Got a pork tenderloin and no time to fuss? Here's a dish you can throw in the slow cooker around lunchtime and don’t think about until everyone’s hungry again!
The pork turns out super tender, the apples keep the pork moist and juicy, and the gravy is fork-licking good. This is the kind of meal that makes it look like you worked way harder than you did.
This slow-cooker pork tenderloin is a complete meal. It already includes potatoes, carrots, and apples, so you don’t need much on the side. I like to add something light, something soft, and something sweet:
👉 If you need another easy dinner, try my Apricot Chicken or American Goulash - both are reader favorites for a reason.
The gravy alone is reason enough to make this pork tenderloin! The apples cook down into the sauce, adding a touch of sweetness to the savory gravy. Spoon it over the tender pork and potatoes—you wouldn’t want to leave the best part in the crock pot!
This is my kind of dinner: simple ingredients, very little fuss, and something good to look forward to at suppertime. Get it started in the slow cooker, then go tackle the rest of your day.
Add a green vegetable if you'd like, and you’ve got a meal I’d be happy to set on the table when the family comes over. Nothing more is needed—although a piece of bread to mop up that gravy would be a fine idea.
Pork tenderloin is a long, thin, cylindrical cut of meat that's relatively small compared to other cuts, usually weighing about 1 to 1.5 pounds. It is very tender and lean, with minimal marbling. It's easy to overcook it, but not with this recipe!
Simple seasoning and slow cooking keep the pork tender, juicy, and flavorful.
I never thought of using pork tenderloin this way until my sister-in-law Carol gave me this recipe. She is an amazing cook! Now I keep an eye out for sales and try to keep one tucked in the freezer. I recommend it!
Cut several slits across the tenderloin, but don't cut all the way through. Place apple slices in the cuts, then whip up the sauce in a small bowl. (They are the secret to keeping everything moist and juicy!)
Put potatoes and carrots around the tenderloin. I used carrots cut into about 3-inch pieces and small "B" size red potatoes. I cut some of the larger potatoes in half and nestled the vegetables around the sides of the slow cooker to brown. Yum!
Pour the sauce over the meat and vegetables, cover, and cook on high for about 4 hours. That is it! I'm a garnish lover, so I put everything in an oval serving dish and garnished it with thin orange slices because I just love garnishing things.
It would be 100% as delicious served straight from the slow cooker! I am so happy with the recipe, and my husband, who doesn't love pork as much as I do, said it was really good! He certainly cleaned his plate, and we saved the "plan-overs" for dinner the next evening!
I recently made a promise to myself. I want to use my slow cooker more often and better. This recipe was a great start because it turned out fantastic. It's easy to make, the unique flavors are incredible, it's a complete meal, and it looks great!
When our days get busy, it's nice to come home to such a wonderful meal! I will make this one again and again! Here are some of our other favorite cozy dinner recipes:
Oven-Baked Hamburger Steak: This cozy oven-baked dish is sometimes called "Poor Man's Steak," but we don't think that name fits. Serve it with noodles, rice, or potatoes, so you don't miss a drop of the wonderful gravy.
Crockpot Cranberry Meatballs: A quick, easy slow-cooker recipe for tangy meatballs. Serve them over rice or noodles, in a sandwich, or as an appetizer.
Butter Baked Cod - A simple, quick way to bake cod in butter, inspired by Iceland, where fish is the main protein served at every meal.
German Sauerkraut Casserole - Old-school comfort food that’s been a reader favorite for years.
A wonderful recipe for moist, tender pork tenderloin with potatoes and carrots made in a slow cooker. The sauce has intriguing flavors!
Can you put a raw pork tenderloin in the slow cooker?
Yes. Put a raw pork tenderloin in the slow cooker and cook it gently with the sauce and seasonings until tender.
What temperature should pork tenderloin be when it’s done?
Pork tenderloin is safe to eat at 145°F. Use a meat thermometer for the best results.
Can you make pork tenderloin ahead of time?
Yes. Cook the tenderloin, slice it, and refrigerate it for up to 3 days. Reheat gently with a little broth or sauce to keep it moist.
What goes well with pork tenderloin?
This is a pretty complete meal on its own, especially with the potatoes, carrots, and gravy. If you’re feeding a crowd or want to stretch it a little further, you can add something simple on the side.
Otherwise, a warm piece of bread to soak up the juices and a light dessert at the end is more than enough. My One Easy Homemade Yeast Dough recipe makes wonderful rolls for a meal like this, and for dessert, something easy and light like Mandarin Orange Fluff would finish it off nicely.
