Seasoning for pork roast in slow cooker

You'll hardly believe this dish came out of a slow cooker. Searing the meat and coating it with a fresh herb paste gives this roast a good head start. A little rest and some fresh parsley and egg noodles ensures a great finish. Serve with roasted or mashed potatoes if that's what your crowd likes.

This easy Slow Cooker Pork Loin roast recipe includes a flavorful garlic herb rub, and is slow cooker in apple juice for extra flavor! It is fall apart tender with minimal effort!

1. About this Slow Cooker Pork Loin Roast recipe
2. What is the difference between pork loin and pork tenderloin?
3. How to make Slow Cooker Pork Loin:
4. Slow Cooker Pork Loin FAQs
5. What to make with leftover pulled pork:
6. Slow Cooker Pork Loin Roast recipe Recipe

I know. It seems kind of boring.

But I’ve been making this Slow Cooker Pork Loin recipe at least once a month for a year or two. And it’s so good, and so tender.

Plus, I’ve finally got my dry rub down and ready to share!

About this Slow Cooker Pork Loin Roast recipe

The seasoning here is similar to my dry rub on this Slow Cooker Pork Tenderloin, but there’s so much more area to cover when you’re making a crockpot pork roast.

I love to pick up a couple boneless pork loins when they go on sale and stash them in the freezer for those weeks I need an easy, hearty meal with minimal effort. Plus, there’s so much you can do with leftover pork loin!

You can really just throw the pork loin in the crockpot with some water and salt and pepper and it will come out just fine, especially considering you only spent about 2 minutes getting it ready.

But if you want to take it up a notch? You’ve got to try this dry rub for pork roast. It would be so easy to make a big batch and store in an old spice jar to make the prep for this crockpot pork loin even simpler.

But even if you don’t, it’s still only going to take about 5-10 minutes of your time in the morning and you’ll have easy meals for the rest of the week! My average pork loin is about 5 lbs, so there’s lots to go around and it freezes perfectly, too!

Serve it with some Roasted Potatoes and Carrots, Garlic Bread and Easy Broccoli Salad for a meal the family will love!

What is the difference between pork loin and pork tenderloin?

Since my Slow Cooker Pork Tenderloin and Instant Pot Pork Tenderloin have been so popular, I’ve gotten a lot of questions or comments about cooking pork loin.

I think a lot of people make the mistake of assuming they’re interchangeable when they are definitely not, so I wanted to include my recipe for pork loin over here on The Recipe Rebel, too! (Since it’s one of our favorites anyway!)

A pork tenderloin is much smaller than pork loin, it usually weights around 1-1.5 lbs, whereas the pork loin I used for this recipe was 5 lbs. You can see why the recipes can’t be used interchangeably — pork loin requires much more seasoning and much more cook time.

You can read more about the differences between pork loin and pork tenderloin here.

How to make Slow Cooker Pork Loin:

• Low and slow. Although you can cook a pork loin on high in the slow cooker, I definitely prefer low heat for a longer period of time. It breaks down the meat until it easily falls apart!
• Season well. The pork loin is a large cut of meat, so I like to give it a solid coating of the dry rub before cooking. It can soak up a ton of flavor!
• Fresh or frozen. If you want something that cooks over a longer period of time, try putting the pork loin in frozen. If you want the rub to adhere to the meat, you will need to let it thaw at room temperature for an hour or two so the outer layer has thawed. Season and cook for 10 hours on low (up to 11 is fine — it won’t hurt it!).

  This Crock Pot Pork Roast recipe is tender and juicy and perfect for busy weeknights. Plus it’s super easy to make in your slow cooker with just a few simple ingredients and about 5 minutes of prep.

  Serve with some make ahead mashed potatoes, gravy, and green beans for the ultimate comfort food meal. It would make a lovely and simple holiday meal, too.

  Want more pork recipes? Try my Pan Seared Pork Chops and Pork Schnitzel.

  

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  Table of Contents

  1. The Easiest Crock Pot Pork Roast
  2. Ingredients
  3. How to Make a Crock Pot Pork Roast
  4. FAQs
  5. Which Cut of Pork is Best in a Slow Cooker?
  6. How to Make a Pork Gravy with a Roux
  7. Serving Suggestions
  8. Variations
  9. Storing Leftovers
  10. More Pork Recipes to Try
  11. Easy Pork Roast Recipe
  + View More

  The Easiest Crock Pot Pork Roast

  You know when you just don’t feel like cooking? Or you are going to have company for dinner, but you have no time to make anything fancy? Help is at hand in the form of this delicious slow cooker pork roast recipe. Making this roast is so easy that you could practically do it in your sleep!

