Crock Pot Cuban Pork Sandwiches
Crock Pot Cuban Pork Sandwiches are my simple weekday way to feed my Cuban sandwich cravings. Let the pork cook low and slow all day and then the sandwiches come together super quick when you are ready to eat.
This recipe dates back to 2013. I just made these again for the 3683687564th time last week and yup -- still worth sharing! They are so great for busy weeknights but also! They totally feed a crowd. Mark this as one of my favorite meals ever. Photos are updated but my crazy lady text remains the same.
Sometimes
Sometimes I look at the clock and it's almost 7 pm and we still have not eaten and it feels like I just got home even though it's been an hour and the boys are all sprawled out with homework and Minecraft and are mostly making way too much noise and I feel like I've been standing at the kitchen sink all day making messes and cleaning them up and I just wanna get the food on the table in a hurry and...
...Breathe.
Days like that (which is most days if we are being really honest here) I am so so so happy I have a slow cooker.
I am mostly a much more organized person at 10 am. The house is quiet. I'm all full of coffee. My mind is on work and notes and I have not yet washed my first sink full of dishes.
10 am is the perfect time {for me} to start dinner. There is no trying to forge a healthy after school snack while I marinate chicken at 10 am. There are no papers to sign or spelling questions or memorizing the periodic table (oh yeah-- today we totally did that). Plus the crock pot affords me the luxury of pretty much just throwing things in and then forgetting all about it. No valuable brain space required!
That is important for me, because by the time we eat dinner I am like a brainless robot and I really just wanna eat and clean up so I can sit down for a second and do something important like pin things.
I'm so glad you guys understand me.
These sandwiches basically save my dinner life. And I'm not even exaggerating. PLUS my kids lovelovelove them and Andrew will wander in the kitchen every few weeks and ask me if we can have those sandwiches again? You know the ones with the meat and ham and cheese and pickles? Yeah those.
I figured at this point it was pretty important that I share these with you.
Obviously these are not any kind of authentic Cuban pork sandwiches because I am not Cuban. I am just a lady that likes to feed people. But the flavors are there -- pickles and ham and tender pork and Swiss. The pork has a delicious hint of citrus and more pickles ... GARLIC pickles. I love it.
I imagine if you are somewhere with lots of beautiful culture you could get your hands on Cuban bread. I am not that fortunate and so I went with sourdough. I know that is not authentic but IT IS real life.
Love a good sandwich? You should also try...
Philly Steak and Grilled Cheese
Crock Pot Cuban Pork Sandwiches
Ingredients
For the Pork:
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 1 ½ pounds lean pork (I used a boneless roast)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 onion, thinly sliced
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- ½ cup orange juice
- ½ cup diced pickles
- zest of 1 lime
- ¼ cup lime juice
For the Sandwiches:
- Sliced Cuban bread (or and bread that's great for pan grilling!)
- thinly sliced Swiss cheese
- thinly sliced deli ham (cooked ham)
- garlic Kosher dill pickles! (sandwich slices make this a breeze)
- mustard
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a large skillet. Place the pork roast in the skillet, season it with the salt and pepper, and brown it on all sides.
- While the pork is browning place the slices of onion in the bottom of the crock pot.
- Nestle the browned pork down on top of the onions.
- In a medium bowl whisk together the tomato paste, orange juice, diced pickles, lime zest, and lime juice. Pour it over the pork.
- Cover and cook on low for 6-7 hours or high for 3-4 hours. If the crock pot looks dry you can add a little more orange juice or some chicken broth while cooking (this will mostly depend on the fat content of your meat).
- Shred the pork in the crock pot and toss it with the onions.
- To build the sandwiches, place a slice of Swiss on your bottom slice of bread. Top with a heaping portion of shredded pork. Then add a slice of ham and pickles. Spread mustard on the top slice of bread, add another piece of Swiss cheese and then grill on the stove or in a panini press. Serve immediately.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
18Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 143Total Fat: 8gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 40mgSodium: 179mgCarbohydrates: 5gFiber: 0gSugar: 1gProtein: 12g
I think I need to whip out my crockpot and go make these right now! Yum!
The "Crock Pot" is by far the BEST assistant in the kitchen! 🙂 These sound delicious!
http://www.prettybitchescancooktoo.com
Thanks Tamara!
Also can I just say your blog title is hilarious? Love it!!
Haha! Yes, you can say 🙂 Its all in good fun & humor! I'm creating a brand called "Pretty Bitches Can" @ http://www.prettybitchescan.com that launches with "Pretty Bitches Can Cook Too" with a line of hot sauce, salsa, hats, tanks, and aprons. Then it just continues to roll out to so much more over the next several years. "Pretty Bitches Can Workout Too", Pretty Bitches Can Tan Too" etc...and each launch has its own line of products.
My mission is to create unique and fun products that are specific to women that promotes independence, strength, and confidence.
AND
My business tag line is "Pretty is NOT a Shape, Size, or Color ...it's an ATTITUDE"
Website just launched but more items are coming and the tag line shirts come out next week. 🙂
Great idea Tamara! Thanks so much for sharing!
YES!
I FRIGGIN' LOVE CUBAN SAMMIES!
AND YEAH, I AM SCREAMING. From happiness. And deep, incurable hunger for these babies.
Hayley!!! I AM SCREAMING BACK AT YOU!!! FROM HAPPINESS THAT YOU ARE HERE AND ALSO THAT YOU LIKE THE SANDWICHES!!!
I would love to take these sandwiches on a road trip, they look utterly perfect 😀
Cheers
CCU
This is excellent picnic food. Thanks Uru!
What a fun and flavorful sandwich! I love new ways to eat pulled pork, as it is in fact delicious.
Love pulled pork! Thanks so much Ashley!
Mmm, mmm yummy. I do wish dinner would make itself often. Which is why the crockpot is a LIFESAVER, because then dinner really does make itself! I have to try this Heather. I love this recipe!
Thanks Tanya!!
New plan is to definitely get dinner to make itself. Or maybe get it to wash the dishes.
I want these. Going to make it happen.
Yes! Let me know how you like them!
These look great! And who doesn't love an easy weeknight dinner?
Right? Easy is the ticket. Thanks, Deanna!
I think these sandwiches look delightful. We are heading to our cabin for the weekend, and I think they'd make a perfect Saturday night meal!! I've been trying to think of something new to make, and this is it! Thank you!!
Oh hi, Pru! That's super!! Have fun at the cabin and let me know how the sandwiches turn out!
I love Cuban sandwiches and I love my crock pot, so this is PERFECT for me, Heather! 🙂 Looks yummy!
Thanks Carrie! The crock pot is like a meal time miracle worker. I swear by it.
Lately we've been eating at 8pm. Sad but true. I think I need to go out and purchase another crock pot! I gave mine away before we moved.
Another regret...
You definitely need your crock pot. 8 pm sounds like me -- I am having a hard time adjusting to the school year schedule!