These Pork Belly Tacos are utterly delicious! If you make these tacos with prepared crispy pork belly, you can pull this meal together in less than an hour! It’s crispy, creamy, cheesy, and flavorful. Enjoy with your favorite Mexican side dishes!
These incredibly tasty pork belly tacos are great for weeknight dinners- especially if you have picky kids who want to choose their own toppings! Once the pork belly is prepped, these fried pork belly tacos come together quickly. The best part about this yummy dish is you can change the toppings to fit your and your family’s taste preferences.
If you’re wondering what to serve with pork belly, I curated a list of 20 Easy Side Dishes!
Here are a few more delicious taco-inspired dishes for the week: Pulled Pork Street Tacos, 7 Can Taco Soup with Ranch Dressing Mix, or Hawaiian Chicken Tacos with Pineapple Salsa.
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Easy – If you’re using already prepped pork belly for these tacos, you’ll only need to work through a few minutes of prep time.
- Flavorful – With ingredients like tasty pork belly, poblano cream sauce, and fresh cilantro, every bite of these pork belly tacos packs a punch in the flavor department.
- Quick – You’ll only need about 15 minutes for prep time and 30 minutes to cook these yummy tacos.
- Crispy – Each bite of this pork belly tacos recipe offers crunchy pork belly bites.
- Cheesy – A sprinkle of Mexican cheese on each taco helps create an even more delicious dish.
- Great for families – Setting up a pork belly taco station makes for a fun family dinner.
- Perfect for potlucks – You can easily prep the toppings and tortillas for these tacos, then set them out so others can select their toppings.
Ingredients & Substitutions
- Air Fryer Pork Belly: I highly recommend this Air Fryer Pork Belly Recipe for the filling. The marinade is inspired by the flavors of pork al pastor. By cooking this recipe ahead of time, you can save time when creating these yummy pork belly tacos.
Complete list of ingredients and amounts is located on the recipe card below.
How to Make Pork Belly Tacos
Quick Overview
- Heat tortillas.
- Assemble tacos.
- Serve.
Step by Step Instructions
Ensure you stay next to the stove while heating the tortillas, as they can easily burn.
Step 1: Place a single tortilla directly on a gas burner on the stovetop over medium heat using metal tongs. Heat for 1-2 minutes per side. If you do not have a gas stove, toast the tortilla in a pan.
Step 2: Repeat with the remaining tortillas and cover with a towel to keep them warm.
Step 3: To assemble the tacos, place a layer of shredded cabbage on the tortilla. Spoon the crema sauce on top of the cabbage.
Step 4: Add a scoop of pork belly on top of the dressed cabbage.
Step 5: Add a few pickled red onions on top of the pork belly.
Step 6: Finish the tacos with the queso fresco and chopped cilantro.
Recipe Serving Suggestions
Garnish these delectable pork belly tacos with chopped onions, fresh lime juice, sour cream, and salsa.
I love serving these al pastor-inspired tacos with Mexican-inspired mains and sides. Here are a few ideas:
Expert Tips
- Heat the tortillas. If you don’t heat corn tortillas, they break more easily. By heating them on the stove first for these pork belly tacos, you create more pliable tortillas that don’t break as you fold them.
- Prep the toppings. For a smoother taco assembly, ensure you prep the toppings beforehand. Then, once the tortillas are heated, you can add the toppings immediately to each warm tortilla.
Additions & Variations
- Spicy: If you prefer spicy pork belly tacos, consider adding hot sauce, spicier salsa, or jalapeño slices to the pork belly tacos. This step will help create a more fiery taste in each bite of pork belly tacos served to loved ones.
- Flour Tortillas: If you prefer flour tortillas, you can use them instead of corn. Heat them the same way before assembling the tacos.
- Vegetarian: You can use a meat substitute with the same marinade instead of pork belly. Or, create homemade refried beans and use those as the protein source. You’ll need one can of drained beans (black or pinto), a pan, and olive oil. As the beans and olive oil heat in the pan, mash them with a fork. Continue cooking until the beans are softened and look like the refried beans you’d see at a Mexican restaurant. Add salt (or taco seasoning) to the beans before serving. This swap works well for most taco recipes.
Recipe FAQs
Yes, pork belly is a great option for pulled pork. However, you’ll need to cook it via methods like grilling or smoking for the best results. If you make crispy pork belly, it will be challenging to shred the meat.
You may have under or overcooked the meat if your pork belly is not tender. Consider keeping the pork belly in the air fryer, oven, etc., slightly longer to see if it starts tenderizing.
Depending on the recipe, you may find pork belly is crispy or not crispy. For example, the pork belly for these pork belly tacos should be crispy. You will want to aim for a juicy, tender pork belly instead if you’re making pulled pork.
The pork belly comes from underneath the hog’s belly. It’s the boneless section of meat that is leftover after the loin and spareribs have been removed.
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The Best Pork Belly Tacos
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 recipe Air Fryer Pork Belly*
- 6 corn tortillas
- Thinly shredded cabbage or lettuce
- Jalapeno lime crema or poblano cream sauce
- Thinly sliced raw or pickled red onions
- Crumbled queso fresco or cotija cheese
- Chopped cilantro
Instructions
- Place a single tortilla directly on a gas burner on the stovetop over medium heat using metal tongs. Heat for 1-2 minutes per side. If you do not have a gas stove, toast the tortilla in a pan.6 corn tortillas
- Repeat with the remaining tortillas and cover with a towel to keep them warm.
- To assemble the tacos, place a layer of shredded cabbage on the tortilla. Spoon the crema sauce on top of the cabbage.Thinly shredded cabbage or lettuce, Jalapeno lime crema or poblano cream sauce
- Add a scoop of pork belly on top of the dressed cabbage.1 recipe Air Fryer Pork Belly*
- Add a few pickled red onions on top of the pork belly.Thinly sliced raw or pickled red onions
- Finish the tacos with the queso fresco and chopped cilantroCrumbled queso fresco or cotija cheese, Chopped cilantro
Notes
- Air Fryer Pork Belly: I highly recommend this Air Fryer Pork Belly Recipe for the filling. The marinade is inspired by the flavors of pork al pastor. By cooking this recipe ahead of time, you can save time when creating these yummy pork belly tacos.
- Heat the tortillas. If you don’t heat corn tortillas, they break more easily. By heating them on the stove first for these pork belly tacos, you create more pliable tortillas that don’t break as you fold them.
- Prep the toppings. For a smoother taco assembly, ensure you prep the toppings beforehand. Then, once the tortillas are heated, you can add the toppings immediately to each warm tortilla.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
