Discover the ultimate comfort food with these exquisite Pork Taquitos, featuring succulent slow-cooked pulled pork. Each taquito is generously coated in a rich, sweet, and subtly spicy honey-chipotle BBQ sauce, then perfectly paired with freshly grated sharp Cheddar cheese. Encased in a crisp tortilla, these savory delights are pan-fried to a golden perfection, promising a delightful crunch with every bite.
Elevate your meal by pairing these flavor-packed taquitos with fresh, vibrant sides. We highly recommend serving them alongside these Roasted Sweet Potatoes for a touch of sweetness, or a refreshing Corn Salad to complement the rich pork.
Crispy Honey-Chipotle Pulled Pork Taquitos: A Flavorful Journey
Get ready to fall in love with these incredible Pork Taquitos! What makes them so special? It’s the perfect harmony of textures and tastes: incredibly tender pulled pork, a sticky, sweet, and gently spicy honey-chipotle BBQ sauce, all encased in a tortilla and crisped to perfection. And the best part? No deep frying required! These taquitos achieve their irresistible crunch right in a skillet, making them a healthier and easier option without compromising on flavor.
While the process involves a few distinct steps, preparing these taquitos is surprisingly manageable thanks to a well-paced schedule. You can start the slow-cooked pork in the morning, allowing it to tenderize beautifully throughout the day. The signature BBQ sauce can be whipped up at your convenience, and the final assembly and crisping are done just before you’re ready to eat. This broken-up preparation ensures a stress-free cooking experience, culminating in a truly satisfying meal.
The star of the show, our honey-chipotle BBQ sauce, is thoughtfully crafted to be customizable to your preferred level of spice. As written, it offers a pleasant warmth that even kids can enjoy, providing just enough kick without being overpowering. If you’re a heat enthusiast, feel free to increase the amount of chipotle peppers, adding them gradually and tasting as you go to achieve your ideal zest. Below, we’ll delve deeper into each ingredient that makes this sauce so remarkably delicious.
The Secret to Success: Our Irresistible Chipotle BBQ Sauce
This homemade barbecue sauce isn’t just a component of the taquitos; it’s a revelation on its own! Combining sweetness with a delightful smoky heat, it’s incredibly easy to prepare. Simply blend all the ingredients together, and voilà – you have a rich, flavorful sauce ready to transform your pulled pork. Here’s a closer look at what goes into this mouthwatering concoction:
- Ketchup: The foundation of any great BBQ sauce. For unparalleled flavor, we highly recommend Heinz® ketchup due to its balanced sweetness and tang.
- Brown Sugar: Essential for that classic BBQ sweetness. Whether you opt for light or dark brown sugar, remember to pack it lightly when measuring to ensure the right consistency and flavor.
- Honey: Working in tandem with brown sugar, honey contributes a unique floral sweetness. This dual sweetness is perfectly balanced by the smoky spice of the chipotles, creating a sauce that’s rich and satisfying, as all good BBQ sauces should be.
- Chipotle Chilies in Adobo: These peppers are the heart of the sauce’s distinct smoky and spicy profile. They add a depth of flavor that is truly unmatched. For guidance on selecting the best canned varieties, explore this list of chipotle peppers. We’ll also cover how to store any leftovers effectively.
- Apple Cider Vinegar: A crucial ingredient that provides a bright acidity, cutting through the sweetness of the honey and brown sugar and harmonizing with the heat from the chipotles. It ensures the sauce is vibrant and well-rounded.
- Worcestershire Sauce: This savory condiment is a powerhouse of umami, adding an incredible depth and complexity to the BBQ sauce. It introduces a subtle tang and richness that elevates the entire flavor profile.
- Garlic: For robust flavor, fresh garlic is key. If using whole cloves, a quick, coarse chop before adding them to the blender will ensure they are fully incorporated, yielding a smooth and aromatic sauce.
- Salt and Pepper: Basic seasonings that enhance all the other flavors, bringing everything into perfect balance. Always adjust to your taste preferences.
Pro Tip: Mastering Your Sauce’s Spice Level
The key to a perfect chipotle BBQ sauce is finding your ideal balance of sweet and spicy. The chipotles are vital for preventing the sauce from becoming overly sweet, but their potency means a little goes a long way. Always add them slowly, tasting frequently, to avoid an overly spicy outcome. Remember, the creamy cheese and the rich pork inside the taquitos will naturally mellow the sauce’s heat, so a slightly bolder sauce is often ideal for filling.
Smart Storage: How to Preserve Leftover Chipotle Peppers
It’s a common kitchen dilemma: a recipe calls for just one or two chipotle peppers, leaving the rest of the can to potentially go to waste. Fortunately, canned chipotle peppers in adobo sauce freeze beautifully, allowing you to use them in future recipes without spoilage. Here’s a simple and effective method for freezing your leftover chipotles after preparing these delicious Pork Taquitos:
- Prepare Your Pan: Lay a sheet of parchment paper onto a large baking sheet. This prevents sticking and makes removal easy.
