Kalua Pork – the famous luau style pork made easy in the slow cooker. It’s unbelievably tender, and deliciously flavorful!
Kalua Pork
- Servings: 12
- Prep Time 3 minutes
- Cook Time 14 hours
- Total Time 14 hours 3 minutes
Ingredients
- 6 lbs. bone-in pork shoulder (aka pork butt or Boston butt)
- 1 1/2 Tbsp natural liquid smoke flavor (mesquite or hickory)
- 1 1/2 Tbsp Hawaiian salt, Himalayan salt, or sea salt, then more if desired
- 1 Tbsp vegetable oil (optional)
Instructions
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If time allows, heat 1 Tbsp vegetable oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Dab roast dry with paper towels then sear in pot for about 3 minutes per side to brown (you can skip this step but it will add a bit of extra flavor, if skipping omit vegetable oil).
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Place pork in 6 or 7 quart slow cooker. Drizzle liquid smoke over both sides.
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Season both sides with salt.
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Cover and cook on low heat 14 - 16 hours until incredibly tender.
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Transfer to a cutting board (reserve liquid in slow cooker), shred pork with two forks while removing bone and excess fat.
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If desired toss pork with about 1/2 cup of the reserved liquid (rendered broth and fat from pork).
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Serve right away, or refrigerate in reserved liquid for a few days or freeze in reserved liquid for a few months. Thaw overnight and reheat over low heat in a pot on stovetop, tossing gently just occasionally, until heated through.
Recipe Notes
- Roast doesn't need to be exactly 6 lbs. Just about any size will do but decrease or increase cook time slightly based on size and adjust seasonings accordingly.
- See notes in script up above for Instant Pot and oven cooking instructions.
