Delicious slow-cooked, Hawaiian Kalua Pulled Pork Sliders. Excellent for serving a crowd – and the smell is amazing!
What’s your favorite pulled pork recipe?
When I first published this post, it was completely different content. So today, I’m giving it a refresh and updating it with all the things I love about this recipe! You will love it!
Several years ago, my husband and I visited Maui, Hawaii. There, we attended a luau where they had the most amazing pulled pork.
The whole pig was buried in a pit in the ground, wrapped in banana leaves and roasted for hours upon hours in that spit. Which resulted in the juiciest, moistest, most succulent pulled pork you can ever imagine.
It was simply the best pulled pork I’d ever had in my life, bar none.
I’d had pulled pork from a spit before, and I remember loving it too – but this pulled pork was different.
The secret was in the Red Hawaiian Sea Salt.
Called ‘Red’ Hawaiian Sea Salt, it’s actually pink or coral-like in color. But let me tell you – wow, that pink salt adds incredible flavor when mixed with garlic, ginger and Liquid Smoke, then cooked for hours tightly wrapped in tin foil.
One of the other things you’ll love about this recipe is the natural ‘bark’ that happens as the pork cooks. Fork tender, moist and juicy inside, the caramelized bark is chewy, crispy and crunchy on the outside, sealing in and infusing the rich flavors of the seasonings.
We make this in huge batches, and enjoy eating it all week long.
It’s so perfect for feeding a crowd because it makes a lot, and you can transfer it to a slow cooker and keep it warm, enabling your guests to self-serve at your next party. Don’t worry, it won’t last long!
Once they get a wiff of the amazing aroma coming from your oven, they won’t want to leave! 🙂
This recipe is SO simple, SO easy, smells amazing and is SO delicious. I call it a ‘set it and forget it’ recipe. You simply have about 5 minutes of prep and throw it in the oven for 5 hours. Your guests won’t have a chance once they get the burst of flavor they smell the minute they walk through your door.
Now, that’s the kind of flavor profile that I’m talkin’ about!
Enjoy!
Hawaiian Kalua Pulled Pork Sliders
Ingredients
- 5 pound boneless pork shoulder
- 2 tablespoons Liquid Smoke
- 1 tablespoon chopped ginger
- 3 tablespoons minced garlic
- 2 tablespoons Red Hawaiian Sea Salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
- Line a large oven-safe roasting pan with aluminum foil. (I double the aluminum foil in a cross pattern to prevent leakage).
- Score meat by making deep cuts 1" - 2" apart.
- Pour Liquid Smoke over the meat into the deep cuts (make sure your aluminum foil is preventing the Liquid Smoke from running out (and also don't poke throught the aluminum foil!))!
- Rub garlic, ginger and 1/2 of the Hawaiian Sea Salt into the deep cuts of meat.
- Wrap the pork shoulder snugly with the aluminum foil, completely covering it, and ensuring there are no gaps or opened areas. (I typically use 1-2 more pieces of aluminum foil for coverage).
- Bake in pre-heated oven for 4-5 hours. Remove from oven, place in a serving bowl and shred with two forks. Sprinkle the shredded meat with the remaining salt and serve with Hawaiian Sweet Rolls!
Hawaiian Kalua Pulled Pork Sliders
Post updated with new photos and content 01/02/2015.
Pamela @ Brooklyn Farm Girl says
My belly is growling at this post! I need these pulled pork sliders in my life pronto! Amazing recipe!
Kristi says
Thanks Pamela! We adore this recipe! I hope you have a Happy New Year!
Renee@Two in the Kitchen says
I adore pulled pork and this looks amazing!! The color on that salt is just gorgeous!! I have to jump in the kitchen now because this recipe is making me so hungry!! 🙂
Kristi says
Thanks Renee! That salt makes all the difference! I swear, I could drink that stuff! Haha!
Ashley says
Gah I loved pulled pork! I’ll take a big serving please!
And that sea salt looks awesomeeeee. Cheers to 2015 friend!!
