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I found several recipes that showed how to cook pork loin in the oven while basting it over and over so that it doesn’t dry out. No thank you! I’m only willing to go to that much trouble when I’m basting a Thanksgiving turkey. How about a tender and easy boneless pork loin recipe that’s hands-free after a quick prep that also doesn’t heat up the house (an easy slow cooker recipe)?! THE best of the easy pork tenderloin recipes – along with other low carb pork chop recipes that don’t require babysitting. Yes, please!
HOW TO COOK PORK LOIN
If you were savvy and followed my “how to save money on groceries at Kroger” series, you know that boneless pork loin is put on sale often at the price point that I love to buy meat – $1.99 per pound and under. When pork is super cheap, I buy extra. A full pork loin cooked whole is a wonderful, easy Sunday meal that will feed a crowd also.
Not sure how to cook pork loin so that it comes out moist and yummy? Don’t feel bad, I didn’t either without a great deal of experimenting. I also did know much about the different cuts of pork, so here’s a guide to pork cuts. Here are the easy steps I discovered below on how to cook pork loin followed by a video for visual awesomeness:
1. CUT LOIN TO CORRECT SIZE FOR YOUR FAMILY
The pork loins I’ve been buying on sale at Kroger are the perfect size to cut in half and get two different meals out of them for our little family. I typically use half of the loin for an immediate slow cooker recipe shown in the video below. The second half goes in the freezer as is or is cut into pork chops and then thrown in the freezer for later. BUT, on Sundays when more people are joining us for a family lunch, I cook the whole pork loin!
2. QUICK BROWN IN A SKILLET (optional)
This step is optional because you could season and throw straight into the slow cooker but I love to bring out the flavor by quickly giving the roast a quick-brown, as I like to call it, by placing in a hot skillet with a touch of oil and seasonings and browning on both sides for about three minutes apiece.
3. PUT ROAST IN & FORGET IT
After browning on both sides, simply place in the roast in the slow cooker with 1/4 cup broth or water. Depending on how much time you have, ideally, I will put on low and leave all day or cook on high for one hour and then turn it down to low for the last two or three hours.
Optional: place raw veggies in the bottom of the slow cooker with the roast on top and cook for several hours. I take an extra step of cooking veggies in the skillet for about five minutes and then add to the top of the roast. Either way is fine!
PORK LOIN FAQS
This is a great question and one that many people don’t know! These two cuts of meat are taken from different parts of the animal. A pork loin is quite a bit larger and wide (a big chunk of meat more like a roast) and you can cut steak-like or boneless “pork chop” slices from it. A tenderloin is much smaller and looks long and thin.
The important thing is to check that the internal temperature reaches 145 degrees Fahrenheit. Typically, it takes about 20-30 minutes per pound in a 350-degree oven. This recipe will help you make sure the meat is completely cooked while being juicy instead of dry on the inside!
As I mentioned before, I love it because it’s cheap, fairly lean, yummy, and will feed a crowd if needed!
Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder on this one as everyone judges “healthy” differently. But what I do know is that pork loin has a great dose of protein and many vitamins. It’s also one of the lean meats.
Since this recipe turned out so moist and tasty, I will make it as a Sunday meal at least once a month! You just can’t beat it. If you want more facts and safety tips when cooking with pork and pork loin, check out Fresh Pork from Farm to Table.
HOW TO MAKE TACO SOUP – one of the easiest recipes that I make all year long!
HOW TO MAKE LOW CARB CROCKPOT ITALIAN MEATBALLS – low carb and easy to make in minutes.
HOW TO MAKE TENDER SLOW COOKER BARBECUE PORK CHOPS – can you say stick-to-your-ribs good?!
PORK LOIN INGREDIENTS
- Pork loin
- Pan oil
- 1 Tablespoon butter
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 1/4 cup broth
PORK LOIN INSTRUCTIONS
There’s a printable recipe card below, but here’s the basic idea –>
There is an option of quickly browning the outside of the loin in a skillet for a couple minutes on each side. This is completely optional but really it brings out a little more flavor from the meat. If I have time to do this step I do. If I’m running late, I omit the browning.
You’ll add broth to the slow cooker, season the loin, and then throw it in the cooker to forget it. Adding vegetables are optional and there are two ways to do it as mentioned above.
Easy Peasy!
Here’s your printable recipe card for how to cook pork loin:
- 1) Pork loin
- 1/8 cup Pan oil
- 1 Tablespoon butter
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 1/4 cup broth
- (optional step) Heat up skillet with oil and butter to medium-high and brown loin on each side for 2-3 minutes each
- Add broth to slow cooker
- Add seasoned pork loin to slow cooker and cook on low for 4-6 hours or on high for 3-4.
- (optional) add veggies on top of pork loin and forget it!
I hope you found this post all about how to cook pork loin and the different cuts of pork helpful. Let me know what you think and be sure to share this with your online friends!
Are you finally confident now that you know how to cook pork loin? Let me hear from you in the comments!
Published on HuffPost, Okefenokee Living Magazine, and more, Shan is a Family Travel Journalist with a passion for helping women lose the overwhelm of planning family-friendly trips in the south. She shares travel reviews & insider secrets that Women REALLY want to know about Georgia, Florida, & the Carolinas vacations.
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Now this is the kind of recipe I am not afraid to try. Easy and delicious. Thanks for posting!
I love great tasting food that is easy to prepare. Thanks for sharing.
This looks sooooo good! I will definitely try to make this! 🙂