Crock Pot Pork Tenderloin with Apples and Onions
Crock Pot Pork Tenderloin with Apples and Onions – This easy slow cooker pork tenderloin recipe includes sweet apples and tangy onions for a complete, comforting meal made in just one pot.
Why We Love Slow Cooker Pork Tenderloin
Seriously, aren’t slow cooker recipes just the best?
Known as “set it and forget it” dishes, nearly all of our family’s most beloved and frequently eaten dinners are made using the handy-dandy, stress-free crockpot. Just layer your ingredients in the pot in the morning, close the lid, and set the timer. In a matter of hours, you’ve got a complete hot meal that’s ready to enjoy. Easy-peasy!
Pork is a protein that’s particularly great for making in the crock pot. Other methods, like grilling and roasting, can be time-consuming or tricky to cook pork that isn’t under or over-cooked. The slow cooking process, however, is nearly foolproof for creating the most tender meat every time, like in these Slow Cooker Smoked Pulled Pork and Best Slow Cooker Carnitas recipes.
For today’s recipe, I wanted to create a simple, satisfying slow cooker meal that uses my favorite cut of pork – the tenderloin – combined with bold southern flavors. This Crock Pot Pork Tenderloin with Apples and Onions is incredibly easy but tastes wonderfully complex and comforting. It includes a fantastic spice rub that you’ll want to use on everything, and the entire dish has a great balance of sweet and savory flavors, making it the best pork tenderloin recipe there is!
Crock Pot Pork Tenderloin with Apples and Onions
I absolutely love the southern combination of pork with green apples and onions. Who else grew up eating pork chops and applesauce as regular dinnertime staple? Our recipe is inspired by this childhood favorite, but is way more flavorful and easier to make using the crock pot.
Sautéed onions with tender granny smith apples add perfectly tangy, sweet flavor and juiciness to the pork tenderloin. Even picky eaters will enjoy this dish!
It’s great for a laid-back weeknight or weekend family meal, and is also impressive to serve at dinner parties. Pork Tenderloin with Apples and Onions is gluten-free and dairy-free, making it a healthier and allergy-friendly meal.
What Ingredients You Need
This Slow Cooker Pork Roast recipe requires just a handful of simple, wholesome ingredients. These are staples of southern cooking, but are all readily available at most groceries across the country.
Here is everything that you need:
- Pork tenderloin – one large or two small
- Seasonings – salt, cinnamon, garlic powder, ground cumin, and dried mustard
- Butter – a cornerstone of nearly any southern dish
- Onions – white or yellow
- Granny smith apples – for the best zingy flavor
- Brown sugar – to sweeten the tartness of the apples
- Parsley – for serving
How to Make Pork Tenderloin with Apples and Onions in the Slow Cooker
Preparation for this dish is super easy, and is great to do in the morning before heading out of the house or enjoying a relaxing day at home.
First, make the seasoning rub. (You can do this the night or a day or two before making the tenderloin.) In a small bowl, mix together salt, cinnamon garlic powder, cumin and dried mustard. Generously rub over the entire surface of the pork tenderloin.
Then, place a large skillet over medium-high heat and add the butter. Once hot, lay the pork tenderloin in the skillet and sear on all sides to seal in the juices. This will take about 10 minutes.
Move the pork tenderloin to a plate, and add the sliced onions to the hot pan. Sauté the onions for just a couple of minutes to soften.
Next, cover the bottom of a large 6-quart crock pot with the apple wedges, and sprinkle the brown sugar evenly over the apples. Pour in the sautéed onions and sprinkle with salt. Lay the seared pork loin over the top of the raw apples and cooked onions.
Cover the crock pot and turn on low for 6-8 hours, or high for 2-4 hours. Once the apples are tender, dinner is ready! Turn the slow cooker off and remove the pork, apples, and onions right away to keep the apples from continuing to cook and become mushy.
Cut the tenderloin into slices and place on a platter, surrounded by the apples and onions. Sprinkle with chopped parsley and serve warm.
Leftovers can be kept in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. The apples and onions may become softer once they are reheated, but will still taste delicious!
Get the Complete (Printable) Crock Pot Pork Tenderloin with Apples and Onions Recipe Below. Enjoy!
How Do You Know When Pork Tenderloin is Done?
Cooking low and slow in the crock pot per our recipe will produce a perfectly done, juicy, and tender pork tenderloin.
Properly cooked pork should have an internal temperature of 145 degrees F, with no more than a touch of pinkness.
What Other Apples Can I Use to Make Pork Tenderloin with Apples and Onions?
This slow cooker pork tenderloin recipe uses Granny Smith apples, but feel free to use other apples you have available. Sweet apples like Golden Delicious and Honeycrisp won’t be quite as wonderfully tart as Granny Smiths, but will have great sweetness and flavor.
Just be sure to select a firm apple variety, like Fuji.
Looking for More Delicious and Easy Crock Pot Recipes?
- Slow Cooker Beef Brisket with Potatoes and Onions
- Bistro Slow Cooker Chicken and Rice
- Mom’s Best Beef Pot Roast
- Slow Cooker Garlic Butter Chicken and Potatoes
- Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Beef Tenderloin Recipe
Crock Pot Pork Tenderloin with Apples and Onions
Ingredients
- 1 ½ – 2 pounds pork tenderloin (1 large or 2 small)
- 2 ½ teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon dried mustard
- ¼ cup butter
- 2 large onions quartered and sliced into ½ inch segments
- 4 large granny smith apples peeled and cut into 1/8ths
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons chopped parsely
Instructions
- In a small bowl, mix 2 teaspoons salt, cinnamon, garlic powder, cumin, and dried mustard together. Rub over the surface of the pork tenderloin.
- Place a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the butter. Once hot, lay the pork tenderloin in the skillet. Sear the pork loin on all sides to seal in the juices, about 8-10 minutes total.
- Then move the pork tenderloin and add in the onions. Sauté for 2-3 minutes to soften.
- Cover the bottom of a large 6-quart crock pot with the apple wedges, and sprinkle the brown sugar evenly over the apples. Pour in the sautéed onions and sprinkle with the remaining ½ teaspoon salt. Lay the seared pork loin over the top.
- Cover the crock pot and turn on low for 6-8 hours, or high for 2-4 hours. Once the apples are tender, dinner is ready. Cut the tenderloin into slices and place on a platter, surrounded by the apples and onions. Sprinkle with parsley and serve warm.
Pingback: 50 Crock Pot Pork Recipes that will Melt in Your Mouth
I cook mine until apples fall apart & it’s an amazing savory apple sauce. Just 2 of us so we turn leftover pork into bbq sliders & even works well as pork carnitas tacos. Thank-you for sharing!
OUTSTANDING recipe for Pork Tenderloin! I cook quite often for my own version of “meals on wheels” for neighbors or friends. This is definitely a recipe I rate as “company worthy”. It is now one of my go-to recipes and I HIGHLY recommend it (no changes needed). I am making it tomorrow for two couples who are shut-ins and need a little love. THANK YOU FOR SHARING THIS RECIPE!
Pingback: 23 Slow Cooker Apple Recipes for Fall and Beyond - Insanely Good
Seems like it’s missing a liquid. I added 1/4 cup chicken broth, just in case. It has 6 hours to go!
Hi there,
The apples and pork release their juices and create moisture. How did it turn out?
My husband, a native Vermonter, says “we don’t eat apples and pork together like this” – and then I served this recipe and he told me to make sure I save it, it was so delicious! We used freshly picked Cortlands, which kept their shape beautifully. Served to company from New York City, who also raved about the tenderness and flavor..Made in my Rival 45 year old crockpot and ready on time!
Sooo so good! Really enjoyed this!
Question- Can I get away with cooking a 4lb pork loin following these instructions?
Hi Melanie,
So glad you liked it! Yes, you can cook as many pork tenderloins in the crockpot as will fit. It might take a little longer to cook, but not much. Maybe 30-45 minutes longer.
I added in a little 6 blend chili powder to add a kick to the sweetness. Yum 😋
I forgot to get apples so I used the peaches that I had in my table fruit bowl. I put the onions on the bottom and peaches on top the th tenderloins. Oh my my it was scrumptious the peaches really broke down but what flavor.
The best slow cooker meal around! The pork and apples were so good together!
I love the flavor combo here- apples with pork is just such a tasty fall flavor! And in a slow cooker? Now that’s just even better. Thanks for the great weeknight meal!
Amazing flavors going on in this! It’s perfect for the fall dinner rotation!
I love this! Such a delicious meal!
This sounds delicious. However, being that it will be only 2 lbs of meat, I am cooking for 4 hours on low until the meat reaches 145 degrees at least. I will let you know how it turns out.
Such a simple and delicious recipe!