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Hawaiian Pulled Pork

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If you are looking for sweet and salty Hawaiian flavored pulled pork, this Hawaiian Pulled Pork recipe is going to rock your world!!

Your taste buds are in for an explosion of Asian flavors including ginger, pineapple and sesame with just a hint of heat, for the perfect blend of savory and sweet in every bite with this easy-to-make, crowd-pleasing dish.

Shred the tender pork and serve it on sandwiches or sliders, topped with a refreshing pineapple slaw.

If you are searching for my Instant Pot Kalua Pork recipe <<< click on that link.

Hawaiian Pulled Pork sandwiches topped with pineapple slaw sitting on a wood board

For even more delicious pressure cooker recipes, check out the Instant Pot Recipes page.

Just look how colorful these cute little Hawaiian Pulled Pork Sandwiches are! Now stick with me here because this recipe is going to be written for e-v-e-r-y-o-n-e!

I made this Hawaiian Pulled Pork in my Instant Pot, but I am including directions for those of you that wish to use a slow cooker instead. There will also be adjustments for our Paleo friends…so keep reading.

A big bowl of Hawaiian Pulled Pork

Seriously, you don’t even need a bun or tortilla, you can eat it as is with your fingers – or a fork if you’re feeling fancy!

​What you’ll need

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For the Shredded Pork

  • Bone-in or boneless pork shoulder roast or pork butt
  • Pineapple juice, tamari or coconut aminos and fish sauce make up the majority of the liquid needed.
  • Brown sugar adds sweetness (I used Swerve)
  • Chinese five spice adds to the Asian flair in this dish.
  • Garlic and fresh ginger give this dish a punch of flavor!
  • Chili-garlic paste adds a bit of heat without being overpowering – unless that is your thing, go ahead and add as much as you like.
  • Water – just enough to reach one-cup of total cooking liquid.
  • Electric pressure cooker or crock pot – both are 6 quart.

For the pineapple Slaw

  • Pineapple chunks – fresh or canned
  • Shredded cabbage – I used purple, but Napa works great too.
  • Lime juice
  • Tamari/soy sauce – or coconut aminos (plus sea salt)
  • Toasted sesame oil
  • Green onions
  • Sweet Hawaiian bun for sandwiches or sweet rolls for Hawaiian pulled pork sliders

Check out the printable recipe card below for the complete recipe and detailed instructions.

How to make Hawaiian Pulled Pork:

Remove the bone from pork butt/shoulder and cut pork into large chunks IF it has one.

Instant Pot Kalua Pork roast cookingwithcurls.com

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.

Mine was boneless this time, and weighed 3.60 pounds.

Butcher Box Boneless Pork Butt

Cut into 3 or 4 large pieces.

Pork Butt cut into 3 pieces

I left the fat cap on (the piece on the right) but you can remove it if you like.

Mix the pineapple juice, soy sauce/coconut aminos, brown sugar/honey, ginger, garlic, Chinese five spice, fish sauce, and chili-garlic paste together in a measuring cup.

Cooking liquid in a measuring cup with pork pieces in the background

Add water until you have 1 cup total. I added about 3 tablespoons of water.

Place the pork in the liner of your pressure cooker or slow cooker and pour the cooking liquid over the top.

Pork pieces and cooking liquid in a pressure cooker

Secure the lid and use the + and – buttons to set the timer for 90 minutes on Manual/Pressure Cook on high pressure.

Instant Pot set for 90 minutes on Manual

For slow cooker Hawaiian pulled pork, set the time for 7 to 8 hours on LOW.

When the pot beeps, allow pressure to release naturally.

Cooked Hawaiian Pork in a pressure cooker

Move pork to a large bowl or on a cutting board and pull apart with two forks.

Hawaiian Pork being shredded with two forks in a large glass bowl

Add some of the cooking liquid to the pork to keep it moist. Set aside.

For the Pineapple Slaw:

Mix the shredded cabbage, lime juice, soy sauce/coconut aminos, green onions, pineapple* and sesame oil together in a large bowl.

Pineapple chunks, red cabbage and green onions in a glass bowl

For Hawaiian pulled pork sandwiches or sliders:

Slice Hawaiian Sweet Rolls or buns in half, top with pulled pork and pineapple slaw and serve.

Hawaiian Pulled Pork sliders on a wooden serving board

O-M-G, I cannot get enough of this Hawaiian Pulled Pork!! The flavors are insane, totally different than you expect. It has become a family favorite, and my favorite recipe to serve on game days too!

Expert Tips

  • I mixed my pineapple chunks with the red cabbage, and it turned my pineapple purple. If you are going for a perfect presentation, keep the pineapple separate or use green cabbage.
  • For Paleo: substitute honey for the brown sugar, coconut aminos for the soy sauce, and skip the bun.
  • For Whole30: skip the sweetener all-together and substitute coconut aminos. Again, no bun for you!
  • For Keto: this is a judgement call. I used Swerve brown sweetener and did not eat the pineapple chunks or bun. The carb count is still pretty high, so be careful.

