains. Ahhhh soooo good!

Anyway, crock pot cuban pork tacos are where it’s at ya’ll! They get a gold medal for flavor and for ease of prep! LOL Yes, I just referred to the Olympics again. Doh!

 

Delicious and Easy Crock Pot Cuban Pork Tacos with fried plantains! These healthy crock pot pork tacos are light, citrusy, and naturally sweetened with a plantain cabbage topping. Naturally gluten free and wholesome. Perfect for week night family meals or for make ahead multiple meals!

 

But as you all know, my husband LOVES ALL things tacos. In fact, I made these cuban pork tacos more like the “street tacos,” you know smaller corn tortillas and all, just to see if we could ration out the  pork filling. Um, that didn’t happen. The man just ate more tacos. Guess you can’t blame him, right?

Delicious and Easy Crock Pot Cuban Pork Tacos with fried plantains! These healthy crock pot pork tacos are light, citrusy, and naturally sweetened with a plantain cabbage topping. Naturally gluten free and wholesome. Perfect for week night family meals or for make ahead multiple meals!

So …let’s talk about the latino “cuban” flavors here. Mmm k? Cause it’s going to make you all giddy. The cuban pork taco meat filling cooks quite quickly.

And when I say quick, I mean crock pot quick! All you need to do is cut  the pork loin down the middle, pour your Cuban taco marinade inside, cover and cook for 2 hrs high or low for 3.5hrs. Then just pull it apart for pulled pork style tacos.

Delicious and Easy Crock Pot Cuban Pork Tacos with fried plantains! These healthy crock pot pork tacos are light, citrusy, and naturally sweetened with a plantain cabbage topping. Naturally gluten free and wholesome. Perfect for week night family meals or for make ahead multiple meals!

The marinade itself is so simple and healthy! A little bit of orange juice, lime, cilantro, garlic, red pepper, oregano, and cumin. Don’t you just love a simple yet flavorful marinade? Yes!!

You can crank up the heat by adding extra red pepper or slicing up some jalapeños to go on top. Speaking of toppings, adding fried plantains and slaw on top of these tacos give them a little sweetness. It not only compliments the cuban spices but it adds in additional grain free carbohydrates and gut healthy prebiotic fibers; if you are needing extra in your diet. You get extra credit in my book if you do!

So basically these latin inspired pork tacos are my speedy Olympic version of healthy crock pot tacos. Bahaha see what I did there? I’m sure you all are rolling your eyes at my puns by now right?

Okay friends, time to share the crock pot love!

Nutrition for one pork taco with slaw, plantain, and avocado topping!

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Crock Pot Cuban Pork Tacos with Fried Plantains {Gluten Free}

★★★★

3.6 from 40 reviews
  • Prep Time: 5 min
  • Cook Time: 2 hr
  • Total Time: 35 minute
  • Yield: 6-7 depending on size of tortillas you use. 1x
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Description

Crock Pot Cuban Pork Tacos with Fried Plantains {Gluten Free}

Scale

Ingredients

  • for the cuban pork Marinade:
  • 1/4 cup cilantro – chopped
  • 2 tbsp olive or avocado oil
  • 3 garlic cloves
  • 1/2 tsp cumin
  • 1/4 tsp dried oregano
  • 1/4 to 1/2 tsp red pepper or cayenne (1/2 tsp for spicier)
  • 2–3 tbsp lime juice
  • 1/2 c orange juice
  • In the crock pot:
  • 1 small white onion chopped
  • dash of salt and black pepper 1/2tsp or less
  • 1 lb lean pork or pork loin
  • toppings and fixing:
  • 1 plantain (fried with 2 ingredients below)
  • 1/3 cup chopped onion
  • 1/2 tbsp oil or butter
  • served with 6-7 gluten free 6inch or smaller corn tortillas
  • avocado slices
  • chili sauce (optional)
  • red pepper flakes
  • 1 cup shredded purple cabbage
  • additional cilantro for garnish
  • Optional feta or goat cheese crumbles

Instructions

    First make your marinade.

    1. chop cilantro and peel garlic. Place all ingredients for the marinate in a food processor or blender and blend. Set aside.

    prepare your crock pot

    1. peel and chop your onion.
    2. Make a cut down the center of your pork loin, vertically so it runs from top to bottom.
    3. Place pork in the crock pot.
    4. Add your oil, salt, pepper, onion, and then pour your blended cuban marinade on top making sure it get in the cut part of the pork.
    5. Place on high for 2 hrs or low for 3.5 to 5 (check for doneness at 3 hrs)
    6. notes check around 90 minutes and pull or shred pork to get more juice in the meat.
    7. Once it’s done keep warm while you make the plantains.

    for the plantains

    1. Slice and peel your plantains like you do a regular banana. Place in an oil pan with your onion, oil/butter, and fry on medium high until tender. About 10 minutes.
    2. Scoop meat into corn tortillas, add your plantain slices, cabbage, avocado, and any extra cilantro red pepper, cheese, or spicy sauce you want.
    3. Additional salt/pepper if desired.
    4. DEVOUR!

    Notes

    If you want to double this recipe you will need cook longer. Around 3- 3.5 hrs high and 5 hrs low.

