Slow Cooker Jerk Pork in Pineapple Rice Bowls.
Just a leeeettle more pineapple.
I can’t help it!
One of the reasons I’m so nuts over pineapple is because of how it can be used in savory dishes. It’s no secret that I’m a wild fruit lover – I always choose fruit over vegetables. ALWAYS and forever, Luther Vandross style. But many of them rarely work in savory dishes for me. You’re certainly not going to find strawberry kiwi chicken over here, even if I have trashed up the most trashed up of all the dishes.
You know?
One thing: don’t flip your lid over the ingredient list.
It’s long. It’s long because we are making our own jerk seasoning blend. You probably have most of the spices on hand if you frequent your kitchen daily. If you don’t, I know that spices cost an arm and a leg (seriously whyyyy), so you can also buy a premade fancy jerk seasoning and go from there. I want it to be fun for you! And me.
These jerk spices though?
WHOA.
We are so in love.
I was on the fence. Well, no, wait. I was not on the fence. I knew what the jerk spice blend included, I was looking forward to it. But I was fearful of what Eddie would think, so I purposely kept the cinnamon, allspice and nutmeg a big old secret from him.
I was just all “hey… there’s some pork in the slow cooker downstairs…”
Was super curious to see where that led him.
Long time readers will know that this is basically how I have to serve him 76% of the meals in our life but WHO CARES. It works. He ends up loving things that he assumed he hated. I win.
And winning is what marriage is all about, duh.
(see also: never take romance advice from me, ever.)
He got home late that night so I watched as he sat at the bar and took bite after bite (NOT served in a pineapple, FYI), sort of waiting for him to ask what the heck was in it. But luckily, instead he was all “wow this pork is amazing!”
Scratch that. He didn’t say amazing. In fact, Eddie gets extremely worked up at my way-too-often use of the word amazing. He tells me countless times per month that I say everything is amazing and that, no, everything is not amazing.
But guess what!
To me, SO MANY THINGS are amazing.
Gift me a thesaurus please.
It IS so delicious though, and when you find yourself with enough pork to feed a family of six and you are a family of three, you can do all sorts of things like make jerk tacos, jerk nachos and jerk quesadillas.
Plus, brown jasmine rice, piled high in pineapple (and cooked in some juice) – makes for the prettiest presentation even if it does scream “I’m eating a pinterest dinner!”
Can we still be friends even though I’m half expecting you to eat your dinner on a Monday night out of a pineapple bowl? While it’s snowing outside?
It’s practically akin to eating your smoothie bowl breakfast everyday that’s super imstagrammable.
Slow Cooker Jerk Pork in Pineapple Rice Bowls
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 4 to 5 pound pork shoulder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1/3 cup pineapple juice
- 1/2 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon minced onion
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
- 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
rice
- 2 cups brown jasmine rice
- 1 cup pineapple juice
- 1 cup coconut milk
- 1 3/4 cups water
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
quick pineapple salsa
- 1 cup pineapple chunks, diced
- 1/2 red onion, diced
- 3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
- 1/2 lime, juiced
- pinch of salt and pepper
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet over medium- high heat and add the vegetable oil. Season the pork all over with the salt and pepper, then add it to the skillet and sear on all sides, until deeply golden brown, about 1 to 2 minutes per side. Remove the pork with kitchen tongs and transfer it to the slow cooker. Pour the pineapple juice over top.
- Stir together garlic powder, sugar, onion, thyme, parsley, cayenne, allspice, paprika, pepper, nutmeg and cinnamon. Sprinkle it over the pork in the slow cooker and toss well. Cook on low for 8 to 10 hours.
- After 8 to 10 hours, the pork should easily fall apart. There will be a lot of liquid in the slow cooker. You can discard some (I use a ladle) but you can also do what I do: shred the pork, remove the slow cooker lid, turn it on high and cook for 30 minutes or so, tossing often. I find that a lot of the pork soaks of the liquid and the rest sort evaporates. You can always discard some of the liquid if you need to.
- To serve, top the rice with the shredded pork and pineapple salsa. To serve in a pineapple bowl, carefully slice the pineapple in half lengthwise. Remove the fruit (I did so using a paring knife and grapefruit spoon, then used it for the salsa) and place the rice and pork inside. Easy peasy.
