Slow Cooker Pork Roast with Apples

Slow Cooker Pork Roast with Apples and Onions is an easy slow cooker recipe made with tender pork loin roast, apple slices and sweet onions. This delicious crock pot recipe is perfect for busy weeknights or Sunday dinners!

One of my favorite meals to cook in the Crock-Pot is pork roast, and we have it often during the fall and winter months. It makes a wonderful Christmas dinner or New Year’s Day dinner — gotta do everything we can for good luck! I try to make it a little different each time, but lately, we’re loving this Crock-Pot Pork Roast with Apples and Onions.

I used to always make pork roast in the oven. This was the way my mom made it and my grandma made it. The only problem is that you have to watch and baste the meat so that it doesn’t get too dry. 

But when you make a pork roast in the slow cooker, this isn’t a problem. You just put the roast in, and a few hours later, the crock pot pork roast is cooked to perfection!

And, I’ve found that adding apples and plenty of onions keeps the meat extra juicy. It’s almost like making applesauce along with the pork. Since we usually serve applesauce with pork anyway, this saves a step, and it’s tastier too. 

It’s also a great way to use up any extra apples you may have. I found an uneaten apple in my teen’s lunchbox the other day, and I just tossed it into the Crock-Pot along with the pork — after I washed and peeled it, of course!

Ingredients

You only need a few simple ingredients to make this easy slow cooker meal. You can find them in your grocery store or online:

• Boneless pork loin roast — not a pork tenderloin
• Granny Smith apples 
• Small onions–white or yellow onion work best
• Garlic cloves
• Dijon mustard
• Ground cinnamon (optional)
• Sea salt
• Ground pepper
• Olive oil

 

How to Make Slow Cooker Pork Roast with Apples

First, spray the slow cooker with non stick spray. This really helps with clean-up! Next, add the olive oil.

Then, peel and cut up the apples and onions. Place the apples and onions on the bottom of the crock pot.

Next, place the pork roast over the apples and onions. I like to place whole garlic cloves. If you are using a tied pork roast, you can slip garlic between the two sides.

Or, you can cut small slits in the roast, and place garlic in the slits. You can also just place the garlic on top of the roast.

Next, spread a thin layer of Dijon mustard over the roast. Then sprinkle the garlic powder, sea salt and pepper on top and on the sides of the roast.

I don’t add any more liquid because you’ll get plenty of liquid from the roast, apples and onions.

You can add a splash of apple juice or apple cider if you want. Then, place the cover on your slow cooker.

Cook Time

Cook the pork roast for about 6 to 8 hours on low. Or, cook the pork roast for 4 to 5 hours on high.

Every slow cooker is different, though You may need to cook the roast longer, especially if you have a newer model. The older models seem to cook faster!

The pork roast is done when it reaches an internal temperature of 145 degrees. Use an instant read thermometer for best results.

When your pork roast is done, you will need to cut the ties if you are using a tied roast.

I like to cut the roast into slices and place them back into the slow cooker to soak up those delicious juices.

If you don’t want to wait, just slice the roast, and serve!

Variations

There are a couple ways to customize this apple pork tenderloin roast to your liking!

If you want a slightly sweeter meal, add some brown sugar to the roast. Or, drizzle in some honey for a delicious slow cooker honey apple pork loin.

There are different types of apples you can use for the apple wedges, though, I would recommend sticking to green apples.

Granny Smith apples are a popular go-to, but any less sweet apple will do. The combination of pork and sour apples is such a great flavor!

What to Serve

Wondering what to serve with pork roast?

We love to eat pork roast with potatoes– typically, we eat either mashed potatoes or roast potatoes, but sweet potatoes are fantastic as well. Rice also tastes great with pork.

For vegetables, we usually serve asparagus drizzled in lemon juice, steamed broccoli, or frozen mixed veggies.

Apple sauce is the perfect fruit side for pork dishes. Don’t worry, you won’t be overwhelmed by the apple flavor, because the slices cooked with the pork are not sweet apples!

Check out more great side dishes to serve with your pork roast:

How to Store and Reheat

Store any leftover pork roast in an airtight container in the refrigerator, where it’ll last for 4 to 5 days.

For longer storage, freeze the pork in a freezer safe container.

Reheat individual portions of pork in the microwave. For larger portions, you can reheat in the oven.

If you have leftover pork roast, make leftover pork carnitas or pork roast soup or pork chili verde in the Instant Pot!

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The last time I made this Crock-Pot pork roast, I left to pick the kids up from school, and, and when we came home, the house, and even the garage, smelled wonderful!

Recipe first published in 2015 and updated in 2022.

This slow cooker pork tenderloin roast with apples recipe is a family favorite, and a great way to use up lots of apples during apple season!

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