Slow Cooker Kalua Pork – only 3 ingredients! This is THE BEST pork EVER! So easy and it tastes amazing! Serve on rolls with slaw, on a salad or nachos. We can’t get enough of this yummy pork!
I’ve seen this recipe on the internet for years. I finally got around to giving it a try last week and it was great. This pork couldn’t be easier. Chicken Legs actually made this for us! It has only 3 ingredients – pork, sea salt and liquid smoke. This takes 16-20 hours to make. We started it before we went to bed the night before we ate it. I was concerned that this would be dry and bland, but it was super tasty. We both really enjoyed it! We served the leftovers on the best pretzel buns with some BBQ sauce and slaw.
Found these pretzel slider rolls at Costco – they are SO delicious!
We had the leftover pork on the pretzel rolls with slaw, BBQ sauce and slaw & BBQ sauce.
Yield: serves 10 to 12
Kalua Pork
prep time: 5 MINScook time: 16 hourtotal time: 16 hours and 5 mins
ingredients:
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1 (6 pound) pork butt roast
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3 Tbsp Hawaiian sea salt
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3 Tbsp liquid smoke flavoring
instructions:
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Pierce pork all over with a fork. Combine liquid smoke and salt. Rub mixture over meat. Place roast in a slow cooker.
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Cover, and cook on low for 16 to 20 hours, turning once during cooking time.
- Remove meat from slow cooker and shred.
All images and text ©Plain Chicken, Inc.
I apologize. Went looking on the Internet and apparently this is the correct name for the liquid smoke pork. I’m still looking for one using Kahlua too. 🙂
That would be delicious!
Should be called Smokey Shredded Pork because there’s no Kahlua in the recipe.. 🙂
No, Connie. The term “kalua pork” has been used by Hawaiian cook Sam Choy to describe pork shoulder butt which is rubbed with sea salt, wrapped in ti leaves, and slowly cooked in an oven using liquid mesquite smoke. This is a slow cooker version of that recipe.
Thank you! After I posted my comment and went searching for a pork using Kahlua, I saw my error and apologized. Sorry. Thank you for your patience with me.
I've been using this recipe for a while, now. I read a long time ago that doing it the "real way" it is wrapped in banana leaves. So I wrap mine in parchment and then put it in the crockpot as directed above. It is a great recipe!
I have the red hawiian sea salt. Still use 3tbsp?
For some reason I assumed there would actually be Kahlua in this…hey…I might be onto something!
Rather than a pork shoulder roast, I had a 5# package of pork shoulder boneless spare ribs from Costco. Using sea salt and liquid smoke, I made two layers (ribs, salt, liquid smoke) and cooked them for 11 hours on low in the slow cooker. Turned out amazing!
I just pulled this out of the crock pot. The salt is a bit much, but only on the perimeter of the roast. The texture is wonderful. Next time I may substitute some of the salt for a spice rub that I usually use on my carnitas. Then I would feel comfortable basting the roast with the juices after I shred it.
I lived on the Big Island while attending UH. Kalua pork was one of my favorite dishes. In Hawaii cooks wrap the pork in ti leaves and use Keawe (a relative of the mesquite family) to cook the pork in an imu (in ground barbeque) Since keawe wood and ti leaves are not readily available in the midwest I tweaked the recipe for grilling and the crockpot. This crock pot recipe is good and very close to authentic Kalua pork as you can get. I also wrap the roast in banana leaves after applying sea salt and liquid smoke to the roast. It adds a dimension to the flavor and it comes out so tender! This works on the grill as well and I use Mesquite chips when I grill and less liquid smoke. Remove banana leaves when done and Enjoy!!
Do you use a boneless roast or will bone-in work?
either is fine
I found this a while ago on pinterest and finally made it for our dinner tonight. OH MY GOODNESS!!! It was amazing!!!
so glad you enjoyed it!
I made this yesterday (started Sunday night) and was just amazed at how juicy and tender the meat was when the 16 hours was up. I must have used too much salt because ours was very salty. We used Hawaiian rolls (toasted) and I put my homemade coleslaw on top.
I have so many of your recipes pinned and have tried several, I just had to comment and tell you how much we loved this recipe!
So glad to hear you are enjoying the recipes!
Donnie – don't add any water. Enjoy!
Do u add water in the slow cooker
SoTexas: pork butt & shoulder are the same thing (it is the "butt" of the shoulder)
Where's the Kahlua ?? LOL
Do you drink it while it's cooking?
No h in kalua. From Hawaiian kālua, literally 'baked in an underground oven'.
No h in kalua. From Hawaiian kālua, literally 'baked in an underground oven'.
Can I use a Shoulder Roast? If it is only 3 pounds should I cook it half as long?
Where did you find the Hawaiian Sea Salt? I live in Birmingham, so was there somewhere around here that sells it?
How does Hawaiian Sea Salt differ from other sea salt? Can I use coarse all natural sea salt? That is what I have in my cabinet now.
Looks like a great way to beat the hat and not heat up the house.
Denise
Denise – you can use corse sea salt.
Headed to Costco later today as a matter of fact! Always love their pretzel rolls so now I'll also buy a smoked butt so I can make this recipe! It looks mouthwatering! Thanks Stephanie!!!
Great looking buns, I'll have to keep an eye out for them.
Rachel – I would only cook the ribs for 6-8 hours
I have some western style ribs in the fridge right now….. wondering if this recipe would work for that? And if so, would you adjust the cooking time? Thanks!
I'll have to look for those slider buns at Costco, would love to try them. And the pork looks wonderful.
Kelli – yes, a crockpot and slow cooker are the same thing.
JJune – I just bought a Hamilton beach 6-quart slow cooker. It had a timer and will automatically switch to warm when it is done cooking.
Wow! 16 hours in the crock pot? Maybe that's why my pork isn't coming out very tender.. I only cook it in there for 6 – 8 hours… So, what you are calling a slow cooker is a crock pot, right?
This recipe looks way too simple to be so good but I love your recipes so will give it a try. Those little pretzel buns make the perfect sandwich.
All of your slow cooker recipes look so delicious, but I don't have a slow cooker. I'm starting to realize that I need to invest in one and would love any recommendations you have.
Love your blog and your tailgate recipes!
I ordered a small one from Amazon. It works just as good as the standard sized one.
Betty – I'm glad to hear this is similar to yours! I was wondering if it was "authentic" when we were eating it.
I was born and raised in Hawai'i and am of Hawaiian by birth. I've made kalua pork for years…have done several luaus serving the kalua pork. My method is very similar…I put some salt (not table salt, it has to be a rock salt) on wax paper and roll the roast in the salt…patting it on the roast so it sticks. Put a little bit of water in the crock pot, just to cover the bottom of the pot and place the roast in, then sprinkle a few drops of the liquid smoke on the roast. Cook on low for about 12 hours. By rolling the pork in the salt, you are able to control the amount of salt, however the roast should be covered with the salt. The combination of the salt & liquid smoke helps to keep the meat moist, tender and oh so good!!
i wish we had a costco
looks excellent
Is there anyway of reducing the salt?
Am going to have to make this some weekend. Maybe have my sister and her hubby over for dinner. Am sure they'd like it too. Just in shock that it takes up to 20 hrs to cook in the crockpot! o_O
Thanks for sharing the recipe with us.
We used those pretzel buns to make sliders. They are amazing!