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.
Julie says
What can I substitute for Garlic? I am sad to say I am intolerant to Garlic & I get sick using it. Any ideas?
Sara says
I’d just omit it or use shallots or a little minced onion!
Lauren says
This recipe is DELICIOUS!!! I made it today for dinner, It’s only my husband and I no kiddos yet so I only made 1 pork tenderloin. I cut it in half to fit in my pan and seared it all around only a minute or 2 on each side was perfect. Then I slow cooked it on high for 2 hours and put it on low for the next hour because it was boiling. Then for the 4th hour it was on warm and it was so tender we didn’t need a knife! I halved the entire recipe and it was amazing. The sauce was heavenly! On the side I made roasted garlic Parmesan and herb potato’s and carrots. It was perfect. I’ll be making it again and again! I don’t want my tenderloin any other way. I wish I could share a picture
Kathleen Klees says
I’m making two pork tenderloins tomorrow. I bought the kind that are pre-seasoned. Door County Cherry pork tenderloins. Should I just add a cup of chicken broth since they are already seasoned?
Sara says
Yes that would work!
Jerry Janes says
I have a crowd on Christmas Day! I will be preparing 2 crock pots=4.5 and 5.10 pounds. Please advise as to increase in amounts of ingredients for each. Do you recommend high or low temperature for this amount. How long should each cook?
Sara says
What size crock pots are you using?
Jerry Janes says
6 quart
Sara says
You can change the number of servings in the recipe card and it will automatically recalculate the ingredient amounts. I’d add one more hour to the cook time!
Robin Taylor Stewart says
How cool is that! I never realized you could do this. It also changes the ingredient amounts. Great tool!
Sofia says
Thank you for sharing this recipe. It was our Christmas dinner and everyone loved it, even my son who is a picky eater.
Elizabeth says
Hi! I like to make my crock pot up the night before then putting in fridge and starting the next day. What do you think if I sear it and put in fridge? Or don’t do that part if I want to make up night before
Sara says
I would recommend skipping the searing if you’re preparing it the night before!
ELISABETH says
I don’t eat pork but my husband does. Finding recipes for it has always been challenging for me until I came across this one. Hubby absolutely RAVED and asked me to ONLY make pork tenderloin this way from now on!
Stacey Boettcher says
what can I substitute for the italian seasoning?
Sara says
Equal amounts of dried parsley, basil, thyme and oregano.
Misty says
Can I add potatoes on the sides of the pork to cook?
Sara says
Yes that’s fine!
Marcia says
Can I cook 3 tenderloins at once in the slow cooker? If so do I add more time?
Sara says
You can, and the cook time should be the same assuming the crockpot isn’t completely full to the top.
Carole says
Just made this, so delicious. Did make extra gravy (one half more) and unplugged the crockpot at 5 hours. Definitely a keeper
Tony says
Hello.. if I’m doing about 4 pounds of meat, should I just do the 8 hrs?
Sara says
Yes that’s correct!
Missy says
I am making this recipe right now, but with a pork loin NOT a tender loin. Will it still turn out or is there any suggestions?
I’m hoping for the best.
Sara says
I think it should work just fine!
Sean Mann says
Hello I was just wondering what size of crock pot you use for this recipe? I have a 6 quart so with the cooking time be shorter?
Sara says
The cooking time will be the same for a 6 quart!
Micale says
I am fresh out of balsamic.. I have a balsamic glaze and white vinegar.. would either of those substitute? Thanks!
Sara says
Use balsamic glaze and cut the amount in half!
Karen Dinkins says
I made this for dinner and it was sooooo good. I wish I could save this recipe or print it.
Sara says
There is a print button on the recipe card!
C ROGERS says
Oh my God this was so good, my husband loved, we said of making this for company, yea great dinner
Robin Taylor Stewart says
I make this all the time and it always comes out perfect! I only cook one pork tenderloin at a time and cook it for 2 hours on high. Maybe that’s the trick because it’s always delicious,
Rachel says
Unfortunately, after cooking on low for 5 1/2 hours and letting the tenderloins rest while making the very delicious sauce, they came out extremely dry. Any suggestions?
Dan R Richter says
Sounds like you didn’t cook the pork in the gravy (?). Based on your other question, I like mine to fall apart and cook on low for 7 hrs. & I double the gravy which will completely soak in. Even with single gravy & 5-1/2 hrs if cooked in the gravy I’d think it wouldn’t fall apart and be nice and moist.
Rachel says
I am cooking this recipe right now and it smells DELISCIOUS! I am concerned though about the cooking time. I have the slow cooker setting on low. Your recipe states 6-8 hours. That’s a 2 hour gap in time. I would like it tender but not falling apart as others have commented. I have company coming and would like nice slices to serve. I have 2 pork tenderloins in the slow cooker equaling a total of 2 1/4 lbs. Help!!!
Sara says
If you don’t want it to fall apart, cook it for a maximum of 6 hours. You can even check it at the 5 hour mark, it will be cooked through at that time but maybe not quite as tender.
Gina says
Could I do this in the Instant Pot?
Gina says
I did this in my instant pot and it turned out great! I seared it in the instant pot, meat (high pressure) setting for 25 min (based on other instant pot recipes that I have), natural pressure release for 5 min and then open vent to release remaining pressure. It was so tender!! Sauce was great, I used all of the same measurements!