- Portion and Freeze: Spoon out individual chipotle peppers, along with some of their adobo sauce, onto the parchment-lined pan. Ensure each portion is about 1/2 inch apart to prevent them from freezing into one large mass. Place the pan in the freezer until the peppers and sauce are completely solid, which typically takes about an hour.
- Easy Removal: Once frozen, the individual portions of chipotles and sauce will effortlessly peel off the parchment paper.
- Long-Term Storage: Transfer all the frozen peppers to a freezer-safe plastic bag. Press out any excess air before sealing the bag to prevent freezer burn. Label the bag with the date for easy tracking. Stored this way, your chipotles will remain fresh and flavorful for up to 6 months.
- Thawing Instructions: When you’re ready to use them, simply take out the desired number of frozen peppers. Allow them to thaw at room temperature for 15-20 minutes, or for a quicker thaw, microwave individual peppers for 10-15 seconds.
Crafting the Perfect Shell: Tips for Working with Corn Tortillas
While I absolutely adore the authentic flavor and texture that corn tortillas bring to these pulled pork taquitos, they can sometimes be a bit challenging to work with due to their tendency to crack. Achieving a perfectly crispy, intact taquito is easier than you might think with these expert tips:
- Select Thin Corn Tortillas: The thinner the tortilla, the more pliable it tends to be, reducing the likelihood of breakage. If you’re unsure which brand to choose, consider exploring resources like this article that reviews major corn tortilla brands to find one that suits your preference.
- Evenly Coat with Cooking Spray: Before heating, lightly spray both sides of each tortilla with cooking spray. An olive oil-based spray works wonderfully, as does canola oil. This step adds moisture and a touch of fat, which significantly enhances their flexibility and crisping ability.
- Lightly Char One Side: For optimal pliability and flavor, gently char just one side of each tortilla over an open flame on your stovetop. This brief exposure to heat makes them more forgiving when rolling. If you don’t have a gas stove, warming them in a dry skillet for 10-15 seconds per side will achieve a similar effect.
- Roll Immediately & Keep Warm: As soon as a tortilla comes off the heat, while it’s still warm and flexible, immediately roll it into a tight cylinder. Place it under a clean kitchen towel to keep it warm and prevent it from drying out. Repeat this process with all your tortillas.
- Fill on the Charred Side: Once all tortillas are prepared, unroll them and carefully add the savory pulled pork mixture and a generous sprinkle of sharp Cheddar cheese onto the side that was lightly charred. This helps create a barrier that can prevent the tortilla from becoming soggy from the filling.
- Re-roll and Crisp in a Skillet: Tightly re-roll the filled tortillas, creating your taquitos. Place them seam-side down in a hot, lightly oiled skillet. Brown on all sides, rotating with tongs, until each taquito is beautifully golden and irresistibly crispy. This step also ensures the cheese inside is perfectly melted and gooey.
If corn tortillas aren’t your preference, flour tortillas make a fantastic alternative. While they are inherently more pliable, I still recommend spraying them with cooking spray and browning them in a skillet. This simple step doesn’t just add a fantastic flavor and crispiness; it also guarantees that all that delicious cheese melts into a wonderfully gooey interior.
Elevate Your Taquitos: Recommended Toppings and Pairings
These Pork Taquitos are truly exceptional on their own, boasting a depth of flavor that requires little adornment. However, for those who enjoy an extra layer of freshness or a complementary texture, here are some delightful topping and serving recommendations to enhance your taquito experience:
- Fresh Cilantro: A sprinkle of freshly chopped cilantro adds a bright, herbaceous note that beautifully contrasts the rich, savory pork.
- Sliced Jalapeños: For an added kick and a vibrant, crisp texture, thin slices of fresh or pickled jalapeños are an excellent choice. They bring a lively spice that complements the chipotle sauce.
- Guacamole or Thinly Sliced Avocado: Creamy, cool avocado or a rich, homemade guacamole provides a luxurious counterpoint to the heat and crunch of the taquitos. Its buttery texture and subtle flavor are simply divine.
- Coleslaw: Whether homemade or store-bought, a crisp, tangy coleslaw offers a refreshing crunch and a sweet-and-sour contrast that cuts through the richness of the BBQ pork. It’s a classic pairing for a reason!
Expert Tips for Unforgettable Pulled Pork Taquitos
Achieving the perfect Pork Taquitos goes beyond just following the recipe; it’s about understanding the nuances of the ingredients and cooking process. Here are some key tips to ensure your taquitos are a resounding success:
- The Best Cheese Pairing: For the ultimate flavor combination, we’ve found that sharp Cheddar cheese is the ideal match for the sweet and spicy BBQ sauced pork. Its robust, tangy profile stands up beautifully to the rich meat and sauce, melting into a gooey, savory layer inside the crispy tortilla.
- Choosing the Right Pork Cut: The foundation of incredible pulled pork is the cut of meat. Opt for a pork butt (also known as Boston butt) or a pork shoulder for this recipe. These cuts are rich in marbling and connective tissue, which break down during slow cooking to create incredibly tender, flavorful meat. For an even deeper flavor, choose a bone-in pork butt. If your pork has a thick layer of fat, do not trim it off! This fat renders beautifully during cooking, infusing the meat with moisture and taste, and can be easily discarded once the pork is shredded. However, ensure you use a skinless piece of pork so that the dry rub can directly flavor the meat.
