Quick and Cheesy Ground Pork Tacos with Pickled Onion and Chipotle Crema

These ground pork tacos are the perfect solution for a busy weeknight when you’re craving something flavorful but don’t have hours to spend in the kitchen. Instead of slow-cooking pork shoulder, we use ground pork seasoned with a fajita spice blend and simmered with tomato paste and chicken stock for a rich, saucy filling.

Each taco is loaded with toppings: diced tomato, fresh cilantro, tangy pickled onions and a smoky chipotle crema. A sprinkle of Monterey Jack cheese melts over the warm filling, making every bite irresistible. Serve with lime wedges for a bright finish.

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Ingredients

1 unit Red OnionView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 unit Poblano PepperView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

0.25 ounce CilantroView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 unit Roma TomatoView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 unit LimeView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

5 teaspoon White Wine VinegarView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

10 ounce Ground PorkView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 tablespoon Fajita Spice BlendView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 tablespoon Tomato PasteView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 unit Chicken Stock ConcentrateView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

2 tablespoon Sour CreamView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 teaspoon Chipotle PowderView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

6 unit Flour TortillasView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

0.25 cup Monterey Jack CheeseView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

2 teaspoon SugarView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

2 teaspoon Olive OilView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

Salt, to tasteView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

Pepper, to tasteView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

Instructions

1. Wash and dry all produce. Halve and peel the onion. Finely chop one half; very thinly slice the other half from pole to pole. Core, seed and dice the poblano into ½-inch squares. Roughly chop the cilantro. Core and dice the tomato. Halve the lime; cut one half into wedges.
2. In a medium bowl, combine the sliced onion, white wine vinegar, 2 teaspoons sugar, ½ teaspoon salt and 1 tablespoon water. Toss until the sugar and salt are mostly dissolved. Set aside, tossing occasionally.
3. Heat a drizzle of olive oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add the ground pork, breaking it up into pieces. Season with salt and pepper. Cook, tossing, until browned, 4-5 minutes. Transfer to a plate and set aside.
4. Heat another drizzle of olive oil in the same pan over medium-high heat. Add the poblano and chopped onion. Season with salt and pepper. Cook, tossing, until softened, 3-4 minutes. Return the pork to the pan along with the fajita spice blend, chicken stock concentrate, 2 tablespoons water and tomato paste. Scrape up any browned bits from the bottom. Cook, stirring, until thick and saucy, 2-3 minutes.
5. In a small bowl, combine the sour cream, a squeeze of lime juice and a pinch of chipotle powder (use more or less to taste). Stir in enough water to give the mixture a drizzling consistency, about 1-2 teaspoons. Season with salt and pepper.
6. Wrap the tortillas in a damp paper towel and microwave on high until warm, about 30 seconds. Divide the filling among the tortillas. Top with diced tomato, shredded Monterey Jack cheese, cilantro, pickled onion and a drizzle of chipotle crema. Serve with lime wedges on the side.

Recipe Tips

FAQ

Can I use ground beef or chicken instead of pork?

Yes, ground beef or chicken can be substituted. Adjust cooking time as needed to ensure it’s fully cooked.

How do I make the pickled onion less sharp?

Let the onion sit in the vinegar mixture for at least 10 minutes; the longer it sits, the milder it becomes. You can also add a little more sugar to balance the acidity.

Can I make these tacos dairy-free?

Absolutely. Omit the cheese and sour cream or use dairy-free alternatives. The chipotle crema can be made with a dairy-free sour cream or yogurt.