Kalua Pork Slow Cooker Recipe With Three Ingredients

Kalua Pork Slow Cooked will be one of the simplest recipes you’ll make, and most requested recipes when I make this dish for a crowd!

Kalua Pork

Today I’m reposting a recipe I made in 2012.  I’ve updated the photos.

Hawaii is a special place for my family.

Alan and I fell in love during a senior graduation trip to Waikiki.

Our first child was born at the pink hospital (Tripler Army Medical Center), and we had two military tours on Oahu giving us eight years of kamaʻaina (local) status.

When our Silver Anniversary neared we were naturally inclined to visit paradise again, but decided to tour one the islands we never visited, Lanai!

Kalua Pork Slow Cooker method replicates the traditional Hawaiian-style!

Although I felt a little guilty that we left our son behind (and daughter, but she’s in college and doesn’t live with us full-time), it quickly dissipated – lol

The reason I didn’t feel so guilty? I loaded up our son with a staple in the Hawaiian diet, Kalua pig.

The traditional way to cook kalua pork is to dig a hole in the ground, line it with rocks and add fire forming an oven.  

Then you would add the meat and cook it ALL DAY LONG.  

Making this kalua pork made in a crock pot is MUCH simpler than the fire-pit underground oven!

Sam would have survived just fine with his bagel, cream cheese, flaming’ hot Cheetos sandwiches, I’m certain.

Ingredients For Kalua Pork Slow Cooker Method

Three simple ingredients is all you need;

• Pork butt or shoulder
• Sea salt
• Liquid smoke

That’s it!!

What’s The Difference Between Pork Shoulder and Pork Butt?

Both cuts of meat come from the shoulder portion of the pig. The only difference is the section of the meat is from. Cook’s Illustrated displays a photo perfectly!

Photo source: Cook’s Illustrated

What to Serve with Kalua Pork

This is a great dish for a crowd. I like to serve it with Hawaiian sweet bread rolls like a sandwich.

Some of my other favorite side dishes are Hawaiian style macaroni lightened up, sticky rice or shrimp and pineapple fried rice.

We spent a relaxing week lounging on the beach, hiking, exploring, eating local foods, and drinking a few mai tai cocktails.

Somehow they tasted so much better with a beautiful sunset in our view!

Looking for more slow cooker recipes?

Be sure to check out these delicious recipes:

• Slow cooked meatballs
• Keto slow cooker chicken
• Meaty crockpot pasta sauce
• Slow cooker pot roast

Kalua Pork Slow Cooker Method

Tender kalua pork made with three ingredients. Serve on sandwich rolls or top on rice. This slow cooker method replicates the traditional Hawaiian underground cooking style.

5 from 8 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Main Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: crock pot, pork, slow cooker

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 10 hours hours

Total Time: 10 hours hours 10 minutes minutes

Servings: 10 servings

Calories: 732kcal

Author: Sandra Shaffer

Ingredients

• 4-6 pound pork butt roast also called pork shoulder
• 2 teaspoons Hawaiian salt or sea salt
• 1 tablespoon Liquid smoke

Instructions

• Put meat in the slow cooker. Score meat and rub salt on the meat, then add the liquid smoke.
• Cook on low for about 10-12 hours (your slow cooker may only take 7-8 hours). Turn the meat once. The meat will easily fall apart when it is done. Shred with a fork

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 732kcal | Protein: 63g | Fat: 51g | Saturated Fat: 19g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 27g | Cholesterol: 234mg | Sodium: 608mg

Disclaimer

Please note that the nutritional information provided are guidelines and may vary based on the brand of products used. For your specific nutritional goals use My Fitness Pal or Verywell Fit recipe calculators. All content within this site is not intended as medical diagnosis or treatment and should not be considered a substitute for professional medical expertise.

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