Cochinita Pibil Tacos

Make this delicious, juicy & healthyCochinita Pibil! A traditional Mexican pulled pork dish from the state of Yucatan and a favorite of many Mexican food lovers.

What Is Cochinita Pibil?

One of the tastiest and most popular Mexican meat dishes is Cochinita Pibil. This slow cooked pork gets its flavor from achiote. It looks spicy due to the red color but its looks are deceiving! It’s not spicy at all, just flavorful!

Achiote, also known as annatto, is a fantastic natural ingredient that comes from the seeds of the achiote tree.

The name derives from the Mayan language. For the Mayans, the “Pib” or “Pibil” was a method of cooking meat. Pib means “buried” or “cooked underground”.

Also “Cochinita” means little pig in English.

The traditional way of making Cochinita Pibil is by cooking in the ground a marinated pig wrapped in banana leaves. It cooks for hours until it’s well done. The end result is pork that just melts in your mouth.

But Who has time for that?!! Plus finding banana leaves is impossible for most people.

The solution my friends is using the slow cooker method! The end result is still the same: shredded pork that is delicious and melts in your mouth. Yum!

Why this recipe works

Tender and Juicy Goodness: When you slow-cook the pork, it becomes incredibly tender and juicy. The low, slow heat works its magic resulting in mouthwatering, melt-in-your-mouth deliciousness.
Effortless Cooking: One of the best things about using a slow-cooker is the set-it-and-forget-it convenience.
Feeds a Crowd: This dish is perfecto for hosting as this method allows you to prepare a generous amount of pork with minimal effort. Your guests will love the tender and flavorful pork, and you’ll be able to enjoy the party without being tied to the kitchen.

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Ingredients

The Pork: Use boneless lean pork loin (my preferred meat), pork shoulder or pork butt. This rends a tender and low in fat meat. However, if you don’t like to eat pork, you can make it with lean chicken or turkey breast as well.
Spices: The main flavor for this dish is Achiote paste (Annatto in English) and can be found in latin grocery stores or if you don’t have one nearby you can buy it on amazon.
For the marinade: a co*ke and a beer (you’ll be amazed how great these two go together!), plus a little vinegar & beef bullion.

Note:Using achiote paste with a co*ke & a beer is part of our traditional family recipe. Some recipes call for sour orange juice or other citrus juices and mixture cumin seeds, mexican oregano, annatto seeds, garlic cloves, whole spices, a cinnamon stick, bay leaf and other spices.

How to cook Cochinita Pibil (Slow-Cooker)

This is a visual overview of the steps to make this recipe. See the detailed list of ingredients & instructions in the recipe card below.

Don’t we all love slow cookers since we can set dinner and forget about it? The preparation for this recipe is super easy:

In a small bowl, dissolve 3.5 ounces of achiote in vinegar. I use a fork to break it down.

Then add a tablespoon of beef bullion to the achiote/vinegar mix to dissolve that as well.

Place the pork, achiote mix, beer and soda in the crockpot. Mix and incorporate all ingredients well.

Cover and cook for 4 hours on high or 8 hours on low.

The pork is ready when it shreds easily. Remove a few pieces of pork at a time and shred with two forks in a bowl. Note: You can do this step in the crockpot as well but I prefer to do it in a bowl so you don’t risk scratching the crockpot.

Return shredded pork to the crockpot and cook for 30 more minutes. This will ensure all of the meet is infused with the achiote marinate perfectly.

That’s it my friends! Easy peasy right? Now you’re ready to make some amazing tacos with warm corn tortillas, tostadas or just make tortas with the meat.

Serving Suggestions

There are a few must have items when eating Cochinita Pibil. They add the perfect layers of flavor and will elevate your taste buds to the max

Mexican Pickled Red Onions add a perfect crush and citrus flavor to your tacos. Do not skip them!
A good red salsa like this Chile de arbol salsa or an habanero salsa.
And fresh lime juice…I can’t forget to list the lime juice!
Horchata is also a good pairing since it balances well with the spices.
For side dish you can serve with Arroz Rojo or Arroz Primavera.
Got leftovers? Make Tortas De Cochinita Pibil!

