Slow Cooker Kalua Pork Tacos Recipe mixes healthy, fresh ingredients with a no-fuss slow cooker recipe to bring a delicious "taste of the islands" to your dinner table or party. These tacos are part of our Clean Eating Challenge .
I'm so excited to be back home from my trip to Hawaii so that I can share some of the amazing recipes and recipe ideas I learned during my trip. The islands are packed with fresh flavors and fresh ingredients that are the perfect fit for some of my favorite Southwest recipes.
Inspiration was everywhere! From the luau to the beach and the cultural centers to room service every meal had me taking notes on how to create "Southwest Meets the Islands" recipes.
One day on the island was spent in an Asian cooking class. My husband was a really good sport and spent 6 hours cooking steamed buns, liliquoi bbq ribs and Asian desserts with me in a private cooking class on Maui. I will share the recipes inspired by this cooking class soon!
First Hawaiian Inspired Recipe
Hawaii gave me so many recipe ideas to share over the next few months but, for now, I am excited to start my "Southwest Girl Goes to Hawaii" recipe collection with this super easy Slow Cooker Kalua Pork Taco with Pinapple Salas and Fresh Cabbage Slaw Recipe. This recipe brings a little bit of the islands to your dinner table so make an extra big batch for to make sure you have leftovers for Kalua Pork Burritos or Kalua Pork Tortas.
Don't worry! You won't need to dig a giant pit in your backyard, just pull out your slow cooker for a fast and easy version of Hawaii's famous pit-roasted whole pig that you can make in your own kitchen.
These Slow Cooker Kalua Pork Tacos are so easy, just through cubes of pork (thankfully not a whole pig) in the slow cooker and season with a few ingredients to get that "smokey" flavor and dinner will be on the table in no time.
Kalua Pork Tacos are also terrific for an outdoor party or food for "game day," or any time you want a fast, easy main dish that will leave your free so that you can join the fun.
Stay in touch through social media for more great recipes!
If you are on Facebook or Instagram, be sure to follow me. I will try to post photos of Hawaii inspired recipes there so you can stay up to date on what is happening in my kitchen.
I do have an Instagram account but, I have to be honest, I am just learning how to use it.only used it. Don't be surprised that the picture are not that great... YET, I promise that the pictures will get better when I figure out how to use it. If you have never tried Instagram, sign up! We can learn together!
Clean Eating Kalua Pork Tacos
These Kalua Pork Tacos Recipe are part of this year's Clean Eating Challenge because they are THAT healthy and delicious!
Check out the other blogs in the Clean Eating Challenge and look for the ebook we are putting together which will include all of the recipes!
Kalua Pork Tacos are part of our Clean Eating Challenge 2014
Watermelon Juice - Rick•a•bam•boo
Sweet Potato and Black Bean Burger - Clarks Condensed
Raw Almond & Arugula Pesto - Project Domestication
Roasted Broccoli and Red Peppers - Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
Healthy Peanut Butter-Stuffed Chocolate Date Balls (Vegan; GF and Raw Option) - Wallflour Girl
Baked Sweet Potato Chips - Keep It Simple Sweetie
Lemon Cookies - Cooking with Curls
Rosemary Citrus Water - Delightful E Made
One Pot Pasta - Bite of Delight
Kalua Pork Tacos with Pineapple Salsa - Everyday Southwest (that's us!)
Miso Soup - The Viet Vegan
I hope you love the recipes in this challenge. Be sure to stop by the other blogs and let them know I sent you.
Print this recipe or Pin it for later.
Hawaiiian Kalua Pork Tacos
Ingredients
- 3 pounds pork shoulder boneless
- 1½ tablespoon sea salt or kosher salt
- 1½ tablespoon liquid smoke
- 1 fresh pineapple small dice (¼ inch)
- 1 red bell pepper fine dice (⅛ inch)
- 1 jalapeno fine dice (⅛ inch)
- ¼ small red onion fine dice (⅛ inch)
- 1 handful cilantro leaves minced
- 12 ounces pineapple chunks
- 1 each habanero chile seeded and chopped
- 2 dozen corn tortillas
Garnishes-
- Cabbage Slaw with very little dressing
- lime wedges
- slices of jalapeño or serrano chile
- 1 to 2 cups bbq sauce, optional your favorite brand
Instructions
Cut excess fat from pork, rub with salt and place in a slow-cooker. Pierce with a carving fork. Pour liquid smoke over pork and pat into the pork.