     

    cuban pork tacos (GF)

    Mmmm mmm taco party time!

    Healthy and Easy Crock Pot Cuban Pork Tacos recipe with fried plantains! These delicious crock pot pork tacos are light, citrusy, and naturally gluten free. Clean eating, simple ingredients, so tasty! @cottercrunch

    On that note, I will leave you with this. Cause I think you’ll find it amusing.

    My first experience with Latin food was actually in Brazil. I spent a summer abroad in São Paulo when I was 12 years old. I stayed with a host family and ate all their homemade Latin meals. Loved them all!! Expect maybe the tuna fish pizza. Or whatever it was. Haha! I also had a major crush on one of the Brazilian boys. I basically played the  “blonde American  girl” cuteness factor in order to impress him. He was my first kiss! Gasp! Don’t tell the kiwi.

    Latin lover!!!

    Healthy and Easy Crock Pot Cuban Pork Tacos recipe with fried plantains! These delicious crock pot pork tacos are light, citrusy, and naturally gluten free.

    Do you love Latin food?

    Crock pot Cuban pork tacos just might be your new favorite then. Just sayin..:

    #Easy Crock Pot Cuban Pork Tacos with fried plantains! #Glutenfree and Unreal GOOD!
    Click To Tweet

    Favorite taco topping? Sweet or spicy?

    Cheers!

    signature1

     

    KEEP ME POSTED ON YOU! LET’S STAY CONNECTED. SO VIA FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, PINTEREST, AND TWITTER.

    Healthy and Easy Gluten free Cuban Pork tacos! Made with simple ingredients and tons of flavor! A simple meal that is great to feed a crowd, light, and delicious! Clean eating recipe and a family dinner favorite. @cottercrunch

    MORE SLOW COOKER & INSTANT POT RECIPES HERE!

    This recipe is part of our Best Slow Cooker Meal Prep and Instant Pot Recipes collection. Check it out!

    Related Posts

    Photo of Lindsay Cotter of Cotter CrunchHi, I’m Lindsay!  Gluten Free Nutrition Specialist, food photographer and author of Nourishing Superfood Bowls, and meal plan guru! I’d love to know you more! Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and drop a comment below.

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    7. Serene @ House of Yumm says

      Ok, these are just genius!! My hubs is Cuban, and I’m loving how easy you made the pork! This I can totally handle for an easy weeknight meal. Plus those plantains?! And btw..the heat. Seriously. Texas summers are not pleasant.

      Reply

    11. James says

      Love love love tacos! This looks amazing. But I have a feeling the ones I make are going to be a hot mess and not nice and beautifully presented like yours.

      Reply

    12. Michelle @ Vitamin Sunshine says

      These look so delicious Lindsay! Funny you’re having such a heatwave– I am still in Oregon, and it’s cold here! We’ve had two days this week that haven’t hit 60! But, supposed to be back up to 90 tomorrow. It’s hard to handle this cold after being so used to Malaysia.

      Reply

    14. Cassie says

      Lovely take on tacos! I’ll have to substitute the pork for tempeh and jackfruit instead of pork, but otherwise, I think this recipe looks phenomenal! Again, it’s still been relatively cool outside in comparison to July, but it’s sunny out!

      Reply

    16. Emily says

      I love that guys have such big appetites. It’s always rewarding for the cook, and you are an AMAZING cook Lindsay. 🙂 There’s so many recipes to try, that I don’t know where to start. 🙂

      Reply

    32. Hanna says

      I think crock pot is cool when it gives lots of nice and simple recipes, but with delicious meals. I will try this at weekend and be back with my reviews.

      ★★★★★

      Reply

    39. Sharon Williams says

      Hey Lindsay Cotter, I read the post entirely and couldn’t help thanking you for sharing with us this piece of the informative resource. Could you please explain the garlicky green chicken of the article a little more, so I can enhance the knowledge base of our community website Fitting Guy. Of course, you can do it in another post! Any effort appreciated!

      Reply

    43. Amol Patel says

      This was my first impression the moment I landed here :))

      Thanks, Lindsay, for such an amazing recipe. Definitely going to try it out this weekend.

      Happy Easter everyone 🙂

      ★★★★★

      Reply

    48. Rishad says

      I love this recipe! I’ve made it in the past and it was fabulous. But with meat selection limited right now, I only have chicken legs in the freezer. Will this work? And if so, do you have recommendations on the cook time?

      Reply

    49. Mike Yarmish says

      I already decided to try this recipe. You must understand that for a guy from a center Europe is probably too exotic and too many of flavours? but jesus it looks tasty. Lindsay, thank you 🙂

      Reply

    50. Willie Osgood says

      I love this formula! I’ve made it previously and it was awesome. In any case, with meat choice restricted at this moment, I just have chicken legs in the cooler. Will this work? Also, assuming this is the case, do you have proposals on the cook time?

      Reply

    51. Colin Kint says

      Hi Cotter,
      Reading the post, it seems it’s a delicious, nutritious, and mouthwatering dish. The cooking procedure you described is also easy to follow. Thanks for sharing your recipe. I will also try this recipe to increase my culinary skill.

      Reply

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      Reply

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