Slow Cooker Apple Pork Loin is tender pork cooked with apples, onions, and seasonings. This is the perfect easy weeknight dinner and doesn’t require much effort at all.
This dinner is a family favorite in our household. It’s healthy and quick to get ready on those busy weeknights when we are in a rush to get everything done. We make it often during fresh apple season.
WHAT YOU’LL NEED
Pork – Tenderloin, or you could use a Boston Butt.
Apples – I used Granny Smith, but any kind will do.
Onion – Yellow or White. I used a white onion for this recipe.
Butter – Any brand. I used Land O Lakes salted.
Seasonings and Spices – Salt, Ground Black Pepper, Ground Cinnamon, Dried Thyme.
Honey – I used a local honey. Any brand will work.
STEP BY STEP DIRECTIONS
Step 1. Prepare the liner of the slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray.
Step 2. Cut slits about 1 inch deep in row along the top of the pork loin.
Step 3. Place an apple slice into each hole.
Step 4. Arrange the pork loin in the slow cooker and place remaining apples and onions around the pork loin.
Step 5. Mix together the dry seasonings and sprinkle over the pork loin.
Step 6. Top the pork loin and apples with pats of butter.
Step 7. Pour the honey over the top of the pork loin.
Step 8. Cover the slow cooker and cook on high for 4 hours or on low for 6 hours.
Step 9. Before slicing the pork loin, remove the pork from the slow cooker and tent with aluminum foil. Allow it to rest for 5 minutes.
TIPS AND FAQ
You can use any type of apples that you have on hand. Granny Smith’s a favorite in our household so I used those.
If you want to make this dish ahead, you can prep all the ingredients the night before place them in your slow cooker liner in the fridge overnight, and then in the morning just pop the liner into your slow cooker the morning on your way out the door.
You can turn this Slow Cooker Apple Pork Loin into an Instant Pot recipe in a few simple steps. Add 1 cup of apple juice or chicken broth to your Instant Pot. Place your apples in the slits of your pork tenderloin just like you would in your slow cooker. You may need to cut your pork tenderloin in half to fit into your Instant Pot. Then cook on manual pressure for 40 minutes and then allow to naturally release for 10 to 15 mins. If you want to thicken your broth to make a gravy, make a slurry with cornstarch and water and add to your Instant Pot. Turn your pot on the saute function and allow the gravy to thicken. Then serve over top of your tenderloin.
RELATED RECIPES
Slow Cooker Apple Pork Loin
Equipment
- Slow Cooker
Ingredients
- 3 lbs pork loin
- 2 granny smith apples sliced
- 1 white onion sliced
- ½ cup butter sliced into pats
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- ¼ cup honey
Instructions
- Prepare the liner of the slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray.
- Cut slits about 1 inch deep in row along the top of the pork loin.
- Place an apple slice into each hole.
- Arrange the pork loin in the slow cooker and place remaining apples and onions around the pork loin.
- Mix together the dry seasonings and sprinkle over the pork loin.
- Top the pork loin and apples with pats of butter.
- Pour the honey over the top of the pork loin.
- Cover the slow cooker and cook on high for 4 hours or on low for 6 hours.
- Before slicing the pork loin, remove the pork from the slow cooker and tent with aluminum foil. Allow it to rest for 5 minutes.