This slow cooker pork tenderloin is simmered in a garlic and herb gravy and produces perfect results every time. An easy crock pot dinner that the whole family will love.
Pork tenderloin in an inexpensive cut of meat that’s tender and full of flavor. It gets even better when you slow cook it with plenty of seasonings. Slice and serve for an amazing meal! I serve my pork tenderloin with a side of homemade Rice-A-Roni and roasted carrots for a complete dinner.
I know that pork tenderloin can be a little intimidating if you’ve never made it before. However, this slow cooker pork tenderloin recipe will make it seem like it’s any other classic dish you’ve made a thousand times. It’s much easier than it first appears.
HOW DO YOU MAKE SLOW COOKER PORK TENDERLOIN?
The first step is to season your meat and give it a good sear before placing it in the crock pot. If you’re short on time and don’t want to brown your pork first, you can place directly in the slow cooker and skip this step. I think it’s really worth the extra effort though because it adds so much more flavor.
The pork goes into the slow cooker with a whole bunch of flavorings like garlic, brown sugar, soy sauce, chicken broth and herbs. This forms the base of the gravy. The gravy is thickened at the end of the cooking time and fortified with a little butter to give it some richness. I serve my slow cooker pork tenderloin over rice or mashed potatoes to make the most out of all that delicious gravy.
Tips for Slow Cooker Pork Tenderloin
- This crock pot pork tenderloin recipe calls for 2 tenderloins, but can easily be halved to feed a smaller group. You can cut the pork in half to fit into the crock pot as needed, or you can use an oval shaped slow cooker.
- Make sure that you’re using pork tenderloin, not pork loin. They are two different cuts of meat.
- You can add some vegetables like carrots and potatoes to the crock pot. Just be sure to cut them in large pieces so that they don’t get overly soft after the long cooking time.
HOW LONG DO YOU COOK A PORK TENDERLOIN?
The amount of time you cook a pork loin depends on the weight of the meat. Most often, it averages about two hours of slow cooker time per 1 pound of pork tenderloin.
WHY SEAR THE PORK TENDERLOIN BEFORE SLOW COOKING?
It’s definitely not a must that the pork tenderloin needs to be seared before it is slow cooked. However, when the meat is seared, it allows for more complex flavors to be released when the slow cooking process is in progress. If a portion of meat is sear with a coating of flour before slow cooking, this helps thicken the sauce in the crock pot dish.
Back in the day, I had no idea how to cook a pork tenderloin and didn’t even know where to start. Now, it’s one of the easiest dishes I make and the entire family loves it. I have no doubt you will thoroughly enjoy it as much as we did.
MORE PORK RECIPES YOU’LL LOVE
Slow Cooker Pork Tenderloin Video
Slow Cooker Pork Tenderloin
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil divided use
- 2 pork tenderloins approximately 2 1/4 lbs total
- salt and pepper to taste
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 2 tablespoons chopped parsley
Instructions
- Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a pan over medium high heat.
- Season the pork tenderloins on all sides with the salt, pepper and Italian seasoning. Cut the pork tenderloins in half if needed to fit into your slow cooker.
- Sear the pork for 5-6 minutes per side, or until golden brown.
- Place the pork in a slow cooker.
- In a small bowl, mix together the remaining tablespoon of olive oil, chicken broth, soy sauce, balsamic vinegar, brown sugar and garlic.
- Pour the sauce over the pork. Cover the slow cooker and cook on LOW for 6-8 hours, or HIGH for 4 hours.
- Remove the pork from the slow cooker and place on a plate; cover with foil to keep warm.
- Pour the liquid from the slow cooker into a pot. Heat the pot over medium heat and bring the sauce to a simmer.
- Mix the cornstarch with 1/4 cup of cold water. Add the cornstarch to the pot and bring to a boil.
- Cook for 1 minute, or until sauce has just thickened.
- Add the butter to the pot and stir until melted. Remove the pot from the heat.
- Slice or shred your pork and pour the sauce over the top. Sprinkle with parsley and serve.
Amy says
I don’t have soy sauce is there something else I can use .
Sara says
You could try a tablespoon or two of Worcestershire sauce but I haven’t tested it this way!
Elizabeth Riepl says
Made this tonight and it was a hit with my family. I don’t usually cook a lot of crock pot recipes but I had 2 tenderloins and thought I would give it a try. Followed it exactly. Although I did strain the liquid for a more silky gravy. Served over mashed potatoes with broccoli on the side. Everyone was happy!
Angie says
Made this tonight and it was a huge hit at my house. I cooked on low for 5 hours and it temped at 190 so it was a little dry. Didn’t have corn starch so I used flour to thicken the gravy. Next time I make this I’ll do low for 4 hours. Even slightly dry the flavor was wonderful!
Stacy Sargent says
Would it work to double the sauce?
Sara says
Yes that’s fine!
Tara says
This is my favorite pork recipe. I love it so much, that I am making it for Christmas this year and can’t wait!
Kristy says
What can I substitute for the corn starch? My.husband is allergic.
Sara says
I’d just omit it, the sauce will be thinner but it should taste the same otherwise!
Cariboudave says
Try potato starch.
Suzie says
I use Xantham gum
Carrie Cooper says
Yes, this is the best tenderloin recipe ever! A lot of time cooking in a crock pot makes it more boiled but not this one. I followed the recipe exactly using extra care to sear on all sides. I used canned chicken broth and next time will add the left over broth to the finished cooked juices to make more gravy. This was a perfect Sunday afternoon dinner with mashed potatoes, cole slaw and green beans!
Linda H Smith says
Very good! I cooked one tenderloin at 1 lb for two hours on low and not quite enough. Super tender and great sauce!
Rob says
Made your dish tonight, was fantastic!
Will definitely make this again. Thanks.
Amber says
Let me preface this by saying I never comment on food blogs, no matter how much I love the food. Saying that, I just want to let you know that this was the best crockpot meal I’ve ever made. I am absolutely in love with this recipe. I didn’t even sear the tenderloin and it still turned out perfect. I also threw in some carrots and added a little more cornstarch for a thicker gravy. I also took out the tenderloin and made the gravy right there in the crockpot for a less messy cleanup. Thank you for this recipe. It was perfect.