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Slow Cooker Mojo Pork + Video

Slow cooker mojo pork is a dish that perfectly balances the brightness of citrus, the richness of garlic, and the subtle heat of spices. Cooking this Cuban inspired pork recipe in the crockpot allows for the flavors to meld and develop slowly over time, resulting in tender and flavorful meat. Instructions to make this easy pork recipe in the Instant Pot are also included. 

Ingredients For Slow Cooker Cuban Mojo Pork

  • Pork Shoulder or Butt
  • Orange Juice
  • Lime Juice
  • Oil
  • Garlic
  • Seasonings: oregano, chili powder, cumin, paprika, salt, pepper

season pork with salt & pepper

How To Make Mojo Pork In The Crockpot

Slow Cooker

  1. Season the pork with salt & pepper and add to the bottom of the slow cooker.
  2. In a small bowl, mix together the mojo ingredients. Pour the mojo on top of the pork.
  3. Cook high 4-5 hours or low 8-10.
  4. Remove pork from the slow cooker & shred. Place back in slow cooker until ready to serve.

Optional but recommended: Place the pork on a baking sheet (before or after you shred it). Broil the pork in the oven for a few minutes until the meat starts to slightly crisp.

Instant Pot

  1. Turn on the pressure cooker and select sauté. Once hot, add the oil to the pot. Season the pork with salt and pepper. Add the pork to the Instant Pot & sear a few minutes on each side until evenly browned. Remove the pork from the pot.
  2. In a small bowl, mix together the mojo ingredients. Pour in the mojo into the Instant Pot. Deglaze the bottom of the pressure cooker by scraping all the bits off with a wooden spoon. Add the pork back to the pot.
  3. Close lid and seal valve. Set high pressure and cook for 15 minutes per pound of pork shoulder or butt. When the cook time is done, let the pressure release naturally.
  4. Remove pork from the Instant Pot & shred. Place back in Instant Pot until ready to serve.

homemade sauce

What Is Mojo?

Mojo is the Spanish word for sauce. This recipe is inspired by a Cuban mojo [sauce]. Traditionally Cuban mojo is a citrus-based sauce that includes ingredients like bitter orange juice, garlic, and oregano. This is not a traditional Cuban mojo. Like all my recipes, I wanted this pork recipe to be simple & using ingredients that you already have or are easy to find. This Cuban inspired mojo sauce uses regular orange juice, lime juice, and dried spices like oregano & chili powder. Rather than using the mojo as a marinade, the sauce poured on top of the pork and slow cooked in the Crock-Pot or Instant Pot.

overhead shot of uncooked cuban mojo pork in a black slow cooker

before

What Cut of Pork To Use

This slow cooker Cuban inspired mojo pork recipe is best made with pork shoulder or pork butt. What’s the difference between the two? Both cuts are from the shoulder of the pig but pork butt (aka Boston butt) is located higher up while pork shoulder (aka picnic shoulder/roast) is farther down. Should you use a boneless or bone-in cut of pork? What you see here in the pics is bone-in pork shoulder. In the past I used boneless. They both work fine with the recipe so chalk it up to personal preference.

overhead shot of cooked cuban mojo pork in a black slow cooker

after

How To Serve Mojo Pork

You know the recipes that have your house smelling amazing ? This is one of those recipes. I suggest keeping the Cuban inspiration going by serving this mojo pork with rice, beans, and plantains. Having said that, at the end of the day you can serve this pork however you want whether it be with rice, in a tortilla, or on a bun.

Broiling The Mojo Pork

If you’re cooking this in the slow cooker, an optional but recommended step is to broil the mojo pork in the oven once it’s done cooking. Remove the pork from the slow cooker and place it on an aluminum foil lined baking sheet. Place the baking sheet in the oven under the broil for 3-5 minutes or until the meat is slightly crisp. You can shred the pork before or after you do broil it. Again, this is optional – you can always shred the meat and eat it right away.

FAQs & Tips

  • Store leftovers for up to 4 days in the refrigerator or 3 months in the freezer. 
  • Cooking the pork on the low setting of your crockpot is essential. This slow cooking method allows the meat to become tender and absorb the flavors of the marinade fully. Cook the pork for around 6-8 hours on low or until it shreds easily with a fork.
  • I used a 6-quart slow cooker or Instant Pot for this recipe.

Pork Recipes

Pork & Sauerkraut

French Onion Pork Chops

Air Fryer Pork Chops

BBQ Pulled Pork

Creamy Herb Pork Chops

Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Pork Tenderloin

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Slow Cooker Cuban Style Mojo Pork

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

5 from 4 reviews

Slow cooker mojo pork is a dish that perfectly balances the brightness of citrus, the richness of garlic, and the subtle heat of spices. Cooking this Cuban inspired pork recipe in the crockpot allows for the flavors to meld and develop slowly over time, resulting in tender and flavorful meat. Instructions to make this easy pork recipe in the Instant Pot are also included.

  • Total Time: 5 hours 10 mins
  • Yield: 6-8 servings 1x

Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 3 pounds pork shoulder or butt
  • salt & pepper
  • 1 tablespoon oil (for Instant Pot)

Mojo:

  • 1/2 cup orange juice (use 3/4 cup for Instant Pot)
  • Juice of 2 limes (approximately 1/4 cup)
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 teaspoons dried oregano
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons chili powder
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons cumin
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons paprika
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper

Instructions

Slow Cooker

  1. Season the pork with salt & pepper and add to the bottom of the slow cooker.
  2. In a small bowl, mix together the mojo ingredients. Pour the mojo on top of the pork.
  3. Cook high 4-5 hours or low 8-10.
  4. Remove pork from the slow cooker & shred. Place back in slow cooker until ready to serve.

Optional but recommended: Place the pork on a baking sheet (before or after you shred it). Broil the pork in the oven for a few minutes until the meat starts to slightly crisp.

Instant Pot

  1. Turn on the pressure cooker and select sauté. Once hot, add the oil to the pot. Season the pork with salt and pepper. Add the pork to the Instant Pot & sear a few minutes on each side until evenly browned. Remove the pork from the pot.
  2. In a small bowl, mix together the mojo ingredients. Pour in the mojo into the Instant Pot. Deglaze the bottom of the pressure cooker by scraping all the bits off with a wooden spoon. Add the pork back to the pot.
  3. Close lid and seal valve. Set high pressure and cook for 15 minutes per pound of pork shoulder or butt. When the cook time is done, let the pressure release naturally.
  4. Remove pork from the Instant Pot & shred. Place back in Instant Pot until ready to serve.

Notes

I used shredder claws to shred my pork.

Instant Pot instructs 15 minutes per pound of pork butt/shoulder.

I suggest pouring the sauce on top before serving.

  • Author: Shannon Epstein
  • Prep Time: 10 mins
  • Cook Time: 5 hours

Nutrition

  • Serving Size:
  • Calories: 396
  • Sugar: 2.1 g
  • Sodium: 722.9 mg
  • Fat: 12.7 g
  • Saturated Fat: 3.4 g
  • Carbohydrates: 4.7 g
  • Fiber: 0.8 g
  • Protein: 62.9 g
  • Cholesterol: 185.9 mg

 

This post contains affiliate links. That means if you click on one of the product links, I might receive compensation. For more about my disclosure policy see here: https://fitslowcookerqueen.com/about/disclosure-policy/.

[adthrive-in-post-video-player video-id=”Ipqr6Ukk” upload-date=”2021-07-14T16:49:43.000Z” name=”Slow Cooker Cuban Mojo Pork” description=”This easy Cuban style mojo pork can be made in your slow cooker or Instant Pot. Slow cooking the pork in the homemade citrus-based sauce makes for an extremely flavorful pork recipe.” player-type=”default” override-embed=”default”]

Recipe rating 5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

Sarah

Thursday 14th of July 2022

So easy, my husband (who hates cooking) managed it without any problems. Served it up with pinto beans and rice and it was a hit all around!

Shannon Epstein

Thursday 14th of July 2022

Kudos to the husband! That's awesome, I love hearing this. I'm so glad you all enjoyed it. Thank you for letting me know!

Barbara

Friday 4th of February 2022

This was AMAZING! I had a 5# pork butt, bc we like leftovers! The first night we just had it with roasted potatoes and salad. The next night I put out all the fixings for tacos. The 3rd night I added corn and black beans and served it over rice. We still had leftovers, so I put it in the freezer to enjoy another time!

LGD

Friday 24th of December 2021

I am sure this is an amazing recipe but it’s not Cuban. Mojo is a Cuban marinade that is made of olive oil, sour oranges (naranja agria), onions, garlic, salt, pepper and oregano. Never chili powder.

Shannon Epstein

Friday 24th of December 2021

I appreciate you taking the time to comment. I never said it was Cuban. I specifically say it's Cuban inspired. If you took the time to read the blog post you'll see I specifically call out the differences between this recipe and a traditional Cuban mojo pork recipe. I'm used to people commenting without reading so it's okay. You're right it is an amazing recipe. I hope you try it one day:-)

Maria La O

Wednesday 1st of September 2021

Chili powder is not a staple in Cuban cooking. Mojo is made with or without cumin, depending on what part of Cuba you’re from. And it’s not orange juice but naranga Agria. Sour orange, it’s cubanesque, but it’s not Cuban

Lindsey Peterson

Tuesday 13th of July 2021

This is currently in my slow cooker and my kitchen smells so good!