Crock Pot Pork Tenderloin [Video]
Crock Pot Pork Tenderloin is seared with a spice rub then simmered long and slow in a garlicky, balsamic glaze sweetened with a bit of molasses. It’s one of the juiciest, most flavorful ways to cook this cut. An easy recipe to make and ideal for those lazy days when you want a hearty dinner without a lot of work!
I love making easy and delicious pork recipes for the whole family to enjoy. Just because you’re busy doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a homecooked meal. My other favorites are Slow Cooker Pineapple Pork Loin, Crockpot Balsamic Pork Loin, and Brown Sugar Garlic Pork. They taste impressive, but no one will guess how easy they are to make!
Easy Slow Cooker Pork Tenderloin Recipe
Crock Pot Pork Tenderloin is a dish I’ll never get tired of. For one, it’s easy. The only extra step is searing the meat. It’s worth it! Trust me, you want that delicious spice rub getting into every inch of this cut.
Next, it tastes phenomenal. You have that spice rub that creates an amazing crust that seals in all the flavors. Then you’ve got that balsamic glaze infused with garlic, herbs, molasses, herbs, and a splash of soy sauce.
The slow cooking infuses the entire cut with all that balsamic goodness. The result is ultra-tender meat with a savory-sweet sauce you’ll want to lick off the spoon! Give it a try and you will be amazed how easy and delicious this recipe is. The whole family will love it, and leftovers taste even better the following day!
Ingredients needed:
- Meat: You will need about 2 pounds of pork tenderloin.
- Seasoning: Fresh rosemary, smoked paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, dried rosemary, cinnamon, brown sugar, salt, and black pepper.
- Olive oil: to sear the meat.
- Sauce ingredients: Chicken stock, soy sauce, molasses, balsamic vinegar, garlic, and Italian seasoning.
How to make Crock Pot Pork Tenderloin?
Sear the meat.
- First, gather your rub ingredients and combine well in a small bowl.
- Then, pat the meat as dry as possible so the rub sticks into it.
- Massage the rub all over the meat.
- Next, sear the meat for a few minutes on both sides. Cook on high to lock in those flavors in a bit of olive oil until golden with a bit of crust. Once seared, set aside.
Cook low and slow.
- Gather your sauce ingredients. Add to the pot after mixing.
- Next, place the meat inside and brush with the sauce.
- Add rosemary.
- Turn on the crockpot and cook.
- It’s done when the internal temperature reaches 145F. Use an instant-read thermometer to check the temperature.
Serve.
- Remove pork and let it rest for 3-5 minutes on a cutting board.
- Slice, garnish with herbs, and serve with your preferred side.
Recipe Variations:
- Other meats: Feel free to use other cuts of meat, like chops or loin. Also, you can make it with beef or even chicken breasts.
- Make it in the Instant Pot: To save time, you can easily make this delicious Instant Pot Pork Tenderloin recipe instead.
- Herbs: Swap the herbs with your favorite ones. Some great alternatives would be adding some bay leaves, dried parsley, oregano, cajun seasoning, etc.
- Spicy: For a spicier taste, add some chopped jalapeno or red pepper flakes.
- Oven-Baked: Although I prefer to cook it in the slow cooker, you can easily bake it as well. Follow the same recipe steps. Then, instead of slow cooking, pop it in the oven at 400 degrees F and back it for 20-25 minutes.
Pork tenderloin vs loin?
They have very similar names, but these two cuts are completely different. Be careful not to confuse one with the other, because the wrong cut will not work with some recipes.
Tenderloin is a long and narrow cut. It’s tender and lean, boneless, and fantastic for grilling because it cooks fast.
The loin is also a tender cut, but it’s larger and a bit tougher so it’ll need more cooking time. It also tends to be cheaper. You can get it with or without the bone.
If you bought pork loin instead, use my Crock Pot Balsamic Loin Recipe instead. Only have an oven in your kitchen? Enjoy similar flavors in this oven-baked version!
How long to cook pork tenderloin in the crockpot?
In my recipe, it’s 3 hours (High) and 4-5 hours (Low). However, it ultimately depends on your crockpot.
Know your crockpot – how well does it heat? Do you usually shorten or lengthen recommended cook times?
What doneness do you prefer? I encourage you to tweak the indicated time in this recipe according to how your crockpot works. You may also check at 1-hour intervals to make sure the meat doesn’t overcook.
Can you overcook the meat in a crockpot?
Yes! You don’t have to pay so much attention to your crockpot, but it’s good practice to check it once or twice during cooking.
This cut is already tender, which means it’s easy to overcook. Instead of moist and juicy meat, you might end up with dry and stringy fibers. The key is to check the internal temp using an instant-read thermometer. Once it’s at 145F, it’s ready.
What to serve with pork tenderloin?
The classic way to serve this dish is over mashed potatoes.
On other occasions, I like to pair it with roasted vegetables like cauliflower, green beans, carrots, or baby red potatoes.
Also, Brown Rice is a nice accompaniment as well. If you’re doing Keto or low-carb, try cauliflower rice.
What to do with leftovers?
- Refrigerate: First, let it cool completely. Then store in an airtight container. If there is still any sauce left, add it in there. Keep in the fridge for three days or frozen for up to a month.
- Freeze: Just like in the fridge, the best way to freeze it would be in an airtight container. It can be frozen for up to 3 months.
- Thaw: Defrost overnight in the fridge. Also, you can pop it in the oven at 350 degrees and warm it up for a few minutes, or use a microwave.
Pork leftovers are great and make for a delicious and easy meal for days to come. Here are some great ideas to incorporate leftovers:
- Make a sandwich: Slice the meat and use it on a Hawaiian bun or hamburger bun. Garnish it with some horseradish, and mayo.
- Add it to a salad: Thinly slice it and add it on top of a salad.
- Make a rice bowl: Cube the pork, and add it on top of freshly cooked white coconut rice or brown rice.
More delicious dinner recipes:
Recipe Tips:
- Trim off the tough silver skin.
- Don’t like balsamic vinegar? Use barbecue sauce instead.
- Also, you can use whatever broth you have on hand – beef, chicken, or vegetable.
- Cook vegetables like carrots and potatoes with the meat for a complete meal.
- In addition, make sure that you are using pork tenderloin not loin. They are totally different cuts as described above.
Crock Pot Pork Tenderloin
Ingredients
- 2 pounds pork tenderloin
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Fresh rosemary (optional)
RUB:
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
SAUCE:
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon molasses
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 6 cloves garlic smashed
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
Instructions
- Pat dry pork tenderloins with paper towels.
- Combine in a small bowl the RUB ingredients; whisk to combine.
- Take the rub and sprinkle it all over the pork. Using your hands rub in into the pork well.
- Add olive oil to a large skillet and set over medium heat; add pork and sear for a couple of minutes on each side, or until golden brown.
- Combine the sauce ingredients and add the mixture to the slow cooker.
- Place pork in the slow cooker.
- Add some fresh rosemary.
- Cover slow cooker with a lid and cook on LOW for 4 to 5 hours, or on HIGH for 3 hours.
- Check for doneness by inserting an instant-read thermometer into the thickest part of the meat; pork is done when internal temperature reaches 145˚F.
- Remove pork from slow cooker and transfer to a cutting board; cover it with foil and let rest for 15 minutes before slicing.
- Slice and serve. Garnish with chopped parsley and some rosemary.
Video
Nutrition
More recipes you might love
Comments
Leave a reply