FAQ’s

What can I substitute for sesame oil if I don’t have any?

If you don’t have sesame oil, you can substitute it with other oils like canola or light olive oil. While sesame oil adds a distinctive flavor, the dish will still be tasty without it.

Can I freeze Hawaiian Pulled Pork?

Yes, you can freeze the pulled pork for later use (including leftovers). Allow to cool completely and store in an airtight container or freezer bags, making sure to remove as much air as possible. Thaw and reheat when ready to enjoy.

What are some serving suggestions besides sandwiches and sliders?

Hawaiian Pulled Pork can be served over steamed white rice, in tacos or burritos, or as a topping for nachos. Get creative, it goes with just about everything!

How can I adjust the sweetness or saltiness of the dish?

Grab a spoon and taste the marinade before adding it to the pork. Adjust the sweetness or saltiness according to your preference. You can add more brown sugar for sweetness or soy sauce for saltiness.
If using coconut aminos, which are sweet, add as much salt as needed to balance the flavors.

More delicious Hawaiian recipes:

Did you try this delicious recipe? I’d love to see it!
Tag @cookingwithcurls on Instagram & Facebook and leave a ⭐️⭐⭐⭐⭐ review below!

Enjoy!!

Hawaiian Pulled Pork sandwiches topped with pineapple slaw sitting on a wood board

Hawaiian Pulled Pork

Tangy, salty and sweet flavors all combine in these Hawaiian Pulled Pork Sandwiches that are topped with pineapple slaw and served on Hawaiian rolls!
5 from 3 votes
Print Rate
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: pork, recipe, pineapple, slaw, cabbage, roll, sandwich, instant, pot, easy, Hawaiian, paleo, island
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Pressure Release: 15 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 55 minutes
Servings: 8 Servings
Calories: 497kcal
Author: Lisa Johnson

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 3.6 pound boneless pork butt
  • .33 cup pineapple juice
  • 3 tablespoons tamari/soy sauce substitute coconut aminos
  • 1 tablespoon fish sauce I use Red Boat
  • 3 tablespoons brown sugar substitute honey or sweetener of your choice
  • 0.5 teaspoon Chinese five spice
  • 3 large cloves garlic minced
  • 1 tablespoon fresh ginger grated
  • 1 tablespoon chili-garlic paste substitute sriracha or samba oelek
  • water as needed to make 1 cup total

Pineapple Slaw

  • 2 cups pineapple chunks cut into smaller pieces
  • 4 cups red cabbage shredded, or substitute Napa
  • 2 tablespoons lime juice
  • 1 teaspoon tamari/soy sauce
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
  • 5 green onions sliced
  • 8 Hawaiian Sweet buns or 12 dinner roll size Hawaiian Sweet Rolls

Instructions

For the Pork

  • Remove the bone from pork butt/shoulder and cut pork into large chunks IF it has one. 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.
  • Cut into 3 or 4 large pieces. I left the fat cap on (the piece on the right) but you can remove it if you like.
  • Mix the pineapple juice, soy sauce/coconut aminos, brown sugar/honey, ginger, garlic, Chinese five spice, fish sauce, and chili-garlic paste together in a measuring cup. Add water until you have 1 cup total. I added about 3 Tablespoons of water.
  • Place the pork in the liner of your pressure cooker or slow cooker and pour the cooking liquid over the top.
  • Secure the lid and use the + and – buttons to set the timer for 90 minutes on Manual/High Pressure for pressure cooker.

For slow cooker, set the time for 7 to 8 hours on LOW.

  • When the pot beeps allow pressure to release naturally.
  • Move pork to a large bowl and pull apart with two forks.
  • Add some of the cooking liquid to the pork to keep it moist. Set aside.

For the Pineapple Slaw

  • Mix the shredded cabbage, lime juice, soy sauce/coconut aminos, green onions, pineapple* and sesame oil together in a large bowl.

For Sandwiches/Sliders

  • Slice buns in half, top with pulled pork and pineapple slaw and serve.

Notes

  • I mixed my pineapple chunks with the red cabbage, and it turned my pineapple purple. If you are going for a perfect presentation, keep the pineapple separate or use green cabbage.
  • For Paleo: substitute honey for the brown sugar, coconut aminos for the soy sauce, and skip the bun – or substitute lettuce wraps.
  • For Whole30: skip the sweetener all-together and substitute coconut aminos. Again, no bun for you!
  • For Keto: this is a judgement call. I used Swerve brown sweetener, and did not eat the pineapple chunks or bun. The carb count is still pretty high, so be careful.
  • Mine was boneless this time, and weighed 3.60 pounds. 

Nutrition

Calories: 497kcal | Carbohydrates: 48g | Protein: 43g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 132mg | Sodium: 656mg | Potassium: 1044mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 32g | Vitamin A: 655IU | Vitamin C: 43mg | Calcium: 85mg | Iron: 4mg

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