How To Make An Easy Kalua Luau Style Shredded Pork Using Liquid Smoke, Salt, and a Budget Friendly Pork Shoulder!
Hi! If you’ve been following me for long you’ll already know this, but for those who are new, welcome to Far From The Farm. I’m Mona, the Brit behind the recipes, learning life and food in the States while sharing our debt-free journey and what’s on the menu in our home today!
There are some dinners that quietly earn a permanent spot in the family rotation because they are reliable, cheap, and everyone actually eats them. This Smoky Hawaiian pulled pork is one of those.
It has that salty, smoky, fall-apart tenderness you picture at a luau, but made with real life tools and real life energy levels.
Traditional Hawaiian kalua pig is cooked in an imu, basically a pit oven in the ground. It is smoky, tender, and so simple it almost feels like a trick. Now, I do not have a pit oven, and I am not roasting a whole pig.
What I do have is a pork shoulder, a slow cooker setting, and a tiny bottle of liquid smoke that does an impressive job of bringing those island vibes into an ordinary weeknight.
This is the slow cooker version of a recipe we also make in the Instant Pot. Most weeks the pressure cooker wins because it is fast.
But every now and again, the slow cooker version is the better choice, especially if we are headed out, taking food to someone, or making it for an event where it needs to stay warm for serving. It is also brilliant when you want dinner to basically cook itself while you get on with life.
I also love this one because it keeps the kitchen simple. Fewer gadgets, fewer moving parts, less clutter. If you have an Instant Pot, using the slow cooker function is such a good way to get the slow cooker results without dragging out another appliance.
And a quick reminder because so many of us do this. Recipes get overcomplicated. This strips it back. Meat, smoke, salt, and time. That is pretty much all you need for tender, flavorful pulled pork that tastes like you tried a whole lot harder than you did!
Why You Should Give Your Instant Pot Slow Cooker Function a Try!
If you’ve never tried using your Instant Pot’s slow cooker function, take this as your friendly nudge. It’s such a game changer!
Not only does it keep the counter from being cluttered with extra gadgets, but if you’re using an Instant Pot Pro like I do, you can switch straight from sautéing to slow cooking in the same pan. Total time saver.
It’s been one of my favorite ways to speed up mealtimes while keeping things low-cost, cozy, and family friendly with almost no effort! Give it a whirl with this recipe today! Here’s what I use in my kitchen:
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Equipment
- Slow cooker, or Instant Pot with Slow Cook function (make sure to also use the slow cooker lid!)
- Large freezer safe 2 gallon bag
- Measuring cups and spoons
- KitchenAid mixer with paddle attachment for shredding, or 2 forks
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Ingredients
Serves 6 to 8
- 3 lb pork shoulder, thick fat trimmed
- 1 tbsp salt
- 1 tbsp liquid smoke
Freezer Meal Prep
- Trim the thickest pieces of fat from the pork shoulder.
- Mix the salt and liquid smoke into a paste.
- Rub the paste all over the pork.
- Slide pork into a freezer bag.
- Seal, flatten, and label with the cooking directions below.
- Freeze flat for up to 90 days.
Step by Step Instructions
Step 1. Thaw the freezer meal
Remove the freezer bag from the freezer and thaw fully in the fridge for 24 hours before cooking.
Traditional slow cookers and the Instant Pot Pro slow cook function are not designed to safely cook a solid frozen pork shoulder, so this step is important.
If cooking fresh, you can move straight to the next step.
Step 2. Add the pork to the cooker
Place the thawed pork shoulder into your slow cooker or Instant Pot Pro insert.
Lay the pork flat so it cooks evenly.
We find that no extra liquid is required because the slow cooking of the pork creates more than enough of its own juices!
Tip: If your cooker tends to run hot or your pork is very lean, add 1/4 cup water to prevent the edges from drying out.
Step 3. Choose your slow cooking method
- Traditional slow cooker: Cook on LOW for 8 to 10 hours, until the pork is fall-apart tender.
- Instant Pot slow cook mode: Set to HIGH on the Slow Cook function, fit the glass lid, and cook for 10 to 12 hours.
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The Instant Pot slow cook function runs cooler than most traditional slow cookers, which is why HIGH is the correct and intended setting. This gives you the same low, steady cooking result, just calibrated differently.
Step 4. Check for doneness
The pork is ready when it shreds easily with very little effort.
If it resists, give it more time rather than increasing heat.
Step 5. Shred the pork
Lift the pork out of the cooking liquid, remove any additional fat you don’t want to eat, and shred.
For the easiest and most even shred, place the pork into a KitchenAid mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and run on low speed until broken down.
Forks work perfectly well too if that is what you have.
Step 6. Moisten the meat
Spoon a little of the cooking liquid back over the shredded pork and gently toss.
You only need enough to keep the meat juicy without making it watery.
Step 7. Serve
Serve immediately or return the pork to the cooker on warm until ready to eat.
One of our favourite ways to enjoy this is piled into Sweet Pink Bread Machine Hawaiian Style Rolls with BBQ sauce. It is also excellent served over rice with greens for a more luau inspired plate.
NEED THIS IN A HURRY?!
Why not check out our Instant Pot version of this recipe HERE!