Kristi says
Thanks Ashley! I am SO looking forward to seeing what you come up with in 2015! I love your recipes! xoxo
Ashley | Spoonful of Flavor says
Happy New Year, Kristi! I was excited to see this recipe post today because pulled pork sliders are on my menu tomorrow night. I love the addition of the Red Hawaiian sea salt, looks amazing!
Kristi says
Thanks Ashley! We love pulled pork! It’s so easy to throw in the slow cooker, and every single time, it is amazing with so little effort! I can’t wait to see your recipe! Happy 2015!
Bill says
I want to try this in a slow cooker. I’ll probably brown the pork, first.
Kristi says
Great idea Bill! Let me know how it turns out. I hope you love it! It’s one of our favorites! 🙂 Happy New Year!
Dorothy at Shockingly Delicious says
Fell in love with this pork, also in Hawaii. ADORE!
Kristi says
Thanks Dorothy – it’s amazing, isn’t it? So glad we tried it and found something we can make it at home! 🙂
Kelly @ Nosh and Nourish says
Yes please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This looks so good…. and would make a perfect weekend lunch!
Kristi says
It’s PERFECT for a weekend Kelly! And, also for a crowd because it feed a lot. So great for leftovers too! Happy 2015!
Marye says
this looks my kind of food! Easy, delicious, family friendly. 🙂 thanks for sharing!
Kristi says
Thanks Marye! I am so glad you like it! I’m sure your family will love it – just like mine does. Happy New Year!
Alice @ Hip Foodie Mom says
Kristi, I love pulled pork anything. . looks so good!!! We also had the pulled pork in Hawaii at a luau, with the whole pig buried in a pit in the ground. . and it was so cool watching them pull it out and the whole thing. . these sliders look so good!! I’ll have to look for some Red Hawaiian Sea Salt!!! happy new year!
Kristi says
Thanks Alice! Our luau visit was an amazing experience too – so succulent that pork! The Red Hawaiian Sea Salt isn’t cheap ($10-$15) for that jar, but it is so, so, so worth it! QFC has it, if you can’t find it elsewhere! I hope you love the recipe! Happy 2015 – I wish you the best success! I love your blog. 🙂
marcie says
I love pulled pork, Kristi — it’s one of our favorite things! (and it’s on the menu tomorrow). 🙂 I love the sound of that Red Hawaiian Sea Salt! It’s been way too long since I’ve been to Maui, and this might help me feel like I’m there again. Love this, and pinning, of course! 🙂
Kristi says
Thanks for the pin Marcie! You will love this recipe, and I can’t wait to see your recipe for pulled pork – because I know it will be amazing! The Red Hawaiian Sea Salt is not cheap ($10-$15), but it is sssooo worth it, and it lasts a long time. I’m coming over tomorrow for some pulled pork, so be sure to let me in, and I want a BIGGGGG helping! 🙂 Haha! xoxo
Christin@SpicySouthernKitchen says
That sea salt is gorgeous and your pulled pork looks amazing! One of my favorite foods! Happy New Year!!
Kristi says
Thanks Christin! We happen to be pretty fond of pulled pork too :-)! It’s one of our favorites, and we never tire of it! Happy 2015 – I wish you the best success!
Kelly says
Oh my goodness, this pulled pork looks perfect, Kristi! Love the pretty sea salt you added! Your trip to Maui sounded like the best, I would love to visit one day but in the mean I can just make this pulled pork and imagine I am at a luau too 🙂
Kristi says
Thanks Kelly! I need to get back to Maui again – it was such a great time. But like you, in the meantime, I’m just going to make this pulled pork and pretend I’m there! Haha!
Marissa | Pinch and Swirl says
Oh how I love Maui! Keith and I spent a couple of weeks there several years ago and I literally cried the day we left. The food! The way the air smells! The snorkeling! And I agree with you, we had some of the best slow-roasted pork while we were there. I can’t wait to try this recipe….
Kristi says
Maui is magical Marissa – I agree with you. The food was simply amazing. I fell in love with the Opakapaka fish tacos. The best fish I’ve EVER had! I need to make an effort to go back again. I really miss it!
