July 6, 2026 · 5 min

Spicy Southwest Pork Tacos with Tangy Cabbage Slaw

Dinner5 min1776 cal / serving

If you believe taco night deserves to be celebrated at least once a week, this Southwest-inspired recipe is for you. Spiced ground pork and onions are piled into warm flour tortillas, then topped with melty Monterey Jack cheese, a tangy cilantro slaw and a dollop of sour cream. It’s a quick, one-pan meal that delivers big flavor with minimal cleanup.

Ready in just 20 minutes, these tacos are perfect for busy weeknights when you need a satisfying dinner without the fuss. The combination of savory pork, creamy cheese and crunchy slaw will have everyone at the table asking for seconds.


Recipe details

Dinner5 min1776 cal / serving2 servings

Nutrition per serving

Calories1776 kcalProtein45.6 gFat131 gCarbs102.8 gSugar66.2 gFiber3.8 gSodium1322 mg

Dietary labels

Gluten-free: noLactose-free: noDairy-free: no

Allergen check

Gluten / wheat: containsMilk / dairy: containsEgg: containsFish: not detectedShellfish: not detectedPeanut: not detectedTree nuts: not detectedSoy: containsSesame: not detectedMustard: not detectedCelery: not detectedSulphites: not detectedLupin: not detectedMolluscs: not detected

Values are calculated per serving from ingredient amounts and the ingredient nutrition reference per 100g. Allergen and diet labels use available ingredient metadata and name matching; always check product labels for strict diets or allergies. Some ingredient amounts or nutrition values were incomplete, so this is marked as a partial estimate.


Ingredients

Sour Cream1.5 tablespoon Sour CreamView ingredient guide
Onion1 unit OnionView ingredient guide
Mayonnaise2 tablespoon MayonnaiseView ingredient guide
Ground Pork15 ounce Ground PorkView ingredient guide
Shredded Red Cabbage4 ounce Shredded Red CabbageView ingredient guide
Flour Tortillas6 unit Flour TortillasView ingredient guide
Tex-Mex Paste1 unit Tex-Mex PasteView ingredient guide
Cilantro0.25 ounce CilantroView ingredient guide
Saltteaspoon (tsp) SaltView ingredient guide
Sugar1 teaspoon (tsp) SugarView ingredient guide
Cooking Oil1 teaspoon (tsp) Cooking OilView ingredient guide
Black Pepperteaspoon (tsp) Black PepperView ingredient guide

Instructions

  1. Wash and dry produce. Halve, peel and finely dice the onion. Finely chop the cilantro.
  2. Heat a drizzle of oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add the onion and a pinch of salt; cook, stirring occasionally, until slightly softened and lightly browned, 2-3 minutes. Add the ground pork and Southwest Spice Blend. Cook, breaking up the meat into pieces, until browned and cooked through, 4-6 minutes. Carefully pour off any excess grease.
  3. While the pork cooks, in a large bowl, combine the shredded red cabbage, mayonnaise, half the cilantro, half the rice wine vinegar, 1 teaspoon sugar and a pinch of salt and pepper. Stir to combine.
  4. Stir the Tex-Mex paste into the pan with the pork mixture until fully coated. Taste and season with salt and pepper. Remove the pan from heat. Wrap the tortillas in damp paper towels and microwave until warm and pliable, about 30 seconds. Divide the tortillas between plates and fill with the pork filling, Monterey Jack cheese, cabbage slaw, sour cream and remaining cilantro.

Recipe Tips

For extra heat, add a pinch of cayenne pepper or a dash of hot sauce to the pork mixture.

If you don’t have a microwave, warm the tortillas in a dry skillet over medium heat for about 30 seconds per side.

Feel free to substitute ground turkey or chicken for the pork if desired.

FAQ

Can I use a different type of cheese?

Yes, you can substitute Monterey Jack with cheddar, pepper jack or a Mexican blend cheese.

How do I store leftovers?

Store the pork filling, slaw and tortillas separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat the pork in a skillet and assemble tacos fresh.

Can I make this recipe gluten-free?

Absolutely! Use corn tortillas instead of flour tortillas to make these tacos gluten-free.

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