Tender Slow Cooker Kalua Pork with only 6 ingredients. Smoky, juicy Hawaiian pulled pork that’s perfect for plates, sliders, or tacos.
I first made this Kalua Pork after a trip to Kauai, Hawaii and every time I make it, I can’t help be transported back to the warm sun, the cool ocean water and the fresh island air.
This is an easy recipe you can make in your slow cooker. The tender meat is flavored with pineapple juice and a touch of mustard to balance out the sweetness. A little liquid smoke creates that authentic smokiness you experience when you have it in Hawaii. With my version, you can bring the islands to your own kitchen.
My Favorite Kitchen Tools To Make This Recipe
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What is Kalua Pork?
Traditional Kalua Pork is made by cooking a whole pig in an underground oven all day. While it cooks, the meat turns tender and smoky so when it’s time to serve it, it practically falls apart on its own.
It’s a traditional dish that’s served at Hawaiian luaus, which I was lucky enough to experience during my trip. It’s an experience I won’t soon forget and, after arriving home, I had to recreate it.
Kalua Pork Tips
How to Make it in Your Slow Cooker
Once you have your ingredients it’s just four simple steps to make it. With this recipe, you get mouthwatering pork that has simmered in a pineapple sauce that thickens as it cooks.
Place the brown sugar, pineapple juice, cornstarch, mustard and liquid smoke in the slow cooker. Whisk them together until smooth. Place the meat in the slow cooker with the sauce.
Secure the lid and cook it all on low for 4-6 hours or on high for 2-4 hours.
When the cooking time is up, shred the meat and it’s ready to serve.
More Easy Slow Cooker Recipes
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Slow Cooker Kalua Pork with Pineapple
Video
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup brown sugar packed
- 1/2 cup pineapple juice water can be substituted
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 1/2 teaspoons liquid smoke
- 3 lbs. boneless pork loin
- 1 tablespoon coarse sea salt
Instructions
- Add all of the ingredients, except the pork loin into the slow cooker. Whisk together to combine.
- Add pork loin on top of the sauce.
- Place lid on slow cooker and set on low for 4-6 hours or on high 2-4 hours.
- Shred pork.
- Serve over rice or as a sandwich.
Notes
Vegan so I’m trying this with Jack Fruit.
Can you make this with a shoulder roast or should it really be a loin?
You can definitely use a shoulder roast! They are usually bigger so you’ll either have to cut it or double the recipe for it. The main difference is the shoulder has more fat, so you will notice that. Luckily the slow cooker is good at breaking it down. Enjoy, let us know how it turns out!
I used to make your recipe frequently, but I see it has changed significantly from what it originally was. At first I thought I was just confused, but your recipe description actually still matches what I remember with the pineapple tidbits, mustard and cornstarch. Can you please post the original recipe again? In my opinion it was so much better than the current pared down recipe. Thank you!
sorry, I haven’t changed anything with this recipe.
I appreciate the response, but considering the description of the recipe specifically lists pineapple tidbits, cornstarch, and Dijon mustard as ingredients, it seems pretty apparent that this is not the same recipe.
Agreed! And so sorry about that, it’s being updated as we speak with photos that accurately fit the recipe, glad you brought this to my attention!