Slow Cooker Kalua Pork
58 Comments
Mar 17, 2025
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This Kalua pork is my easy, homemade take on the traditional Kalua pig served at Hawaiian luaus. With just three simple ingredients and a slow cooker, you’ll get smoky, salty, and perfectly tender pork every time.
Why You’ll Love This Kalua Pork
The first time I tried Kalua pork in Hawaii for a wedding I was hooked. The way the pig is naturally slow-roasted underground (in an imu) and wrapped in ti or banana leaves imparts a distinctly earthy and smoky flavor that leaves you wanting more. That was now decades ago, but those luau memories remain. And it’s what prompted me to make this simple homemade version in my Crockpot! Many of you know that I often make American-style pulled pork and Mexican carnitas. But, I also love making this Kalua pork recipe (especially in the spring and summer) for entertaining dinner guests with a delicious and unique pork experience. Here’s why you’ll love it too:
- There’s only 5 min of prep work. This recipe is the epitome of hands-off and no fuss—it only requires 5 minutes of prep before cooking. It also reinforces my love for slow cookers as one of the best (and easiest) ways to achieve the most tender meat.
- It’s perfect for a crowd. Whenever I serve this up, there’s barely anything left. So, you know it’s really that good! Just don’t forget to prepare a few Hawaiian-inspired sides for the ultimate dinner party. I’ll share a few tasty options below.
Kalua Pork Recipe Ingredients
- Pork Shoulder: Also known as pork butt, this cut of pork is well-marbled with fat and transforms into shredded, melt-in-your-mouth goodness.
- Hawaiian Alaea Sea Salt: For traditional Kalua pork, it’s best to use this type of salt, which is infused with red volcanic clay, giving it that earthy flavor. You can find my favorite one linked in the recipe card below. If you can’t get Hawaiian sea salt, you can also use coarse sea salt or kosher salt.
- Liquid Smoke: A little goes a long way to mimic the smoky flavor of Hawaiian imu cooking from the burning wood and hot stones.
Find the printable recipe with measurements below
How To Make Kalua Pork
Prep the pork. Place your pork shoulder in the slow cooker, pierce it with a knife a few times, and rub the Hawaiian sea salt on top. Then, drizzle the liquid smoke all over.
Slow cook the pork. Set your slow cooker on low for 8 to 10 hours or on high for 4 to 6 hours. The cooking time will depend on the size of your pork shoulder, but consider it done when you barely touch it with a fork and it falls apart easily. If you want to make Kalua pork and cabbage together, add the sliced cabbage into the crockpot with 2 hours left (on high) or 3 hours left (on low).
Ways To Serve Kalua Pork
- Traditional Hawaiian sides: You’ll typically find this served with rice, Hawaiian macaroni salad, lomi lomi salmon, or poi (boiled taro root).
- Modern-day sides: I love serving this with sauteed cabbage, rice, and fresh pineapple slices for a modern-day twist on classic Hawaiian ingredients.
- Kalua pork tacos: Grab your favorite tortillas and pile them with some shredded pork and a pile of fresh coleslaw or pineapple salsa.
- Kalua pork breakfast: Build a Hawaiian breakfast plate with rice, pork, sauteed cabbage, and a fried egg or poached egg on top. My favorite way to utilize leftovers!
Storage Tips
- Storage tips: Store leftover Kalua pork in an airtight container for up to 4 days. For longer storage, freeze the pork in a freezer-safe bag or container for up to 3 months. Portioning it out into meal-sized servings makes thawing even easier.
- Reheating tips: You can warm leftovers on the stovetop in a skillet over medium heat with a splash of broth or water to add moisture back in. Alternatively, you can microwave in short increments with a splash of water or broth to maintain moisture.
More Slow-Cooker Recipes
- Slow Cooker Pot Roast: A comfort food favorite.
- Barbacoa: A Mexican favorite for slow-cooked beef.
- Birria: This spicy shredded beef dish has SO much flavor.
- Slow Cooker Whole Chicken: A great way to cook a whole chicken.
- Or browse through my list of delicious slow cooker recipes!
If you make this Kalua pork recipe, I’d love to hear how it turned out in the comment box below! Your review will help other readers in the community. And if you’re hungry for more healthy food inspiration and exclusive content, join my free newsletter here.
Slow Cooker Kalua Pork
Description
Equipment
- Slow Cooker My favorite Crockpot for slow-cooking meats.
Ingredients
- 4 pounds pork shoulder (pork butt)
- 1 tablespoon Hawaiian Alaea sea salt
- 1 tablespoon liquid smoke
Instructions
- Prep the pork. Place the pork shoulder in your slow cooker and pierce the top several times with a knife or fork.
- Slow cook. Rub the pork with the sea salt. Then, pour the liquid smoke on top. Slow cook for 8 to 10 hours on the low setting. You may need a few more hours if your pork shoulder is larger.
- Shred the pork. Once the pork shoulder is fully cooked, remove it to a plate and use two forks to shred it. You can also drizzle some of the remaining liquid from the slow cooker on top, to keep the meat moist, then serve immediately.
Lisa’s Tips
- Hawaiian salt tip: You can use either fine or coarse-grain Alaea sea salt, though if you use coarse-grain, you may need a little more than the 1 tablespoon listed in the ingredients.
- Note that my personal Hawaiian Alaea sea salt is a deep red color, though the salt looks more muted in these recipe photos. My photographer lives in Canada, and her access to products is a bit different. Both are Alaea sea salt, just from different brands.
- Storage tips: Store leftover Kalua pork in an airtight container for up to 4 days. For longer storage, freeze the pork in a freezer-safe bag or container for up to 3 months. Portioning it out into meal-sized servings makes thawing easier.
Nutrition
©Downshiftology. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited.
Recipe originally posted January 2017, but updated to include new photos and information for your benefit!
That was probably the easiest, most delicious pork recipe I’ve tried!
Glad you found a new pork recipe to love, Traci!
This was so easy and delicious!! I doubled the recipe to make for a big group. I used bone in pork butt and put one in my crock pot and one in the instant pot (on slow cook mode). The crock pot came out perfect. I would not recommend using the instant pot, as it was not fully cooked after 9 hours so I had to pressure cook it and it still wasn’t as tender as the crock pot.
Hi Trisha – Happy to hear this Kalua pork was such a hit and that it turned out perfectly in your Crockpot!
This is so good. It was a very easy recipe to prep and cook. It took a small amount of time to prep. The slow cooker did the rest of it! It was so tender and juicy. The slight smoky flavor was great!! We’ll be having this on repeat!!
So happy you enjoyed it, Susan!
First time making this very simple recipe. Excellent taste. Will be making for family and friends.
Wonderful! So happy you loved the recipe, Maliana!
This will become one of my monthly must do recipes!!! Its soooo good and goes well with everything!!
So glad you’re loving this Kalua pork recipe, Mauro!
I’m thinking about making this and adding cauliflower rice and cabbage to the crock pot. Do you think that would work and should I add both about halfway through as you suggested in a prior answer re; cabbage?
Thank you!
Hi Eileen – I think cauliflower rice might turn to mush if added too early. I’d probably only add that only in the last few minutes of cooking, right before serving. Hope you enjoy it!
You do such a thorough job with preparing food and great info for us who need a little help. This recipe look absolutely scrumptious, and I want it to turn out perfect for my husband. Hawaii is his favorite place to visit. I am unable to locate the link for your favorite Hawaiian Alaea Sea Salt on the recipe card. Can you provide me with the link? Thank you!
Hi Wendy – You can find the link to the Hawaiian salt in the recipe card now! Hope you enjoy this delicious Kalua pork!
😁 Anxious to try Kalua Pork!
Can’t wait for you to try this recipe!
Hi Lisa – Looks delicious!
I made your Cottage Pie last night and it was fantastic. My family loved it!
I don’t see the link to the Hawaiian Sea Salt. Could you post the link?
Thank you!