  • You can enjoy this pork just like it is, or add an easy gravy (recipe included) to impart even more homey flavor.
  • There are only a handful of ingredients needed, and they are easy to find, basic pantry ingredients.
  • It’s so tender and juicy, even if you cook it from frozen!

  I buy a 2-3 pound pork loin roast at Costco because it comes in a 4-pack which means I always have some on hand. It has up to 10% of a solution of broth and salt, which adds more flavor, but also means you may want to omit additional salt until after cooking.

  Since I buy a lot of meat in bulk, I keep it in the freezer. I just get it out of my freezer when I’m ready to cook and put it into my slow cooker.

  
  

  Ingredients

  • Pork Roast – The best kind of pork roast to use is a pork loin roast. It’s large enough to feed at least 6 people, it’s still tender and juicy.
  • Poultry seasoning – I love using this seasoning for pork because it adds so much flavor! It has sage, thyme, marjoram, rosemary, and nutmeg. You could make your own or use a different seasoning if you prefer.
  • Salt and pepper
  • Gravy – If you decide to make the gravy (I highly recommend it!) you’ll need butter and flour, and 2 cups of the juices from the slow cooker or chicken broth.

  How to Make a Crock Pot Pork Roast

  1. Place the pork roast in the crock pot. You can thaw it overnight if you like. It is not necessary to thaw but you will want to add an hour to the cooking time if your pork roast is frozen or not completely thawed.
  2. Sprinkle salt and pepper on it, followed by a generous sprinkling of poultry seasoning. If the roast is fully thawed, add a little water to the bottom of the pot.
  3. Cover and cook on LOW for 8 hours or on HIGH for 5-6 hours.

  FAQs

  How long does pork take in a slow cooker?

  A 3-pound pork roast will take about 8 hours to cook in the slow cooker on LOW, or 4-5 hours on HIGH. My roast always turns out so tender and flavorful.

  Do you put water in the crock pot with a pork roast?

  When I am cooking this from its frozen state, I don’t add any liquid to the bottom of the crock pot because as the roast thaws it will release plenty of liquid. If the meat is fresh or thawed, I add ¼ to ½ cup of water or chicken broth. Likewise, if you get a pork roast that has not had broth and salt added to it, you may want to add more salt.

  Can you make this ahead of time?

  Sure – you can cook the roast a day or two in advance and store the meat in the refrigerator in an airtight container. Reheat in the microwave to serve.

  
  

  Which Cut of Pork is Best in a Slow Cooker?

  I use a pork loin roast for this easy recipe – it’s my favorite cut of pork to roast in a slow cooker. It’s a generously sized roast so it will feed at least 6 people, and it comes our juicy, flavorful and so tender after several hours.

  The long, skinny tenderloin is also a good cut, but I have found that it has more of a risk of getting dry because it is more lean. I prefer Bacon Wrapped Pork Tenderloin or Pan Roasted Pork Tenderloin.

  If it’s Pulled Pork you’re after, you’ll need a large pork shoulder, and Crockpot Ribs are always a winner.

  How to Make a Pork Gravy with a Roux

  Making gravy from a roux is simple and easy and super delicious with this Crock Pot Pork Loin.

  1. Melt 3 tablespoons of butter in a skillet, then whisk in an equal amount of flour. Let it cook until it’s golden and all of the flour is completely absorbed. You can also add garlic to the butter for even more flavor.
  2. Add 2 cups of liquid – the juices from the slow cooker and chicken broth to make 2 cups. to the roux and bring the mixture to a simmer. It will take about 5-7 minutes to thicken, then you can season with salt and pepper until the gravy tastes how you like you.
  3. For brown gravy for beef roasts, use beef broth instead of chicken in addition to any cooking juices from the meat.
  
  

  Serving Suggestions

  This pork pairs well with my fluffy mashed potatoes, Seasoned Rice, and any kind of vegetable, like Oven Roasted Broccoli, Garlic Green Beans or Honey Roasted Carrots. And if you have leftovers, you can use the meat in enchiladas, taquitos, or sandwiches–the possibilities are endless!

  Variations

  • Soup Mix – Try sprinkling an onion soup mix over the roast for a great flavor.
  • Add veggies – I didn’t use any vegetables in this recipe, but you could add some roughly chopped onions, garlic, carrots, or potatoes. Any veggies you had should be cut into very large pieces so they don’t overcook and turn to mush.
  • Spicy – For my slow cooker Top Round Roast, I added jarred pepperoncini and a little of the juice for a nice spicy roast. You could do the same for this pork roast.
  • Seasoning – If you don’t like the poultry seasoning, or just want to try something different, a cajun seasoning would be delicious, or a little paprika and garlic powder.
  • Butter the roast – For a richer finish, Add a few pats of butter on top of the roast.
  • Searing – This is optional, but if you have 10 extra minutes, sear the roast on all sides in a cast iron skillet. This will give you a nice depth of flavor and will help make it easier to slice.

