Hawaiian Pork Recipe (Kalua Pork)

User Reviews

4.9

36 reviews
Excellent
  • Prep Time

    5 mins

  • Cook Time

    12 hrs

  • Total Time

    12 hrs 5 mins

  • Servings

    10 servings

  • Calories

    230 kcal

  • Course

    Dinner

  • Cuisine

    American

Hawaiian Pork Recipe (Kalua Pork)

This ridiculously easy, smoky and salty Kalua Pork (aka Kalua Pig) is made with only 3-ingredients in the slow cooker or instant pot.  The mouth-watering meat is tender, juicy, and delicious all on its own, but it can also be used for burritos, salads, tacos, and more!

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Ingredients

Servings
  • 4-6 pounds boneless pork shoulder or pork butt roast
  • 1 Tablespoon hickory or mesquite flavored liquid smoke
  • 1 Tablespoon red Hawaiian sea salt or pink Himalayan salt
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Instructions

Slow Cooker Kalua Pork:

  1. Place the pork in the bottom of the slow cooker and pierce all over with the tines of a fork. Pour the liquid smoke over the pork and sprinkle with the salt. Cover and cook on LOW for 12-14 hours.
  2. Remove from slow cooker and transfer to a large bowl or serving platter, then shred, removing any large pieces of fat as you go. Spoon as much of the extra juices from the slow cooker as desired over the shredded kalua pork to keep it from drying out.

Instant Pot Kalua Pork:

  1. Cut the pork into large chunks, then place in the instant pot and pierce all over with the tines of a fork. Pour the liquid smoke over the pork and sprinkle with the salt. Cover, set the knob to seal, then cook on high pressure for 60 minutes.
  2. If you are making a larger roast, you will need to add 15 more minutes cooking time at high pressure for each additional pound of meat. Allow the instant pot to do a natural release for 25 minutes, then manually release any remaining pressure and open.
  3. Remove from instant pot and transfer to a large bowl or serving platter, then shred, removing any large pieces of fat as you go. Spoon as much of the extra juices from the instant pot as desired over the shredded kalua pork to keep it from drying out.

Notes

  • You could also shred the meat directly in the slow cooker or instant pot, but you will want to remove some of the juices first so you can control the amount of juiciness at the end.
  • If you have access to banana leaves from an Asian grocery store, you can place some leaves in the bottom of the slow cooker or instant pot, then set the pork roast on top of the leaves before adding the liquid smoke and salt. Then wrap the leaves tightly around the pork and cook as directed.

Nutrition Information

Show Details
Calories 230kcal (12%) Protein 41g (82%) Fat 6g (9%) Saturated Fat 2g (10%) Polyunsaturated Fat 1g Monounsaturated Fat 3g Trans Fat 1g Cholesterol 109mg (36%) Sodium 799mg (33%) Potassium 686mg (20%) Calcium 13mg (1%) Iron 2mg (11%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 10servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories 230 kcal

% Daily Value*

Calories 230kcal 12%
Protein 41g 82%
Fat 6g 9%
Saturated Fat 2g 10%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g 6%
Monounsaturated Fat 3g 15%
Trans Fat 1g 50%
Cholesterol 109mg 36%
Sodium 799mg 33%
Potassium 686mg 15%
Calcium 13mg 1%
Iron 2mg 11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

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Overall Rating

4.9

36 reviews
Excellent

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