Slow Cooker Pork Loin

I stole this recipe for Slow Cooker Pork Loin from RecipeTinEats.com. This tasty pork recipe uses the slow cooker to do all the work. A dry spice rub made with paprika, thyme, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper is rubbed on a pork loin. Then the pork is browned in a skillet before being placed in a slow cooker. Next, a cooking sauce made with honey, butter, minced garlic, cider vinegar, salt and pepper is simmered in a skillet before it is poured over the pork. After cooking for several hours, the sauce is mixed with cornstarch water to thicken. Using a pork loin cut is perfect for the slow cooker; the final result is a tender and moist main entrée.

Did you know? A loin cut comes from the area on both sides of the backbone extending from the shoulder to the leg. The loin is a tender cut that be butchered into chops, steaks and roasts.¹ (see more trivia in the Trivia tab)

For this recipe you will need a 3 ½ – 5 lbs pork loin, 1 ½ tbsp olive oil, 2 tsp paprika, 2 tsp thyme, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp onion powder, ½ tsp cayenne pepper, pepper, salt, ¾ cup honey, ½ cup butter, 5 cloves garlic, and ¼ cup cider vinegar.

To make the spice rub mix together the paprika, thyme, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, ½ tsp pepper and 2 tsp salt.

Then rub the pork with 1 tsp olive oil. Sprinkle spice rub over the pork. Pat to adhere all over.

Next heat 1 tbsp oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Then add pork and sear all around until deep golden brown (don’t let the spices burn).

Place pork in a sprayed slow cooker. Next, start the honey butter sauce: wipe out skillet, add butter and melt. Then add garlic and cook for 1 minute until golden. Next add the honey, cider vinegar, ½ tsp salt and ½ tsp pepper.

Whisk ingredients together, simmer rapidly for 30 seconds. Then pour over the pork in the slow cooker.

Cover slow cooker cook on LOW for 4 to 5 hours. Remove pork onto serving platter, cover loosely with foil. Then lest the pork rest 10-20 minutes.

Pour all of the juices from the slow cooker into a large saucepan. Then add 3 tsp cornstarch mixed with a splash of water. Whisk together, simmer rapidly for 30 seconds.

Next, slice the rested pork loin.

Serve with plenty of honey butter sauce.

If you liked the recipe for Slow Cooker Pork Loin you can try Slow Cooker Texas Pulled Pork or Balsamic Roasted Pork Loin and for another recipe with honey, garlic and pork you can try Honey Garlic Baked Pork Bites.

Slow Cooker Pork Loin

This tasty pork recipe uses the slow cooker to do all the work. A dry spice rub made with paprika, thyme, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper is rubbed on a pork loin. Then the pork is browned in a skillet before being placed in a slow cooker. A cooking sauce made with honey, butter, minced garlic, cider vinegar, salt and pepper is simmered in a skillet before it is poured over the pork. After cooking for several hours, the sauce is mixed with cornstarch water to thicken.

Course Entree
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 4 hours
Resting Time 15 minutes
Servings 8 people

Ingredients

  • 3 ½ – 5 lbs pork loin
  • 1 ½ tbsp olive oil

Spice Rub:

  • 2 tsp paprika
  • 2 tsp thyme
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • ½ tsp cayenne pepper
  • ½ tsp pepper
  • 2 tsp salt

Honey Butter Sauce:

  • ¾ cup honey
  • ½ cup butter
  • 5 cloves garlic minced
  • ¼ cup cider vinegar
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ½ tsp pepper

Thickener:

  • 3 tsp cornstarch mixed with a splash of water

Instructions

Spice rub

  1. Rub pork with 1 tsp oil. Mix rub together then sprinkle over the pork. Pat to adhere all over.

Brown

  1. Heat 1 tbsp oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add pork and sear all around until deep golden brown (don’t let the spices burn). Place pork in a sprayed slow cooker.

Honey butter sauce

  1. Wipe out skillet. Add butter and melt. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute until golden. Add the remaining sauce ingredients to the skillet. Whisk together, simmer rapidly for 30 seconds.

Slow Cook

  1. Pour sauce over pork. Cover slow cooker cook on LOW for 4 to 5 hours.
  2. Remove pork onto serving platter, cover loosely with foil (10-20 minutes rest).
  3. Pour all of the juices from the slow cooker into a large saucepan. Add cornstarch water, mix. Simmer on medium high for 5 minutes or until it reduces down to a syrupy consistency.
  4. Slice pork into thick slices. Serve with plenty of honey butter sauce.