Guajillo Pork Tamales
Guajillo Pork Tamales feature tender shredded pork simmered with guajillo and chipotle chiles, tomato, and warm spices for a deep, smoky heat balanced by subtle sweetness. Wrapped in fluffy, lard-whipped masa and steamed in corn husks, they’re richly aromatic and satisfying. Serve them for a cozy weekend dinner, holiday gatherings, or anytime you’re craving comforting Mexican flavors.
- Prep45 mins
- Cook5 hrs 10 mins
- Serves15
- DifficultyHard
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Guajillo Pork Tamales, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactFair
- 52 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 1 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityFair
- 52 / 100
- Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
- NOVA Processed Culinary Ingredients
- 2 / 4
- Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.
How it scores for each health goal
The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.
- 32
- Heart Health
- 61
- Metabolic
- 20
- Digestive
- 21
- Inflammatory
- 34
- Performance
- 32
- General Wellness
- 1
Soak the corn husks in a heavy pot or skillet filled with water for 24 hours, keeping them fully submerged.
- 2
About four hours before the corn husks are ready, place the guajillo chile peppers in a dry skillet over medium heat and toast until fragrant, 20 to 30 seconds per side. Add some water to the skillet and simmer until tender, about 2 minutes. Transfer the chiles to a blender.
- 3
Add 1 cup beef broth, tomato sauce, onion, garlic, chipotles in adobo sauce, vinegar, cloves, 1 tablespoon salt, cumin, allspice, and black pepper to the blender; blend until the marinade is smooth.
- 4
Place the pork butt in a slow cooker and pour the marinade over the top. Cover the slow cooker. Cook on Low until the pork is tender and shreds easily with a fork, 4 to 5 hours.
- 5
Shred the pork; return it to the slow cooker and stir it into the sauce until well combined.
- 6
Meanwhile, in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, whisk together the masa harina, baking powder, garlic powder, and 1 teaspoon salt to combine. Add 2 cups beef broth and the lard; whisk until the mixture is fluffy and well combined (the dough will be sticky).
- 7
Place 1 corn husk on a flat work surface; open it and pat it dry. Spread some dough evenly down the center of the husk, leaving space around the edges; dollop a line of pork filling down the center of the dough.
- 8
Fold one side of the husk over the filling, then fold the other side to overlap, forming a tube. Fold up the narrow end of the husk to seal the bottom, leaving the top open. Tie the tamale with 1 strip of husk or kitchen twine.
- 9
Place a steamer insert into a large saucepan and fill with water to just below the bottom of the insert. Bring the water to a boil.
- 10
Place the tamales vertically in the steamer basket, sealed sides down. Cover the pan and steam for 1 hour. Serve hot.
- Calories 550.09 kcal High 28%
- Protein 26.0 g Good Source 52%
- Carbohydrate 35.28 g 13%
- Total Fat 32.0 g High 41%
- Saturated Fat 10.84 g High 54%
- Trans Fat 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Cholesterol 77.19 mg High 26%
- Sodium 227.95 mg Moderate 10%
- Dietary Fiber 1.98 g Low Source 7%
- Total Sugars 2.83 g --
- Added Sugars 0.06 g Low Source 0%
- Calcium 37.92 mg Low Source 3%
- Iron 3.11 mg Moderate 17%
- Potassium 129.33 mg Low Source 3%
- Vitamin A 16.73 mcg Low Source 2%
- Vitamin C 1.18 mg Low Source 1%
- Vitamin D 0.0 mcg Low Source 0%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Gluten
- Corn 🌽
- Tomatoes 🍅
- Garlic 🧄
- Onions 🧅
About This Recipe
Guajillo Pork Tamales is a Mexican dinner recipe made with 18 ingredients. It takes about 5 hrs 55 mins, serves 15, and is rated hard. Key ingredients include Apple Cider Vinegar, Baking Powder, Beef Broth, and Black Pepper. Each serving provides about 550.09 kcal, and is a good source of protein.
Recipe Questions
- What is Guajillo Pork Tamales?
- It is a Mexican recipe made with 18 ingredients, usually served for dinner or lunch.
- What is Guajillo Pork Tamales made of?
- The main ingredients are Apple Cider Vinegar, Baking Powder, Beef Broth, Black Pepper, Bone-In Pork Shoulder Butt Roast. The full list of 18 is above.
- What goes well with Guajillo Pork Tamales?
- Explore these Mexican side-dish recipes.
- How long does it take to make Guajillo Pork Tamales?
- About 5 hrs 55 mins in total: 45 mins to prepare and 5 hrs 10 mins to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 550.09 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Guajillo Pork Tamales easy to make?
- This recipe is rated hard, with 18 ingredients and 10 steps.
- Is Guajillo Pork Tamales healthy?
- Guajillo Pork Tamales has an easyChef Pro health score of 39/100. Per serving, it provides 550.09 calories and 26.0 g of protein, or 52% of the Daily Value. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 227.95 mg (10% of the Daily Value) and saturated fat at 10.84 g (54% of the Daily Value). It contains Gluten, Corn, Tomatoes, Garlic and Onions, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.
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