How to Store

Fridge:Allow the meat to cool down to room temperature before transferring it to an airtight container. Store it in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
Freezer:If you want to store cochinita for a longer period, freezing is a great option. Place the cooled meat in a freezer-safe container or freezer bags, removing as much air as possible. Seal it tightly and freeze for up to 3 months. Don’t forget to label the container with the date and contents!

Reheating

Stovetop: Heat it over medium heat on a skillet, stirring occasionally to ensure even reheating. Once the meat is heated through, it’s ready to be enjoyed.
Microwave: If you prefer a quicker method, the microwave is a convenient option. Place the meat in a microwave-safe dish, cover it loosely to prevent splatters, and heat it in short intervals, stirring in between. Be cautious not to overheat to avoid drying out the dish.

More Mexican Recipes

Sonoran Hot Dogs
Pambazos
Crispy Taquitos
Entomatadas
Tlacoyos

I hope you like this recipe!Share it, or leave a rating and comment below. For questions that need an answer right away, pleasecontact me and I’ll get back to you asap. Gracias!!!! xx, Ana

Print Recipe:

Cochinita Pibil Recipe

ThisHealthy Crockpot Cochinita Pibilrecipe is a perfect easy, filling weeknight dinner. Made in the slow cooker with only a few ingredients, it’s low in fat, packed with protein and loaded with flavor!

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 4 hours hours 30 minutes minutes

Total Time 4 hours hours 45 minutes minutes

Serving Size 10 4 oz servings

Equipment

Slow cooker

Ingredients

3.5 oz achiote bar annato condiment found in the hispanic section of grocery stores
1/2 cup white vinegar
1 cube of beef bouillon
2 lbs of boneless lean pork loin roast. Cubed into beef stew size and fat trimmed off
12 oz can of co*ke
1 12 oz lite beer bottle (any brand will do) See the notes if you don't want to use beer.
salt & pepper to taste if needed

Instructions

In a small bowl, dissolve the achiote & beef bullion in the vinegar. Use a fork to break it down.
Place the pork, achiote mix, beer and soda in the crockpot. Mix and incorporate all ingredients well.
Cook for 4 hours on high or 8 hours on low.
The pork is ready when it shreds easily. Remove a few pieces of pork at a time and shred with two forks in a bowl.You can do this step in the crockpot as well but I prefer to do it in a bowl so you don’t risk scratching the crockpot.
Return shredded pork to the crockpot and cook for 30 more minutes. This will ensure all of the meet is infused with the achiote perfectly.
Serve on tacos or tortas

Notes

Serve with the following toppings:

Mexican Pickled Onionsadd a perfect crush and citrus flavor to your tacos
A good red salsa like thisChile de arbol salsa.

Nutrition Facts

The History

“The history of this delicious Mexican dish dates back to pre-Hispanic times when spices such as chili were used to season different types of dishes. Later, with the arrival of the Spanish to America, they brought pork to this continent. As a result, some of the recipes and preparation techniques of the Mexican people were adapted to use pork as a base, whereas previously they used deer, wild boar, pheasant, or turkey.”

As with many traditional dishes, Cochinita Pibil varies from region to region. Each area adds its unique twist, making the dish even more diverse and exciting. Some regions use different types of meat, while others introduce local spices and ingredients. There are even vegetarian and vegan versions of the dish available, catering to various dietary preferences.

Which one is your favorite?

This recipe was originally published in August 2010 and it has been updated to include new photos and more instructions. Buen Provecho!

Ana Frias

Cochinita Pibil Tacos | (2024)

What Is Cochinita Pibil?

Why this recipe works

Ingredients

How to cook Cochinita Pibil (Slow-Cooker)

Serving Suggestions

How to Store

Reheating

More Mexican Recipes

Print Recipe:

Cochinita Pibil Recipe

Equipment

Ingredients

Instructions

Notes

Nutrition Facts

The History

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