Slow Cooker Cuban Pork (Lechon Asado)

Throw everything in the pot, then come home to the most delicious slow cooker Cuban Pork aka Lechon Asado. The recipe for the best marinade and beans included. Low effort, maximum satisfaction. 

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This recipe is an attempt to recreate a delicious Cuban roast pork from a local restaurant. Tender, melt in your mouth pork with rice and black beans, which served topped with fried plantains is one of our guilty pleasures.

It’s the type of a meal that feels like you’ve come home. Even if you’ve never eaten it before, it’s easy to fall in love with. It’s the best of comfort food!

Lechon Asado

Cuban roast pork packs an incredible flavour. And don’t even get me started on the texture!

For the most part it is tender and juicy pork. But once in a while you’d come across a slightly crispy bit made by being too close to the edge of a roasting pan. Finding a few of those on your plate feels like winning a lottery!

Although traditionally roasted in an oven or even grilled in a covered grill, I was set on using a This is an affiliate link.slow cooker. It’s easy, convenient, and it makes delicious food accessible to everyone!

I thrilled to see that the pork came out beautifully. And the texture was spot on. But I wasn’t willing to compromise on the crispy bits!

One of the things you can do to re-create the crispy bits is to spread your pork on a This is an affiliate link.baking sheet and put it under a broiler (grill in the UK) for a minute or so. Watch your meat carefully, though, so it doesn’t burn!

Pork marinade

Without a doubt, the most important part of this recipe is the marinade. A mixture of citrus, onions, garlic, oregano, black peppercorns and This is an affiliate link.olive oil gives the pork incredible flavour while also tenderising it. 

I leave it to marinate in my fridge overnight for the flavour to fully develop. The following morning, simply add the pork with the marinade to your This is an affiliate link.slow cooker and leave slow cooking till dinner. 

Hassle free cooking at its best!

Cuban black beans

Black beans are a common feature in much of Latin American cooking and Cubans make them as well as anyone. They lie at the heart of Cuban cuisine as a flavourful, cheap and nutritious food that will compliment many other dishes.

Normally you will find it served over rice with a hit of acid from a slice of lime. The Cuban version is fairly soupy but still quite creamy and with no shortage of flavour. Of course, they can be made thicker if you prefer and will naturally thicken up if given time.

I am happy to enjoy a meal with just these Cuban black beans served over rice, but also think that they compliment slow cooked pork beautifully. And although it might not be traditional, they are amazing as a topping for a baked potato or when served with nachos!

Serving Suggestions

Cuban pork is usually served with rice and beans. I’ve also included the recipe for the beans below. It’s a simple, very inexpensive and an utterly delicious side dish to your pork. 

Or wrap it up in a tortilla as a truly amazing burrito filling!

If you can track down plantains, slice and fry those up and add to your pork and beans! Finish with a wedge of lime to add a citrus hit.

Storage and leftovers

This Slow Cooker Cuban Pork recipe produces quite a large amount of meat and the good news is it freezes beautifully! It will keep well in your freezer for up to 1 month. 

Or keep it in the fridge for up to four days. It’s absolutely amazing in a quesadilla! Or in the famous Cuban sandwich. 

More favourite pork recipes

• Asian Pulled Pork Sandwiches
• Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Tacos
• Perfect Pork Roast
• Pork Osso Buco

4.91 from 11 votes

Slow Cooker Cuban Pork

By Julia Frey of Vikalinka

Prep: 20 minutes mins

Cook: 8 hours hrs

Total: 8 hours hrs 20 minutes mins

Servings: 12

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This slow cooked pork literally melts in your mouth and couldn't be easier to make! A crowd pleaser for sure.

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Ingredients 

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For the Slow Cooker Cuban Pork

• ▢ 2kg / 4-5 lbs lbs pork butt (shoulder – UK), or leg joint
• ▢ 20 cloves garlic
• ▢ 2 tsp sea salt
• ▢ 1 tsp black peppercorns
• ▢ 1 cup / 250ml freshly squeezed orange juice
• ▢ 1/2 cup / 125ml freshly squeezed lemon juice
• ▢ 2 medium onions
• ▢ 1 tsp oregano
• ▢ 1/2 cup / 125ml This is an affiliate link.olive oil

For the Cuban Black Beans

• ▢ 1 tbsp This is an affiliate link.olive oil
• ▢ 6-8 slices(100g / 3½oz) bacon, chopped
• ▢ 1 green pepper, chopped
• ▢ 1 onion, chopped
• ▢ 4 cloves garlic
• ▢ 1 This is an affiliate link.bay leaf
• ▢ 1/4 tsp cumin
• ▢ 1/2 tsp oregano
• ▢ 1 tbsp red wine vinegar
• ▢ 800g / 28oz canned black beans, drained
• ▢ salt to taste
• ▢ 85ml / 1/3 cup This is an affiliate link.chicken stock

Instructions 

For the Slow Cooker Cuban Pork

• In a food processor or a blender combine garlic, salt, smashed peppercorns, orange and lemon juice, onions and oregano. Process until smooth.
• Heat 1/2 cup of olive oil in a saucepan, the oil should be hot but not deep frying temperature hot. Take it off the heat and stir in the contents of the food processor and keep stirring to avoid burning.
• Pour the mixture on the pork and let it marinate overnight. In the morning put the pork together with the marinade in a slow cooker and cook on low for 8 hours.
• At the end of cooking time pull pork with two forks and mix it well with the juices.

For the Cuban Black Beans

• In a large pan cook chopped bacon with a tablespoon of olive oil. If your bacon is very fatty omit oil.
• Add chopped onion and green pepper and cook over low hear for 7-10 minutes until tender. Add garlic, bay leaf, cumin and oregano and stir fry for 1-2 minutes. Then add red wine vinegar, black beans, salt to taste and stock, bring to a boil, then reduce heat and cook on low for 15 minutes.
• Serve pork and beans with long grain rice.

Nutrition

Calories: 385kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 13g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 76mg | Sodium: 1001mg | Potassium: 724mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 100IU | Vitamin C: 29mg | Calcium: 66mg | Iron: 3mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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