Quick Ground Pork Tacos with Pickled Onions and Lime Crema

These ground pork tacos are your shortcut to carnitas-level flavor without the hours of simmering. By browning the meat and simmering it with a bold spice blend and tomato paste, you get a rich, saucy filling in minutes. The tangy pickled onions, crunchy lettuce and creamy lime crema make every bite a perfect balance of textures and tastes.

Set everything out in bowls and let everyone build their own tacos-it’s the ultimate interactive dinner. Warm flour tortillas, a sprinkle of cheese and a squeeze of lime tie it all together. Ready in about 25 minutes, this is one-pan magic at its finest.

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Ingredients

1 unit Red OnionView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 unit Poblano PepperView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

0.5 ounce CilantroView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 unit Romaine LettuceView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 unit LimeView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

2 tablespoon White Wine VinegarView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

20 ounce Ground PorkView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 tablespoon Fajita Spice BlendView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

2 tablespoon Tomato PasteView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 unit Chicken Stock ConcentrateView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

4 tablespoon Sour CreamView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

12 unit Flour TortillasView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

0.5 cup Monterey Jack CheeseView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

4 teaspoon Olive OilView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

2 teaspoon SugarView 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. Peel and halve the onion. Finely chop one half; very thinly slice the other half from pole to pole. Core, seed and finely chop the poblano. Roughly chop the cilantro. Thinly slice the lettuce crosswise into shreds. Cut the lime in half; cut one half into wedges.
2. In a medium bowl, combine the sliced onion, white wine vinegar, 2 tsp sugar, ½ tsp salt and 1 tbsp water. Toss until the sugar and salt are mostly dissolved. Set aside to marinate, tossing occasionally.
3. Heat a large drizzle of olive oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add the ground pork and season with salt and pepper. Cook, breaking up the meat into pieces, until browned, 4-5 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the pork to a plate. Pour out and discard any excess grease from the pan.
4. Heat another large drizzle of olive oil in the same pan over medium-high heat. Add the chopped onion and poblano. Season with salt and pepper. Cook until softened, 3-4 minutes. Return the pork to the pan along with the fajita spice blend, 2 tbsp tomato paste, the chicken stock concentrate and 2 tbsp water. Cook, stirring, until everything comes together in a saucy mixture, 2-3 minutes.
5. In a small bowl, combine the sour cream, a squeeze of lime juice and a pinch of salt and pepper. Stir in a splash or two of water to give the crema a drizzly consistency. Meanwhile, wrap the tortillas in a damp paper towel and microwave on high until warm, about 30 seconds.
6. Divide the filling, lettuce, cheese, cilantro, pickled onion and crema among the tortillas. (Tip: You can put everything in individual serving bowls and let everyone assemble their own tacos.) Serve with lime wedges on the side for squeezing over.

Recipe Tips

FAQ

Can I use ground chicken or turkey instead of pork?

Yes, ground chicken or turkey work well. Just be sure not to overcook them, as they can dry out. You may need to add a splash more water when simmering with the spices.

How do I make the pickled onions ahead of time?

The pickled onions can be made up to 3 days in advance. Store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They will only get more flavorful.

Can I skip the cheese or use a dairy-free alternative?

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