Serves 4-6 | Difficulty: Easy – Medium
Transform one pork shoulder into a 2-day flavor journey from Hawaiian luau to Mexican fiesta. You’ll save money (and time) while treating your family to bold, delicious flavors!
Whether you bought pork butt because it was too good a deal to pass up, or you’re stuck with a massive piece because that’s just how stores sell them – either way, you’re probably thinking ‘great, more pulled pork.’
But what if I told you one strategic cooking session could give you authentic Hawaiian kalua pork AND Mexican pork tinga without spending twice the time in the kitchen?
The secret is in the flavor profiles. Kalua pork’s earthiness and smokiness from the banana leaves and liquid smoke pairs perfectly with pork tinga’s chipotle peppers. They taste like they were meant to work together, even though they’re from completely different cuisines.
Strategic Overlapping Ingredients = Less Waste:
Pork Storage: Cooked pork lasts 4-5 days refrigerated. If you won’t use leftovers within this time, freeze immediately (ideally vacuum-sealed) after cooking for up to 6 months for best flavor and texture.
Cabbage Storage: Shredded or prepped cabbage keeps 7-10 days refrigerated in airtight containers. If stored properly, it can even last up to 3 weeks! It’s my favorite ingredient to meal prep in advance. So go ahead and shred cabbage for both meals in one session to save time
If you’re like me and found yourself with a massive 10+ lb pork butt from Costco, or you just want to extend this pork-centric week even further, try:
Take this Hawaiian-Mexican flavor journey global with Filipino cuisine! The tangy, savory profile of from Filipino adobo’s vinegar-soy sauce combo creates another completely different meal from the same base ingredient.
Check out my Getting Started guide to learn how to use this meal plan.
Meal 1:
Hawaiian Kalua Pork Dinner
Meal 2:
Mexican Pork Tinga Tostadas
Transform your pork butt into smoky, tender Hawaiian-style pulled pork using banana leaves and liquid smoke. The Instant Pot cuts cooking time to under an hour while delivering flavors that rival your local Hawaiian BBQ joint (unless you are in Hawaii, of course).
What makes this special:
NOTE:
You *can* skip the banana leaves (in the spirit of no waste). I’ll be working on banana leaves recipes so you’ll feel it’s worth grabbing when you’re ready!
See the full recipe with tips and tricks here: Hawaiian Kalua Pork
Take yesterday’s Hawaiian feast and transform it into restaurant-quality Mexican pork tinga in under 30 minutes. The smoky pork gets simmered in a rich chipotle-tomato sauce that builds incredible depth of flavor.
Why this works:
See the full recipe with serving suggestions here: Easy Pork Tinga
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| ✅ | ingredient | quantity | unit | category | notes | list type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| sugar | 1 | tsp | Baking & Sweeteners | pantry | ||
| rice vinegar | 1 | tsp | Condiments | or lemon juice, optional | pantry | |
| liquid smoke | 2 | tbsp | Condiments | 1.5 for cooking, 0.5 for finishing | pantry | |
| avocado oil | 3 | tbsp | Oils & Vinegars | pantry | ||
| kosher salt | 15 | g | Spices & Seasonings | or up to 20 g for saltier preference | pantry | |
| onion powder | 0.33 | tsp | Spices & Seasonings | pantry | ||
| garlic powder | 0.33 | tsp | Spices & Seasonings | pantry | ||
| paprika | 0.33 | tsp | Spices & Seasonings | pantry | ||
| turmeric | 0.25 | tsp | Spices & Seasonings | optional | pantry | |
| black pepper | to taste | Spices & Seasonings | pantry | |||
| tostada shells | 10 | pcs | Bakery | or warm corn tortillas | shopping | |
| chicken stock | 2 | cups | Canned & Jarred | or water | shopping | |
| chipotle in adobo | 7 | oz | Canned & Jarred | use half for milder version | shopping | |
| Kewpie mayo | 0.5 | cup | Condiments | or more to taste | shopping | |
| pickled red onions | to taste | Condiments | optional | shopping | ||
| Cotija cheese | 2 | tbsp | Dairy | crumbled – optional | shopping | |
| elbow macaroni | 6 | oz | Dry Goods & Pasta | shopping | ||
| white rice | 3 | cups | Grains | steamed | shopping | |
| pork shoulder | 3 | lb | Meat & Seafood | boneless, for Kalua Pork | shopping | |
| garlic | 12 | cloves | Produce | 10 for Kalua Pork, 2 for Tinga | shopping | |
| carrot | 2 | oz | Produce | finely grated or minced, optional | shopping | |
| banana leaf | 1 | large | Produce | large enough to wrap 3 lb pork butt, optional | shopping | |
| green cabbage | 2 | lb | Produce | 1.5 for Kalua, 0.56 for Tinga | shopping | |
| yellow onion | 12 | oz | Produce | shopping | ||
| vine-ripened tomato | 1 | lb | Produce | 6 oz for sauce, 1 lb for base | shopping | |
| avocado | 1 | large | Produce | sliced, optional but highly recommended | shopping |
I’m a foodie with a simple philosophy: why should amazing food be reserved for the weekends alone? I’m all about making every meal delicious because, let’s face it, we only have so many meals in our lifetime.
My mission? To take the stress out of cooking with easy-to-use meal plans so you can enjoy mouthwatering recipes any day of week. Join me on this tasty journey and let’s savor “more taste, less waste” in every bite!
I’m a foodie with a simple philosophy: why should amazing food be reserved for the weekends alone? I’m all about making every meal delicious because, let’s face it, we only have so many meals in our lifetime.
My mission? To take the stress out of cooking with easy-to-use meal plans so you can enjoy mouthwatering recipes any day of week. Join me on this tasty journey and let’s savor “more taste, less waste” in every bite!
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