Crock Pot Pork Tenderloin is tender and juicy and very easy to make! This slow cooker pork tenderloin has a combination of spices added to barbecue sauce and requires very little prep.
It’s one of those easy, no muss, no fuss recipes that everyone loves and it’s great served over homemade mashed potatoes or baked rice (or even brown rice)!
Pork Tenderloin vs. Pork Loin
Pork loin and pork tenderloin are two different cuts of meat and cannot be used interchangeably so be sure you’re using pork tenderloin for this recipe.
Both cuts are lean and and I most often make roast pork tenderloin as it doesn’t take all that long. I love this recipe when I’m going to be out of the house, the perfect meal to come home to.
- Pork Tenderloin is thin and about 1 foot long. Each tenderloin will weigh about 1lb.
- Pork Loin is thicker and looks more like a roast with a fat cap on the top. It will weigh closer to 3-4 lbs. (Pork loin recipe here).
How to Make Crockpot Pork Tenderloin
When I said easy, I meant easy! There are only two steps for this recipe.
- Whisk the sauce ingredients together.
- Pour it over the tenderloin and walk away! To save a dish, you could even whisk the ingredients right in the Crock Pot, then add the pork and roll it in the sauce!
Oh, wait. Don’t forget to turn your Crock Pot on! Seriously, that’s really all there is to it.
NOTE: Pork tenderloin is a lean cut of meat and can dry out if overcooked. Check the temperature with a meat thermometer and remove from the slow cooker at 145°F. Rest 10 minutes before cutting.
How Long Does Pork Tenderloin Take in the Crock Pot?
Depending on the size, cooked on the “high” setting it should take about 2 to 2 1/2 hours, start to finish. You will want to test the internal temperature to make sure it is at least 145°F. This pork tenderloin is fall-apart tender and juicy from cooking in the juices from the sauce! Yum!
What to Serve with Crock Pot Pork Tenderloin
Pork always tastes great with sweet potatoes but on a weeknight, it’s great over a crusty bun with a quick and easy kale salad on the side.
With the spices in this recipe, my all-time favorite is to have it with a side of Mexican corn and delicious potato packets.
What To Do With Leftovers
Now here’s a problem you won’t mind having…if you even have any leftovers!
- In the Fridge: When stored in an airtight container or zippered bag, it can be kept in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- In the Freezer: Just like in the fridge, store in an airtight container or freezer bag! It can be frozen for up to three months.
- To Thaw: Defrost in the fridge, and reheat slowly on the stovetop, or in the microwave in 80-second intervals.
Recooked meat gets tough, so be careful not to cook it again during the heating process… but definitely do get it piping hot!
Ingredients
- 2 pounds pork tenderloin about two 1 pound tenderloins
- 2 cups barbecue sauce
- 1 tablespoon spicy brown mustard or Dijon mustard
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
- Add pork tenderloin to a 6-quart slow cooker.
- