Slow Cooker Hawaiian Pulled Pork Sliders
It might be summer, but let’s pull out that slow cooker! These Slow Cooker Hawaiian Pulled Pork Sliders are an easy and delicious way to feed a crowd!
Disclosure: This Slow Cooker Hawaiian Pulled Pork Sliders post was sponsored by Flatout Flatbread, but the recipe and opinions are entirely my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that support Spiced!
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We’re in the middle of a busy week here in the Spiced house. Robbie had a visit to his ear doctor yesterday, and today is a visit to the eye doctor. (Don’t worry. Nothing’s wrong with the little guy. We just happened to have back-to-back doctor’s appointments this week.) And then tomorrow the dogs have a hair cut appointment. And Friday I have my yearly physical. Weeks like this pop up on occasion for everyone, right? Those weeks when you look at the calendar on Monday morning and just let out an audible “umph.” It’s weeks like that when I’m thankful for our slow cooker!
Slow cooker? In the middle of the summer? Yes, I am fully aware that the slow cooker is most often reserved for fall and winter recipes, but don’t underestimate the power of the slow cooker in the summer. Take these Slow Cooker Hawaiian Pulled Pork Sliders for instance. This recipe is a breeze thanks to the slow cooker! It just sits over on the counter all day doin’ it’s thing, and then you end up with delicious sliders. Even if you don’t have a zillion doctor’s appointments in the same week, the slow cooker allows you to get out and enjoy the summer sun…or mow the grass and weed the garden.
We’re huge fans of Flatout Flatbreads, and their Flatout Foldits are perfect for making sliders. Flatout has a bunch of different varieties/flavors for their flatbreads, and I’m fairly certain we’ve tried ’em all. That is until I recently discovered their brand new flavor: Sweet Hawaiian Foldits. These flatbreads are delicious, and they check in at only 100 calories each. Plus, each one has 5g of protein and 6g of fiber. Fiber in food helps you feel full right away while protein helps you feel full longer. And considering how tasty these Sweet Hawaiian Foldits are to begin with, the extra protein and fiber is a bonus! (Note: Flatout’s Sweet Hawaiian Foldits will be available nationwide later this summer.)
Given the new Sweet Hawaiian Foldit flavor, my mind immediately went to Hawaiian pulled pork. Hawaiian pulled pork (also called Luau Pork or Kalua Pork) is traditionally cooked outdoors in a 3-4 foot deep pit. I’m fairly certain Laura would have given me “the look” if I went out into our backyard and dug a pit to cook this Hawaiian pulled pork in the traditional way. Since I’m not a fan of “the look,” I decided to keep this one nice and simple. I pulled the slow cooker out of its summer hiding spot, and I let it do all of the work for me.
We love pulled pork, and we typically smoke it with barbecue sauce. These Slow Cooker Hawaiian Pulled Pork Sliders are just a slight variation on that recipe. The barbecue sauce stays in the fridge and instead we use a sauce comprised of pineapple juice, Hoisin sauce and other seasonings. The result is a bright, flavorful sauce that goes quite well with the pulled pork!
For us, a good pulled pork sandwich isn’t complete without cole slaw, so I still added a nice scoop of slaw to the top of each one. And for a fun twist, I grilled up a couple of pineapple rings and tossed those on top, too. These Slow Cooker Hawaiian Pulled Pork Sliders are loaded with flavor, and Flatout’s Sweet Hawaiian Foldits are the perfect flavor complement.
Since these sliders are made almost entirely in the slow cooker, that means this recipe would be perfect for entertaining a crowd on a warm, summer evening! Just let the pork cook all day, and you’ll have dinner 90% ready by the time friends show up that night. Oh, and in case you have leftovers (hah…leftovers?!), I highly recommend toasting the Flatout Foldits until they’re slightly crispy. Meanwhile, cook some of the Hawaiian pulled pork in a dry skillet until bits start to get nice and crispy. Then pile that crispy pulled pork on top of the Flatout Foldit, and you’ve got a tasty new way to enjoy these flavors. Cheers!
Slow Cooker Hawaiian Pulled Pork Sliders
Ingredients
For the Pulled Pork
- 1 4-5 lb pork shoulder roast
- ½ Tbsp Hawaiian sea salt or any sea salt if Hawaiian is not available
- 1 Tbsp liquid smoke
- ⅓ cup Hoisin sauce
- ⅓ cup pineapple juice see note
- 2 Tbsp soy sauce
- 2 Tbsp honey
- 1 Tbsp garlic minced
- 1 Tbsp ginger grated
- 1 Tbsp sriracha
- 1½ tsp sesame oil
For Sandwiches
- 4 pineapple slices
- 4 Flatout Foldits Sweet Hawaiian flavor
- 2-3 cups Pulled Pork
- cole slaw homemade or store-bought
Instructions
For the Pulled Pork
- Pat pork roast dry with paper towels and then pierce roast all over with a fork. Pat the sea salt all over roast and place it in slow cooker.