Notes and Troubleshooting
Notes
- Liquid smoke is strong. Stick to 1 tablespoon the first time.
- Salt matters here because the ingredient list is short.
- For BBQ sandwiches, toss with your favorite sauce after shredding.
- For a more Polynesian vibe, stir in teriyaki after shredding and serve with rice.
Troubleshooting
Not shredding easily: cook longer. Pork shoulder needs time to break down.
Too salty: add extra shredded meat without seasoning next time, or serve with rice to balance.
Too smoky: reduce liquid smoke to 2 teaspoons next time.
Too watery: remove the lid for 20 to 30 minutes at the end to reduce liquid.
Storage
- Freezer meal (uncooked): up to 3 months
- Cooked pulled pork: 3 to 4 days in the fridge
- Freeze cooked pork: up to 2 months, freeze with a splash of cooking liquid
- Reheat: microwave with a splash of water, or warm in a skillet with sauce
Serving Ideas
- Slider rolls with BBQ sauce and crunchy slaw
- Rice bowls with pineapple, cucumber, and a drizzle of teriyaki
- Tacos with pickled onions and cilantro
- Stuffed baked potatoes
- Nachos with cheese and jalapeños
Why You’ll Love This Recipe?!
- Only 3 ingredients, super simple recipe!
- Freezer meal friendly
- Super budget friendly cut of meat
- Hands off cooking
- Shreds like a dream
- Works for sandwiches, rice bowls, or party trays
FAQ
Can I use pork butt instead of pork shoulder?
Yes, they are very similar cuts and both shred beautifully.
Do I have to trim the fat?
Trim thick hard pieces. A little fat is good for flavor, but big chunks can make it greasy.
Can I add onions or garlic?
You can, but the whole point of this one is keeping it simple and still getting big flavor.
What if I do not have liquid smoke?
You will still get tender pork, but it will not have that kalua style smokiness. Liquid smoke is the key shortcut here.
Slow Cooker Smoky Hawaiian Pulled Pork Freezer Meal Recipe!
December 12, 2025Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Trim the thickest pieces of fat from the pork shoulder.In a small bowl, mix the salt and liquid smoke into a paste. Rub the paste evenly over all sides of the pork.Place the seasoned pork into a large freezer safe bag. Seal, flatten, label with cooking instructions, and freeze for up to 3 months.
- Remove the freezer meal from the freezer and thaw fully in the refrigerator for 24 hours before cooking.
- Place the thawed pork shoulder into the slow cooker or Instant Pot insert, laying it flat for even cooking. No additional liquid is required. The pork will release its own juices during slow cooking. However, If your cooker runs hot or the pork is very lean, add up to 1/4 cup water.
- Cook:Traditional slow cooker: Cook on LOW for 8 to 10 hours until the pork is fall-apart tender.Instant Pot slow cook function: Set to HIGH on Slow Cook, fit the glass lid, and cook for 10 to 12 hours.
- Before shredding, check for doneness. The pork should shred easily with minimal effort.
- Remove the pork from the cooker and discard excess fat if desired. Shred using two forks or a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment on low speed. Spoon a small amount of cooking liquid back over the shredded pork to keep it juicy.
- Serve immediately or keep warm until ready to eat. Enjoy!
Notes
- Liquid smoke is strong. Stick to 1 tablespoon the first time.
- Salt matters here because the ingredient list is short.
- For BBQ sandwiches, toss with your favorite sauce after shredding.
- For a more Polynesian vibe, stir in teriyaki after shredding and serve with rice.
Storage
- Freezer meal (uncooked): up to 3 months
- Cooked pulled pork: 3 to 4 days in the fridge
- Freeze cooked pork: up to 2 months, freeze with a splash of cooking liquid
- Reheat: microwave with a splash of water, or warm in a skillet with sauce
- Instant Pot Freezer Meal 5 Ingredient Smoky Hawaiian Pulled Pork
- Bread Machine Cherry Juice Hawaiian-style Rolls!
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
The Takeaway
This Slow Cooker Smoky Hawaiian Pulled Pork is the kind of recipe that quietly becomes part of your regular rhythm. It uses a cheap cut of meat, a handful of simple ingredients, and turns them into something deeply comforting and endlessly useful.
Slow cooking gives you pork that is salty, smoky, and so tender it falls apart with barely any effort. There is no complicated seasoning blend, no long prep, and no hovering in the kitchen. Just meat, smoke, salt, and time doing the work for you.
What makes this recipe truly special is how flexible it is. One batch can become sandwiches, rice bowls, sliders, wraps, or freezer portions for later. Pair it with BBQ sauce, serve it Hawaiian style with rice and greens, or pile it into soft rolls for an easy crowd pleaser.
Keeping one of these in the freezer feels like a gift to future you. On the days when energy is low and dinner feels overwhelming, this pulled pork steps in and saves the evening without asking much in return. Simple, reliable, and genuinely helpful. The kind of recipe every busy kitchen needs!
What To Try Next?!
Share & Rate This Recipe!
If this pulled pork makes dinner feel easier, leave a quick star rating in the recipe card or drop a comment to tell me how you served it. Shares help more than you know!
Last update on 2026-02-17 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