If you liked this recipe, you are my people! If you enjoyed a post, I'd love it if you would leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review or a comment. It really helps my little business connect with people like us, who cook the old-fashioned "farm food" way. 😉
Love, GB (Betty Streff)
Real food. Real kitchen. Real easy.
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Looks really good.i wonder how it would be if kraut was added.
Wow! John, that is an amazing idea and I bet it tastes incredible! Do let me know! Thanks for sharing!
That’s a good question. That would probably be good too! I’m out of apples, I wonder if I could use unsweetened apple sauce in the slits instead. Looks great either way!
I think that should work but you will end up with more liquid. Why not thicken the sauce with some cornstarch and make gravy? Sounds good to me!
I am tripling this recipe and want to cook it a little slower....just for timing sake. I am going to start it on high...and then switch to low the last 3 or 4 hours...I willet you know how it turns out!
Oh please, I hope you do! I am anxious to hear how it worked for you!
Was wondering how long you would cook it if you wanted to cook it on low while you were gone all day. Have you ever tried that?
Pork tenderloin is such a "skinny" and lean cut of meat I would question cooking it on low for eight hours. I'm not sure if it would dry out too much. I used to commute 60 miles to work so I hear you! Maybe this could be something you cook in the evening after work and reheat the next day, or make it on the weekend or other day off? Does anyone in the family come home earlier and could turn it down to a keep warm setting? I have a friends who raise and promotes pork- I will ask their expert advice and get back to you!
Is it moist w no liquid added? I
Ike ,ine fork tender.
Absolutely fork tender like in the picture! The apples, soy sauce, and honey give it plenty of moisture! It's been very popular!
Have you ever added onion and portabella mushrooms ? Thinking about it 🤔
OOOOh, no, but what a great idea! LMK how it turns out! 😋 Happy New Year!
If I have more meat (about 2.5 lbs), how will that change my cooking time? Thanks!
It would be unusual to have a pork tenderloin weighing that much- are you sure you have tenderloin? If so, it's likely to be two pieces. If it's pork LOIN with a pretty good fat cap - tenderloin has vritually no fat- pork LOIN will love this method in the slow cooker because this recipe is designed to add moistness- which pork needs to be tender when cooked this way. If you're using pork loin instead of pork tenderloin, the cooking time will be longer—plan for 6–7 hours on low or 3.5–5 on high. Be sure to use a meat thermometer and aim for 145°F. Pork Tenderloin is long, thin, very lean, very tender and has very little fat. It works well in a slow cooker but be careful not to overcook.
Pork Loin is thicker, more roast-like, firmer, and has a fat cap. It is fairly tender and loves a slow cook. A meat thermometer is your best friend. Pork is cooked at 145 degrees and pork tenderloin and pork loin do not benefit from longer cook times. I hope that all makes sense!
ow cook
Oh no out of soy sauce used teriyaki instead we will see lol
I think you'll be fine and may have created a new version- 😉 Soy sauce is a simple, fermented condiment made from soybeans, salt, and sometimes wheat. Teriyaki sauce, on the other hand, starts with soy sauce and adds other stuff like sugar, salt, and garlic and it's a little thicker. I would love the hear how you like it!
This recipe looks delicious! I added a few of my own seasonings I like to do like adobo on the pork, added a little red wine to the sauce, and had no ground mustard so substituted Guldens spicy Brown. I put a cup of beef stock because I like to put a ton of potatoes and carrots in with meal and plenty of gravy. Then I topped it off with some fresh Rosemary and Thyme sprigs. Let you know how it came out!
Brian- i can't wait to hear how you liked it! please do let me know!
Trying this tomorrow!! 💚
That
That tickles me so! Please let me know how it turns out for you!!
This sounds delicious. I have everything but the spoke and I just looked no apple sauce. Think I may add 1/3 cup of apple cider to get the moisture I need for the veggies. Also going to add some Unami seasoning. I just love that flavor. Will try to remember to take a pic.
AWESOME! Can't wait to see it!
The flavor was good, but it was way too dry. Four hours on high was way too much and this was 4 pounds.
So disappointed ☹️
Any time this happens, i am so sad and disappointed to hear, so very sorry. Were you away while it was cooking? I looked back on the recipe and see I said 3-4 hours in the recipe card instructions. This recipe has been very popular- so I am going to go back to work on the post and see what I can do to improve my instructions to avoid anyone else having a negative experience. Pork is a meat that does not benefit from long cooking and I will mention that pork only needs to be cooked to 145 degrees. 😥