- Cook on low for 8-10 hours, or until pork shreds easily with 2 forks. Shred pork and place shredded pork back in slow cooker.
- Combine the rest of the ingredients (liquid smoke, Hoisin sauce, pineapple juice, soy sauce, honey, garlic, ginger, sriracha and sesame oil) until well blended. Add mixture to slow cooker, stir and continue cooking on low for 1 more hour.
For the Sandwiches
- Using either a grill pan (indoors) or a grill (outdoors), pat pineapple slices dry and grill over medium-high heat for 5-6 minutes.
- To assemble sliders, top each Flatout Foldit with ~¾ cup of pulled pork. Add grilled pineapple slice and ~¼ cup of cole slaw. Fold flatbread in half and serve.
Notes
It might be summer in your area, but it’s been cold and rainy for a few days here (And by “cold” I mean something around 6°Celsius during the day, but during the nights we’ve been having frosts). So slow cooker is a perfect device right now. And you know what? As soon as I saw the first photo, I thought I should make a naan pizza with pulled pork and pinapple. Don’t worry – I’ll send you a slice (or alternatively, I’ll name it after you) 🙂
Yikes! 6°C during the day is really cold, Ben…especially for June. I mean the weather here has been up and down, too, but we’re getting more days in the 70’s F (~24C) and that’s pretty much ideal weather as far as I’m concerned! But I agree that the slow cooker is still a perfect tool even in the summer. I mean I’ve got plenty of yard chores, so having dinner cook away while I can check those chores off the list is a win-win for me! Plus, this pulled pork on those flatbreads is delicious. But now I’m wondering why I didn’t turn ’em into grilled pizzas like you always make? Perfect idea for the leftovers!
So sorry you’re having one of those weeks too! Good thing for recipes like this one—they’re lifesavers aren’t they? Will you give us a little update on how Robbie does at the eye doctor? Last time I was there they couldn’t do the glaucoma test because I kept pulling away. I’m super weird about stuff going in my eyes and I kind of wonder if I’m better or worse than a toddler :). Happy Wednesday!
Yes! Sometimes weeks just pop up and get you when you least expect it. But a good slow cooker recipe will always save the day! Oh my gosh, I am such a wimp when it comes to the eye doctor. It takes every bit of will in my body to sit there while they do that little puff of air in my eye. I don’t wear contacts, and I know I never will as I can’t handle the idea of putting something into my eye like that. I’ll make sure to include an update after his appointment! Thanks for asking, Kelsie! 🙂
I am in Hawaii for a week and when I return I will make your pulled pork sandwiches thinking of the warm ocean and the cooling trade winds.
Oh my gosh, your timing is perfect, Gerlinde! You’re out there in Hawaii when I posted these sandwiches. I hope you’re enjoying some Hawaiian pork out there, my friend! But, yes, these sliders will be a great way to relive the memories of that trip. 🙂
Discovered only recently how good is to combine pineapples with meat so this one is just ideal to continue the habit …. although the heat here is a constant thing now 🙂 Thank you David !
Yes! I totally agree with you. Grilled pineapple is one of my favorite things actually. We marinate it with a bit of soy sauce and then put it on the grill…so tasty! In fact, those soy-marinated pineapples would be a great addition to these sliders. Pineapple juice is underappreciated when it comes to marinades. Let’s change that! 🙂
I have a few of those weeks coming up, my two furry friends have doctor appointments soon and we are all due for some health checks that I have not penciled in yet. I am entertaining a crowd on Friday and I was planning a bbq but now seeing your pulled pork recipe I might change my plans – such a fantastic crowd pleaser!
Yes! Summer really is a great time of the year, but our schedules always seem to explode this time of the year, too. But then again, that’s what makes it fun, right?? I’ve got to say that these pulled pork sliders would make an easy and tasty way to serve a crowd at a summer party! 🙂 Thanks so much, Miriam!
You know David, now that I have a slow cooker I still haven’t made pulled pork with it, and it’s something I’ve always wanted to make with a slow cooker! Love this recipe. These slow cooker hawaiian pulled pork sliders sure do look delicious and they’re pinned for future. Hopefully for me to get round to making. Thanks David!
Oh my gosh, you totally need to stop and make pulled pork in that slow cooker, Neil! It’s one of my favorite slow cooker recipes! I do love smoking pork shoulders on the smoker, but sometimes I just need a nice easy recipe that cooks itself…like these sliders! Thanks so much, my friend!