- rice
- Note: be sure to double check the cook time and liquid ratio on the rice you buy. If it’s quick cooking, you might need less time and/or liquid.
- Bring the rice, juice, milk and water to a boil in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the salt and butter. Once boiling, reduce to a simmer, cover and cook until all liquid is absorbed, 35 to 45 minutes.
- quick pineapple salsa
- Stir together the pineapple, onion and cilantro. Season with the salt and pepper and squirt in the lime juice – stir well. Serve immediately or keep sealed in a container in the fridge for 1 to 2 todays.
Notes
Did you make this recipe?
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I appreciate you so much!
pineapple optional, obvs.
58 Comments on “Slow Cooker Jerk Pork in Pineapple Rice Bowls.”
Is this even real life? This looks SO good, I can almost taste it. Pinning this for later – using this next time I’m playing hostess. Can’t imagine anyone who wouldn’t love this ;)
thanks girl!
This is EXACTLY what I was needing to see on this dreary snowy morning in PA. Totally making this tomorrow. Except, I might sub the pineapple with orange. mmm. and maybe after shredding tossing the meat on a tray with some orange juice and trying to crisp it up in the oven. omg. why can it not be Tuesday, dinner time at my house right now. gah!
Thanks for the wonderful recipes.
this snow is ridic!!
So worth stocking the spice cabinet for this. And heck yes, it looks AMAZING.
thanks erin!
These look amazing, as do the jerk nachos, tacos and quesadillas! Also love the picture of those spices, #goals over here!
thank you!
I am obsessed with pineapple bowls!!!! I had my first one a few years ago in Mallorca, of all places — it was cashew fried rice w/ coconut shrimp! — and I am sucker for ANYTHING in them since – love love!
i want that exact meal right this second. sounds so good!
That pork looks AMAZING! ;)
I love that you incorporated pineapple because it really does make everything better, savory or sweet! I love that this is a slow cooker recipe, too. Can’t wait to try this out!
Eeeep! This looks awesome. I am all about some pork, but my husband does not eat it, sooooo I may try this with chicken. Hopefully it will come out just as good!
Not telling my husband critical ingredients is the key to getting him to try something new… and he almost always loves it. This looks amazing – there I said it – AMAZING! Seriously though, keep the pineapple coming!
yessss same. and thank you!
Yum! Have you made this with chicken? Would you adjust the seasoning at all? Also, I have only fresh nutmeg — could I get by with just that, or do you recommend both fresh and already grated? Curious as to why you have both listed. Thanks!
oops sorry – that last ingredient is cinnamon! not duplicate nutmeg. :) and yes, you can totally do it with chicken! i’d only adjust the spices if you change the amount of chicken you use (like if you use 2-3 pounds instead).
Thank you! :) I have added this to next week’s menu!
This looks craaaazzzzzy good!!!! Excited for my daughter to come into town so we can make it then.
I’m allergic to pineapple and this still looks so good. And because more is more, I thought (insert monkey covering eyes emoji) “ohhh, this could totally use some cheese”. I’ve been totally dying over pulled pork topped with melty extra old white cheddar and then mango and cucumber salad tossed in lime juice and sweet chili sauce. And you know what? It’s AMAZING! ha.
Pork IN pineapple… I don’t think I’ve ever seen this before haha. Love the idea!
I want to devour that pineapple bowl!! Drooling over that pulled pork. Same here, not telling my husband or avoiding to tell him the “weird ingredients” a recipe requires is the key for him to try new things and he ends up enjoying it.
Hahaha, I am also the worst offender when it comes to the word “amazing.” I say it ALL THE TIME. That said, this really does look AMAZING. Adding it to the must-try list!
I fell in love with jerk seasoning when on a mission trip to Jamaica back in high school. At the time I had no idea I was eating jerk goat! Now I stick to jerk chicken. :)
Kari
http://www.sweetteasweetie.com
Pineapple always makes my tongue tingly but I still DEVOUR it-especially a cold, juicy pineapple. Also, presentation is AH-fricken-MAZING :)
I LOVE this! (pork! pineapple! jerk spices!) And I love how you try to sneak foods into your husband’s mouth. My husband is a super picky eater (pretty much no fruits, very few veggies, could eat the same thing every day for years and be happy….HOW!?!?). I can’t sneak foods past him because he is super suspicious after a lifetime with his mom doing that. He asks what is in every single thing. Le sigh. I did, however, get him to eat socca (made with chickpea flour and he hates all beans) last night by letting him make it into a pizza. Don’t tell him!
Shut up. This looks amaaaaazing. Also you used easy peasy in your recipe steps and I love it.
This is so gorgeous, I love the combination of pork + pineapple! And the fact that you used the pineapple as the bowl!? #nifty
YUM. I’m obsessed with pineapple, and this is just the perfect way to cook and season pork. If we hadn’t already planned our meals this week, this would be on the rotation. Next week!…
This looks amazing, and your photos are so beautiful! You can never have too much pineapple :)
Thanks for posting, I love your take on this! Serving it in a pineapple makes it feel like you’re at a resort at homecoming. I’m actually in Jamaica right now and I’ve learned a few things regarding their jerk seasoning/marinade. They also use scallions, and large smokey peppers in a grinder…they said if you dont have that, add a little ginger. they even put a little beer and dark rum in it.
We also had jerk calamari at the Rockhouse Restaurant..amazing!
Served w a slaw. And they made an aioli for our fries…with jerk seasoning it it…we were so amazed, lol!!
Jerk hawaiin pizza is a big thing here too..at least at our secrets resort.
*makes it feel like you’re at a resort, only at home
Please add to this post that this is as good as 100% both Gluten Free and Dairy Free, as far as I can tell! That is great for us food allergy folks. Looks wonderful!
oh you’re right! how awesome. yep, just simple swap out for the butter! i’d probably use coconut oil.
Oops….change out the butter for vegan margarine?! or mild oil?
When I was teaching I kept a list of superlatives (amazing! awesome! super!) to use when grading student papers so I would not keep using the same word! This recipe looks fantastic! I can’t wait to make it for dinner.
ha i definitely need to put a post of these on my computer screen. :\
hey girl this looks so yummy!
I bought the most amazing jerk spice seasoning in a little bag at our hotel on a vacation we took to Jamaica years ago. It was AMAZING! ;) I kept the ingredient list so that I could replicate it when it ran out. But we lost the list! Ugh! I have even been back to Jamaica and have never found it again and no store bought version here in the U.S. was even close. I gave up for a long time. Soooooo, no pressure. I can’t wait to try yours. The spice list looks good, so even if it’s not the same, I’m quite sure it will be tasty! Printing now….
Wow oh wow! Cannot wait to make this, thanks for the recipe! :)
Jerk Chicken is my favorite dish ever so I imagine I will love this to and anything I can make in a slow cooker is a win for me. And who wouldn’t want to eat out of a pineapple bowl and feel like they are on vacation somewhere tropical since we have the never ending invasion of winter around here.
Yummmm! Love this! Alllllll the pineapple. And there’s something about that shredded pork coming out of the slow cooker – Amaze-balls! Can’t wait to try this one ;)
I too love to use fruits in savory dishes. It gives a twist to that usual taste that acts as a surprise in your mouth and plays soft music in your mind. :-P
I have never tried fruits with meat. Need to give this a try.
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Wow, this looks amazing! Also, your food photography is so gorgeous, I am amazed by that beautiful steamy rice picture. Well captured!
Beautiful presentation! I think life is more enjoyable when your life is full of amazing things!
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What a delicious and gorgeous !!
It is not easy to make it. But i will try to make it.
I made this yesterday and it was easy and delicious! I didn’t serve it in pineapple bowls, but think that would be wonderful. I love the pineapple in it so next time I think I would double or triple the salsa recipe. Thanks for the recipe!
I made this last night and it was sooo good! Absolutely delicious with the pineapple salsa. Had the leftovers on buns with a little gold barbecue sauce for lunch – amazing!
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I made this for Father’s Day and it was fabulous! I cooked the rice in my rice cooker and it came out perfect. Everyone was super impressed.
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My rice took for…ever and then really didn’t get done. Also, it was greasy!! What did I do wrong? Was it the coconut milk?
I have been wanting to make this for a while and finally decided to as my boyfriend’s welcome back dinner after he had been away for several weeks. It blew us both away! He said the rice is probably the best he’s ever had and loved the coconut milk in it. I loved how impressive it looked / tasted and how simple it was to make. I always love your recipes but this is absolutely my favorite!
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We made this over the weekend. It was AMAZING!! The pork-so good, the rice-incredible, the salsa-delish! Loved all of it!
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