• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Mitten Girl
  • Cocktails
  • Recipes
  • My Book
  • Work with Me
    • Portfolio
    • About
  • Shop
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Cocktails
  • Recipes
  • My Book
  • Work with Me
  • Shop
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Cocktails
    • Recipes
    • My Book
    • Work with Me
    • Shop
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Home » Recent Posts » Slow Cooker

    Slow Cooker Pineapple Pulled Pork Tacos

    Published: Jul 27, 2021 · Updated: Jan 25, 2022 by Katy McAvoy

    I love when you share my recipes!

    • 16
    Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe

    Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using one of these links, I make a small commission.


    Inspired by tacos al pastor, this Slow Cooker Pineapple Pulled Pork is tender and full of flavor - perfect for tacos, sandwiches, and even pizza. 

    The spice rub for the pork is made up of pantry staples you likely already have on hand, but we’re leaving out the brown sugar (or other added sugars) that are so common in pork rubs. 

    We’re using fresh pineapple - not pineapple juice - to achieve the perfect balance of sweet and savory. The pineapple, onion and pork come together as they cook to create their own juice and blend with the spices to create super flavorful meat that’s perfect for folding into warm flour tortillas. 

    Pineapple Pulled Pork Tacos

    What You Need

    • Country style pork ribs
    • Fresh pineapple
    • Sliced onion
    • Chili powder
    • Onion powder
    • Garlic powder
    • Salt
    • Dried oregano
    • Ground cinnamon

    How to Make Slow Cooker Pineapple Pulled Pork

    Place the sliced onions and diced pineapple into the bottom of the slow cooker. 

    In a small bowl, combine the chili powder, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, oregano and cinnamon. 

    Spice mixture for the pork ribs

    Rub all sides of the pork ribs with the spice mixture. 

    Place the spice-coated ribs on top of onions and pineapple in the slow cooker. 

    Raw pork, rubbed with spices, on a pile of pineapple and onion

    Cover and cook on high for 4 hours or low for 7 hours. 

    Once the pork is cooked, turn off your slow cooker and remove any bones from the meat. You can also remove any large pieces of fat from the meat, if you’d like. 

    Place the meat on a cutting board and chop it into bite sized pieces using a sharp knife or use 2 forks to pull the meat apart. 

    Place meat in a large bowl. 

    Using a slotted spoon or a kitchen spider, remove as much of the onion and pineapple as you can from the liquid in the slow cooker and add it to the pulled pork. 

    Cooked pineapple and onions

    Mix everything up. 

    Serve on warm, flour tortillas with your favorite taco fixings.

    Enjoy These Recipes with Your Tacos

    Plate full of tortilla chips
    Homemade Tortilla Chips
    Blender Salsa
    Quick Blender Salsa

    Tips on Slow Cooker Pineapple Pulled Pork Tacos

    What kind of pork should I use? 

    You can use just about any cut of pork here - pork butt, pork tenderloin - but my favorite are the country style ribs. I like that they’re not a super lean cut, have some bone in them, and that they’re extremely affordable. Our local grocery store regularly has country style pork ribs on sale for under $2 a pound, which is a fantastic price. 

    Can I use canned pineapple? 

    Fresh pineapple is going to taste the best. But if you can’t find a fresh pineapple, canned will work. If you go the canned pineapple route, buy crushed pineapple and drain the juice from the can before using. 

    What kind of onions should I use? 

    I like yellow and/or white onions best in this recipe as their flavor and texture holds up well to hours in the slow cooker. 

    What else can I do with pineapple pork? 

    Besides delicious tacos, you can mix a little BBQ sauce into the pork and use it for sandwiches. I’ve also used it to make awesome pizza. On a pre-made crust, use BBQ sauce as the base, add mozzarella cheese, then the pulled pork mixture. Bake as instructed on the crust package. Sprinkle with chopped cilantro when the pizza comes out of the oven. 

    What is the best liquid to cook pulled pork in? 

    When cooked in a slow cooker, meat creates its own liquid. There’s no need to add any extra liquid to this recipe. The pineapple will break down, producing juice and the fat and juice that renders from the pork while cooking is more than enough liquid for the recipe. 

    Can you put raw pork in a slow cooker?

    Absolutely! After all, that’s how we’re cooking the meat! 🙂 Once you’ve placed the raw pork in the slow cooker, put the lid on, turn on your slow cooker, and leave it alone. Don’t lift the lid for the first few hours or you’ll release all the steam that’s helping cook the pork and risk messing up the cooking time. 

    How do I know when the pork is done? 

    The pork is cooked when a fork can easily be inserted into the meat and used to pull it apart. My other favorite test is using the pork bone. If your cut of pork has a bone in it, use a pair of tongs to try and remove the bone from the meat. If it lifts out easily, it’s done. If it won’t come out, put the lid back on the Crock Pot and cook for another 30 minutes before trying again. 

    Can you cook pulled pork too long in a slow cooker?

    It’s certainly possible, but fairly difficult. The low and slow cooking method of a slow cooker/Crock Pot keeps meat tender. Even if the meat isn’t sitting in liquid, it’s being cooked by low heat and steam, making it difficult to over cook. However, do your best not to go more than 15 minutes past the recommended cooking time without checking on the pork and seeing if it’s done.

    More Taco Recipes

    Vegan Mushroom Tacos
    15 Minute Mushroom Tacos
    Shredded Beef Tacos
    Slow Cooker Shredded Beef Tacos

    Drink Pairings

    Paloma Mocktail
    Paloma Mocktail
    Classic Margarita
    4 Ingredient, Classic Margaritas

    More Delicious Recipes You'll Love

    • Citrus Margaritas (Video)
    • Slow Cooker Pulled Pork + 3 Ways to Use it
    • Mushroom Tacos Make for a Quick and Easy Weekday Meal
    • Classic Lime and Tequila Margaritas (Video)
    • Slow Cooker Roast Chicken

    Print the Recipe

    Print

    Slow Cooker Pineapple Pulled Pork

    Slow Cooker Pineapple Pulled Pork Tacos
    Print Recipe
    Pin Recipe

    ★★★★★

    5 from 2 reviews

    Inspired by tacos al pastor, this Slow Cooker Pineapple Pulled Pork is tender and full of flavor - perfect for tacos, sandwiches, and even pizza. 

    • Author: Katy McAvoy
    • Prep Time: 10 min
    • Cook Time: 4 hours
    • Total Time: 4 hours, 10 minutes
    • Yield: 14 servings 1x
    • Category: Dinner
    • Method: Slow Cooker
    • Cuisine: American

    Ingredients

    Units Scale
    • 3 lbs country style pork ribs
    • 2 cups fresh pineapple, finely diced
    • 1 cup sliced onion (approx 2 small onions)
    • 2 tsp chili powder
    • 1 tsp onion powder
    • 1 tsp garlic powder
    • 1 tsp salt
    • 1 tsp dried oregano
    • ½ tsp ground cinnamon

    Instructions

    Place the sliced onions and diced pineapple into the bottom of the slow cooker. 

    In a small bowl, combine the chili powder, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, oregano and cinnamon. 

    Rub all sides of the pork ribs with the spice mixture. 

    Place the spice-coated ribs on top of onions and pineapple in the slow cooker. 

    Cover and cook on high for 4 hours or low for 7 hours. 

    Once the pork is cooked, turn off your slow cooker and remove any bones from the meat. You can also remove any large pieces of fat from the meat, if you’d like. 

    Place the meat on a cutting board and chop it into bite sized pieces using a sharp knife or use 2 forks to pull the meat apart. 

    Place meat in a large bowl. 

    Using a slotted spoon or a kitchen spider, remove as much of the onion and pineapple as you can from the liquid in the slow cooker and add it to the pulled pork. 

    Mix everything up. 

    Serve on warm, flour tortillas with your favorite taco fixings. 

    Equipment

    Image of Metal Spider

    Metal Spider

    Buy Now →

    Keywords: slow cooker, crock pot, pineapple pork, pulled pork, pineapple pork tacos, meal prep

    Did you make this recipe?

    Share a photo and tag me @katymcavoy on Instagram! I can’t wait to see what you made!

    Slow Cooker

    • Slow Cooker Shredded Beef for Tacos, Sandwiches & Stock
    • Slow Cooker Roast Chicken
    • Slow Cooker Pulled Pork + 3 Ways to Use it
    • Slow Cooker Savory Spiced Nuts are the Best Happy Hour Snack

    I love when you share my recipes!

    • 16

    About Katy McAvoy

    Katy is the author, photographer, home cook, mixologist, and Michigander behind MittenGirl.com. Since 2017, she's been crafting easy-to-make cocktails and delicious meals, along with sharing her love of all things Michigan (a.k.a. The Mitten)!

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

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

      Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

    1. Matthew Fouts

      July 29, 2021 at 10:48 am

      Yum!!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    2. Anne Marie

      August 13, 2021 at 2:27 pm

      Love this recipe - easy ingredients and so little time to prep everything. The meat was so juicy and flavorful. Loved by kids and adults!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Katy McAvoy

        August 13, 2021 at 7:05 pm

        So glad you all liked it!

        Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    Katy McAvoy

    Hi! I’m Katy (she/her). I’m an author, photographer, home cook, mixologist, Michigander, and lover of all things food and drink. I never turn down a good happy hour and believe that a couple hours of meal prep pays off for days. Follow me on Instagram to check out what I’m working on next!

    More about me →

    Search

    Buy Homemade Happy Hour, a Cocktail Book

    Weekly Newsletter

    Join my email list and get my 5 CLASSIC COCKTAILS EBOOK sent to you immediately!

    Subscribers receive a new and delicious recipe in their inbox each week.

    Most Searched Recipes

    • How to Set Up a DIY Cocktail and Mocktail Bar Your Guest Will Love
    • How to Make Cocktail Kits and Mocktail Kits for Holiday Gifts
    • Easy and Delicious Mocktail for Kids (Without Sugary Soda)
    • Easy and Summery Lavender Lemon Drop Martini with Vodka
    • Easy 15 Minute Stove Top BBQ Meatballs
    • Delicious Chocolate and Peanut Butter Whiskey Cocktail
    • Easy Tomato Rice and Beans on the Stove Top
    • Refreshing Orange Ginger Gin Cocktail
    • Non-Alcoholic Mojito Mocktail is the Perfect Summer Drink
    • Slow Cooker Savory Spiced Nuts are the Best Happy Hour Snack

    Footer

    Website

    Privacy Policy

    Disclaimer

    Terms & Conditions

    Newsletter

    Sign Up! for weekly emails

    Contact

    Work with Me

    Contact Me

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2023 Mitten Girl LLC

    78 shares
    • 16