Best Hawaiian Pork Loin Recipe (Slow Cooker)

Transform a simple pork loin into a shredded pork masterpiece with a simple homemade rub, pineapple, onion, and soy sauce. Easy ingredients and your slow cooker make this Hawaiian Pork Loin a new dinner favorite, any night of the week!

overhead shot of hawaiian pork loin shredded on platter


 

What You’ll Need

This Hawaiian pork loin roast recipe uses simple ingredients that are shelf stable, with the exception of the pork and onion, so it is easy to throw together. A full list of ingredients with measurements for this recipe is available in the printable recipe card below.

  • Pork Loin– Pork loin is a cut of meat from the back of a pig, located just below the shoulder and above the tenderloin. It’s a lean and tender cut that’s commonly used for roasts, chops, and other pork dishes.
  • Low-sodium soy sauce
  • Pineapple chunks in 10% juice
  • Sweet onion
  • Ground ginger
  • Paprika
  • Onion powder
  • Coarse Kosher salt
  • Dash of oil
  • Cornstarch
pork loin in slow cooker

Pork Loin vs Pork Tenderloin

If there’s one thing to remember it’s to make sure you’re picking up the right cut. Pork loin is not to be confused with pork tenderloin!

  • Pork Loin – A lean, large, wide cut of meat that is broken down into many different cuts, like chops and roasts. You want a boneless pork loin roast for this recipe. It may be sold as a top loin or center loin roast and it benefits from low, long cooks. It also has a nice layer of fat, which helps keep it juicy and adds flavor.
  • Pork Tenderloin – Similarly named but NOT a similar cut in any other way. Tenderloin is a thin, narrow cut that averages about 1 pound and is considered one of the most tender cuts of pork available. It’s best cooked quickly at high heat, and cannot be substituted in this recipe. It is also a lean cut of meat.

5S Philosophy 👩🏻‍

  • Salt – Make sure you are familiar with your soy sauce and the levels of salt it has. Different brands are saltier than others. If yours is particularly salty or you do not like salty foods, then omit the additional 1 1/2 teaspoon of salt.
  • Seasonings – If you like a peppery sauce, add a few grinds of fresh black pepper. Alternatively, you can also add cayenne pepper or some fresh herbs for more flavor.
  • Sauces – For a sweeter, sticky sauce, add 2-3 tablespoons of light brown sugar or dark brown sugar.
  • Swaps – Changing the type of onion used will change the flavor profile of the sauce. A sweet onion gives sweeter results while a yellow or red onion will be more oniony.
  • Senses – Slow cooker Hawaiian pork loin is tender and juicy, filling the air with a sweet, tropical aroma of pineapple and garlic. Each bite melts in your mouth, bursting with savory-sweet flavor and a hint of tangy glaze.
close up shot of shredded pork with pineapple

Perfect Pairings

This slow cooker pork loin is easiest served over a bed of white rice, but you can also use toasted couscous or ranch rice. It is also great over mashed potatoes or roasted sweet potatoes.

It also make an amazing pulled pork sandwich.

As a side, consider serving with vegetables like marinated green beans, roasted rainbow carrots, or whole roasted cauliflower.

Shredded meat can be used in tacos or even quesadillas and nachos! Leftovers can be served on top of a fun leafy green salad too.

overhead shot of shredded hawaiian pork loin over rice on plate
overhead shot of hawaiian pork loin shredded on platter

Hawaiian Slow Cook Pork Loin

4.40 from 252 votes
Bring the island flavors to the table with this simple, slow cooker Hawaiian Pork loin made with pantry staples and finished with an easy to make sauce.
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 5 hours
Total Time: 5 hours 30 minutes
Servings: 8

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Combine the salt, paprika, onion powder, and ginger in a bowl.
  • Pat your pork loin dry with paper towels then rub in the spice mixture.
  • Sear the pork in the hot pan until browned on each side, beginning the the fat side down. 3 to 4 minutes on each side.
  • Meanwhile, dice your onion. Then combine the soy sauce with the juice from the can of pineapple chunks, you should get about ¾ cups of juice from the can.
  • Place half the pineapple chunks on the bottom of your slow cooker then place your seared pork loin on top of them with the fat side up.
  • Add in the remaining pineapple, diced onion, and pour the soy sauce/pineapple juice mixture over the top.
  • Cover and cook on low for 5 hours. The pork should shred easily with a fork.
  • Strain the liquid from the slow cooker through a sieve into a medium saucepan over medium high heat and bring to a simmer. Reserve some pineapple chunks from the slow cooker for serving.
  • Whisk the cornstarch with 1 ½ tbs cold water to make a slurry then slowly whisk it into the simmering sauce. Continue to stir gently until thickened.
  • Serve the pork with the sauce and reserved pineapple chunks.
  • If you've tried this recipe, come back and let us know how it was!

Video

Notes

* Make sure you are familiar with your soy sauce and the levels of salt it has. Different brands are saltier than others. If yours is particularly salty or you do not like salty foods, then omit the additional 1 1/2 teaspoon of salt. 

Nutrition

Calories: 297 kcal, Carbohydrates: 13 g, Protein: 40 g, Fat: 9 g, Saturated Fat: 4 g, Cholesterol: 107 mg, Sodium: 1331 mg, Potassium: 760 mg, Fiber: 1 g, Sugar: 10 g, Vitamin A: 159 IU, Vitamin C: 7 mg, Calcium: 23 mg, Iron: 2 mg
Author: Mikayla Marin
Calories: 297
Course: Main Course, Main Dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: hawaiian pork, slow cooker hawaiian pork loin
Did you make this recipe?I’d love to see your recipes – snap a picture and mention @savoryexperiments or tag #savoryexperiments!

Storage and Freezing

How to store Hawaiian pork loin?

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Use in another recipe that calls for pulled pork or reheat the meat only in the microwave.

Can cooked pork loin be frozen?

Absolutely. Prepare the Hawaiian pork loin as directed, then shred and freeze in desired portions. I recommend making the sauce and freezing it in an ice cube tray, then adding cubes to the bags or containers of shredded pork.

close up of bite of shredded pork on fork

Pork Loin Roast Slow Cooker FAQs

Can I skip searing the pork loin?

Technically yes. Your pork loin will cook fine without searing it first. However searing the spice rubbed pork first wakes up the aromatic nature of the spices (big flavor), and creates a crust.

That crust creates a beautiful texture when you shred the pork, a lovely combination of crunchy browned edges and tender shredded meat.

Can I use different cuts of meat?

Absolutely! This recipe will work with either pork butt (pork shoulder) or boneless pork country ribs.

Can I make this in the oven instead?

Yes! Simply start your recipe by searing the pork in a large dutch oven or oven safe pot. Then add in the pineapple, onion, and the pineapple juice/soy sauce mixture.

Cover and place in a 325°F oven for 2 to 3 hours, or until you can shred it easily with a fork.

Can you put raw pork in a slow cooker?

You can put raw pork in a slow cooker and even though this roast will be browned on the exterior, the interior will still be raw.

More Easy Pork Recipes

Pork is one of our favorite things to cook for dinner. Here are some of our favorite pork recipes.

collage of hawaiian pork loin
Jessica Formicola in her ktichen

About the Author

Chef Jessica Anne Formicola

Jessica the mom, wife and chef behind Savory Experiments. You might see her on the Emmy- nominated TV show Plate It! or on bookshelves as a cookbook author. Jessica is a Le Cordon Bleu certified recipe developer and regularly contributed to Parade, Better Homes & Gardens, The Daily Meal, Mashed and more!

Read More About Jessica

4.40 from 252 votes (211 ratings without comment)

Join The Discussion

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Questions and Reviews

  1. 4 stars
    loved it. but im guessing i used the wrong soy sauce as mine was too salty. so i added brown sugar as was suggested in one of your reviews and it helped alot. will make again. thanks.

    1. Hi Karrie- the soy can make all the difference. Knowing your particular brand is key. I like using dark mushroom flavored- even though it isn’t “light”, it is actually less salty.

  2. 3 stars
    Made this according to the oven directions. After 2.5hrs the liquid had almost all comes out. There wasn’t enough liquid to start. I will make this recipe again using the slow cooker to compare. I did end up making a separate Hawaiian sauce to put on top.

  3. 5 stars
    Made this for dinner tonight, so yummy! Everyone loved it. My son said it was good without the sauce and even better with it

  4. 5 stars
    Really enjoyed this… added red and green pepper, a jalepeno, and some fresh ginger to the slow cooker, and it was amazing.

  5. 5 stars
    This was so good, and obviously, so EASY.. hello Crock-pot. i tweaked this recipe at the end. When everything was all done, i went ahead and added about 1/4 cup of brown sugar. For me, and my hubs, this was a little too salty (even with the low sodium soy). Adding the brown sugar heighten this dish.

    1. Thank you for taking the time to come back and leave us this note and also the feedback for others readers!

  6. 3 stars
    This was very easy to make, but the flavor was just ok. I followed the instructions exactly and I feel that it was way too salty. Even the pineapples lost its sweetness and tanginess from cooking in the sauce.

    1. Hi Lily, I am really sorry to hear that! Did you use regular soy sauce or lite? Different brands can vary greatly in salt content and so can people’s taste for salt. I’ll add that in the notes so others have a heads up!

      1. 5 stars
        This recipe is now one of my favorites! Made this yesterday and my husband & I loved it. The pork just fell apart and the pineapple sauce was delicious poured over the pork & Jasmine Rice I served it over! Fortunately I have enough loin left over for dinner tonight. So glad I came across Savory Experiments while searching for new pork recipes.

  7. 5 stars
    Oh, girl, I like your style! Pork and Pineapple is such a glorious combo! Can’t wait to dig into this sweet and savory deliciousness.

  8. 5 stars
    I loved your tip about chopping the onions in a food processor, quick and easy! This recipe was wonderful and made great leftovers!!

  9. 5 stars
    This pork loin looks so amazing! I love the hawaiian twist on this, it sounds so delicious and I know my family will LOVE this recipe!

  10. 5 stars
    I’ve always loved pork loins for their lean, healthy qualities, but also for how tender and delicious they are. This recipe sounds like a winner and I love that you make it in the slow cooker — plus pineapple has always been a weakness for me.