- Cover the slow-cooker and cook pork on low for 6 to 8 hours or until pork shreds apart with a fork.
- Prepare the salsa by tossing the pineapple, red bell pepper, jalapeño, red onion and cilantro together. Add a pinch of salt. Refrigerate until serving.
- Combine bbq sauce, reserved pineapple juice and habanero together in a food processor or blender. Pulse until well blended and smooth. Heat in a small sauce pan and set aside.
- To serve, warm the tortillas. Place a layer of coleslaw in the middle of the tortilla. Add Kalua pork then drizzle with bbq sauce. Top with pineapple salsa.
KalynsKitchen
This sounds completely like a winner!
Sandy
Thanks, Kalyan! Coming from you, that is a true complement!
Natalie
These look delicious, especially the salsa! I love Mexican food and this is a good twist on the traditional. Thanks for sharing!
Amberjane
I am adding these to my meal plan rotation for summer , they sound divine 🙂
Renee @ Two in the Kitchen
Funny about Instagram Sandy! I have just made an account myself about a month ago and don't really know what to do with it either!! 🙂
Tamika Rybinski
I will need to try this salsa. It looks great. I have been debating trying something like a clean eating challenge. This looks really tasty.
Allison @ Lighten Up!
This recipe looks amazing! I'm always looking for great crockpot recipes and I can't wait to try this one! Hope you enjoy Hawaii -- my husband and I went for our honeymoon and can't wait to go back! Found you on Blog It Forward, it's great to meet you!
MarKay Thelin
Found this from Blog it Forward...This recipe sounds so yummy and healthy! I will be making this soon for my family 🙂
Michelle
YUM! I am pinning this right now and can't wait to try it!
Leigh Anne
Looks delicious! I have everything to make this except cilantro and the pork shoulder. I'm going to try it soon 🙂
Michelle Barbour
YUM! I have to try this!!
Lydia Larae
These look so yummy. I'm always on the hunt for more great crockpot recipes! Enjoy your trip to Hawaii!
Joanna
I love tacos, and this recipe looks amazing!
jenny
It looks delicious!!
Todd
These were amazing. The pineapple salsa is ridiculous. I could eat that all by itself. And the BBQ sauce really brought everything together. This will definitely be a regular on our menu.
One thing I did different was I roasted the pork in a 450 degree oven until the edges got crisp. Adds a great texture to the meat. Also, I strained the liquid from the slow-cooker into a large frying pan, and reduced by over half to make a thick glaze/sauce. I laid the pork in a single layer onto a baking sheet, spooned the reduced sauce over it and roasted for about 30 min.
I also made a Jicama Cabbage Slaw recipe I found from Bobby Flay...
¼ cup fresh lime juice
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon sugar
½ small jicama, peeled and finely julienned
½ head Napa cabbage, finely shredded
2 tablespoons cilantro leaves, chopped
Carol Hicks
Forget turkey! I want this for Christmas dinner!
Cerys
Was searching Pinterest for recipes for pork in the slow cooker and came upon this. My husband loves tacos so this was sure to be a hit with him. The salsa was amazing as well and we can't wait to have friends over to wow them with this easy recipe.
Wendy | Around My Family Table
I've been searching for more recipes that I can make on Whole30 and I think this one will work just fine. Well...it's gonna have to cuz it looks dang delicious!
Christina
I don't know what I liked better...the pork or the salsa! Both were bursting with flavor!
Amanda
I love that this is made in the slow cooker. This is the kind of taco I could see myself eating every week for sure
Melissa
I love the pineapple salsa! My family loves the pork. These make a delicious, easy dinner for karate nights in our house.
Vicki Finn
Oh wow...this is a recipe I never would have thought to make before but it sounds absolutely delicious. I love using sweet fruit with my food and cilantro is my favorite. This is going to be a treat next week when I add it to our meal plan!
Sarah Robinson
I happen to love slow cooker recipes, so this will have to go on my regular rotation! Looks amazing!
Sandy
Hi Sarah, I think you will love how easy and tasty these tacos are! he pork is so versatile that you can put it with almost any thing.