Description
Slow cooker Cuban sandwiches bring tender, juicy pork together with tangy pickles and melted swiss cheese. Crisp bread and rich flavors make this classic Cuban dish a delightful meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 4–5 pounds pork shoulder or butt roast
- 1/2 pound sliced Swiss cheese
- 1/2 pound sliced deli ham
- 12 sandwich pickles, sliced lengthwise
Citrus and Spices:
- Juice from 2 oranges
- Juice from 2 limes
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon cumin
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
Sandwich Components:
- 2 Cuban bread loaves or Italian bread loaves
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
- Yellow mustard
Instructions
- Craft a zesty marinade by whisking together orange juice, lime juice, garlic, cumin, oregano, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper in a mixing bowl until thoroughly combined.
- Position pork shoulder in slow cooker with fat side up, then generously pour marinade over meat, ensuring complete coverage. Slow cook on low temperature for 8-10 hours until meat becomes fork-tender and easily pulls apart.
- Transfer cooked pork to cutting board, removing any visible fat or bones. Utilize two forks to shred meat into delicate strands, then return shredded meat to slow cooker liquid to absorb additional flavor profiles.
- Prepare cooking surface by preheating panini press to medium heat or heating cast iron skillet over medium flame.
- Trim bread loaf edges and slice horizontally, creating top and bottom sandwich halves.
- Apply softened butter to exterior bread surfaces, then spread yellow mustard generously on interior sides.
- Layer sandwich components strategically: Swiss cheese, ham slices, shredded pork, pickle slices, and additional cheese on bottom bread half. Crown with top bread slice.
- For panini press method, grill sandwiches 3-5 minutes until bread achieves golden crispness and cheese melts completely.
- For skillet technique, cook sandwich 2-3 minutes per side, applying firm pressure with secondary weighted skillet or brick to ensure even browning and cheese melting.
- Slice sandwiches diagonally, presenting with optional side accompaniments like crisp chips or fresh salad. Serve immediately while warm and crunchy.
Notes
- Marinate overnight for deeper, more intense flavor infusion into the pork, allowing spices to fully penetrate the meat.
- Choose fatty pork shoulder for maximum tenderness and juiciness, as the fat helps keep the meat moist during slow cooking.
- Swap traditional bread with gluten-free options for those with dietary restrictions, ensuring the sandwich remains crispy and delicious.
- Use smoked ham for an extra layer of flavor complexity if standard deli ham feels too mild for your taste preferences.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 hours
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Cuban
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 1200 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg