Slow Cooker Pork Tenderloin

Slightly sweet and spicy, this Slow Cooker Balsamic Pork Tenderloin recipe cooks all day for a melt-in-your-mouth protein. Paired with your favorite veggies, this pork makes an easy and delicious meal. Makes 4-6 servings.

Looking for an easy side dish to pair with this pork recipe? Be sure to check out my Roasted Lemon Brussels Sprouts, Pine Nut Green Beans and this Parmesan Broccoli.

Close up of sliced pork tenderloin and brussels sprouts on a large white platter

Slow cooker meals have become a staple in our house recently.

While I’ve owned a slow cooker for years and years, it’s been getting a work out because it makes my life so much easier.

All I’ve got to do is remember to have meat thawed in the morning and to throw everything together before letting is cook low and slow all day.

Then come the evening, I put together a side dish of some sort—whether it’s steaming fresh veggies, boiling something frozen or even opening a can—and serving it on one plate for the whole fam.

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    And when you’ve got a protein like this Slow Cooker Pork Tenderloin, you don’t need much extra to have a delicious and super simple meal on your hands.

    Other easy dinner recipes that we adore these days: Classic Ground Beef Tacos | Slow Cooker Tortellini Soup | Spicy Sausage Turkey Tomato Sauce | Mustard Chicken | Slow Cooker Pot Roast

    Looking for more dinnertime inspiration? Check out my Entree Recipe Index.

    Overhead of a pork tenderloin with sauces, onions, balsamic vinegar and chicken stock

    What you’ll need to make Slow Cooker Pork Tenderloin

    The Speckled Palate participates in affiliate programs. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases. Please refer to my disclosure page for more information about these affiliate programs.

    For the record, I think a slow cooker or a crock pot works better for this recipe than the Instant Pot using the slow cooker setting, but it can be done, so don’t let that discourage you!

    In addition to these tools, you’ll need a few ingredients, too:

    • Pork tenderloin—We love a pork tenderloin for this slow cooker recipe because it’s lean and soaks up all the flavor from the cooking liquids. However, you could use a pork loin in place of it if you don’t have a pork tenderloin.
    • Chicken stock—Unsalted, if possible. You could also swap it with vegetable or pork stock, too.
    • Balsamic vinegar—There’s no replacement here, so please make sure you’ve got enough.
    • Worcestershire sauce—Worcestershire sauce is a building block that adds a ton of umami (along with the soy sauce below.) There’s no real substitute for it, either.
    • Soy sauce—If you’re gluten free, use tamari instead.
    • Honey—I like to use honey in the marinade because it really balances out the acidity of the vinegar. However, you can use the same amount of brown sugar if you don’t have honey.
    • Sriracha sauce—If you don’t have sriracha sauce, you could use your favorite hot sauce in its place. Use the same amount, as we just want a kiss of heat in this recipe.
    • Garlic cloves
    • Onion—We just need a singular small onion, and it can be white or yellow. I don’t recommend using a purple or red onion for this slow cooker pork recipe.
    Collage showing how to make Slow Cooker Balsamic Pork Tenderloin

    How to make a Slow Cooker Pork Tenderloin

    In the bowl of your slow cooker, combine the chicken stock, balsamic vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, honey and Sriracha sauce. Using a whisk or a wooden spoon, stir those ingredients together until smooth.

    Place the pork tenderloin on top of the mixture.

    Chop the onion and garlic, and throw those into the slow cooker, too.

    Cover and cook on the low setting for 7(ish) hours. (If you’re cooking on the high setting, it’ll require 3-4 hours instead. Also, if you’re using the Instant Pot, make sure that it’s at the highest setting for slow cooking, as the temperatures do not translate between a traditional slow cooker and the Instant Pot.)

    When fall-apart tender, remove the pork tenderloin from the slow cooker.

    Serve warm with the additional juices from the pan, and enjoy with your favorite sides.

    Chopped pork tenderloin on a white cutting board

    Erin’s Easy Entertaining Tips and Tricks

    Slow cooker recipes are fantastic for weeknight entertaining because they take the heavy lifting off you completely.

    Much like an easy dinner, this slow cooker pork tenderloin recipe is perfect to share with friends.

    Here are some of my suggestions for making this goodness to share:

    • Double or triple the recipe. Our family of four devoured this pork tenderloin slow cooker recipe in one sitting.
    • If you’re rushed for time in the morning, whisk together the sauce ingredients and store them in the fridge the night before. Throw those with the pork tenderloin, onion and garlic into the slow cooker in the morning.
    • Prepare a make-ahead side dish, like Mashed Potato Casserole or Spinach Madeline, so that the only thing you have to do before friends arrive is pop that into the oven to heat.
    A sauce pours into a sliced pork tenderloin on a white platter with roasted brussels sprouts

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Oh no! I forgot to defrost my meat. Can I still make this slow cooker pork with frozen meat?

    Yes, you can, but expect to cook it for 1-2 hours longer for the meat to be as tender as possible.

    Can you use a different cut of meat?

