If you’ve ever been to a luau in Hawaii then you’ve most likely tasted Hawaiian pulled pork, also known as kalua pork. This easy kalua pork slow cooker recipe doesn’t have you cooking a roast pig in a spit, but gives you that homecooked version of the BEST luau pork.
What’s even better? The slow cooker kalua pork is also gluten free, low carb, keto friendly, and paleo pulled pork too!
Serve Hawaiian shredded pork with curry coleslaw, roasted broccoli, air fryer sweet potatoes, or instant pot cabbage with bacon.
If you adore ribs and pulled pork like we do then you’ll also want to make our instant pot country style ribs or our baked baby back ribs in the oven.
A printable recipe card is at the bottom of the post
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Slow Cooker Kalua Pork
I first tasted Hawaiian pulled pork aka kalua pork when I was married 20 years ago on the island of Kauai. Oh man, was it ever heavenly!
While we’d had traditional pulled pork many times before, the savory Hawaiian pork version takes it to a completely different level. While luau pork is typically roasted as a whole pig (slow cooked of course!), that’s not a realistic cooking method for the vast majority of home cooks.
And to set the record straight…some people call this kahlua pork and others call it kalua pork….but either way, we aren’t talking about the Kahlua liquior my friends! That’s a different name entirely and there is no Kahlua in Hawaiian pork.
Back to me reminiscing about my wedding ;)…..
And after eating just one bite at the luau we attended after our vows were exchanged, I instantly knew I had to figure out how to make a slow cooker kalua pork recipe at home! Well friends, this is it! This is the same recipe we’ve been making often for over 10 years now.
The timing of writing a kalua pork slow cooker recipe is perfect since I’m headed to Kauai next WEEK for my 20th wedding anniversary! I can’t wait to be back eating a traditional Hawaiian smoked meat recipe and comparing it to the crockpot kalua pork we’ve grown to love. I will be reporting back after our vacation!
Why This Recipe Works
- Adapting the traditional Hawaiian recipe to a crockpot makes it easy for home cooks
- It’s a variation to your monthly meal plan beyond traditional pulled pork
- The addition of bacon, salt, and garlic adds a ton of flavor
- Cooking Hawaiian pulled pork in a crockpot on low gives you the perfect slow cooked texture and flavor
- It works for MANY dietary needs including gluten free, paleo, low carb, and keto diets
Ingredients for Hawaiian Pulled Pork
It’s hard to believe that the kaula pork slow cooker version just has 4 simple ingredients!
- 3-4 pork shoulder or pork butt (boneless)
- 4 slices bacon, uncooked
- 3 garlic cloves
- 3/4 tsp sea salt per pound of meat (approx. 2 1/2-3 tsp total)
Depending on which part of the US you live in will most likely determine whether you’re going to find pork shoulder OR pork butt at your grocery store. If you’re a fellow West Coaster like me, you might not find pork butt at your grocery store! What you’ll need to buy is a pork shoulder roast.
However, if you like in the South like my sister, there you’ll find pork butt but you won’t see pork shoulder roast in the grocery store.
Either way….BOTH of these meats work FANTASTIC for making a Hawaiian pulled pork slow cooker recipe.
What to do if you an only find bone-in shoulder blade at the store?? Buy it anyways and your roast might be in the 4-5 lb range instead. You’d cook the recipe the same way (just use a little less salt) and then remove the bone before shredding the Hawaiian pork roast.
I was pleasantly surprised that my latest delivery from Butcher Box came with an actual pork butt roast!
If you want to eat healthier, grass fed meats delivered to your doorstep, here’s the Butcher Box link to check out what they’re all about.
How to Make Slow Cooker Hawaiian Pork
While you prep the ingredients, preheat your crockpot on low temperature.
Cut each of the garlic cloves into 4 slices each.
Lay the uncooked bacon in the bottom of the crockpot.
Place the pork roast on top of the bacon slices.
Cut 12 small slits in the roast with a sharp knife and insert the garlic slices into the slits. Push down as far as you can to keep them from popping out as the pork roast shrinks.
Sprinkle 3/4″ tsp salt per pound (if you bought a bone-in roast take off one lb in this calculation).
Cook the Hawaiian pork roast on low for 10-12 hours until cooked through and falling apart.
The pork should be easy to shred, if it isn’t that means your roast needs to cook longer.
Add the khalua pork and bacon to a large bowl.
Remove the bone and any big fat pieces you see from the pork roast.
Add 1/2-1 cup cup of liquid from the crockpot and add it to the meat.
Shred the pork, bacon, and garlic with 2 forks, a hand mixer, or meat shredders.
Add more salt if needed or more liquid to taste. Enjoy!
Crockpot Kalua Pork Recipe Tips
- You can use either a pork shoulder roast or a pork butt
- Garlic might pop out partially, that’s ok, it all gets shredded with the pork after cooking
- Do not open during cooking time- it takes at least 20 minutes to get back to temperature
- No added liquid needed, the pork itself creates plenty of liquid
- Preheat crockpot while getting ingredients together. You could prep this the night before so you just have to plug-in first thing in the morning
- Serve it with a bun like a pulled pork sandwich!
Paleo Pulled Pork?
Sometimes you see an amazing recipe that you want to rush out and try but you aren’t sure if it works for your diet or with possible health considerations. With just 4 basic ingredients, you’ll be pleased to know crockpot kalua pork works with MOST health plans (except vegetarian or vegan or course).
Is kalua pork paleo? YES!
Is Kalua pork low carb? YES!
Is kalua pork keto? YES!
Is Kalua Pork gluten free? YES!
The one dietary note to mention is that some bacon brands come with added sugar, if you’re following a paleo or keto lifestyle you’ll want to pick a bacon brand that doesn’t add it.
What to Serve with Kalua Pork?
When you’re in Hawaiian and eating Hawaiian pulled pork at a luau, some of the classic sides include: purple sweet potato slices, salmon, Hawaiian poi (made from taro), chicken long rice, tropical fruits, sweet bread, and of course tropical cocktails to start!
More common side dishes that would be so tasty with slow cooker kalua pork includes:
- cabbage and bacon
- curry coleslaw
- roasted broccoli
- roasted sweet potatoes
- cauliflower fried rice
- a simple green salad
- pineapple
Other Pork Recipes You’ll Love
- Instant pot country style ribs
- Baby back ribs in the oven
- Air fryer pork chops
- Crockpot sausage and peppers
- Dry rub for pork ribs
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Kalua Pork (Slow Cooker Hawaiian Pulled Pork)
If you've ever been to a luau in Hawaii then you've most likely tasted Hawaiian pulled pork, also known as kalua pork. This easy kalua pork slow cooker recipe doesn't have you cooking a roast pig in a spit, but gives you that homecooked version of the BEST luau pork.
What's even better? The slow cooker kalua pork is also gluten free, low carb, keto friendly, and paleo pulled pork too!
Ingredients
- 3-4 pork shoulder or pork butt (boneless)
- 4 slices bacon, uncooked
- 3 garlic cloves
- 3/4 tsp sea salt per pound of meat
Instructions
- While you prep the ingredients, preheat your crockpot on low temperature.
- Cut each of the garlic cloves into 4 slices each.
- Lay the uncooked bacon in the bottom of the crockpot.
- Place the pork roast on top of the bacon slices.
- Cut 12 small slits in the roast with a sharp knife and insert the garlic slices into the slits. Push down as far as you can to keep them from popping out as the pork roast shrinks.
- Sprinkle 3/4" tsp salt per pound (if you bought a bone-in roast take off one lb in this calculation).
- Cook the Hawaiian pork roast on low for 10-12 hours until cooked through and falling apart.
- The pork should be easy to shred, if it isn't that means your roast needs to cook longer.
- Add the khalua pork an bacon to a large bowl.
- Remove the bone and any big fat pieces you see from the pork roast.
- Add 1/2 cup of liquid from the crockpot and add it to the meat.
- Shred the pork, bacon, and garlic with 2 forks, a hand mixer, or meat shredders.
- Add more salt if needed or more liquid to taste. Enjoy!
Notes
- You can use either a pork shoulder roast or a pork butt
- Garlic might pop out partially, that's ok, it all gets shredded with the pork after cooking
- Do not open during cooking time- it takes at least 20 minutes to get back to temperature
- No added liquid needed, the pork itself creates plenty of liquid
- Preheat crockpot while getting ingredients together. You could prep this the night before so you just have to plug-in first thing in the morning
- Serve it with a bun like a pulled pork sandwich!
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Nutrition Information
Yield 10 Serving Size 1Amount Per Serving Calories 331Total Fat 23gSaturated Fat 8gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 13gCholesterol 105mgSodium 323mgCarbohydrates 0gNet Carbohydrates 0gFiber 0gSugar 0gSugar Alcohols 0gProtein 29g
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