Native Hawaiian Kalua-Style Pork Shoulder

By AislePrompt Editorial · ·

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are developed and reviewed.

Slow-roasted pork shoulder with traditional Hawaiian flavors, mimicking the underground imu method for tender, smoky perfection. This Hawaiian-inspired slow-cooker recipe, ready in about 320 minutes, pairs pork shoulder, salt, water for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 320 calories and feeds 6, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 20 min Cook: 300 min Serves 6 Hawaiian cuisine 320 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: In a bowl, mix 1 tbsp salt with 1 cup water to create a brine; submerge the trimmed 2.5 lbs pork shoulder in the brine and let soak at room temperature for 2 hours.
  2. Step 2: After brining, remove pork shoulder, pat dry with paper towels, and place in a roasting pan. Add 1/2 cup pineapple chunks, 2 minced garlic cloves, 1 tsp ground ginger, and 1/2 cup pineapple juice around the pork.
  3. Step 3: Cover the roasting pan tightly with aluminum foil and place in a preheated oven at 275°F (135°C); cook for 5 hours until pork is fork-tender and pulls apart easily.
  4. Step 4: Remove pork from the pan, discard the pineapple chunks and liquid, and let rest for 15 minutes.
  5. Step 5: Shred the pork with two forks, returning it to the pan with a small amount of pan juices for 5 minutes to reheat and coat.
  6. Step 6: Serve hot, with additional pineapple chunks on the side.

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