    Yes! We’ve made this recipe with a pork loin, too, instead of the tenderloin, and it works beautifully.

    You could also use a pork shoulder or butt, though that will require a longer cook time. Since those cuts of meat are also fattier, you’re going to change the composition of this recipe by using them.

    Can I cook it on high for a shorter amount of time?

    Yes. If you cook this pork tenderloin on the high in your slow cooker, expect to cook it 3-4 hours instead of the 7(ish) as stated for the low setting.

    Can I cook this in the slow cooker setting on my Instant Pot?

    Yes, you can. However, keep in mind that the Instant Pot slow cooker setting is different than that of classic slow cookers.

    Make sure that you have your Instant Pot on the highest slow cooker setting because the temperatures differ. Also make sure you’re using a slow cooker lid on the Instant Pot instead of the traditional lid, as the meat will be more tender.

    How long will this meat last in the fridge?

    Ours has kept for 4-5 days before when stored in glass food storage containers. Normally, it doesn’t last that long.

    Close up of slow cooker pork tenderloin recipe with onions and sauce

    What can I pair with this slow cooker pork tenderloin for an awesome meal?

    Here’s how I made this pork tenderloin in the crock pot and how you can make it at home, too:

    Sliced pork tenderloin and brussels sprouts on a large white platter

    Slow Cooker Balsamic Pork Tenderloin

    Erin Parker, The Speckled Palate
    Slightly sweet and spicy pork tenderloin, cooked on low in the slow cooker all day for a fall apart, melt-in-your-mouth entree.
    4.55 from 11 votes
    Servings 4
    Calories 282 kcal
    Prep Time 10 minutes
    Cook Time 7 hours
    Total Time 7 hours 10 minutes

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 ¼ lb. pork tenderloin
    • ½ cup chicken stock
    • ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
    • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
    • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
    • 2 tablespoons honey
    • ½ tablespoon Sriracha sauce
    • 2 garlic cloves minced
    • 1 small onion chopped

    As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Instructions
     

    • In the bowl of your slow cooker, combine the chicken stock, balsamic vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, honey and Sriracha sauce. Whisk together until smooth.
    • Add the pork tenderloin in the mixture, then top with the onion and garlic.
    • Cover and cook on LOW for 7 to 7.5 hours.
    • Remove the tenderloin from the slow cooker, and serve warm, topping with additional juices.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1servingCalories: 282kcalCarbohydrates: 16gProtein: 38gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 104mgSodium: 441mgSugar: 13g
    Keyword dinner, entree, pork, slow cooker
    Course Entrees
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
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    About the Author:

    Erin Parker is a Southern gal living in Texas with her husband and two daughters. She started The Speckled Palate to share what she was cooking as a newlywed… and over the years, it’s evolved to capture her love for hosting. Specifically, the EASIEST, lowest key entertaining because everyone deserves to see their people and connect over good food. Learn more about her

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    20 Comments

    1. I need to remember to use my slow cooker more often… and this looks like just the thing to do it with! Yum. We’re way into roasted brussels sprouts lately too, so this all looks extra appealing!

    2. This looks awesome! I make a similar recipe for my husband, but it doesn’t have Sriracha, which is my husband’s favorite. I’ll have to add this one into the rotation!

    3. I love to do pork tenderloins in the crockpot too! I can’t wait to try this recipe out- it looks so amazing! Your photos are gorgeous too!

    4. This looks delicious. Slow cookers are always a pretty great go-to (especially while being pregnant). I can’t wait to give this recipe a try.

    5. I’m addicted to my crockpot! I can tell by your photos that this is one tender baby. And the list of ingredients are right up my alley. This one’s a keeper!

    6. Holy hell, Erin. I bet if I made a tenderloin like this, hubby would actually learn to love that cut! (He’s not a huge fan of lean pork for some odd reason) This looks so totally mouthwatering, I’m half tempted to tell him to bring one home tonight so I can cook it for tomorrow. It’s pretty sad…I’m not pregnant at all, but I still find it hard to stand on my feet and cook after work as it is! What’s going to happen when I DO get knocked up?! Ugh. Be ready for lots of questions, my friend. 🙂

    7. omg!!! These totally looks good and the read is outstanding. My husband is a chef and I am definitely going to forward him this information. He loves pork. I don’t eat pork though.

      Janelle

    8. this looks so simple and delicious! i love pork tenderloin, and yours is so beautifully photographed, it makes me hungry! glad you’re making life easier for yourself during pregnancy.

    9. This recipe turned out great! It was super easy since I had almost all of the ingredients in my pantry already. It was a perfect Sunday dinner on a snowy day.

    10. This recipe turned out great! It was super easy since I had almost all of the ingredients in my pantry already. It was a perfect Sunday dinner on a snowy day.

    11. Can the tenderloin be marinated overnight then placed in the Crockpot tomorrow morning?
      Thanks!
      Loretta

      1. Hey Loretta. I’ve never done this, but I’m sure you could and it would be OK. If you give it a shot, let me know how it goes.

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