It’s officially fall in Phoenix and we’ve been spending more time outside which means more “set it and forget it” cooking. This time of year usually means that the crock pot typically stays out on the counter and we find more ways to cook slow while we dance through lower temperatures. I love these types of slow cooker recipes!! There are so many ways to cook pork, but cooking a pork loin through a slow cooker is one of the best ways to enjoy an easy meal. For this pork recipe I will be slow cooking the pork loin with BBQ sauce to enhance the flavor. If you are looking for more inspiration for this kind of recipe, I recommend this one from the Spruce Eats.
How long should you cook pork in a slow cooker?
For this amount of pork loin, I recommend slow cooking the pork for 7-8 hours on low. If you are short on time and need to speed up cooking time, you can certainly do the 3-4 hour cooking on high. I would always recommend checking your pork loin is done with a meat thermometer. Pork is “done” when the internal temperature reaches 145 degrees fahrenheit.
Do I need to add liquid to slow cooker pork?
As a general rule, you should always add liquid to whatever you are cooking in a crockpot to prevent burning and dryness. It can be unsafe to use a crock pot or slow cooker without liquid. Be sure to consult your recipe regarding what type and how much liquid to include with your breakfast, lunch, dinner or dessert when cooking in the crock pot. Desire a bit more of a smoky flavor, from the grill flavor? You can add liquid smoke too.
Ingredients
- 2.5 pounds pork loin
- 1 Large yellow onion
- 1 cup chicken stock
- ¼ cup hot sauce
- ¼ cup red wine vinegar
- 1.5 teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 tablespoons Lulu’s butt rub
- 4 tablespoons bbq sauce (from a bottle of BBQ sauce)
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 slow cooker or crock pot
- 1 crock pot liner
Recipe
Starting off, be sure to put a liner in the crock pot. These help SO much with clean up and make sure your pork loin ingredients stay together. Slice up your onion horizontally into 1/2 inch rings so that they act as a base for your pork loin. Add the chicken stock, hot sauce and vinegar together. Stir to combine. Score the fat cap on the pork loin, and place fat side up on top of the onion ring base. Pour in the stock mixture to the bottom of the crock pot. Sprinkle the pork loin with salt and the pork rub. Drizzle the top with honey, mustard and bbq sauce until it’s fully covered. Cook on low for 7-8 hours. Once the pork has finished cooking, remove the loin and shred in a bowl or pan. If desired, shred right in the crockpot with the onions and sauce. Serve over rice, in a tortilla or beside some roasted potatoes. Don’t forget to add your pickles and buns for sandwiches if desired- Food. has a great recipe for sandwiches. Serves 4-6 people.
Do you have to brown a pork roast before putting it in the crockpot?
For this recipe, it is not necessary to seer the pork loin before putting it in the crock pot. However, if you are cooking a different part of pork or use a different recipe, you may want to first seer the pork loin and then let it cook in the crock pot.
Can a boneless pork loin shred?
It sure can! Similar to many other pork recipes, cooking pork in the crock pot to shred is SO EASY!! In fact, the pork loin is one of the healthiest parts of the pork with minimal fat and maximum flavor. Once it’s cooked, you can take your forks or a pair of meat shears and shred very quickly. Use the meat for tacos, stews or sandwiches and feel free to add you favorite sauce and toppings.
How long does it take a pork loin to shred?
It only takes a few minutes to shred a pork loin once it’s fully cooked. Do not work about shredding “perfectly” either. If shredded correctly, the pork should pull apart easily and shred up in a matter of minutes. If your meat is tough or harder to shred, check your liquid within the crock pot and make sure to maintain appropriate moisture levels when cooking.
What can I make with a whole pork loin?
Cooking a whole pork loin in the crock pot leaves YOU, the chef with many options for how to serve it. In this recipe, I wanted shredded BBQ pork loin for pork sandwiches so I paired it with some delicious pickles, mustard, deli buns and coleslaw. However, you can also use this shredded pork for soups, stews and in tortillas or crispy taco shells. I frequently serve this to my family as the “main” meat with a side of baked potatoes and salad- easy and delicious.