Chandra@The Plaid & Paisley Kitchen says
This looks utterly amazing! I loved pulled pork and the hawaiian flavor sounds amazing!
Kristi says
Thanks Chandra! The garlic, liquid smoke and Hawaiian Sea Salt makes all the difference in the world!
Lindsey @ American Heritage Cooking says
This looks awesome, Kristi! I love pulled pork more than any other bbq type food. I will order it every time! I’ll have to find liquid smoke somewhere… 🙂 Pinned!
Kristi says
Thanks for the pin Lindsey! I adore pulled pork, and it’s my favorite too – and I always have at least 2 jars of Liquid Smoke around. I love that stuff!
Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella says
I absolutely love bark! It’s my favourite bit so the fact that there is a natural and therefore easy to achieve one is such a plus for me! 😀
Kristi says
Me too Lorraine! It’s my favorite part. But, of course, I love all things pulled pork! 🙂
Kristi @ My SF Kitchen says
This post is making me want to go back to Hawaii!! The pork looks amazing 😉
Kristi says
Thanks Kristi! It makes me want to go back to Hawaii again too! I really do love their pork!
Sarah @ SnixyKitchen says
I am so so jealous of your Hawaiian pit pig roast! We tried to roast a pig in a pit in our backyard with banana leaves (and our Hawaiian friend to help)…but the results were less than stellar (there are pics somewhere on my blog haha). THESE sliders look fantastic!
Kristi says
I’m going to your blog now, because I want to see, I want to see! I’ve never tried doing it myself, but I can imagine that it’s a huge undertaking!
Beth says
Now I want to go to Hawaiian and eat this pork, yum!!
Kristi says
Hahaha! I know, right Beth? Sigh. Now you have me wanting to go to Hawaii!
Heather @ The Nerdy Fox says
This looks SO yummy!
Kristi says
Thanks Heather – I’m so glad you like it!
Miss Angie says
Mmm, those look and sound delicious!
Kristi says
Thank you Angie! They are one of our favorites! I hope you love it.
Lauren Kelly Nutrition says
Kalua? Absolutely genius! I never would have thought to add that!
Kristi says
Thanks Lauren!
Myrabev says
oh wow this looks so delicious, i do not have any pulled pork recipes so i will use this one and see what its like.
Kristi says
I’m so glad you like it Myrabev! I think you are going to love it!
David @ CookingChat says
Count me as another big pulled pork fan, this looks great!
Kristi says
Me too David! I love pulled pork! 🙂
Andi says
I love, love, love Kalua pork and can never get enough of it when I am in Hawaii, I need to make these at home!
Kristi says
Thanks Andi! Me too – I’m glad we can get the same great flavors at home! 🙂
Stephanie says
I hardly ever have pulled pork, but this sure sounds great! I wish it wan dinner right now 🙂
Kristi says
You would love it Stephanie. So good!
Erica @ The Crumby Cupcake says
You’re a magician! I’ve already had dinner AND dessert, and you’re still making my mouth water with this!!! I have to pick up some of that sea salt…that pulled pork has to be made in my home ASAP!
Kristi says
OMG Erica that Hawaiian Sea Salt makes all the difference in the world. You will love it!
Megan Keno {Country Cleaver} says
These sliders look so delicious!
Kristi says
Thanks Megan! They are one of our favorites!
Carolyn Mitchell says
Hi, Kristi!
Thanks for this awesome looking recipe! Since I’m going to make this for a crowd tomorrow night, I’d like to ask a couple of questions:
1) I’m going to ask the butcher to carve a 5 lb. boneless pork shoulder for me tomorrow morning. I’m assuming that I don’t need the layer of fat that’s often found on the bottom of these (fat cap), right? Just the meat with a little bit of fat here and there on it.
2) How deeply do you score the meat?
Thanks for your help!
Warm regards,
Carolyn
Kristi says
Carolyn, I’m so glad you loved this recipe (thank you for the nice emails you sent!). Yes, trim the fat. And I score the meat very deep – at least 1″.