Crock Pot Pork Tenderloin: Sometimes you want to hit the easy button and just set it and forget it. This amazing pork tenderloin slow cooker recipe is sure to be enjoyed by the entire table! Cook the pork and make the optional sauce, or this easy pork gravy, for a perfect dinner.
I’m a big fan of using basic cuts of meat and dressing them up with sauce. I also made creamy pork chops in the crock pot, that creates a gravy that delicious served over mashed potatoes too.
If you aren’t a fan of the crock pot, you can also roast pork tenderloin in the oven. Pulled pork in the slow cooker is a great crowd-pleasing idea as you can make sandwiches or serve over baked potatoes. If a one-pot beef dish is more your style, you can’t go wrong with Dutch Oven Pot Roast!
Jump to:
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Basic recipe: This “cooking liquid” is just enough to add some flavor so the pork isn’t bland, but not so much you can’t add any sauce you like!
- Quick cooking: Yes, we are using a slow cooker, but this one is done in just 2-3 hours, making it a great option for dinner.
- Company ready: Since you are making slices to serve, this can be stretched with several side dishes to serve a crowd.
Ingredients Needed
I’ve highlighted a couple of ingredients below with some relevant notes. Aside from this, the ingredients needed are pretty basic.
- Pork tenderloin – Aim for about 2-3 pounds here, depending on how many you are serving and if you want leftovers.
- Soy sauce – Low sodium is my choice to ensure great flavor without extra salt.
- Balsamic vinegar – This is a great tangy taste that pairs well with pork.
- Honey – The sweetness will balance the salt and tang of the other ingredients!
- Water – You need just enough water to ensure there isn’t burning or sticking before the pork releases its own liquid during cooking.
Sauce Ingredients, if Desired
- Oil – Olive, vegetable, or canola will all work here as nice neutral options.
- Balsamic vinegar – This adds a quick tang!
- Honey – The texture works well here to help create a thick sauce that will coat your pork.
- Soy sauce – I almost always use reduced-sodium to get the great flavor without excessive saltiness.
- Cornstarch – A perfect thickening agent without changing the flavor.
Equipment
I like a 6 or 7 quart slow cooker, to make sure I can fit large cuts of meat like pork tenderloin. It’s ok to have it curved inside the liner. You can also use crock pot liners if you prefer, for easy cleanup.
Variations
This is a sentence or two about some variations that can take place if applicable. If nothing to put here, it can be removed.
- Meat – if you aren’t a fan of pork, these flavors also pair wonderfully with chicken! Just use breasts or thighs and use a thermometer. Chicken should be 165°F in the thickest part for safest cooking and serving.
How to Make Simple Pork Tenderloin in the Slow Cooker
This simple “marinade” with the pork gives you a basic tenderloin that can be served with any sort of sauce. I’ve included a honey soy sauce to get you started, but you can leave it off or make something else!
*Be sure to see the recipe card below for the full ingredients list & instructions!*
STEP 1. Combine. In a small bowl, mix together the liquid ingredients for the meat (Image 1). Set the pork, fatty side up, in a greased crock pot (Image 2).
STEP 2. Cook. Pour the liquid ingredients over top (Image 3). Add the lid and cook for 2-3 hours (Image 4).
Sauce Recipe, if Desired
STEP 3. Combine. Add sauce ingredients to a bowl and whisk (Image 5). Heat garlic in olive oil in a saucepan (Image 6).
Tip: The sauce has sugar, which means there is a risk of both boiling over and burning. Do not walk away while making this sauce as it comes together quickly! Stir constantly while boiling and keep an eye on the heat.
STEP 4. Thicken. Add liquid to the oil and boil for 2 minutes (Image 7). Once thickened and smooth, remove from the heat (Image 8).
Recipe Pro Tips
- Don’t overcook. Because pork is quite lean, it can easily dry out.
- Watch for burning. Garlic cooks quickly, so don’t let it burn, and the sauce contains sugar, which can also burn!
Recipe FAQs
The meat will keep for 3-4 days in the fridge. The sauce will thicken up when cold, but should thin out some when reheated. You can always add more water if it is still too thick.
Nope – up to ¼ of the tenderloin can be sitting in liquid, but you don’t want much more than that. The pork releases liquid as it cooks, so you need room for that.
Always, always use an instant-read thermometer when cooking any type of meat. This is the safest and surest way to know your meat has cooked to a safe temperature. Did you know that some cuts of pork may still look pink inside when safely cooked? That’s why you want to make sure your thermometer says at least 145°F when inserted into the center of your tenderloin. Never go by color or feel.
What to Serve with Pork Tenderloin
This pork tenderloin recipe goes well with anything you’d like! I go simple with a quick veggie and rice. The soy sauce has an Asian flair, so I love using rice to get all the extra sauce off the plate.
If you love easy dishes, try adding green beans and potatoes to the Instant Pot! Let your appliances do the work. Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes are also a great crowd-pleaser.
More Pork Recipes You’ll Love
Did you make this? I’d be so grateful if you left a “star” rating below to let me know what you thought! Then, the next time you need a quick and easy recipe, come back to Fantabulosity to browse all of my easy recipes!
Recipe
Crock Pot Pork Tenderloin
Ingredients
- 2-3 pounds boneless pork tenderloin
- ⅓ cup honey
- ¼ cup water
- 3 tablespoons reduced sodium soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
- Green onion for garnish chopped, optional
Sauce:
- ½ cup reduced sodium soy sauce
- ⅓ cup honey
- ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 3 garlic cloves minced
Instructions
- Spray a 6-quart slow cooker liner with cooking spray.
- Combine the honey, water, soy sauce, and balsamic vinegar in a small bowl.
- Set pork tenderloin in the slow cooker, with the fatty side facing up.
- Pour honey mixture over the meat and sprinkle with the garlic powder and pepper.
- Cook on high for 2-3 hours or low for 4-6 hours. Use an instant-read thermometer to confirm the pork is at least 145°F before serving.
Make sauce:
- In a small bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, honey, balsamic vinegar, and cornstarch. Ensure there are no lumps.
- In a small saucepan, heat olive oil. Add garlic and sauté for 30 seconds, stirring constantly.
- Add the soy sauce mixture and stir until it boils. Continue at a rolling boil for 2 minutes, stirring constantly, until slightly thickened.
- Slice pork tenderloin and place on a serving platter. Drizzle with sauce or serve on the side. Add chopped green onions as garnish if desired.
Notes
- Because there is a lot of soy sauce in this recipe, reduced sodium is a must so that the dish isn’t too salty overall.
- You can use a slow cooker liner if you prefer, but still spray it with oil.
- Since the sauce contains sugar, there is a risk of boiling over. Keep an eye on it and stir constantly so it doesn’t burn or boil over.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary with brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes and more.
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