Slow Cooker Pork Loin – amazingly tender pork loin stuffed with pineapples and garlic, then slowly cooked on a bed of pineapples and onions topped with a balsamic brown sugar glaze. Easy enough for a midweek meal yet fancy enough for the holidays.
Happy Monday, y’all! Now we’re down to the last three days of October and the last two months of 2018.
This year has been a productive one for me and I’ve been hitting goals after goals for this blog. Wohooo! I was able to post more content on the blog, release more cooking videos and work with a wonderful kitchen partner which I’ll be revealing here soon (watch out for pics and videos 😉 ).
Now let’s talk about this incredibly scrumptious, easy yet fancy slow cooker pork loin dish. It only uses 6 easy ingredients to work wonders on this pork loin and an additional 5-ingredient pork glaze to have this restaurant-quality dish at a lesser price.
What is the difference between pork loin and pork tenderloin?
First off, let’s talk about the difference between pork loin and pork tenderloin. While these two might share few similarities, they are actually different cuts of meat. Pork tenderloin (a.k.a pork tender, pork filet) is thin and small that is a cut from the muscle that runs alongside the backbone of a pig.
It’s is a lean cut and considered one of the tenderest cut of meat. You can cook it quickly on a grill, seared, roasted or sliced in strips for your stir-fries. Check out my Pork Tenderloin Roast HERE.
A pork loin on the other hand is much thicker than pork tenderloin. It comes from the animal’s back and sometimes called as center cut pork roast, pork loin center cut, pork loin rib half, and center cut pork loin roast. You can buy it boneless (and trimmed like I did) or bone-in with the backbones removed and the ribs trimmed to make fancy pork racks.
It’s fairly lean and taste great when grilled over medium heat, slow roasted in the oven or slow cooked.
How long does it take to cook a pork loin a slow cooker?
The cooking time actually varies depending on the size of your pork loin and how well your slow cooker heats. For a medium size trimmed 3-4 pound pork loin, like the one that I got here, you can cook it in your slow cooker for 5-6 hours on LOW or 2-3 hours on HIGH.
Here’s a good reference, too, for you to check out.
Slow Cooker Pork Loin with Pineapples
Ahhh, this slow cooker pork loin here isn’t your average pork loin. Yep! I’ve stuffed it with slices of pineapples and garlic in between to enhance its flavor and to complement well with the balsamic brown sugar glaze. It has that refreshing, tangy, savory, sweet taste with a hint of heat from my homemade Creole seasoning.
Aaaand, it’s cooked on a bed of pineapple and onions. How amazing is that? Just imagine all the juices dripping below and marrying that onion and pineapple flavors.
The Pork Loin Glaze
If you think the pork loin is well-flavored enough, then wait till you glaze it with this extra delicious pork glaze flavored with sugar, balsamic vinegar and soy sauce. It has the perfect balance of savory, tart and sweetness that complements well with the pineapples. You may baste the meat every now and then, if desired. Serve your meat with spoonfuls of this glaze for added richness.
This simple slow cooker pork loin dish makes a great family weeknight meal and a fancy main course during the holidays. You can serve it with this roasted garlic mashed potatoes, steamed vegetables or some stuffings which I’ll be sharing on the blog soon. And of course, don’t forget the wine! 😉
Enjoy!
Tips and Notes:
- If you don’t have creole seasoning at home, simply season your meat with salt and pepper and a pinch of paprika and/or cayenne.
- You may double the pork glaze if you want to smother it with more sauce.
- You can also make ahead the sauce and keep it in the fridge.
- If you prefer the “fall apart tender” to absorb more the glaze and juices like a sponge, add more hours to your cooking time.
Slow Cooker Pork Loin
Ingredients
- 3-4 pound pork loin , not tenderloin
- 2 -3 teaspoons creole seasoning
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 4-5 garlic cloves , sliced
- ½ pound pineapple , sliced in 1/4 – 1/2 inch thick slices
- 1 large onion , sliced
Pork Glaze
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
Instructions
- Trim any excessive fat from pork. A little fat will help keep the roast juicy over the long period of cooking.
- Season pork with salt and pepper. Then thoroughly rub with creole seasoning.
- Slice garlic cloves- about 4-5 slices per cloves. Then cut pineapple and slice about 1/4 inch thick each.
- Using a small sharp knife, make slits deep enough for the pineapple and garlic slices to fit in.
- Place the pineapple and garlic slices in the slit as many as possible.
- Line the bottom of the slow cooker with onion and pineapple slices.
- Gently place the pork loin on top of the pineapple and onion slices.
- Cover slow cooker and cook on LOW for about 5- 6 hours or HIGH for 2-3 hours.
- Once the pork is ready , remove from the slow cooker. To serve, carve the pork into slices, serve with the pineapples and onions and a couple spoonfuls of the liquid (once you’ve rendered off the fat).
Pork Glaze
- Prepare glaze about 20 minutes before pork is ready.
- Heat a small pan or skillet over medium heat. Add water , brown sugar, cornstarch, balsamic vinegar, and soy sauce in a small pan. Heat over medium heat for about 3- 4 minutes until sauce thickens.
- As soon as pork is ready, brush with balsamic glaze. Remove and place pork on serving platter, together with onions and pineapples.
- Slice tenderloin and spoon balsamic glaze over.
Nutrition Information:
How to Cook Boneless Pork Loin in Slow Cooker
Trim any excessive fat from pork. A little fat will help keep the roast juicy over the long period of cooking. Season pork with salt and pepper. Then thoroughly rub with creole seasoning.
Slice garlic cloves- about 4-5 slices per cloves. Then cut pineapple and slice about 1/4 inch thick each.
Using a small sharp knife, make slits deep enough for the pineapple and garlic slices to fit in.
Place the pineapple and garlic slices in the slit as many as possible.
Line the bottom of the slow cooker with onion and pineapple slices.
Gently place the pork loin on top of the pineapple and onion slices. Cover slow cooker and cook on LOW for about 5- 6 hours or HIGH for 2-3 hours. Once the pork is ready , remove from the slow cooker. To serve, carve the pork into slices, serve with the pineapples and onions and a couple spoonfuls of the liquid (once you’ve rendered off the fat).
Prepare glaze about 20 minutes before pork is ready. Heat a small pan or skillet over medium heat. Add water , brown sugar, cornstarch, balsamic vinegar, and soy sauce in a small pan. Heat over medium heat for about 3- 4 minutes until sauce thickens.
As soon as pork is ready, brush with balsamic glaze. Remove and place pork on serving platter, together with onions and pineapples. Slice tenderloin and spoon balsamic glaze over.
Debbie says
I don’t own a slow cooker, can this be made in the oven? thanks
E A Henderson says
Followed this to a tee until I hit the glaze:-0.. I substituted Balsamic with Apple Cider . It was totally outstanding. Thanks so much for sharing your outstanding recipes!
Imma Adamu says
Oh you are so welcome. I love the substitution. Play with it as much as you can and let me know how it turns out. Awesome