Easy 6 Ingredient Al Pastor Sauce for the Best Oven-Baked Chicken Al Pastor Tacos

Easy 6 Ingredient Al Pastor Sauce for the Best Oven-Baked Chicken Al Pastor Tacos

This al pastor sauce is the easiest sauce to make and keep in the fridge for when those al pastor cravings hit!

The first time I tried al pastor was in Mexico, at this tiny stand nowhere near the beach. It wasn’t a wander into a random taqueria kind of story though – I had did some hardcore research and decided that this particular stand was known as the best tacos al pastor in all the land. Mike and I went, not really knowing anything about it.

We ordered two tacos and then proceeded to order 10 more. They were that good. Juicy, smoky, savory rotisserie grilled pork, topped off with just the thinnest slice of roasted pineapple. We were hooked. From then, al pastor has been one of my favorite tacos. We eat them all the time now, both at taquerias and at home.

This is an easy 6 ingredient recipe that you can throw together in 5 minutes (minus the pepper soaking time). Traditionally al pastor is for pork, but there was a buy one get one free sale on drumsticks and I love drumsticks. They came out juicy and full of flavor. Perfect on their own, but even better tucked into tortillas.

EASY 6 INGREDIENT AL PASTOR SAUCE                     MAKES ABOUT 1 CUP SAUCEPREP TIME: 15 MINUTESACTIVE TIME: 5 MINUTESTOTAL TIME: 20 MINUTES

• 8 dried guajillo peppers or dried red pepper of choice
• 8 garlic cloves
• 1 small can chipotle in adobo
• 1/2 cup rice vinegar
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 1.5 tablespoon salt

Bring a small pot of water up to a boil over high heat and remove from the heat. Put the guajillo peppers in the water, making sure that they’re fully submerged. Let soak for 10-15 minutes, or until very soft. Remove from the water, pull off the stems, open and deseed.

Place the peppers, garlic, adobo, rice vinegar, sugar, and salt in a blender and blend until smooth. Use to marinate meats or fish.

EASY OVEN-BAKED CHICKEN AL PASTOR RECIPESERVES 2PREP TIME: 5 MINUTESCOOK TIME: 45 MINUTESTOTAL TIME: 50 MINUTES

• 5-6 chicken drumsticks
  
• 1/2 batch al pastor sauce, see above
  
• 1-2 cups roughly chopped fresh pineapple
  
• 1/2 small onion, thinly sliced
  
• cilantro, to serve
• 1 lime, cut into wedges
• warmed tortillas, to serve

Marinate the drumsticks in al pastor sauce for 30 minutes or overnight.

Heat the oven to 375°F and bake with half the pineapples for 45 minutes until cooked through (160°F). Turn the oven on broil and crisp up for 2-3 minutes, checking often.

Top with remaining pineapples, thinly sliced onions, and cilantro. Serve as is, with lime, or shred and serve with warmed tortillas.