What Is Al Pastor? A Guide to the Popular Mexican Food + Recipes

Walk into any Mexican restaurant, and you'll most likely see a large spinning rotisserie of meat, often with a small slice of pineapple on top. While that cooking method might remind you of traditional shawarma, the restaurant is actually preparing a tangy and savory marinated meat known as al pastor.

The al pastor flavor has quickly become a favorite amongst taco enthusiasts thanks to its intoxicating aroma that evokes a unique mix of Middle Eastern and traditional Mexican spices. Even fast-casual restaurants like Chipotle have begun featuring chicken al pastor on their menus. While there's still a debate on where to find the best tacos al pastor, some restaurants and guests might not know the fascinating history behind the traditional al pastor recipe from Mexico.

In the blog below, we answer some common questions about al pastor, explore its rich history and growing popularity beyond Mexico, and look at some common ingredients used in al pastor recipes. We even included a few easy al pastor recipes for those hungering to grill up the dish on their own. And no, you don't need to own a vertical spit to serve fantastic al pastor tacos with large chunks of pineapple.

What is al pastor?

Al pastor is a popular form of preparing and cooking pork in Mexican cuisine. It uses pineapple chunks, chipotle chilies, and other Mexican ingredients. With its savory and sweet taste, Mexican restaurants serve the meat as a burrito or taco alongside other dishes like carnitas, pescado tacos, and chicken burritos. More restaurants are experimenting and going beyond pork al pastor by utilizing chicken, beef, and other proteins.

What does al pastor mean?

Al pastor roughly translates into "Shepherd's style," referring to the style of preparing the meat on a vertical rotisserie. As a name, al pastor first became popular in Mexico City thanks to the Lebanese immigrants arriving in the city in the late 19th and early 20th century. The creators of al pastor combined that traditional shawarma style of preparing food alongside the Mexican ingredients and spices to create a unique recipe enjoyed to this day.

Essential ingredients for your tacos al pastor recipe

What's the key to tacos al pastor? It's all about the marination. While we can't spill the secrets to Chipotle's chicken al pastor, these ingredients will help you perfect your own secret recipe for al pastor on Taco Tuesday, a dinner party, or a fun lunch with friends.

• Chipotle chilies in adobo sauce bring a tangy but spicy flavor to any dish, making them an essential ingredient in any kitchen cooking savory meats. Chefs can also use a single chipotle chile to decrease the spiciness of the overall al pastor dish.
• Guajillo chilies offer any dish with the sweet and smokey flavor associated with most dishes in Mexican cuisine. While Guajillo chilies aren't as spicy as other peppers, they can still bring heat similar to jalapeño peppers.
• Achiote paste is a spice blend used in most Mexican and Belizean cuisine. When added to dishes, achiote generally creates a nutty and earthy flavor. You can also mix achiote powder with oil as a solid marinade for al pastor meat.

• Canned pineapple juice might surprise those unfamiliar with the process of cooking al pastor. Still, the fruit juice brings a vital sweetness that balances the spices found in al pastor recipes. We highly recommend using canned pineapple juice since fresh juice will easily break the meat into a tender slush.
• Mexican oregano is quite similar to the typical oregano found in most kitchens. However, unlike the popular European variant, Mexican oregano offers a bold, citrus flavor to compliment the usual al pastor spices.
• Alongside its sour flavors, apple cider vinegar or white vinegar functions like most acids in any marination. Adding vinegar to your al pastor marination allows the meat to absorb the blend of spices quickly.
• Pineapple chunks are a great way to enhance the sweetness of your al pastor. If you aren't comfortable throwing pieces of pineapple into your al pastor, try making a pineapple salsa that utilizes other spices and flavors as well.

Simple al pastor recipes

While it might seem like you need an advanced degree and a functioning vertical rotisserie to perfect the art of pork or chicken al pastor, these easy recipes show that anyone can make it. Make sure you have a food processor nearby and a baking pan to get the perfect texture for your al pastor meat. If you're feeling adventurous as a chef, feel free to add your variation to traditional al pastor so guests will have another reason to rate your food 5 stars on review sites like Yelp.

What’s the recipe for al pastor marination?

