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These were delicious! Used my Instant Pot for the pork and cooked for 55 minutes with natural release. Done perfectly!! Thank you for the recipe!
Stacy'smom
Everything Greek Pork Pitas: because you can and should put EVERYTHING on them, including but not limited to:
- tzatziki
- feta
- parsley
- lettuce
- sun dried or fresh tomatoes
- red onion
- a squeeze of lemon juice
Are you picking up what I’m putting down? This is a salad pile on top of juicy, peppery pork tucked inside a warm, soft pita, and it is all kinds of good. Eat it alone (this is sloppy, drippy, make-out-with-your-food bliss) and let it love you right back.
HOW TO MAKE OUR GREEK PORK PITAS:
But let’s just stop and think about THIS for a second – we are SEVEN posts into our Feeding a Broken Heart series! and we have now come to what was the first meal that anyone dropped off at our house (thanks Amanda). We started this series after losing our son Afton just one day after he was born – you can read more about the series here, and more about Afton here.
Day one being home from the hospital, 9am, and a freezer bag of this pork and toppings was left on my front door step. I opened the door in my sweats, eyes practically swollen shut from crying, and squinted into the sun to see someone driving away. I shouted “WHO IS THAT” into the street because that’s totally normal, and then when I realized who it was, I shouted “YOU SHOULD COME IN” because she obviously wanted to come in, judging by the fact that she was, at that moment, driving away.
Luckily in moments of life-shattering grief, you get a pass on being socially awkward (how long does that last, by the way? I would like to put in a request for immunity for at least another 9 months) and you also get free meals like this delivered to you with so much love.
And you need them. Your heart is irreversibly broken. You cannot remember how or why you would ever enjoy food, and a bag of garlicky, peppery pork that is ready for your slow cooker can help you find your way. In this moment, the meal is both a juicy, overflowing, soft warm pita, and a broken heart lifeline.
I know I’ve been leaning heavily into the Instant Pot vibes lately, but this recipe just begs for it. The Greek pork can either sit in your slow cooker for 10-ish hours, orrrr you can think about this recipe at 6pm and have it ready by 7pm.
RIGHT? That is how I roll.
Everything Greek Pork Pitas
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 6-8 1x
Description
Everything Greek Pork Pitas – peppery pork with tzatziki, parsley, sun dried tomato, feta, and lemon juice. works in the Instant Pot!
Ingredients
Greek Pork:
- 3 pounds pork shoulder, fat trimmed
- 1 onion, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon oregano
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
For the Pitas:
- pitas
- tzatziki
- toppings of choice! like lettuce, tomatoes, red onion, feta, lemon, etc.
Instructions
- Place all ingredients for the pork in a slow cooker on low heat for 10-12 hours, OR in an Instant Pot on the meat/stew setting (about 45 minutes). Shred the meat and stir it around in all those juices. YUM.
- Assemble pitas!
Notes
Instant Pot Tip: Multiple members of our team with different Instant Pots gave this recipe a try, and while the recipe works in the original Instant Pot as written, it can vary across others. If you’re using an Instant Pot Duo, we recommend adding 1 cup of water to prevent the burn warning and cooking for 60 minutes to ensure the meat falls apart easily.
I wrapped my pitas up (pita, pork, tomatoes) in foil and popped them in a 350 degree oven for a few minutes to get them soft and yummy. Then I dolloped them with tzatziki, parsley, feta, and lemon juice. Mwah.
If you are giving this meal to someone, just pack up the meat in a freezer bag (either cooked or uncooked with instructions) and then toss in a bag of pitas, store-bought tzatziki (or homemade – go you!), a jar of sun dried tomatoes, a lemon, a bag of parsley, and a container of feta cheese. Easy!
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Keywords: greek pork pitas, pork pitas, pork sandwich
One More Thing!
This recipe is part of our collection of yummy pork recipes. Check it out!
These look super delicious. I can see these pitas as a perfect meal-in-a-basket (or box) to let someone make at their leisure. What a great and thoughtful bunch of friends and neighbors you have.
Seriously. We have been loved well.
I made eight batches of this recipe in two slow cookers and did half pork, half turkey (which is a good substitute for pork texture wise, for those wondering). I put pitas, tzatziki, fresh sliced peppers, and a jar of homemade marinated olives in a ziploc and dropped it off to neighbours who are high risk or in self-isoloation. It received glowing reviews from everyone. I did add some water while the meat cooked to prevent scorching.
Glad you enjoyed this, Kristin!
I couldn’t be more in awe of these delicious sounding pitas! OMG, yum!
OMG This really does look yumm!
I can’t wait to try it!
Edwige |
This looks like something I’d get off a food truck. And being from Buffalo, NY where food trucks are awesome, that’s the highest compliment I can pay =)
hahaha that IS a great compliment! Thanks Laura.
First I wanted to tell you that I have been reading every single post in this beautiful and awe-inspiring series, and I have cried every single time. Thank you for daring so greatly to bare your soul with a topic that is not talked about enough.
I have experienced two miscarriages myself, and when they happened I had absolutely no one to talk to who understood. I literally had no one in my family or my circle of friends who had experienced this (that I knew of), so it was really hard grieving so intensely on my own. I had many, many supportive people around me who grieved with me, and what I realized through the process was that grief is the great equalizer in our lives. It’s the one thing that every single human being is going to experience.
So THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart for starting a much-needed conversation about loss, especially the loss of your baby. You have helped millions of people through their own grief by being authentically yourself.
I’m am so sorry for the great loss you and Bjork have suffered, and I wish you healing and peace. And just remember, it’s ok, not to be ok.
Much love
You are such an encourager. Thank you Leslie!
Looks great! Question: I’ve always added liquid when cooking with the slow cooker. For this recipe did you just use dry ingredients though?
I have the same question! That long in a slow-cooker without any liquid sounds like it would scorch.
I don’t always add liquid to the slow cooker when cooking meats. There is so much natural juice/broth in the meat that it bastes itself in the slow cooker. Look how much broth this brisket makes with no added liquid. http://www.homeecathome.com/the-home-economist/brisket-in-a-crock-pot
Or this slow cooker chicken dinner. http://www.homeecathome.com/the-home-economist/easy-one-pot-slow-cooker-chicken-dinner I don’t add any water or broth and it comes out delicious every time.
Thank you Faith, that’s super helpful.
Hey Cassie, I don’t think you need it as long as the heat is set to low – the meat should be juicy enough on its own to produce quite a bit of liquid as it cooks. 🙂
These look mad good. I love greek food. Mostly because I’m obsessed with kalamata olives and tzatziki. Oh and warm pita. Thanks for sharing!
oh yes! I should have added kalamata olives to this!
I am loving all things Greek lately!! These sound and look fantastic!
Thanks Lindsay!
what a sweet friend 🙂 and I definitely feel like the instant pot is the answer to no energy/desire to cook problems <3 I haven't tried pork in the instant pot yet, though, so these will be Friday nights' delight. thinking of you guys
Thanks girl! xo
I was literally just sitting down at my desk, worrying about what I was going to bring later in the week to my coworker whose 3 year old is going through chemo that wasn’t the same as anyone else on the meal train. This is perfect. Thank you so much for running this series.
Oh my gosh, my heart. You are so kind and you just made this weird season of grief recipes all worthwhile. 💙
I have been hearing a lot about the instant pot and am intrigued. I love my slow cooker and have a feeling I would love an instant pot too. What kind of instant pot do you recommend?
I have this one! I love it. Still learning how to use it but every time I do, I am amazed!
Such lovely comforting recipes in this series. Quick question–should the pork be boneless or bone-in?
Mine was boneless!
Hi Lindsay – what about chicken? I don’t eat pork, but these sound amazing. Could I sub chicken thighs? Cook for the same amount of time in the slow cooker? I usually cook from frozen in the slow cooker for 8-10 hrs while I’m at work.
Chicken would work great as a sub!
Hi Lindsay,
I love, love, love my instant pot. It has made making meals so much faster and easier. And clean up doesn’t take but a few minutes.
These Greek pork pitas look delicious, and something I can easily bring to work for lunch.
I was wondering if you put any liquid in the pot. Most recipes I come across have at least one cup of broth or water. Especially with meat.
Thanks
I cannot read a post without tears in my eyes. I first want to send a huge hug and second want to compliment yet another amazing meal inspiration.
Those look delicious!
Kari
http://sweetteasweetie.com/organic-roasted-cauliflower-grocery-outlet/
Omg that pork just looks so dang tasty! As always, incredible work. Keep it up (:
Oh wow, Lindsay!
I won’t be including the pork, but I can’t wait to try this with some crispy tofu crumbles!!
Thanks for the inspiration!
Lo
http://www.themixtures.com
Any suggestions if you don’t have a crock pot or an Instant Pot? I have a Le Cruset…
Thank you! Looks delicious.
Hi Whitney! I think that could work in the oven. It may not be quite as tender, but definitely worth a shot!
You never cease to amaze. This is going on my meal plan for next week!
These look great! I barely eat pork (minus bacon), because bacon…. but I am considering it for this recipe.
You rock and I admire your courage to keep doing what you love despite the pain and hurt. Much love!
Que buena pinta Lindsay !! Siempre vuestro blog es un referente para mi. Es un plugin el resumen de la receta al final de esta? Ya se que entiendes Español un poco 😉
I made this exactly according to the instant pot directions (45 mins on meat/stew) and it turned out tough and had to cut it in pieces since I couldn’t shred it. I’m slow-cooking the leftovers in hope of making it more tender. It’s yummy with the toppings!
Sorry to hear that, Valerie. We didn’t run into any issues with it in ours at that setting – did you use pork shoulder for the cut?
I had the same issue with the pork in the instant pot—it wouldn’t pull apart at that time. The recipe didn’t say if it should be natural release or not though (tried but ways with poor results tho). I used pork butt, but my quick googling indicated it’s the same as shoulder? Otherwise, flavors were good—will try again with better pork recipe if I can locate one.
Hi! Is the oregano in recipe dried or fresh? Thanks! Plan to make for my in laws 🙂
These look so mouth-wateringly good. I love a good slow cooker recipe and really want to do pulled pork so I think I’ll start with this recipe!
Hope you enjoy them!
Why do you rate a recipe without making it first
I made this last night and it was A-MAZE-ING!!!! How have I only just found your website!! This will definitely be a regular dinner option for me now 🙂
Glad to hear it, Hannah!
We had your Thai salad tonight and it was delicious! I’m making this tomorrow, and this is probably a dumb question, but one tablespoon of dried oregano, right? I have some in our herb garden and I’m tempted to use fresh…two tablespoons maybe? I’ll should just stick with it as written:)
I*
Hey Heidi! That’s correct – we used dried. 🙂 Fresh would be amazing though!