Hi Jennifer – You can find the Hawaiian salt linked in the recipe card now. Enjoy!
Hi, which liquid smoke do you buy? Can’t wait to make this! Thank you!
Hi Michelle – You can find the liquid smoke linked in the ingredients in the recipe card!
Isn’t liquid smoke considered a carcinogen?
Hi Denise – Liquid smoke is generally considered safer than food grilled or cooked directly over smoke because the filtering process removes most of the carcinogens. So it’s actually better than most outdoor grilled recipes. ;) Though as with anything, it should be consumed in moderation. Hope you enjoy it!
Hi Lisa
Can you add cabbage to this recipe and if so when can you add it to the pork during cooking time?
Hi Renee – Yes, you can add cabbage if you’d like. I would add it halfway at 5 hours or so, that way the cabbage won’t get too soft.
Hi Lisa, can you use pork chops instead ?
Hi Therese – no, you need a pork shoulder for this recipe.
I can already smell it. We are getting ready to make this Sunday. I was able to find the liquid smoke in our grocery store. So looking forward to having this!
Hope you and your family enjoy this one :)
Liquid Smoke is such a great ingredient!! Thanks for sharing this great pork recipe!
It sure is a key ingredient for flavoring!
How incredible! The pork looks so tender! I love how it only requires a few ingredients, which is such a win for everyone home cook :D
Hi Jeannette- Definitely a delicious and easy way to cook pork :)
Are you able to give timings for an Instant Pot cooking for these? I wonder why you choose the slow cooker instead?
Hi Marian – I do not have an Instant Pot, so I’m not sure what the timing would be for that.
This recipe looks incredibly mouthwatering! I love pulled pork and need to try this out. I bet it is so good in tacos.
This sure will taste great packed in tacos :)
This pork sounds amazing and oh so good! I love that it needs just three ingredients.
Can I by chance speed up the cooking time? Also my pork is 6 pounds. Would you go up 1 hour per Lund?
Yes, you can cook the pork on high and reduce the time. I just prefer to cook it slower, as I feel the meat turns out more tender.
I don’t see a broth/liquid in this recipe so assuming I just cook the pork in my slow cooker dry? sorry.. new to to cooking and need some extra help.
Hi Joshua – Yep! You won’t need any liquid as the pork will naturally seep out juice as it cooks.
The liquid smoke is the liquid. Plus there will be drippings made as the meat cooks in the slow cooker.
I’m having trouble finding Hawaiian Alaea sea salt. Would Himalayan Seat Salt due for a substitute?
Yes, no problem. :)
This looks pretty darn good but I don’t eat pork. I’m sure chicken would be a great substitute for me.
Yes, that liquid smoke flavor is delicious on chicken as well!
Another great meal. Keep feeling better and good luck with the busyness!
Thanks Liz! I love being busy when it’s due to my brain bursting with recipes ideas. That’s the kind of busy I welcome! :) x
Liquid smoke is… everything. I love the flavours it adds to any meal, and this pulled pork looks absolutely mouth watering. You could actually do so much with it after your initial meal… nachos anyone?
Absolutely! And yes, I love love pulled pork nachos. Might have to add that to the to-do list tomorrow. :)
Love any excuse to cook pork shoulder. This looks so good and easy to make. Hawaiian food definitely seems like the perfect way to bring a little imaginary sunshine into these cold winter days! ;)
For sure! I’ll gladly take imaginary sunshine when I can’t get the real deal. ;) x
This looks great! I think my husband will totally go for this dish! And if it’s made in the slow cooker, it’s even better!
Exactly. He’ll love it and you’ll love how easy it is to make! Win win. :)
At first glance I thought maybe this pork was made with the coffee liqueur! This recipe looks so easy, and makes me feel like I’m in the tropics!
Goal achieved! And unfortunately no (in regards to the liqueur)….but you’re welcome to drink a glass while you eat the pork. ;)
Excited to try this recipe in my slow cooker! Any suggestions for pressure cooking in an instant pot ? Temp and cook time? I’d like to try both :-)