This delicious Slow Cooker Cuban Pork Sandwich recipe is one of our favorite weeknight dinners! The pork is simmered in a mouthwatering mix of spices and then shredded before being served on a loaf of Cuban bread with pickles, mustard, and Swiss cheese.
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❤️ Why you'll love this recipe
- The sweet Cuban bread, melty cheese, mustard, tangy pickles, deli ham, and tender pork make this sandwich out of this world delicious.
- The slow cooker does most of the work which means that this dish is perfect for busy weeknights.
- With this easy recipe, you can have the best Cuban sandwiches right in your own home.
🧾 Ingredient List
A full list of ingredients and amounts is in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
Slow Cooker Cuban Pork Ingredients
Cuban Pork Sandwich Ingredients
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- boneless pork butt cut into large pieces
- orange juice
- lime juice
- minced garlic
- ground cumin
- dried oregano
- salt
- black pepper
- crushed red pepper flakes
- bay leaves
- Cuban bread or Italian bread
- Swiss cheese slices
- slices ham - smoked or honey
- brown mustard
- pickles
🍲 Equipment
- Slow Cooker
- Measuring Spoons and Cups
- Cutting Board
- meat claw
- knife
🔪 Instructions
This is an overview of the recipe. The full instructions are below in the recipe card.
Step 1: Prepare a slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray.
Step 2:Place the chunks of pork into the slow cooker. Add the garlic and seasonings.
Step 3: Pour in the juices and bay leaves.
Step 4: Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 6 to 7 hours or until the pork is fork-tender. Shred the meat with two forks.
Step 5: Slice the loaf of bread down the width and then place it on a clean flat working surface.
Step 6: Spread mustard over the inside of the bread, add layers of ham to the bottom, and then add the cheese to the top.
Step 7: Top the ham with the shredded pork, and then top with pickles.
Step 8: Once you've added all the toppings close the sandwich up and slice it into desired portions.
👩🏻🍳 Eileen's Tips for Success
- For easy cleanup, use a slow cooker liner to keep your slow cooker insert clean.
- Before the assembly of the sandwiches, butter the bread and toast it for a bit of crunch and extra flavor.
- If you want to ensure the cheese melts completely, place sandwiches in the oven for a couple of minutes at 350°F.
- You could also use a grill pan, heavy cast iron skillet, or panini press to get grill marks on the outside of your sandwich.
📋 Frequently Asked Questions
The closest type of bread to Cuban is usually French or Italian. However, you can use whatever type of bread you have on hand and it will still turn out delicious.
A Cuban sandwich typically includes ham, roasted pork, Swiss cheese, pickles, and yellow mustard. A midnight sandwich usually has salami instead of ham and does not include pickles or mustard.
A real Cuban sandwich is made with ham, roasted pork (lechón asado), Swiss cheese, pickles, and yellow mustard. It's then pressed in a plancha grill or panini maker to get crispy on the outside but still warm and melty inside.
📖 Variations
Do you want to change up this recipe?
- If you don't have pork butt, you can use different kinds of pork, pork shoulder, pork loin, or even a pork tenderloin will make to make this delicious sandwich. However, I think the butt or shoulder gives the best texture.
- We prefer to use dill pickles on Cubano sandwiches like these, however, you can use bread and butter pickles also.
- Feel free to get creative with the cheese slices that you use. We like Swiss but you could also use provolone, cheddar, or even American cheese.
- If you're not a fan of mustard, omit from the recipe. You can also use spicy mustard, yellow mustard, or honey mustard for an extra kick of flavor.
- Lastly, don't be afraid to experiment with other condiments like mayonnaise, dressings, sauces, etc. that you have in your refrigerator.
❄️ Make ahead, storage, and freezer tips
Storage - Store leftover pork, and sandwich fixing in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.
Freezing - You can also freeze the leftover pork in a freezer-safe bag for up to 3 months.
Make ahead - Feel free to make the shredded pork for these pork sandwiches a day or two in advance and just reheat it when you are ready to assemble the sandwiches.
🥣 Serving Suggestions
Lighter Homemade Macaroni Salad
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Eileen xo
If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need.
If you love this recipe please give it 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📖 Recipe
Cuban Pork Sandwich
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases
Equipment Needed:
Ingredients
- 4 pounds boneless pork butt, cut into large pieces
- 1 cup orange juice
- ¼ cup lime juice
- 4 cloves minced garlic
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 loaf Cuban bread or Italian bread
- spicy brown mustard
- 24 slices smoked deli ham
- 12 slices Swiss cheese
- thinly sliced pickles
- non-stick cooking spray
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Instructions
- Prepare a slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray nonstick cooking spray.
- Place the 4 pounds boneless pork butt, cut into large pieces into the slow cooker. Pour 1 cup orange juice ¼ cup lime juiceover the pork. Add 4 cloves minced garlic Top the meat with 2 teaspoons ground cumin, 2 teaspoons dried oregano, 2 teaspoons salt, 1 teaspoon black pepper, ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, and 2 bay leaves.
- Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 6 to 7 hours or until the pork is fork-tender. Shred the meat with two forks
Assemble the sandwich
- Slice the 1 loaf Cuban bread down the width. Spread spicy brown mustard over the inside of the bread and add layers of the 24 slices smoked deli ham.
- Top the ham with the cooked shredded pork and then a layer of 12 slices Swiss cheese
- Add thinly sliced pickles to the sandwich and add the top layer of bread. Press the sandwich down tightly. Slice and serve.
NOTES
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