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!
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.
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!
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?
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.
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!
Crock Pot Cuban Pork Tacos with Fried Plantains {Gluten Free}
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
Directions
First make your marinade.
- 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
- peel and chop your onion.
- Make a cut down the center of your pork loin, vertically so it runs from top to bottom.
- Place pork in the crock pot.
- 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.
- Place on high for 2 hrs or low for 3.5 to 5 (check for doneness at 3 hrs)
- notes check around 90 minutes and pull or shred pork to get more juice in the meat.
- Once it's done keep warm while you make the plantains.
for the plantains
- 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.
- Scoop meat into corn tortillas, add your plantain slices, cabbage, avocado, and any extra cilantro red pepper, cheese, or spicy sauce you want.
- Additional salt/pepper if desired.
- DEVOUR!
Recipe Notes
If you want to double this recipe you will need cook longer. Around 3- 3.5 hrs high and 5 hrs low.
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Nutrition for one pork taco with slaw, plantain, and avocado topping!
Mmmm mmm taco party time!
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!!!
Do you love Latin food?
Crock pot Cuban pork tacos just might be your new favorite then. Just sayin..:
Favorite taco topping? Sweet or spicy?
Cheers!
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I love. LOVE. Cuban food. I wish that I could eat more of it. Fried plantains are basically savory candy. These sound Ah-MAZE-ing.
totally! nature’s candy + butter = HEAVEN
I love Cuban food! The orange juice and plantains in here are genius! And don’t even get me started on the heat friend!
I love Cuban food! The orange juice and plantains in here are genius! And don’t even get me started on the heat friend
for reals! i don’t even go outside. LOL!
Looks like pork and plantain heaven and I love it! Actually just received Paleo tortillas yesterday and have yet to try them, good timing 🙂
which ones? YOu gotta try the new cassava and coconut ones –> OMG SO GOOD! I’ll have to send you the brand name. they are at whole foods.
Plantains are so good! I’m loving that the crock pot does all the work too. This thing is loaded! Yummy! It made me tummy growl, haha.
yes! let me know if you try is Leslie
Annnnnnd this needs to happen. I celebrate taco Tuesday every day. Pork is my favorite! I had one last night!
twin, brother… love it! red wine too?
As if you needed to specify… 😉
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.
Yes! i love them. That cuban flare is soooo good! the texas heat is not. Agreed. LOL!
Mmmm…I love making tacos in the slow cooker and this healthy version sounds SO good. Love the idea of topping with plantains!
i love the plantain for sweetness and texture. So easy too!
these tacos look amazing! so vibrant and delicious. i’ve actually never tried plantains before either so i am SO curious to know what these taste like!
Crock pot! Awesome idea in this heat. Great recipe. Stay cool.
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.
but I met they will still taste great!
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.
I have a crock pot that is pretty much a dust collector, however, recipes like this make me want to bust it out! Yum!
I wish plantains were easier to find in Australia as I loveeeeeeeee them!
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!
Okay I so need to try jackfruit!! Let me know if you do
testing
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. 🙂
I love my crock pot. You can make so many tasty things. This recipe looks tasty too!
i so agree! crock pot to the rescue!
Please someone, tell me where can I get real plantain?
This looks mouth watering!
I buy them at my local grocer. they are with the bananas
My wife loves Pork!! Will add this also to my weekend.
let me know if you try it!
It was really tasty Lindsay 🙂 My wife enjoyed it 😀 We loved the flavor…
wonderful! so glad
Ohhh I love this recipe! Nom Nom Nom
Wow! I want to make these tomorrow! I too have a taco-loving husband. Do you think I could leave this on longer than 5 hours? Like 8 or 9? Maybe double the marinade?
Just gave this a try! loved it, the pork was perfect and so tender.
awesome! so glad Dave
Looks great and planning to make it this week. How long do you suggest marinading this for?
No need to marinate prior to cooking in the crock pot. It will be flavorful since it’s slow cooked. Does that make sense? Happy to help more!
Hello there,
Does anyone have this food short recipe?
Thanks in advance
Hello there,
Does anyone have this food short recipe?
Thanks in advance
Cuban food is absolutely delicious. Love this recipe! Would likely to try it tomorrow and I hope it would taste great.
These are going on my wish list for next week! Thank you so much for sharing! Will report back with how I did 🙂
yay! keep me posted!
I like your post.keep up
keep on posting these kind of nice post..