Hawaiian Pulled Pork

This Hawaiian Pulled Pork recipe is a personal favorite! Crispy slow-cooked pork is braised in a pineapple and Teriyaki sauce until it is fall apart tender! Then the pork is crisped up in the oven and can be enjoyed with rice and slaw. A perfect island inspired dish!

I came up with the concept of this recipe after finding Sweet Hawaiian tortillas at the grocery store recently. How neat is that?! I immediately had about a hundred ideas for great taco flavors, but obviously my first thought something tropical - obviously. I love making carnitas at home in the crockpot, so I wanted to try my hand at some more tropical pulled pork flavors. Thus, this Hawaiian Pulled Pork recipe was born!

This turned out fantastic! The flavor was spot on and just the perfect combination of late summer ingredients.

We enjoyed this meal while I was putting together the very first A Toasted Crumb Entertaining Guide, Late Summer Luau!

What ingredients are necessary for preparing Hawaiian Pulled Pork?

• Meat: Pork Shoulder (4 - 5 lbs)
• Dry Rub Ingredients: Coconut Sugar, Salt, Chili Powder, Smoked Paprika, Cumin, Cayenne, Olive Oil
• Juice and Sauces: Canned Pineapple Rings and Reserved Juice, Liquid Smoke, Worcestershire Sauce, Teriyaki Sauce
• Aromatics: Fresh Ginger and Sweet Onions

Is there any equipment necessary for preparing Hawaiian Pulled Pork?

• A nice chef knife to sear the pork and a cast iron pan to give it a good sear.
• A great crockpot and a baking sheet will be necessary for cooking.

What are the steps to prepare Hawaiian Pulled Pork?

Trim - Trim some of the dense fat off of the pork and cut diagonal lines into the fat cap, if the butcher has not already done so.

Season - Combine each of the dried spices and rub them all over the surface of the pork, making sure to evenly coat.

Sear - Then, you'll want to sear the pork on all sides in a hot pan until you see a nice golden crust on all sides (about 1 - 2 minutes per side).

Build the braising liquid - Combine the pineapple juice (save the wedges, we've got plans for those babies!), liquid smoke, Worcestershire sauce, Teriyaki sauce, and fresh ginger. Stir to combine and add in the chopped onions.

Cook - Now place the pork on top of the onions and place two large pineapple rings on top. Save a few of the rings to use for garnishing. Cook on low for 8 - 10 hours or on high for 4 - 6 hours.

Shred and Crisp! - When the pork is ready shred it with two forks. You can either shred it directly in the crockpot or remove it to shred it, it's really up to you. The pineapple rings may be shredded along with the pork. Then, I like to crisp my shredded pork prior to placing it into serving platters. Spread it out in a thin layer on a large cookie sheet and crisp it quickly in a 425° oven. Do this in batches until you have as much pork as your need for your group.

Garnish and Serve - I like to garnish with a few grilled pineapple rings! This just makes for a really nice presentation!

Of course you know we served our Hawaiian Pulled Pork on the Sweet Hawaiian tortillas!

I also have a Hawaiian Pulled Pork Slider version of this recipe you should check out!

Storage:

This pork keeps very well in the fridge! Store it in an airtight container for up to 5 days with a little cup of the braising liquid. You can store the braising liquid with the pork, it just solidifies a bit around the pork when it chills. This won't be noticeable when it's reheated.

If you are freezing your left over pork, wrap the container tightly in plastic wrap or store it in a freezer bag. It will keep for 4 - 6 months in the freezer.

Reheating:

For reheating larger portions I recommend the oven. Preheat the oven to 350° and place the pork onto a baking sheet. Cover it with aluminum foil and roast for 15 - 20 minutes. Uncover the pork for the last 5 minutes.

For individual portions add 1 teaspoon of oil to a warm pan, place desired amount of pork in the pan and heat through.

If reheating from frozen, thaw in the fridge overnight and follow the oven directions above.

What to serve with Hawaiian Pulled Pork?

To accompany the tacos, we went with a Grilled Pineapple Slaw and my 5 Ingredient Coconut Rice. If you're gonna do it, just go all in right?!

I hope you enjoyed this Hawaiian Pulled Pork recipe! If you try it, I would love to see your work! Leave a comment or share it to social media and tag @atoastedcrumb! Aloha!