Slow Cooker Cuban Pork Rice Bowls make a healthy lunch or dinner that are easily customizable to your tastes. Cook the pork in the slow cooker with orange juice, lime and garlic along with rich spices to create a juicy, flavorful pulled pork. Pair the pork with rice and throw on your favorite toppings for an easy on-the-go lunch!
I am all about quick and easy meals during the week now that I have three children under 5 running around. I especially love things I can prep on a Sunday and use throughout the week. These Slow Cooker Cuban Pork Rice Bowls are just that. Simple, flavorful, healthy and perfect for meal prep.
You might remember when I shared The Best Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas, this Slow Cooker Barbecue Pulled Pork and these Slow Cooker Shredded Pork Tacos.
My slow cooker is my best friend these days and pork works great.
I try my hardest to do my meal prep on the weekend to make the weekdays easier. These are good ones for meal-prep too. With my children in different schools and my constant running around I have to make meal time easy to ensure we are eating healthy and not always eating in restaurants.
If you like pork you should also check out this post on How to Bake Pork Chops in the Oven, How to Make Pork Loin in the Slow Cooker, Slow Cooker Pork Shoulder Roast Recipe, How to Make Pork Tenderloin in the Slow Cooker or these BBQ Baked Pork Chops.
Recipe Ingredients
Here’s an overview of the simple ingredients we’re using. Jump to the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts and printable instructions.
- Pork: This recipe uses a pork shoulder roast, pork butt or a pork loin roast. The spices and the citrus juice helps to tenderize the pork.
- Orange Juice: The orange juice helps to tenderize the pork and adds flavor. If you don’t have orange juice you can also use fresh squeeze orange juice from oranges you might have on hand.
- Lime Juice: The lime juice also helps tenderize the pork. If you don’t have fresh lime juice you can use store-bought lime juice. You also could use lemon juice if that is all you have.
- Spices: The spice mixture is cumin, oregano and crushed red pepper.
- Onion & Garlic: The onion and garlic add a lot of great flavor to this dish. This recipe uses 11 garlic cloves. If you aren’t a big fan of garlic you can use less.
How to Make Cuban Pork
Step 1: Combine Sauce Ingredients: In a medium bowl mix together the olive oil, orange juice, lime juice, salt, pepper, cumin, oregano and crushed red pepper.
Step 2: Cut Pork: Trim the fat off of the pork roast and place in a slow cooker. Using a knife to cut 5 small slits in the pork roast and place a piece of smashed garlic in each slit.
Step 3: Add Marinade: Pour the marinade over the pork roast in the slow cooker and use a brush or your hands to rub the marinade so it is covering the pork roast. Add the remaining smashed garlic cloves, onion and bay leaves.
Step 4: Cook: Cook on low for 7 1/2 hours. Using two forks shred the pork and return to the slow cooker, stirring to combine. Continue to cook for 30 more minutes.
Serve the Cuban pork over brown rice with your favorite toppings like cilantro, avocado, salsa, sour cream and cheese.
Storage Tips
Store the leftover pork in an airtight container for up to 4 days. You can reheat in the microwave or you can quickly heat in a skillet.
Recipe FAQ
Make small cuts in the pork to help the juices of the sauce to penetrate the pork and make it more tender.
After shredded the pork, place the pork under the broiler for 5 minutes or you can quickly heat it over high in a skillet with olive oil to get the crispy edges.
More Pork Recipes
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Slow Cooker Cuban Pork Rice Bowls
Ingredients
- 3 1/2 – 4 pounds pork shoulder roast {or pork loin roast}
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 3/4 cup orange juice
- 1/2 cup lime juice
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
- 3 teaspoons cumin
- 1 1/2 teaspoons oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper {optional}
- 11 garlic cloves, peeled and smashed
- 1 medium sweet onion, thinly sliced
- 3 bay leaves
Instructions
- In a medium bowl mix together the olive oil, orange juice, lime juice, salt, pepper, cumin, oregano and crushed red pepper.
- Trim the fat off of the pork roast and place in a slow cooker. Using a knife to cut 5 small slits in the pork roast and place a piece of smashed garlic in each slit. Pour the marinade over the pork roast in the slow cooker and use a brush or your hands to rub the marinade so it is covering the pork roast. Add the remaining smashed garlic cloves, onion and bay leaves.
- Cook on low for 7 1/2 hours. Using two forks shred the pork and return to the slow cooker, stirring to combine. Continue to cook for 30 more minutes.
- Serve the Cuban pork over brown rice with your favorite toppings like cilantro, avocado, salsa, sour cream and cheese.
Notes
- The pulled Cuban pork is great to keep in the fridge during the week to use in easy meals like rice bowls, quesadillas, sandwiches and more.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
