This Slow Cooker Pork Tenderloin is covered in an easy garlic herb rub and drizzled with a honey balsamic glaze! Everything cooks together in the crock pot with minimal effort and maximum flavour. It is moist, tender and perfect over pasta, rice, or mashed potatoes!
So when I busted out my crock pot this morning to make this Slow Cooker Pork Tenderloin, I almost felt a little guilty.
It’s been a while.
Because of my recent commitment to all things Instant Pot, I’ve neglected my slow cooker and slow cooker recipes a lot lately. They haven’t made much of an appearance at all (in fact, I don’t even know when the last time I pulled out my crock pot was!).
My husband was teasing me about having to talk nicely to it before putting it to work this morning because it was a little bitter. There’s a new guy in town ?
Regardless of my new love for the Instant Pot (for certain things — I’m not baking cakes or going crazy for egg bites just yet), I still have big love for a slow cooked meal.
We use our slow cooker for dinner often on Sundays while we’re away at church, and it has been awesome coming home to a fresh meal (no quick bowls of cereal or back-of-the-fridge leftovers for us!). This slow cooker pork tenderloin would be perfect for that, as it doesn’t need to cook all day!
I wanted to keep the recipe simple, but I also like to add a ton of flavour to my pork. I’ve done this with a garlic herb rub and a honey balsamic glaze — honey balsamic anything (grilled chicken, pulled pork, beef stew….) is pretty much my favourite thing lately, and it’s perfect for those sauce-lovers in your life.
Here, we love sauce.
Alfredo sauce, barbecue sauce, ketchup (I know, I know — roll your eyes!), teriyaki sauce — just pour it all over!
If you’re not into it like we are, feel free to leave it off. You can add a 1/4 or 1/2 cup of broth in the bottom of the slow cooker for moisture, and then just remove the pork tenderloin from the crock pot and slice and serve without — it is just as good!
Tips and Tricks for Cooking this Slow Cooker Pork Tenderloin:
- One of the most important things is not to overcook your tenderloin! It is so moist and tender when cooked perfectly, and we don’t want it to turn dry and unappetizing. The best way to know is to use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature — it should be about 160 degrees F and you need to let it rest 5 minutes before slicing.
- All slow cookers are different! I use a 2.5 quart crock pot for this recipe, and it fits perfectly. Because it is small, it also heats really efficiently. You might find if you use a larger slow cooker that you need to cook it a little longer as it takes longer to heat up. If your slow cooker runs hot, you may find a little less time works great.
- If you’re not a fan of balsamic vinegar, try cooking without the sauce (add a little broth to the slow cooker for moisture) and brushing with barbecue sauce before finishing. We love it this way, too!
Slow Cooker Pork Tenderloin with Honey Balsamic Glaze
This Slow Cooker Pork Tenderloin is covered in an easy garlic herb rub and drizzled with a honey balsamic glaze! Everything cooks together in the crock pot with minimal effort and maximum flavour. It is moist, tender and perfect over pasta, rice, or mashed potatoes!
Ingredients
-
1
pork tenderloin
about 1 lb -
1
teaspoon
garlic powder -
1
teaspoon
dried parsley -
1/2
teaspoon
salt -
1/4
teaspoon
black pepper -
1/4
teaspoon
onion powder -
1/4
teaspoon
paprika -
1/3
cup
low sodium chicken broth -
2
tablespoons
honey -
1
tablespoon
balsamic vinegar -
1
tablespoon
ketchup -
2
teaspoons
corn starch
Instructions
If your pork tenderloin is longer than your slow cooker, cut it in half lengthwise.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the broth, honey, balsamic vinegar, ketchup and corn starch and pour into the slow cooker.
In a small bowl, combine garlic, parsley, salt, pepper, onion powder and paprika. Rub over all sides of the pork tenderloin and place in the slow cooker (I use a 2.5 quart oval slow cooker).
Cover and cook on high for 1.5-2 hours, or low for 4 hours, until a meat thermometer inserted in the thickest part reads 150-160 degrees F.
Move tenderloin from the slow cooker to a cutting board and let rest for 5 minutes before slicing. If desired, add additional corn starch and water to the juices to thicken further. Serve.
Nutrition Facts
Slow Cooker Pork Tenderloin with Honey Balsamic Glaze
Amount Per Serving
Calories 187
Calories from Fat 18
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 2g
3%
Cholesterol 81mg
27%
Sodium 399mg
17%
Potassium 540mg
15%
Total Carbohydrates 12g
4%
Sugars 10g
Protein 27g
54%
Vitamin A
1.6%
Calcium
0.6%
Iron
6.9%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
