The most incredible Garlic Balsamic Pork Loin Roast you will ever taste is totally easy and low maintenance in your crock pot. It’s fall-apart tender, juicy, and full of flavor!
Looking for more pork loin recipes? This Honey Garlic Glazed Pork Loin Roast – it’s always a huge hit!
Easy Crock Pot Pork Loin Recipe
I know everyone is chatting about their Instant Pots and Air Fryers, but I’m still a Slow Cooker gal at heart. On busy weeknights, I love to prep my dinner in the morning, get it into the crock pot, and then have very little to think about at dinner time.
This recipe is perfect if you want to wow on a busy day; simply get it all ready, set your crock pot, and get on with your day.
In several hours, this scrumptious garlic balsamic pork loin roast will be ready for you to serve at a dinner party or to your family. Seriously, it’s impressive and yummy enough for a dinner party, but so easy, and you can make it stress free.
What Is Pork Loin?
It’s important to know that the loin and the tenderloin are two very different cuts of meat – mainly in shape and size.
The pork loin is one of the most flavorful and versatile cuts of pork. The loin is great when seared and then slow roasted. It is generally pretty lean and could come bone-in or boneless.
You may find pork loin under other names like:
- Center cut pork roast
- Center cut rib roast
- Pork loin rib half
Why Cook Pork Loin in the Slow Cooker?
Pork loin cooked in the Crock pot is fall-off-the-bone tender! The way the Crock pot works is that the pork loin is heated through evenly and it will literally fall apart at the fork.
Ingredients for Pork Roast
This recipe is so simple it calls for just a pork loin and an abundance of flavor-packed seasoning and spices.
- pork loin
- salt
- paprika
- onion powder
- fresh ground black pepper
- chicken broth
- olive oil
- balsamic vinegar
- garlic
- Italian Seasoning
How To Cook Pork Loin in the Crock Pot
- Prep: Start out by patting your pork loin dry with paper towels. Combine salt, paprika, onion powder, and black pepper in a small bowl and whisk it to combine. Take the rub and sprinkle it all over the pork.
- Sear: Add 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet and set it over medium heat. Add the pork and sear it for a couple minutes on each side or until it is golden brown. This is an optional step – you don’t have to sear the meat, but I suggest it because when you sear meat, it caramelizes the natural sugars in the meat and browns the proteins, forming a delicious brown crust on the surface of the roast.
- Cook: Add the chicken broth to the insert of your slow cooker then place the pork loin, fat side up, in the slow cooker and set aside.
- In a blender or food processor combine the remaining olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and garlic; and process until it’s combined and thickened. Add your Italian seasoning and whirl for just a couple seconds to combine. Using a pastry brush, brush the prepared balsamic mixture all over the pork loin.
- Cover the slow cooker with the lid and cook on LOW for 4 to 5 hours, or on HIGH for 3 hours.
- Rest and Serve: Remove the pork loin from the slow cooker and transfer to a cutting board. Cover the pork loin with foil and let it rest for 10 to 15 minutes before slicing.
How Long Does Pork Loin Cook in the Crock Pot?
- Most crock pots have three settings, Low, High, and Warm. You can cook your pork loin on either LOW or HIGH, but the amount of time will differ based on which setting you choose.
- If you choose to cook on LOW, it will take about 4 to 5 hours, depending on how large the roast is. If you cook on HIGH, it will take about 3 hours.
When Is Pork Loin Roast Cooked?
- Pork is done when it reaches an internal temperature of 145F. You should use an Instant Read Thermometer to check. Simply insert it into the thickest part of your loin and wait for the read.
- Another indication that your pork loin is done when cooked in the crock pot is by the color of the juices that come out of it when you poke a hole in it with a knife or fork. If the juices run clear, the pork is done cooking.
- Pork loin is a very lean cut of meat and if cooked properly, it is juicy and tender, but when overcooked, it can become dry and tough. So, just use the thermometer and make it right, m’kay? 😊
- It’s also recommended that you let pork rest on a cutting board for 10 to 15 minutes before slicing it. If you don’t let it rest, you’re going to lose all the juicy juice! 😳
What To Serve with Pork
- This garlic balsamic pork roast is so good with any roasted green veggie. I like to serve it with oven roasted green beans, roasted Brussels sprouts, or broccoli.
- It also pairs really well with potatoes – roasted or mashed are my faves. Mashed cauliflower is another great pairing!
Storing Leftovers
- Your leftover pork loin is perfect for a repurposed second weeknight dinner! It can be stored in an airtight container and refrigerated for 3 days.
- I love to use it on sandwiches or slice it into strips and put it in tacos or fajitas!
- If you’d like to freeze your leftovers, they will stay good for up to 3 months in an airtight container. You can defrost it in the fridge and reheat slowly on the stove top.
More Pork Recipes
ENJOY!
Crock Pot Garlic Balsamic Pork Loin
Ingredients
- 3 pound pork loin
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon paprika, sweet or smoked
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon fresh ground pepper
- ⅓ cup chicken broth
- 4 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 5 cloves garlic, smashed
- ½ tablespoon Italian seasoning
Instructions
- Pat dry pork with paper towels.
- Combine salt, paprika, onion powder, and black pepper in a small bowl; whisk to combine. Take the rub and sprinkle it all over the pork.
- Add 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet and set over medium heat; add pork and sear for a couple minutes on each side, or until golden brown.
- In a blender or food processor combine remaining olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and garlic; process until combined and thickened. Add Italian seasoning and whirl for just a couple seconds to combine.
- Add chicken broth to the insert of your slow cooker. Place pork loin, fat side up, in slow cooker. Using a pastry brush, brush the prepared balsamic mixture all over the pork loin. Cover slow cooker with a lid and cook on LOW for 4 to 5 hours, or on HIGH for 3 hours.
- Check for doneness by inserting an instant-read thermometer into the thickest part of the meat; pork is done when internal temperature reaches 145˚F.
- Remove pork from slow cooker and transfer to a cutting board; cover pork with foil and let rest for 10 to 15 minutes before slicing. Slice and serve.
Notes
- Pork Loin: We use a pork loin, not a pork tenderloin, for this recipe. There is quite a difference between the two cuts, including cooking time. Pork Loin needs to cook much longer than a tenderloin.
- Seasonings: Use your favorite blend, or use what the recipe suggests.
- Cooking Time: Pork loin is a very lean cut of meat, and if cooked properly, it is juicy and tender, but when overcooked, it can be dry and tough. Please use an Instant Read Meat Thermometer to check for doneness; pork is cooked through when the internal temperature registers at 145˚F. Also, let the pork roast rest for about 10 minutes before slicing and serving.
- Storing: Place leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate them for 3 days. To freeze, store in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Nutrition
Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.