We don’t use our slow cooker nearly enough! There are times, like your week when it’s a life saver! I love coming home to a cooked meal and the house smelling so yummy. These Hawaiian Pork Sliders look delicious!
I totally agree with you, Kathy! I’ll pull the slow cooker out during the winter, but I forget that it can be a great tool in the summer, too. I mean these pulled pork sliders are super tasty, and they practically cooked themselves…perfect for busy summer days! 🙂
Yes! We use our slow cooker year round too. Why not? Love how you can basically dump stuff in there and forget about if for a bit. I’m all about pulled pork and sliders and these look AMAZING! Love the pineapple for that touch of sweetness. These are happening. Have an awesome weekend, David!
Yes! I always forget about the slow cooker during the summer, but the summer is arguably one of the best times for it since we’re so busy! I have to say that these sliders were a huge hit around here, too. Pineapple + pulled pork is a thing of magic! Hope your week is going well, Dawn!
One of those weeks where hitting the weekend is extra special! 😉
I’m with you on using the slow cooker in the summer. In fact, we may use it even more often this time of year! This slow cooker pork looks like one terrific reason to plug that baby in. Love the idea of serving it on flatbread and that grilled pineapple slice has me swooning!!
Haha, oh yes! The weekend is always special, but sometimes it’s just a little extra special. 🙂
Yes to using the slow cooker year round, too! I need to pull that bad boy out more often as these sliders were delicious. And the pineapple marinade + pineapple rings? The perfect flavor for summer picnics! Thanks so much, Marissa!
OMG, in the last couple of weeks I’ve been to the eye doctor and got extensive dental work. I’m about to make appointments for the “everything else” doctors. I feel your pain – quite literally – in my mouth 🙂
My goodness, I LOVE how you jazzed up Kalua pork! Your addition of honey and pineapple gots me all KINDS of drooling 🙂 Pinning!
Oh geez…your line-up of doctor’s appointments sounds about as rough as ours, Christina! I hope everything is ok. All that dental work might interfere with your ability to eat yummy food, and I’m not ok with that! Kalua pork has so much awesome flavor, but throw in the slow cooker and those flatbreads? My kind of summer meal right there!!
I like using my slow cooker all year round too. We love pulled pork at our house. I love the pineapple that you add to these, they sound yummy! Hope all the appointments went well!
All the appointments have been A-ok so far, Dawn…thanks for asking! And yes to the slow cooker year round. It’s the perfect tool for crazy weeks…no matter the weather outdoors! I hope your weekend has been going well so far! 🙂
It’s 8.13 in the morning, I’ve filled ma belly and yet, and I cannot seem to stop drooling – after looking at these foldit sliders! For one – darn, that hoisin+liquid smoke + pineapple juice sauce sounds so insanely delicious (am betting that would be great with just about any meat) and those Sweet Hawaiian Foldits – simply WOW! I so need to look for them when am at the grocery store tomorrow. They aren’t similar in taste to Hawaiian rolls are they? I need to stop being impatient and just wait till tomorrow…
Hoping this week doesn’t have you running around from one doc to another! Hoping all y’a;;s doc appts went well!
Haha! I know that feeling, Shashi. It was all I could do to not get into these leftovers for breakfast…at least while they lasted. (They didn’t last long…) The pulled pork itself has a ton of flavor, and then complimenting that with the Sweet Hawaiian Foldits took these to a whole new level. 🙂 I would say the taste is similar to Hawaiian rolls, but just in a Foldit style. Oh, and they’ll be hitting the stores later this summer…so you might need to keep an eye out. But they’re worth the wait! Thanks so much, my friend. Hope your week is going well!
I’m making this on a seasonably warm Fall day and it is making the house smell amazing. Plus these combination are all my 2 year olds favorites. I am wondering if I drain all the liquid from the pork cooking before I add the hoisin sauce mixture?
Hey Melanie! Glad you’ve got a seasonably warm Fall day…we’re running below average temps here in the northeast. I feel like Fall got stolen from us this year! Either way, yes, I do recommend draining all (or at least most) of the liquid from the pork. You want enough to keep it moist, but not soaking wet…otherwise those sliders would be a mess! I do hope you enjoy this one. It’s an easy recipe and quite tasty, too! 🙂 (Also, we have an almost-3-year old here…and no way would he touch pulled pork. You’re lucky!)
I really am lucky. She doesn’t nap but she’ll try anything. Plus I’m in Chicago so warmer temps should be headed your way!
Ok, well we got the opposite. He naps well, but won’t try any new foods. I’m crossing my fingers on that warmer weather now! Thanks, Melanie!
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