- Slow Cooking for Superior Tenderness: Patience is key when slow cooking pork. I strongly recommend cooking the meat on a low setting. High heat can often dry out the pork, preventing it from reaching that fall-apart tender consistency we all desire. Be sure to adjust cooking times based on the size of your pork cut. A typical 5-7-pound pork butt or shoulder will require approximately 9-10 hours on low for perfect shredding. This extended, gentle cooking process allows the collagen to convert into gelatin, resulting in succulently tender pulled pork.
Explore More Slow Cooker Delights
If you love the convenience and incredible results of slow cooking, you’re in for a treat! The slow cooker is a versatile tool perfect for creating hearty, flavorful meals with minimal effort. Here are some other cherished slow cooker recipes that you’ll surely want to add to your repertoire:
- Crockpot Hash Brown Casserole with gooey Cheddar cheese
- Nutritious and satisfying Crockpot Quinoa Chili with lean chicken
- Hearty Beef Ragu perfectly served over pappardelle pasta
- Comforting Crockpot Cowboy Casserole loaded with red potatoes
- Cheesy Quinoa Enchilada Crockpot featuring savory ground turkey
Pork Taquitos
Video
(Video demonstration for making Pork Taquitos would be displayed here.)
Equipment
- 6-quart Crock-Pot
- Large nonstick pan
- Blender or food processor
Ingredients
- 2 medium yellow onions thinly sliced
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 5 to 6 pounds bone-in pork shoulder roast (butt/shoulder, often labeled as pork shoulder butt blade roast)
- 2 tablespoons light brown sugar firmly packed
- 1 tablespoon chili powder (McCormick recommended to avoid overly spicy chili powder)
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/16 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 1 cup ketchup (I recommend Heinz)
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar lightly packed
- 2/3 cup + 1 tablespoon honey
- 2 tablespoons chipotle peppers in adobo sauce (scale up or down to personal heat preference!)
- 1-1/2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon pepper
- Extra thin corn tortillas (or flour tortillas, refer to “Crafting the Perfect Shell” section above for preparation tips)
- Cooking spray
- freshly shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
- Serving suggestions (optional, see “Elevate Your Taquitos” section above)
Instructions
- Begin by thinly slicing the yellow onions after removing their peels. Generously spray the Crock-Pot with cooking spray, then arrange the sliced onions in an even layer along the bottom. Add the minced garlic. Pour in the chicken broth. Next, remove the pork from its packaging and pat it thoroughly dry with paper towels.
- In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, chili powder, salt, cumin, and cinnamon. Stir these ingredients together to form a flavorful rub. Evenly rub this mixture all over the pork. Carefully place the seasoned pork into the slow cooker, setting it on top of the onions with the fat cap facing upwards.
- Cover the slow cooker and cook on the low setting for 7–10 hours, or until the meat is incredibly tender and shreds effortlessly with a fork. (It’s generally not recommended to cook on high, as it can dry out the pork.) For a 5.5-pound roast, expect approximately 9 hours of cooking time in most slow cookers. Once cooked, remove the fat cap (it should pull off easily) and carefully remove and discard the bone. Transfer the pork from the Crock-Pot to a large bowl and shred it using two forks. (You may enjoy the flavorful onions, discarding any remaining liquids in the slow cooker.)
- In a blender or food processor, combine all the ingredients for the Chipotle Honey BBQ Sauce. Process until the sauce is completely smooth. Taste and adjust the seasoning to your preference. If you desire more heat, add additional chipotle peppers slowly, as a small amount can significantly impact the spice level. Pour the prepared sauce over the shredded pork and gently toss to combine, allowing the sauce to warm through.
- Prepare your tortillas by following the steps outlined in the “Crafting the Perfect Shell” section above. Once prepped, place about 3–4 tablespoons of the meat mixture into each tortilla. Top with 1–2 tablespoons of freshly shredded sharp Cheddar cheese and roll up tightly.
- Heat a large nonstick pan over medium heat. Place 4–5 taquitos in the pan. Using tongs, rotate the taquitos to brown each side for 10–15 seconds, or until they are golden brown and crispy. Adjust the heat as needed: increase if they’re not browning sufficiently, and decrease if they are browning too quickly.
- Alternatively, these taquitos can be baked in the oven. Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C) and bake for 10–13 minutes, or until crispy.
- Serve the taquitos hot, fresh from the pan or oven! They are delicious as is, but for an enhanced experience, consider serving with guacamole or thinly sliced avocado, fresh cilantro, and/or jalapeños. A side of coleslaw also makes a fun and flavorful topping.
Recipe Notes
Nutrition Note: The provided calorie count is for the pork and chipotle honey BBQ sauce only. The nutritional values for tortillas and any additional toppings will vary based on brand and quantity.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.