Tasty Ground Pork Tacos

These easy-to-make Tasty Ground Pork Tacos combine ground pork, optional black beans, tomatoes, and simple spices to add a delicious twist to your traditional taco night.

Ground Pork Taco Recipe

Is your favorite night of the week Taco Tuesday? Then, these ground pork tacos with black beans may be your new favorite.

Ground pork is a versatile, inexpensive protein that combines well with various Latin spices. It’s a fun way to switch up your favorite ground meat recipe. This dinner is ready in one skillet, ready in under 30 minutes.

Personalize your taco fiesta with an array of cheeses, salsa, and even a side of Spanish rice. The options are endless for your Tuesday evening tacos. Want to change things up? Try our Walking Taco Casserole or Pork Egg Roll in a Bowl.

Ingredients

• Ground pork
• Shallot: Can substitute a red or yellow onion
• Garlic cloves
• Black beans: Optional
• Petite diced tomatoes
• Canola oil
• Taco shells: Soft or hard
• Spices: sea salt, chili powder, ground cumin, sweet smoked paprika, dried oregano, cayenne

Condiments, if desired:

• Queso blanco
• Squeeze of lime
• Cilantro
• Sour cream
• Taco sauce or picante sauce
• Cheddar cheese, shredded

Recipe Tips

• Substitue yellow or red onion for shallot.
• Serve with flour or corn taco shells
• Use your favorite cooking oil, canola, sunflower, corn, or vegetable.

How to Make Ground Pork Tacos

Warm oil in a 12 inch nonstick skillet over medium heat.

Toss in minced shallot and garlic. Mincing is simply a very fine chop, about as small as possible.

Cook the shallot and garlic for approximately one minute or until it softens, stirring frequently.

Add in the ground pork. Using a meat chopper or spatula, break up the pork into small pieces and cook for 7 to 10 minutes until lightly browned.

Drain and rinse black beans and then stir into the skillet.

Open the can of petite diced tomatoes and pour juice and tomatoes alike into the skillet.

Measure out spices individually and add salt, chili powder, cumin, paprika, oregano, and cayenne to the skillet mix. Stir to combine all ingredients.

Squeeze the juice on one lime over the meat mixture and continue to stir.

Reduce the heat to low and simmer for five minutes.

Using your choice of soft or crunchy taco shells, fill each shell with approximately 2 tablespoons of the ground pork taco mixture.

A slotted spoon will help drain any extra juice to keep the taco shells from becoming soggy.

Personalize each taco with a variety of your favorite cheeses and condiments.

Can you use ground pork for tacos?

Yes, ground pork has a mild flavor making it a very versatile meat.

This also allows for the meat to really absorb the flavors of spices and other ingredients.

How to brown pork for soft tacos

Browning the ground pork for tacos is a simple step of this recipe.

Add the ground pork into a warmed skillet. Using a meat chopper or spatula, break up the pork into small pieces and cook for 7 to 10 minutes until lightly browned.

Does ground pork taste like ground beef?

Ground pork and ground beef have distinct flavors, but both are used interchangeably in a variety of dishes.

Ground pork tends to give a light flavor, sometimes slightly sweet and tender.

How long should you cook ground pork?

A pound of ground pork in a skillet can be cooked in 7 to 10 minutes using medium to high heat.

It is important to use visual cues to ensure that all pink is gone and that an internal cooking temperature of 160 degrees F is reached.

What is the difference between carnitas and pork tacos?

The difference between carnitas and tacos is that carnitas are made with slow-cooked shredded pulled pork, whereas pork tacos are made with faster cooking ground pork.

Pork carnitas can be described as a Mexican-influenced version of pulled pork.

The pork butt, shoulder, or shoulder roast is rubbed with spices such as cumin, oregano, garlic, and citrus flavors.

The ground pork tacos from our recipe use quicker cooking of ground pork and are a modern influence on the taco.

While tacos have been a part of Mexican history for hundreds of years, the usage of ground meat, beef, or pork is a more recent development.

Can you mix ground beef and ground pork for tacos?

Yes, you can mix ground beef and ground pork for tacos.

Another substitution we suggest to kick up the heat is adding spicy sausage or chorizo in bulk to your taco recipe.

What to make with ground pork tacos

A few of our favorite pairing to make to accompany Tasty Ground Pork Tacos are Elote, Refried Beans, and don’t forget the Bacon and Peanut Butter Cookies!

Other Ground Pork Recipes

Whether as a satisfying meal or a delightful snack, these Ground Pork Quesadillas are easy and tasty.

Ground Pork Chili is the perfect hearty pork chili for an easy family meal or tailgating season.

Hot Tamale Casserole is a simple and easy casserole recipe with a cornmeal crust, ground pork and bean filling, and lots of cheese on top.