  Storing Leftovers

  Refrigerate: Store in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days.

  Freeze: Store in an airtight, freezer-safe container in the freezer for up to 6 months.

  Repurposing: Shredded pork can be repurposed into pulled pork sandwiches, enchiladas, tacos or even as a delicious topping for mac and cheese!

  Instant Pot Pork Roast

  Using your Instant Pot is a great option if you forgot to set your crock pot in the morning! Make sure to add a cup of water to the bottom of the pot before placing the roast in, and high-pressure cook for about 15 minutes, with a 15-minute natural release.

  
  

  More Pork Recipes to Try

  • Shake and Bake Pork Chops
  • Pork Schnitzel
  • Homemade Pork and Beans
  • Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Chili Recipe
  • Easy Baked Pork Chops with Brown Sugar
  • Lemon Herb Pork Tenderloin
  • Easy Oven Braised French Onion Pork Chops
  
  
  

  If you’ve made this recipe, please come back and leave us a star rating or a comment below. Or, tag us on social media @yellowblissroad or #yellowblissroad for a chance to be featured.

  
  

  Easy Pork Roast

  4.67 from 24 votes

  Delicious pork roast cooked in crock pot.

  Prep Time 5 mins

  Cook Time 4 hrs

  Total Time 4 hrs 5 mins

  Print RecipePin RecipeReview Recipe

  Course Main Course

  Cuisine American

  Servings 6 servings

  Calories 250kcal

  Ingredients  1x2x3x

  • ▢2.5 pound pork loin roast
  • ▢salt
  • ▢pepper
  • ▢1-2 teaspoons poultry seasoning

  For the Gravy (optional)

  • ▢3 tablespoons butter
  • ▢3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • ▢2 cups liquid (juices from the slow cooker and/or chicken broth)

  Instructions 

  • Put the fresh or frozen pork roast in the crock pot.

  • Sprinkle with desired amount of salt and pepper. Try to get some on the sides, then liberally sprinkle with poultry seasoning.

  • If not using frozen roast, add ¼ to ½ cup of water to the bottom of the crock pot.

  • Cover and cook on high for 4-5 hours or low for 8-9 hours. If frozen, add 1 hour to cooking time.

  To Make the Gravy (optional)

  • Melt 3 tablespoons of butter in a skillet or saucepan, then whisk in 3 tablespoons of flour. Let the roux cook over medium heat until it's golden and all of the flour is completely absorbed.

  • Add 2 cups of liquid to the butter/flour roux. I use whatever juices are in the slow cooker and add chicken broth until it equals 2 cups. Bring the mixture to a simmer for about 5-7 minutes or until thickened.

  • Season the gravy with salt and pepper to your liking and serve with the pork roast.

  Notes

  Nutritional content is for informational purposes. It does not include the optional gravy because that depends on how much each person uses. 

  What Herbs & Spices go with pork?

  Some of my favorite herbs, spices, and seasonings to use as a pork chop seasoning are cumin, garlic, paprika, and chili powder. Some others that go well with pork are sage, rosemary, cayenne, thyme, and coriander. Brown sugar and clove are a great way to add in some sweetness.

  How do you make pork more flavorful?

  Salt and pepper is always a go-to option, but try one of the options below too..

  Chinese five spice. Pork and Chinese five spice were made for each other. ... .

  Cinnamon. Cinnamon – perhaps one of the most-used spices in the world – is an amazing tool to enhance other flavours. ... .

  Cumin. ... .

  Chilli. ... .

  Garlic..

  How do you flavor a pork roast?

  Mix brown sugar, pepper, salt, garlic powder, mustard powder, ground ginger, onion powder, red pepper flakes, cayenne pepper, cumin, paprika, and thyme in a bowl. Rub spice mixture over pork loin and wrap tightly in plastic wrap. Place pork on a 9x13-inch baking dish and refrigerate for 4 hours to overnight.

  Do I need to add liquid to slow cooker pork?

  Does pulled pork in the slow cooker need liquid? No. When making pulled pork in the slow cooker I add a small amount of extra liquid for flavor but it's not a necessity. Because there is a good amount of fat and water in pork shoulder roasts you don't have to add extra liquid when making pulled pork.