These Pork Tacos are quick, healthy, and kid friendly. Tender pork is cooked to perfection then served in a tortilla with a creamy green chile sauce and all your favorite taco toppings!
I l.o.v.e. tacos. We already have ground beef tacos, turkey tacos, chicken tacos, breakfast tacos, and more so I thought it was about time for some pork tacos, don’t you think?!
Ingredients
Today we’re whipping up an optional homemade green chile sauce to go with these pork tacos. It’s worth the extra 5 minutes, promise!
Pork Tacos
- Water and Salt – the brine for the pork, which allows it to become ultra moist.
- Pork Tenderloin – cubed into bite sized pieces perfect for the taco filling.
- Taco Seasoning – used to flavor the pork, store-bought or homemade work great!
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil – used to cook the pork and adds additional fat to an otherwise lean cut of meat.
- Salt and Pepper – adds flavor and spice.
- Tortillas, Sour Cream, Cheese, Pico de Gallo, and Guacamole – for serving, if desired!
Green Chile Sauce
- Cashews – our base for the sauce. Provides a slight nutty flavor and ultra creamy texture.
- Water – thins out the sauce.
- Taco Seasoning – I love using homemade taco seasoning but feel free to use a store-bought variety instead.
- Lime Juice – adds a tang flavor to brighten up the sauce.
- Diced Green Chiles – provides a mild heat to the sauce. Want to kick it up a notch? Try canned jalapenos, instead!
- Hot Sauce – gives the sauce an extra layer of spice and heat.
- Salt – enhances other flavors.
How to make
This healthy and delicious dinner is ready in 30 minutes!
- Mix four cups of warm water with 1/4 cup salt and let the salt dissolve before stirring in the pork tenderloin. Let that mixture sit for 15 minutes to brine.
- After 15 minutes, remove the pork, rinse with cold water, pat dry, then cube into bite-sized pieces.
- Place the cubed pork into a clean bowl then toss with taco seasoning.
- Heat oil in a large skillet, add in pork, and cook until no longer pink.
- Serve cooked pork in tortillas with your homemade green chile sauce and other toppings!
Pro tip
If you don’t want to make the green chile sauce, try this healthy queso instead!
What cut of pork to use
Boneless pork tenderloin is the best pork to use for tacos. It cooks quickly, but still remains very tender and flavorful!
Pro tip
Don’t skip the brine! It allows the pork to become tender and moist.
Variations
- Add veggies. Cook up some fajita veggies separately to add color and boost the nutrition of these tacos.
- Try a different sauce. If green chile sauce isn’t your thing, whip up a homemade salsa instead!
- Serve it on a different vessel. Try hard shell tacos, chips, or a bed of lettuce!
What toppings to serve on pork tacos
Serve these pork tacos with any or all of your favorite taco fix-ins:
- Green chile sauce (recipe below)
- Sour cream
- Cheese – shredded cheddar or crumbled feta
- Pico de gallo
- Guacamole
What to serve with pork tacos
I love serving these tacos alongside one or two delicious sides! Here are some ideas!
How to store
Leftover pork can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 4-5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
To reheat, thaw in the fridge if frozen, microwave or heat on the stove, then serve up again with your favorite taco toppings and tortillas!
– Jennifer
Pork Tacos
These Pork Tacos are quick, healthy, and kid friendly. Tender pork is cooked to perfection then served in a tortilla with a creamy green chile sauce and all your favorite taco toppings!
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Yield: 4 people
Equipment for this recipe
(equipment shown are affiliate links)
Ingredients
Pork Tacos
- 4 cups water
- ¼ cup salt
- 1 ½ pounds boneless pork tenderloin
- 4-6 tablespoons homemade taco seasoning or 2 (1 oz) packets store-bought taco seasoning
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- Salt and pepper as needed
- Tortillas sour cream, cheese, pico de gallo, guacamole, etc. for serving
Green Chile Sauce
- 1 cup roasted salted cashews ***
- ½ cup water
- 1 tablespoon taco seasoning
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- 1 (7 oz) can diced green chiles
- ½ teaspoon hot sauce more or less depending on how spicy you’re feeling - we use 1 teaspoon
- ½ teaspoon salt more or less to taste
Recipe Video
Instructions
Pork Tacos
- Fill a large bowl with 4 cups of warm water.
- Pour in 1/4 cup salt and stir until most of the salt has absorbed.
- Stir in the pork tenderloin.
- Let sit for 15 minutes at room temperature to brine.*
- Remove the pork from brine, then rinse with cold water.**
- Pat dry, then cube pork into bite sized pieces.
- Place into a clean bowl, and toss with taco seasoning until each pork cube is fully coated.
- Heat oil in a large non-stick pan over medium-high heat.
- Once hot, add in cubed pork and cook until no longer pink, about 5-10 minutes.
- Taste and re-season, if necessary.
- Serve with all your favorite taco fixins!
Green Chile Sauce
- Place cashews, water, taco seasoning, lime juice, green chiles, hot sauce, and salt into a high powered blender (recommended: Vitamix).
- Blend until smooth and creamy.
- Taste and re-season, if necessary.
- Drizzle over pork tacos and enjoy!
- Take 5 seconds to either rate this recipe below and/or PIN it. We greatly appreciate it!
STORING
Room Temp:N/A
Refrigerator:4-5 Days
Freezer:2-3 Months
Reheat:Thaw if frozen then microwave or heat on stovetop
*Storage times may vary based on temperature and conditions
Notes
*This step ensures that your pork is super moist! **This removes excess salt. ***They have to be roasted, salted cashews or they won't break down to create a sauce.
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Nutrition Information
Nutrition Facts
Pork Tacos
Amount Per Serving (1 person)
Calories 480 Calories from Fat 261
% Daily Value*
Fat 29g45%
Saturated Fat 6g38%
Cholesterol 111mg37%
Sodium 8147mg354%
Potassium 918mg26%
Carbohydrates 16g5%
Fiber 2g8%
Sugar 2g2%
Protein 41g82%
Vitamin A 356IU7%
Vitamin C 20mg24%
Calcium 55mg6%
Iron 5mg28%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
*Note: Nutrition information is estimated and varies based on products used.
Keywords: green chile sauce, healthy, pork tenderloin