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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!
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
12 hrs
Total Time
12 hrs 5 mins
Servings: 10 servings
Calories: 230 kcal
Course:
Dinner
Cuisine:
American
Ingredients
- 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
Instructions
Slow Cooker Kalua Pork:
- 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.
- 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.
Cup of Yum
Instant Pot Kalua Pork:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
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
% 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.