Name: Instant Pot Kalua Pork
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 90 min
Total time: 100 min
Yield: 8 Servings
Ingredients: 5 pounds pork butt ((bone removed and cut into large chunks)); 1 Tablespoon Alaea Hawaiian Sea Salt; 1 teaspoon smoked paprika ((or substitute liquid smoke if preferred)); 1 cup water; 1 head green cabbage ((sliced))

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What would you say if I told you that today’s recipe will require you to dig a big hole in your back yard, fill it with wood and lava rocks, cover it with dirt and banana leaves, and wait for 16 hours until it is thoroughly cooked? You’d say I’m bonkers, right? Well luckily this Instant Pot Kalua Pork requires none of those things!

I’m sure the fire department, the city council, and your neighbors are relieved to know this as well. LOL. In reality, this Instant Pot Kalua Pork takes ten minutes of prep work, and then ninety minutes of hands free cooking…BOOYAH!

If you have ever been to a Hawaiian Luau, you have probably tried Kalua Pork. It is a staple on the islands, and rightfully so. It is tender, juicy, and totally delicious! You will also find it served in just about every restaurant along side some sticky rice, Hawaiian Potato Salad, and Poke…..

Dat is one ono lunch brah! 😉

How to make Instant Pot Kalua Pork:

Remove the bone from pork butt/shoulder and cut pork into large chunks…..

The bones are different sizes in each pork butt, but run top to bottom. This is an 8 pound pork butt/shoulder that became 5 pounds of pork chunks once the bone and the huge fat cap on the backside were removed.

Mix the Alaea sea salt and smoked paprika together in a small bowl…..

Sprinkle salt mixture over the pork and rub in to thoroughly coat…..

Place pork into the Instant Pot liner and add water…..

Secure the lid, select Manual and adjust time to 90 minutes…..

When the pot beeps, push the cancel/keep warm button and allow pressure to release naturally.

When the pressure is released move the pork to a bowl. Cover to keep warm…..

Add the sliced cabbage to the juices in the Instant Pot, stir to coat…..

Select Manual and adjust time to 3 minutes. When the pot beeps, release the pressure manually.

Add the cabbage to the pork and stir to combine…..

O-M-G this is Instant Pot Kalua Pork is crazy delicious, and the house smells amazing!!

Notes: {contains affiliate links}

I do not like liquid smoke, too many weird chemicals. I chose to create my own smokey flavor using smoked paprika, and it worked perfectly. **I lived in Iowa when this post was written and the only brand of liquid smoke that I could buy at the grocery store had strange ingredients, that is why I made this comment. I now have this Liquid Smoke in the cabinet, but still prefer the smoked paprika in this recipe. Substitute 1 teaspoon of liquid smoke for the smoked paprika if you like.
Red Alaea Sea Salt is the traditional salt to use. Substitute any course salt that you have on hand.
This is the totally awesome Instant Pot® that I have…and love…as if you couldn’t tell.
I did not shred the pork, it fell apart on it’s own…oh ya!
The Kalua Pork is Whole 30 and Paleo, the Hawaiian Potato Salad and Hamburger Buns are not. Sorry, but I wanted to show the traditional meal.
To make sticky rice: Bring 2 cups of water to a boil. Add 1 cup cup of sushi rice, stir. Cover and simmer for 25 minutes.

How to create a Hawaiian Bento style meal at home:

Steamed Rice {Cauliflower Rice for Paleo}

Hawaiian Potato Salad

Hamburger Buns

Ahi Poke

And how about a Mai Tai or Piña Colada for the full experience? 😉

Kalua literally means “to cook in an underground oven”, so using an Instant Pot is technically breaking with tradition…but who wants to sit around for 16 hours waiting for lunch? 😉 The traditional ingredients are being used, so hopefully that is enough to keep the tiki gods happy.

Enjoy!!