Crock Pot Pork Loin with Apple Butter

instead.

It worked! I love when that happens. 🙂

We really enjoyed this pork loin with apple butter. It’s definitely a recipe I’d make again.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Easy to prepare. Just layer the ingredients in the slow cooker and let it do the work.
• Sweet and savory. Apple butter, apples, Dijon mustard and cider vinegar create a delicious sauce.
• Made with lean pork loin. A satisfying main dish without needing a fatty cut of meat.
• Perfect for fall. Apples and pork are a classic combination, especially during cooler weather.
• Great for leftovers. Extra pork is delicious in sandwiches or served with rice and vegetables.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Here’s what goes into this easy slow cooker pork loin:

• Pork loin roast: A boneless pork loin roast works well. Be sure you’re using pork loin, not pork tenderloin, which is a smaller cut that cooks much faster.
• Apples: Choose apples that hold their shape reasonably well during cooking, such as Granny Smith, Honeycrisp or Braeburn.
• Onion: Adds savory flavor and balances the sweetness of the apples.
• Apple butter: The star ingredient that gives the sauce its rich apple flavor and warm spices.
• Dijon mustard: Adds a little tang and sharpness.
• Apple cider vinegar: Brightens the sauce and balances the sweetness.
• Dried cranberries: Optional, but they add little bursts of tart sweetness.
• Salt and pepper: Simple seasonings that bring everything together.

What Is Apple Butter?

If you’ve never cooked with apple butter, it’s worth getting acquainted with.

Apple butter is similar to applesauce, but it’s cooked longer until it becomes thick, concentrated and deeply flavored.

It’s usually sweetened and seasoned with warm spices such as cinnamon and cloves.

Despite the name, there’s no actual butter in apple butter.

You can usually find it near the jams and jellies at the grocery store.

It’s delicious on toast, stirred into yogurt or oatmeal, and used in sauces for pork and chicken.

How to Make Crock Pot Pork Loin with Apple Butter

This recipe is especially easy because there’s no need to brown the pork before adding it to the slow cooker.

Step 1: Prepare the Slow Cooker

Lightly coat a 4-quart slow cooker (affiliate link) with nonstick cooking spray.

Place the peeled, chopped apples and onion in the bottom.

Step 2: Add the Pork

Set the pork loin roast on top of the apples and onions.

Step 3: Make the Apple Butter Sauce

In a small bowl (affiliate link), stir together the apple butter, Dijon mustard, cider vinegar, dried cranberries (if using), salt and pepper.

Mix until well combined.

Spread the sauce over the pork roast.

Step 4: Slow Cook

Cover and cook on LOW until the pork loin reaches an internal temperature of 145°F in the thickest part. Begin checking after about 3 to 4 hours, as cooking times vary depending on the size of the roast and your slow cooker. Avoid overcooking, since lean pork loin can become dry.

Remove the pork from the slow cooker, cover loosely with foil, and let rest for 10 minutes before slicing. Serve topped with the warm apple and onion mixture.

Step 5: Rest and Slice

Remove the pork from the slow cooker and loosely cover it with foil.

Let it rest for about 10 minutes before slicing.

Slice across the grain and serve topped with the warm apple and onion mixture.

Tips for Tender Slow Cooker Pork Loin

• Use pork loin, not pork tenderloin. These are different cuts and require different cooking times. Pork tenderloin is much smaller and can dry out quickly in a slow cooker.
• Don’t overcook it. Pork loin is lean, so it can become dry if cooked too long. Start checking the internal temperature before the end of the original cooking time.
• Choose apples you enjoy. Tart apples create a nice contrast with the sweet apple butter. Sweeter apples work, too, but the finished sauce will be sweeter.
• Adjust the sweetness. Apple butter varies by brand. If yours is especially sweet, you may want to add a little extra Dijon mustard or cider vinegar.
• Let the pork rest before slicing. A short rest helps the meat retain its juices.

Easy Variations and Substitutions

This is a flexible recipe that’s easy to adapt.

• Use pork chops. Thick boneless pork chops would also work, although they’ll cook faster than a whole roast.
• Skip the cranberries. They’re optional, so leave them out if you prefer a simpler sauce.
• Try a different mustard. Whole-grain mustard would add a nice texture and slightly different flavor.
• Use pears instead of apples. Firm pears would make an interesting variation, especially with the apple butter sauce.
• Make it a little less sweet. Choose unsweetened apple butter if you can find it, or use a little less and adjust the sauce to taste.

What to Serve with Apple Butter Pork Loin

I served this pork with green beans, and it made a lovely, simple dinner.

The sweet and tangy sauce is also delicious with:

• Mashed potatoes or mashed sweet potatoes
• Roasted Brussels sprouts
• Steamed broccoli or green beans
• Brown rice or wild rice
• Roasted carrots
• A simple green salad

For a cozy fall dinner, I’d especially recommend roasted vegetables and mashed potatoes.

How Many Calories and WW Points?

According to my calculations, each serving has about 293 calories and 4 WW Points.

To see your WW Points for this recipe, track it in the WW App!
(You must be logged into WW on a smartphone or tablet.)
7 PointsPlus (Old plan)

If you’ve made this Slow Cooked Pork Loin with Apple Butter, please give the recipe a star rating below and leave a comment letting me know how you liked it. And stay in touch on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for the latest updates.

Source: The Looneyspoons Collection: Good Food, Good Health, Good Fun! (affiliate link) by Janet Podleski and Greta Podleski

More Easy Pork Recipes You’ll Love

If you enjoy this sweet and savory slow cooker pork loin, here are a few more recipes to try:

• Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Loin with Applesauce – Another easy way to combine pork and apples.
• Easy Crock Pot Teriyaki Pork Roast – A flavorful pork roast with a sweet and savory sauce.
• 11 Favorite Pork Marinade Recipes – Simple ways to add flavor to pork chops and tenderloin.
• Thai Peanut Noodles with Pork – An easy noodle dinner with delicious peanut flavor.
• Miso Glazed Pork Tenderloin – A quick, flavorful pork tenderloin recipe.
• Mark Bittman’s Roast Pork with Applesauce – Another delicious combination of pork and apples.

I love recipes that take a familiar combination like pork and apples and make it just a little different.

And I especially love when an experiment with the slow cooker turns out this well!

If you try this Crock Pot Pork Loin with Apple Butter, I’d love to hear how you liked it. Did you use the dried cranberries or leave them out?