These Slow Cooker Island Pulled Pork Sandwiches are Gr8 for a casual dinner. The smoky shredded pork topped with the Pineapple Sesame Slaw makes a delicious meal!
Imagine yourself on a beach with waves crashing and palm trees swaying in the gentle tropical breeze; preparing for a dinner of pulled pork that has been roasting under the sand all day long.
What shall we serve with that tender, juicy, warm pork? How about making these Slow Cooker Island Pulled Pork Sandwiches with Pineapple Sesame Slaw?
This recipe came together after I made the Slow Cooker Island Pulled Pork for my Shipwrecked themed Gr8 Dinner.
You can certainly eat the pork separately with the slaw but using Debbie's Hawaiian Rolls to make sandwiches makes a delicious, casual main course.
And everyone loves a good sandwich, right? Serve these with your favorite potato salad or maybe some Spicy Sweet Potato Fries!
This is a Gr8 "company" recipe because all the work can be done ahead of time. I love to make recipes like this so I can enjoy my guests without being in the kitchen the whole time!
If you want to serve the pork on the sandwiches cold, make it the day before...even better!
And now I've added the Instant Pot (or multi-pot) process!
Slow Cooker Island Pulled Pork Sandwiches
Ingredients
Island Pulled Pork
- 4 to 5 pounds boneless pork butt
- 1 ½ Tablespoons red Hawaiian sea salt, or any sea salt
- 1 ½ Tablespoons liquid smoke, I used Wright's Liquid Smoke, other brands may have a different level of smokiness. So you may need more or less.
For the Sandwiches
- 16 Hawaiian Rolls
- 1 recipe Pineapple Sesame Slaw
Instructions
Slow Cooker Island Pulled Pork
- Rinse the pork and pat dry. Then place the roast in your slow cooker.
- Pierce the meat with either a sharp, pointed knife or a fork, turning the roast to pierce all sides. This is so the smokey flavoring gets into the meat.
- Pour half of the liquid smoke onto the pork and rub it over the top and sides. Then rub with half the salt. Turn the roast over and pour the other half onto the meat and rub it to cover the meat, the use the remaining to salt to cover the roast.
- Make sure the meat is in the slow cooker fat side up then cover and cook on low for 8 to 9 hours or high for 4 to 5 hours. Meat is done when it comes apart easily.
- Carefully remove the meat from the slow cooker and set into a bowl.
- Strain the liquid that is in the bottom of the slow cooker into a large measuring cup or bowl. Let this sit so the fat rises to the top.
- While that sets, shred the meat, removing and discarding any fat or gristle. place the shredded meat in your serving bowl and cover with foil to keep warm.
- Back to the strained liquid - remove the fat from the top and use some of the liquid to pour over the shredded pork to make it moister, use your judgment on this. I keep the remainder in the fridge in case there are leftovers that need more liquid the next day. (No one wants to eat dry pork!)
Island Pulled Pork Sandwiches with Pineapple Sesame Slaw
- Cut each Hawaiian Roll in half horizontally.
- Pile some pork onto one side then add some of the Pineapple Sesame Slaw and top with the other half of the roll.
- Make a platter of sandwiches or let your guests make their own. Enjoy!
Multipot Island Pulled Pork
Prep Time: 45 minutes + Cook/Pressure Time: 2 hours 15 minutes = TOTAL TIME - 3 hours
- Turn your multipot (Instant Pot) to the "Sauté" setting and wait for HOT to appear on the LED panel.
- Trim some of the fat from your pork roast and sauté until some the fat is rendered. Remove the piece of fat.
- Pat your roast dry then put it in the pot, fat side down and brown. Turn and brown on each side. Timing will depend on your particular pot. You may need to cut your roast in half.
- Remove the roast to a plate and add ½ cup of water to the pot. If possible, scrape up some of the browned bits from the bottom. Turn the pot to OFF.
- Add the Liquid Smoke to the water, then add the roast back in and any accumulated drippings. Then sprinkle the salt over the roast.
- Put the lid on and seal. Turn the Pressure Cooker on and set time to 90 minutes.
- After 90 minutes, leave the pot for an additional 30 minutes for a natural release. At that time, if the pressure has not completely released, do a quick release. When the float valve is completely down, you may open the pot.
- Carefully remove the roast from the pot to a platter.
- Strain the liquid in the pot into a tall jar or measuring cup. (I had about 3 cups of liquid, so make sure you have a large enough vessel. Let this sit so the fat comes to the top.
- While that sits, shred the meat, removing and discarding any fat or gristle. place the shredded meat in your serving bowl and cover with foil to keep warm.
- Back to the strained liquid - remove the fat from the top and use some of the liquid to pour over the shredded pork to make it moister, use your judgment on this. I keep the remainder in the fridge in case there are leftovers that need more liquid the next day. (No one wants to eat dry pork!)
- Continue making the Pulled Pork Sandwiches, above.
Notes
Gr8 Do Ahead Tips:
- The pork can be made a day ahead of time. Just cool it, cover, and refrigerate.
- When ready to serve, simply reheat.
- OR, these sandwiches are also delicious with the pork cold. Your choice!
Be a Gr8 Friend and tell us what you think!