Slow Cooker Kalua Pig

Jul 31, 2019Updated Sep 08, 2024

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Slow Cooker Kalua Pig is just like the Hawaiian pork that is served at a luau or at your local Hawaiian restaurant. Great on buns or with rice.

Most recipes for pulled pork in the slow cooker have barbecue sauce for flavor. This recipe does not need anything to cover up the pork; a few simple ingredients highlight the flavor of the pork. We also love our slow cooker root beer pork recipe.

Shredded Hawaiian style pork in a slow cooker with pasta salad and rice on the side.

What is Kalua Pig:

Kalua pig has nothing to do with Kaluha, the coffee liquor.
Kalua is a traditional Hawaiian cooking method using an imu, an underground oven.
Kalua pig is often the main attraction at Luaus.
Here in this recipe, we use liquid hickory smoke and sea salt and cook in the slow cooker instead of an imu.

Large pork roast, Himalayan sea salt and hickory liquid smoke in front of a slow cooker.

What you need:

Only a few ingredients are needed to make Kalua Pig in the slow cooker; pork shoulder, cooking oil to brown the pork, Himalayan sea salt, hickory liquid smoke, and water.
Don’t skip the Himalayan sea salt. Its delicate salt flavor highlights the pork flavor. Buy a jar, and it will last you for years. I buy mine in the grinder jar.
Hickory liquid smoke can be found on the same aisle as the barbecue sauce.
The full recipe is in the recipe card below the images.

Variations

Make the pork spicy by added 2-3 sliced jalapenos.
Other great additions are soy sauce and whole garlic cloves.
You can also add teriyaki sauce to the pork if you prefer more flavor.

Pork roast unwrapped on a cutting board with jar of Himalayan sea salt next to it.

Directions:

Sprinkle the pork loin with the Himalayan sea salt.
Set a large skillet over medium-high heat on the stove-top. Add the cooking oil. Brown the roast on all sides.
Place the pork into a 6-quart or larger slow cooker.Pour over the water and liquid smoke.Place the lid on the slow cooker and cook on LOW for 10-12 hours. This may seem like a long time but it’s worth the wait.Shred the meat with 2 forks and served with some of the slow cooker’s juices.

What size pork butt?

This recipe is adaptable to any size pork butt, you can use this recipe with a 1.5 to 6 pound pork. As long as you can fit the pork in the slow cooker and place the lid on ultimately, it will work.

How to serve Kalua Pig

When serving, I like to serve the pork with items you would see at a luau. We love serving this meal when we are feeding a crowd.

Hawaiian rolls – on the side with butter or serve the pork on them
Pasta Salad – We love this summer garden pasta salad from the retro potluck along side our pork. It’s the pasta salad that is in the photographs.
White rice – use a rice cooker for an easy-peasy meal—another great option is coconut rice.
Tropical fruit Salad
Sriracha – for spicing up the pork for those who like heat.
Other great ways to use pulled pork are in tacos, on pizza (think Hawaiian pizza instead of ham), or in fried rice.

Slow Cooker Kalua Pig, shredded in a slow cooker.

Can I freeze Kalua Pig?

Yes, place 2 cups of the shredded pork in a Ziplock bag along with a splash of the pork juices. Doing this will minimize freezer burn on the shredded pork.
Freeze for up to two months. To thaw, place in the fridge over night. Heat in microwave or in a skillet for serving.

white plate with pasta salad, shredded pork and white rice.

More slow cooker pork recipes.

shredded pork, pasta salad and white rice on white plate.

Slow Cooker Kalua Pig

Prep Time: 15

Cook Time: 10

Total Time: 10 15

Servings:

By: Sarah Olson

Slow cooker Kalua pig is an easy and reliable way to recreate the tender, smoky flavor of traditional Hawaiian kalua pig. With just a few ingredients—pork shoulder, liquid smoke, and himalayan sea salt—you can achieve a wonderful authentic meal without the need for an underground oven.

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How to Video

Equipment

Slow Cooker- 6 quart or larger (I own and use this one from Crock-Pot)

Ingredients

Instructions

Rinse and pat dry the pork roast. I don't often rinse my meat, but pork can sometimes be very slimey.
Sprinkle the roast with the salt and pepper. In a large skillet set to medium-high heat, heat up the oil, and sear the roast on all sides. Add to the slow cooker.
Add the water and hickory smoke.
Cover and cook on LOW for 10 – 12 hours, without opening the lid during the cooking time. If you roast is slightly frozen, you can cook on high for a few hours before switching to low.
Shred the pork with two forks. I like to remove the roast onto a large baking sheet that has a lip on it. Discard any fat. Add the shredded roast back to the slow cooker with about a cup of the juices that it was cooked in.
Serve and enjoy. Serving suggestions are rice, mac salad, hawaiian rolls and don't forget the sriracha.

Sarah’s Notes

Different size of pork shoulder?

Any size pork roast can be used, increase or decrease the salt, pepper, liquid smoke amounts slightly.

If you want to freeze the pork:

Place 2 cups of the shredded pork in a Ziplock bag along with a splash of the pork juices. Doing this will minimize freezer burn on the shredded pork.
Freeze for up to two months. To thaw, place in the fridge overnight. Heat in microwave or in a skillet for serving.

How to Serve: