Emilie Meyer
Cooking pork loin in a crock pot is an easy way to prepare a delicious, juicy, and tender meal for the whole family. This simple recipe requires minimal prep and just a few ingredients, making it perfect for busy days. The slow cooker does most of the work, infusing the meat with flavour and ensuring it is fall-apart tender. You can even add vegetables to the crock pot to create a complete meal. This versatile dish can be served with a variety of sides and is sure to impress!
Characteristics and Values Table for Slow-Cooking Pork Loin in a Crock Pot
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Meat | Pork loin or tenderloin |
| Weight | 3-5 lbs |
| Type of meat | Boneless or with bones |
| Cut | Wide cut with fat cap on top |
| Seasoning | Salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, honey, balsamic vinegar |
| Vegetables | Carrots, potatoes, onions, celery, mushrooms, green beans |
| Sauce | Chicken broth, soy sauce, honey butter, barbecue sauce, mustard, chili powder, kosher salt |
| Temperature | 145°F |
| Time | 4-5 hours on low |
| Storage | Refrigerate for up to 4 days, freeze for up to 3 months |
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What You'll Learn
Prepping the pork loin
Firstly, decide if you want to sear the meat. Searing the pork loin before placing it in the crockpot can add flavour and result in a beautiful crust. To do this, heat a large skillet on medium-high heat and add oil. Once the oil is shimmering hot, add the pork loin and sear for around 3 minutes on each side, or until golden brown all over.
If you decide to skip the searing step, you can go straight to creating a spice rub or seasoning for your pork loin. A simple spice rub can be made by combining salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder. You can also add other spices of your choice, such as chilli powder or paprika. Rub this mixture all over the pork loin, ensuring that it is evenly coated.
Another option is to use a liquid sauce or marinade. You can whisk together ingredients such as balsamic vinegar, honey, and garlic, barbecue sauce, mustard, and soy sauce. Pour this sauce over the pork loin, ensuring it is fully coated, and then place it in the crockpot.
You can also cook the pork loin with just water and salt and pepper, or simply place the pork loin in the crockpot with no additional ingredients.
If you are using a frozen pork loin, you will need to let it thaw at room temperature for an hour or two so that the outer layer has thawed, and then season it before placing it in the crockpot.
Once you have prepped the pork loin, you can place it in the crockpot and add any additional ingredients, such as vegetables or potatoes, before turning it on and letting it cook to perfection.
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Making the sauce
To make a sauce for your slow-cooked pork loin, you can use a variety of ingredients, including barbecue sauce, honey, butter, garlic, mustard, chilli powder, soy sauce, chicken broth, balsamic vinegar, and cornflour or cornstarch.
If you want to make a barbecue sauce, simply whisk together the sauce ingredients in a small bowl, or directly in the crock pot. Then, add the pork loin and roll it in the sauce. You can also pour the sauce over the pork after it has been seared.
For a honey butter garlic sauce, whisk together honey, butter, and garlic. You can also use the juices remaining in the slow cooker after cooking the pork to make a sauce. Simply reduce the juices and thicken them with cornflour or cornstarch to make a syrup.
You can also make a sauce using chicken broth, soy sauce, and sliced onion. First, add these ingredients to the slow cooker and stir. Then, make a rub by combining salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder. Rub this mixture all over the pork loin before searing it.
Feel free to experiment with different ingredients and spices to create your own unique sauce for your slow-cooked pork loin.
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Cooking the pork
Firstly, if you want to sear the meat, heat a large skillet on medium-high heat and add oil. Once the oil is shimmering hot, sear the pork loin on all sides until it is golden brown. This step is not mandatory but will add flavour and result in a beautiful crust.
Next, prepare your crock pot. You can add vegetables such as carrots, potatoes, onions, and celery to the slow cooker to create a complete meal. Be sure to cut the vegetables into uniform pieces and place them at the bottom of the slow cooker.
Then, prepare the sauce. For a simple sauce, whisk together chicken broth, soy sauce, balsamic vinegar, honey, and garlic. You can also add spices such as mustard, chilli powder, and kosher salt to barbecue sauce.
Place the pork loin in the crock pot and pour the sauce over it. Ensure the crock pot is at least three-quarters full to optimise cooking. If your pork loin is frozen, you can put it directly into the crock pot, but increase the cooking time to four hours on high or eight hours on low.
Finally, turn on your crock pot! For a fresh pork loin, cook on high for 2 to 2.5 hours or low for 4 to 5 hours. The pork is done when it reaches an internal temperature of 145°F. If you are using a frozen pork loin, check that the internal temperature reaches 145°F before turning off the crock pot.
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Resting the meat
The ideal final internal temperature for pork tenderloin is 145°F. This temperature ensures that the meat is cooked enough to be safe to eat while still being juicy and tender. If the meat is cooked to a higher temperature, it can become dry and tough. Therefore, it is important to remove the pork loin from the crock pot before it reaches the final temperature and let it rest until it reaches 145°F.
While the meat is resting, it is best to cover it loosely with foil. This will help to keep it warm and prevent the surface from drying out. If you are making a sauce to go with the pork loin, this is a good time to finish making it. You can also use the resting time to prepare any side dishes that you are serving with the meal, such as mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables, or rice.
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Serving suggestions
Slow-cooked pork loin is a versatile dish that can be served in a variety of ways. Here are some serving suggestions to get you started:
Mashed Potatoes and Vegetables
Serve the pork loin with a side of creamy mashed potatoes and your choice of vegetables. Some recommended vegetables include roasted asparagus, green beans, roasted baby carrots with a honey glaze, or roasted potato wedges. You can also add vegetables such as carrots, potatoes, onions, and celery directly to the slow cooker along with the pork loin for a complete meal.
Rice
The pork loin can also be served with rice. This could be baked rice, brown rice, or Rice-a-Roni.
Sandwiches and Wraps
Leftover pork loin can be used as a filling for sandwiches, wraps, or tacos. Add some pickles and fresh herbs to your sandwich, or try making pulled pork tacos with BBQ sauce.
Soup
Use leftover pork loin to make a delicious soup, such as chile verde.
Salad
Serve slices of pork loin alongside a nice green salad.
Bread
Don't forget some garlic bread on the side!
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Frequently asked questions
For a fresh pork loin, cook for 4 to 5 hours on low for tender, juicy perfection. If you're cooking a frozen pork loin, cook for four hours on high or eight hours on low.
The internal temperature of the pork loin should be 145°F.
You can simply season the pork loin with salt and pepper and add some water. For extra flavour, you can sear the pork loin before placing it in the crock pot. You can also add vegetables such as carrots, potatoes, onions, and celery to the slow cooker.
Leftover pork loin can be stored in a shallow, airtight container or wrapped in aluminium foil in the fridge for up to four days. It can also be frozen for up to three months.
