Description
Cuban sandwich lovers will discover pure comfort with Slow Cooker Cuban Sandwiches, blending tender pulled pork and zesty flavors. Layers of classic ingredients meld perfectly, promising a delicious meal you can easily prepare and savor without extensive kitchen work.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Protein:
- 3 pounds (1.36 kilograms) pork shoulder
- 0.5 pounds (227 grams) sliced ham
- 0.5 pounds (227 grams) sliced Swiss cheese
Liquids and Seasonings:
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) chicken broth
- 0.5 cup (120 milliliters) orange juice
- 0.25 cup (60 milliliters) lime juice
- 0.25 cup (60 milliliters) lemon juice
- 0.25 cup (60 milliliters) olive oil
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- 1 tablespoon ground cumin
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 1 tablespoon pepper
Bread and Condiments:
- 1 loaf Cuban bread
- Dill pickles
- Mustard
Instructions
- Nestle pork shoulder into the slow cooker with a symphony of citrus juices, broth, olive oil, and robust seasonings. Thoroughly mix all ingredients to ensure comprehensive flavor infusion.
- Allow the meat to transform at low temperature for 8 hours, creating a tender, succulent protein that effortlessly pulls apart with minimal pressure.
- Extract the pork from cooking liquid and methodically deconstruct into delicate, gossamer strands using two parallel forks.
- Heat panini press or skillet to medium temperature, preparing a crisp canvas for sandwich assembly.
- Bisect Cuban bread horizontally, creating twin planes for layering. Strategically arrange shredded pork, ham slices, Swiss cheese, pickle rounds, and mustard across the bread’s surface.
- Compress sandwich within panini press or skillet, applying steady pressure until bread develops a golden, crackling exterior and cheese melts into a luxurious, creamy blanket.
- Segment sandwich into individual portions, presenting a hot, harmonious culinary creation bursting with Caribbean-inspired flavors.
Notes
- Maximize flavor by marinating the pork overnight in the citrus and spice mixture before slow cooking for deeper, more intense taste.
- Swap traditional Cuban bread with gluten-free alternatives like cauliflower bread or lettuce wraps for low-carb and celiac-friendly options.
- Use a meat thermometer to ensure pork reaches 145°F internal temperature for food safety while maintaining tender, juicy texture.
- Reduce cooking liquid after shredding pork and drizzle over sandwiches for extra moisture and concentrated flavor boost.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 hours
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Cuban
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 495 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 1395 mg
- Fat: 27 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg