Slow Cooker Kalua Pig

Wow. Bite for bite, I honestly don’t think I can come up with an easier recipe than Slow Cooker Kalua Pig. All you need is a big pork roast, a few slices of bacon, Hawaiian Sea Salt, and PATIENCE!

Remember—quality matters when you’re using just 3 ingredients. (If you don’t have 16 hours to spare, check out my Instant Pot (Pressure Cooker) Kalua Pig recipe!)

Here’s what I gathered to feed 8 people:

• 3 slices of bacon
• 5 pound Boston butt roast bone-in or out—it doesn’t matter)
• 1½ tablespoons of Alaea Red Hawaiian Coarse Sea Salt (or ~1 tablespoon of Alaea Red Hawaiian Fine Sea Salt)
• 5 peeled garlic cloves (optional)

Here’s how I made it:

I lined the slow cooker with 3 slices of bacon…

…and used a knife to remove the skin from the roast. (You don’t have to do this, though. Feel free to leave the skin on if you’re in a lazy state of mind. I won’t tell.)

Next, I weighed the pork so I could estimate how much salt to use.

Normally, I liberally salt my roasts like it’s raining cats and dogs. But in this case, I wanted to be more judicious in my seasoning ’cause the long cooking time will concentrate the salt. In the end, I followed Judy Rodger’s rule of thumb: use ¾ teaspoon of medium-coarse salt for every 1 pound of meat. (Using fine salt? Use about half that amount.)

Then, I cut some slits into the meat and tucked in the garlic cloves…

…and salted the pork all over.

Then, I placed the roast on top of the bacon in my trusty slow cooker , skin-side up.

I plopped on the lid and cooked the roast on low for about 16 hours. (Note: newer slow cookers are hotter and may only require 9-12 hours on the low setting.) Don’t add any liquid!

When the pork was finished cooking, I removed the meat and shredded it with two forks.

I checked the pork for seasoning and adjusted it with the cooking liquid that remained at the bottom of the pot. Don’t just shred the meat in the cooking liquid—it’ll be too salty!

Pow!

Looking for more recipe ideas? Head on over to my Recipe Index. You’ll also find exclusive recipes on my iPhone and iPad app, and in my cookbooks, Nom Nom Paleo: Food for Humans (Andrews McMeel Publishing 2013), Ready or Not! (Andrews McMeel Publishing 2017), and Nom Nom Paleo: Let’s Go! (Andrews McMeel Publishing 2021).

PRINTER-FRIENDLY RECIPE CARD

Slow Cooker Kalua Pig

4.75 from 35 votes

Prep Time15 mins

Cook Time12 hrs

Total Time12 hrs 15 mins

Servings 8 servings

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Bite for bite, this may be my easiest and tastiest recipe ever. All you need is a big pork roast, a few slices of bacon, Hawaiian Sea Salt, and patience!

Ingredients  

1x2x3x

• ▢ 3 bacon slices
• ▢ 5 pounds Pork shoulder roast bone-in or bone-out
• ▢ 1½ tablespoons Alaea Red Hawaiian Coarse Sea Salt or ~1 tablespoon Alaea Red Hawaiian Fine Sea Salt
• ▢ 5 peeled garlic cloves optional

Instructions 

• Line a slow cooker with 3 slices of bacon. If desired, use a knife to remove the skin from the roast.
• Weighed the pork so you can estimate how much salt to use. Follow Judy Rodger’s rule of thumb: use ¾ teaspoon of medium-coarse salt for every 1 pound of meat. (Using fine salt? Use about half that amount.)
• Then, cut some slits into the meat and tucked in the garlic cloves. Salt the pork all over, and then place the roast on top of the bacon in the slow cooker, skin-side up.
• Cover with the lid and cook the roast on low for about 16 hours. (Note: newer slow cookers are hotter and may only require 9-12 hours on the low setting.) Don’t add any liquid!
• When the pork is finished cooking, remove the meat and shred it with two forks. Check the pork for seasoning and adjust with the cooking liquid that remains at the bottom of the pot. Don’t just shred the meat in the cooking liquid—it’ll be too salty.
• Serve!

Nutrition

Calories: 293kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 35g | Fat: 16g | Fiber: 1g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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