Spice up taco Tuesday with this fun cheesy, crispy, pulled pork taco recipe. These crispy tacos are packed full of Monterey Jack cheese and juicy pulled pork, fried in their own fat, and topped with a tangy grapefruit salsa. Yeah, you just won taco night.

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“One night a week is not enough, Taco Month anyone?”

-JJ

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Corn or Flour Tortillas for Crispy Tacos?

What kind of tortilla makes the best crispy taco? Let’s explore.

Corn Tortillas: Corn tortillas are an obvious and traditional choice for any sort of taco. They have that classic corn flavor which pairs perfectly with Mexican spices. Corn tortillas will crisp up nicely, but they do run the risk of crumbling and falling apart

Flour Tortillas: Flour tortillas are what we use for this crispy taco recipe. They are softer and we personally like the chew that they have. Flour tortillas are also more pliable, making them easy to fold and hold all of your favorite fillings. They will soak up more of the pork juice and butter, which can make them soggy if you aren’t careful.

There’s no one “right” type of tortilla for making crispy tacos, just the type you prefer.

Tortilla making is an art form with a rich history, learn more about it here. Article: The Tortilla’s History

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Crispy Taco Filling

For these cheesy crispy tacos, we use pulled pork from our sous vide pork shoulder recipe. Using the sous vide to cook a pork shoulder results in ultra juicy, tender pulled pork, every time. It’s super easy, check out the recipe here. Sous Vide Pork Shoulder.

If you don’t have the time to cook a pork shoulder but still want pulled pork tacos, just pick up some pre made stuff from the grocery store or from your favorite local bbq restaurant.

Otherwise you can use whatever filling your heart desires. Cook up some ground beef or boil some chicken. Ground pork works great too.

Tofu or no meat crispy tacos are an option as well. For a vegetarian option, slice up whatever veggies you want, like onions and bell peppers, sauté them and follow the rest of the instructions that follow.

Or you could try making crispy fish tacos. Rockfish, Halibut, or any other flaky whitefish make great fish tacos.

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CHEESY CRISPY TACOS W/ GRAPEFRUIT SALSA

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Ingredients for Crispy Tacos

Here’s what you’ll need to make crispy tacos:

• Meat: We use pulled pork for this crispy taco recipe. Click here to check out the recipe. Otherwise you can use whatever protein you like, ground beef, chicken, or do tofu or veggie tacos.

• Cheese: Use a super melty gooey cheese like Monterey Jack, Mozzarella, or a Mexican blend.

• Tortilla: We like the gooey interior or flour tortillas, but corn will crisp up better.

• Herbs: Cilantro all day.

• Salsa: We make a super fun grapefruit salsa that highlights the pork. A green salsa is also a great option with pulled pork. But feel free to use your favorite salsa.

• Hot Sauce: Spice things up if you want to. Use your favorite hot sauce to turn up the heat.

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How to Make Crispy Tacos

Follow these steps to make crispy tacos:

Step 1: Grease Skillet

If you are using pulled pork from our sous vide pork shoulder recipe, make sure to reserve the juices from the bag once you remove the pork shoulder. This will be what you fry your tacos in to crisp them up. Yum.

In a nonstick skillet over medium heat, transfer a couple spoonfuls of the pork shoulder juice, or a 1/2 tbsp of butter.

Step 2: Fill Tortilla

Once the juice/butter starts to bubble place a tortilla onto the skillet. Pile on your cheese and a handful of shredded pulled pork, or whatever filling you are using.

Use tongs or a spatula to move the tortilla around in the skillet, to soak up all the oil or butter.

Step 3: Flip & Fry

Use a fork to lightly press down on one side of the taco and use a spatula or tongs to grab the other side and flip it onto itself.

Fry each side for 2-5 minutes. Swirling the taco in any excess oil or butter. The taco should be crispy and charred in places.

Step 4: Garnish & Serve

Transfer to a warm serving plate and garnish with a dollop of sour cream, some chopped cilantro, and a heaping spoonful of grapefruit salsa. Enjoy!

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How to Make Grapefruit Salsa

This grapefruit salsa is so bright and fun, it really makes the pulled pork pop! It’s super tasty and super easy to make. Just grab these ingredients and get to making this grapefruit salsa. It’s the perfect way to top off your crispy tacos.

• Ruby Red Grapefruit: Fruit from one whole grapefruit, roughly chopped.

• Tomato: Half a medium tomato, chopped.

• Jalapeño: One whole jalapeño, deseeded and minced.

• Onion: Half a white onion, peeled and minced.

• Orange Bell Pepper: Half of a orange bell pepper, deseeded and finely chopped.

• Lime Juice: 1 Tbsp fresh squeezed lime juice.

• Cilantro: 1 Tbsp roughly chopped fresh cilantro.

• Spices: 1 tsp Salt, 1/2 tsp Black Pepper, 1/4 tsp Cayenne.

Combine all the ingredients in a small mixing bowl and serve alongside crispy tacos. Any leftovers will keep in an airtight container, in the fridge for 3-4 days.

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Leftover Crispy Tacos

These pulled pork tacos will never be as crispy and delicious as they are right off the stove. So make them to order and enjoy them right away.

If you have a bunch of leftovers you can store the crispy tacos, in an airtight container or wrap them in foil or plastic wrap and place them in the refrigerator. The tacos won’t be crispy once they’ve cooled and been stored.

To reheat, add butter or oil to a nonstick skillet and fry them over medium heat, on both sides for a minute or two. Or you could wrap in foil and place in a 350°F oven for 5-10 minutes or until heated through.

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More Tasty Taco Recipes

Dig these crispy tacos and want more?! We got ya covered, check out some more of our recipes and let us know what you think.

Make these extra gooey Ground Beef Enchiladas with Green Sauce. They’re a crowd pleaser and they’re so easy and so tasty with melty cheese and tart salsa verde. Yum

Or check out our Mexican Turkey recipe. Its’ a fun way to cook a big bird. Poaching in makes it so juicy and then we top it with an awesome spicy adobo sauce.

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Crispy Taco FAQ’s

Can I make crispy tacos with soft tortillas?

Yup! That’s how we do it in this recipe. We prefer flour tortillas, but corn works too.

Can I make crispy tacos ahead of time?

Go ahead and make the filling ahead of time, but it’s best to make the taco just before serving. They’ll never be as crispy or delicious as thy are right off the skillet.

What can I use instead of Pulled pork for the crispy taco filling?

Ground turkey, chicken, or ground beef can be used to make killer crispy tacos. You can also use vegetarian options such as black beans, lentils, or tofu. It’s your taco, put what you want in it!

How can I make my crispy tacos less greasy?

To reduce the grease in your tacos, try using a leaner cut of meat or draining off any excess fat after cooking. You can also use a paper towel to blot the filling before placing it in the taco shells. But, grease is good, helps everything crisp up!