Tender Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Pork Tenderloin
A simple and flavorful slow cooker recipe featuring pork tenderloin cooked to tender perfection with a sweet and savory honey garlic sauce. Perfect for easy weeknight dinners or casual gatherings.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 to 4 hours (slow cooker low) or 1.5 to 2 hours (slow cooker high)
- Total Time: 3 hours 10 minutes to 4 hours 10 minutes (slow cooker low) or 1 hour 40 minutes to 2 hours 12 minutes (slow cooker high)
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 1.5 to 2 pounds pork tenderloin, trimmed of excess fat
- 1/4 cup raw wildflower honey (60 ml)
- 1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce (60 ml)
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar (30 ml)
- 1/2 cup chicken broth, preferably low-sodium (120 ml)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil (15 ml)
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper (1 gram)
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional, 0.5 gram)
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch (8 grams)
- 1 tablespoon cold water (for cornstarch slurry)
Instructions
- Trim excess fat and silver skin from the pork tenderloin. Pat dry with paper towels. (5 minutes)
- Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the pork on all sides until golden, about 2 minutes per side. Remove and set aside. (10 minutes)
- In a bowl, combine honey, soy sauce, minced garlic, apple cider vinegar, chicken broth, black pepper, and red pepper flakes if using. Stir well. (3 minutes)
- Place the seared pork tenderloin in the slow cooker. Pour the honey garlic sauce evenly over the top. Cover and cook on low for 3 to 4 hours, or on high for 1.5 to 2 hours, until pork reaches 145°F (63°C).
- Check tenderness with a fork; pork should be tender but sliceable. Remove pork and tent with foil to rest. (5 minutes)
- Pour cooking liquid into a saucepan. Mix cornstarch with cold water to create a slurry, then whisk into the sauce. Heat over medium, stirring until thickened, about 2-3 minutes. (5 minutes)
- Slice the pork tenderloin and drizzle with the thickened honey garlic sauce. Serve immediately. (2 minutes)
Notes
Searing the pork before slow cooking enhances flavor through the Maillard reaction. Use low-sodium soy sauce to control saltiness. Let the pork rest in the sauce for 10 minutes before serving to create a perfect glaze. If sauce is too thin, thicken it in the slow cooker on high with cornstarch slurry for 10-15 minutes. For gluten-free, substitute soy sauce with tamari or coconut aminos. Pork loin can be used but requires adjusted cooking time and monitoring to avoid dryness.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of the cooked po
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 15
- Fat: 7
- Carbohydrates: 18
- Protein: 30
Keywords: slow cooker pork tenderloin, honey garlic pork, easy dinner, crockpot pork, tender pork recipe, weeknight meal, honey garlic sauce