Root Beer Braised Pork Tacos (Print)

Tender pork shoulder braised in spiced root beer, shredded and served in tortillas with fresh toppings for a flavor-packed meal.

# Components:

→ Pork & Marinade

01 - 2 lbs boneless pork shoulder
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 1 large yellow onion, sliced
04 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1 cup Rebel Float Root Beer (or other high-quality root beer)
06 - 1/2 cup chicken broth
07 - 2 tablespoons tomato paste
08 - 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
09 - 1 tablespoon brown sugar
10 - 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
11 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
12 - 1 teaspoon chili powder
13 - 1 teaspoon salt
14 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

→ Tacos & Toppings

15 - 8 small corn or flour tortillas, warmed
16 - 2 cups shredded cabbage or slaw mix
17 - 1/4 cup sour cream or dairy-free yogurt
18 - 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
19 - 1 medium red onion, thinly sliced
20 - 1 lime, cut into wedges
21 - Optional: sliced jalapeños, diced tomatoes, avocado

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 325°F.
02 - Pat the pork shoulder dry and season with salt and pepper.
03 - Heat olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Sear pork on all sides until browned (about 4 minutes per side). Remove and set aside.
04 - In the same pot, add sliced onion and cook for 3 minutes until softened. Add garlic and cook 1 minute more.
05 - Stir in tomato paste, smoked paprika, cumin, chili powder, and brown sugar. Cook for 1 minute, then deglaze with vinegar.
06 - Pour in the root beer and chicken broth, stirring to scrape up browned bits.
07 - Return pork to the pot, cover with lid, and transfer to oven. Braise for 2.5 to 3 hours until pork is very tender and easily shreds with a fork.
08 - Remove pork from pot and shred with two forks. Skim excess fat from braising liquid and reduce on stovetop for 10 minutes until slightly thickened.
09 - Return shredded pork to sauce and mix well.
10 - Fill each tortilla with braised pork, slaw, a drizzle of sour cream, red onion, cilantro, and any additional toppings. Serve with lime wedges.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Easy to prepare with minimal active cooking time
  • Uses a unique ingredient most home cooks already love root beer
  • Creates enough for leftovers that taste even better the next day
  • Perfect for weekend family dinners or casual entertaining
02 -
  • Makes excellent leftovers that develop even more flavor overnight
  • Can be made in a slow cooker on low for 7 to 8 hours or high for 4 to 5 hours
  • Perfect for meal prep as the pork freezes beautifully for up to 3 months
03 -
  • The key to this recipe is patience during the braising process. Resist the urge to increase the temperature to speed things up. Low and slow cooking allows the collagen in the pork shoulder to break down properly resulting in that meltinyourmouth texture we all crave.
  • I've learned through many Sunday dinners that an extra 30 minutes in the oven is always worth the wait when it comes to braised pork.
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