You know the saying: leftovers taste better. Yes, they just do. Braised pork is an inarguable example. And who doesn’t love tacos?
Confession: Some of my very favorite meals are not planned or prepped. I don’t shop for special ingredients or spend hours tweaking special sauces. No. The best breakfasts, lunches and dinners come from leftovers. Truly. Like this leftover braised pork tacos.
For these tacos, the leftover I used was that Hearty Homestyle Pork Ragoût. The rest was just stuff I had in the fridge. Cabbage and onions – nothing earth-shattering there. 
Queso fresco and cilantro are ingredients we use regularly. Ditto for the tortillas and tomatoes. Kind of a Mexican twist on this Italian favorite.
I just nuked the braised pork and heated the tortillas over my gas stove top burner. The rest was just assembly, so I hesitate to even call this a recipe, but they were so good, I had to share with you! And nothing makes me happier than putting together a delicious fresh meal in under 10 minutes. It takes longer to wait in line at Chipotle, right?
Now if I had shopped before making this, I probably would have added some sliced avocado and shredded mozzarella or swapped out the corn tortillas for flour, which oddly weren’t at-the-ready on this day, but sometimes you just have to roll with what you’ve got. Yum!
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Braised Pork Tacos
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: Serves 4
- Diet: Omnivore
Description
Leftover pork ragout gets a fun upgrade in these flavorful tacos.
Topped with fresh veggies and queso fresco, theyre a simple weeknight meal.
Ingredients
- 0.5 recipe leftover Hearty Homestyle Pork Ragout
- 8-10 corn or flour tortillas
- 2 tomatoes (chopped)
- 8 oz (227 g) queso fresco
- 2 cups (473 ml) thinly sliced or shredded cabbage
- 0.5 cups (118 ml) red onion
- 1 cups (237 ml) fresh cilantro leaves
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 300°F (149°C).
- Heat tortillas over a gas flame, flipping with tongs until charred, or in a medium-high heat skillet until fragrant and slightly colored on both sides.
- Transfer tortillas to a baking sheet and keep warm in the oven.
- Reheat braised pork in the microwave or on the stovetop.
- Arrange tomato, avocado, cabbage, onion, cilantro, and queso fresco on a platter.
- Transfer pork to a serving bowl.
- Serve pork with vegetables and warm tortillas.
Notes
- For extra flavor, add a squeeze of lime juice to the pork before serving.
- If you don’t have queso fresco, use crumbled cotija cheese or feta cheese instead.
- To make ahead, prepare the toppings and reheat the pork separately. Assemble tacos just before serving.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Braising
- Cuisine: Italian-inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 tacos
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 5
- Sodium: 400
- Fat: 15
- Saturated Fat: 5
- Unsaturated Fat: 10
- Carbohydrates: 30
- Fiber: 4
- Protein: 25
- Cholesterol: 60
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a different type of cheese instead of queso fresco?
Yes, you can substitute queso fresco with shredded mozzarella or any cheese you prefer, but it will alter the flavor slightly.
What type of tortillas should I use for these tacos?
While the recipe mentions using corn tortillas, you can swap them for flour tortillas if that’s what you have on hand.
How do I reheat the leftover braised pork for the tacos?
You can reheat the leftover braised pork in the microwave until warmed through, or you can warm it gently in a skillet over low heat.
