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shredded pork, pasta salad and white rice on white plate.
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Slow Cooker Kalua Pig

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.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time10 hours
Total Time10 hours 15 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Servings: 12
Author: Sarah Olson

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 4 lbs. Pork butt (often called pork shoulder)
  • 1 tsp. ground pink Himalayan sea salt
  • ¼ tsp. pepper
  • 2 Tbsp. canola oil
  • 1 cup water
  • 2 tsp. liquid hickory smoke
US Customary - Metric

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.

Video

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:
  • The most traditional way is with white rice and mac salad.
  • We love this pork on Hawaiian rolls, topped with barbecue sauce.
  • Use the pork filling in tacos, or as a topping on pizza (think Hawaiian Pizza).

Nutrition

Calories: 222kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 28g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 91mg | Sodium: 260mg | Potassium: 513mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Calcium: 21mg | Iron: 2mg

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