1. First, place 3-5 guajillo chiles in a large pot of water. Do not use hot tap water for this step. Turn the water on medium heat until it begins to boil. Boiling more chiles will make the al pastor spicier.
2. Next, use a food processor to blend the guajillo chiles with the following ingredients until the mixture is completely smooth:

• 2-4 cloves of garlic
• 2-3 chipotle peppers
• 1 teaspoon of Mexican oregano
• 1 tablespoon of cumin
• 2-3 tablespoons achiote paste
• A small pinch of salt and black pepper
• 1/4 to 3/4 cups of apple cider vinegar (depending on portion size)
• 1 tablespoon of chili powder
• 1/2 cup of pineapple juice from a can

Always taste your al pastor marination to see if any ingredients need to be adjusted. If it is too thick or spicy, try watering it to balance the flavors.

Boneless pork shoulder recipe

Now that you've prepared your al pastor marination, here's a simple recipe for cooking boneless pork shoulder al pastor. Any leftovers can be refrigerated in a ziplock bag or jar for up to a week.

1. Refrigerate and marinate the pork in a large bowl for at least 3 hours or up to 3 days.
2. Bake the pork for 1.5 hours in an oven preheated to 350 °F. You can use your preferred sheet pan if you don't have a vertical rotisserie nearby.
   1. Some recipes suggest placing thin slices of the marinated meat on skewers with pineapple and roasting them on a baking sheet in the oven. This method will create a similar effect as cooking the meat on a vertical rotisserie.
3. Thinly slice the pork and serve in warm tortillas with your preferred toppings and salsas.

Chipotle chicken al pastor recipe

You can use the al pastor recipe above to marinate your chipotle chicken. If you want more spice, try adding a few more dried chilies in the food processor and even sprinkling in more chipotle powder to rival Chipotle's chicken al pastor.

1. Marinate chicken breasts or chicken thighs in the al pastor marination for 3 hours to 3 days.
2. Place your marinated chicken al pastor on your preferred baking pan.
3. Bake the chicken for about 15 minutes in an oven preheated to 425 °F. Some ovens may overcook the meat, so periodically check the chicken.
4. Let the chicken cool, then garnish it with lime juice or your preferred salsa to enhance the al pastor flavor.

Besides using a preheated oven, you can also use a skillet or hot grill to cook up your chipotle chicken al pastor. Add oil to a pan, sear the thin slices of chicken until crispy, then use chicken broth to soak the pan and scrape off any leftover pieces of chicken.

Al pastor tips

While the best al pastor chefs make the dish by grilling the meat on a vertical spit, you can also make pretty decent al pastor tacos by grilling the meat in a pan or skillet on medium-high heat with the right amount of olive oil.

Try grilling fresh pineapple pieces to bring that tangy taste to your al pastor marinade and the meat itself. Canned pineapple will also get the job done if you don't have a whole pineapple nearby. And as with all good Mexican food, don't forget to serve your al pastor on warm tortillas to fortify the taco or burrito. Since al pastor can tend to have a lot of juice, sturdy corn tortillas can help keep it together.

Al pastor vs carnitas differences

Carnitas are made by slow-cooking small pieces of meat (typically pork) in lard alongside other spices such as smoked paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder to create a savory flavor. Meanwhile, al pastor uses chipotle and guajillo chilies alongside pineapple to create a tangier and savory flavor profile. Carnitas are prepared similarly to confit by submerging and cooking certain meat in fat over a period of time. Most chefs can prepare al pastor on a non-stick skillet, hot grill, or a vertical spit to resemble shawarma and other rotisserie meats.

Is al pastor spicy?

Al pastor is typically a tad spicy, even when using chipotle peppers to create the al pastor marination. Some restaurants might add more spicy flavors to their own al pastor recipe for their bold guests craving heat in their food. Other restaurants offer spicy salsas and pickled vegetables to create a bite of food each time.

What meat is used for al pastor?

While pork is the original protein used since the dish's inception, more restaurants like Chipotle are starting to create al pastor chicken and tofu for other guests. However, some Mexican restaurants still prepare their al pastor using boneless pork shoulder.

Some restaurants specifically list the meat used to create their al pastor tacos. If you're a concerned guest at a restaurant, ask the appropriate staff member for the type of meat used to prepare their al pastor dishes.

Does al pastor always have pineapple?

Chefs typically serve al pastor with chopped pineapple pieces or pineapple flavoring. Most restaurants use fresh pineapple pieces to ensure the tacos keep the sweet yet smoky taste for guests. Chefs can also use canned pineapple if fresh pineapples are more challenging to find. Guests can also order their al pastor without pineapple chunks.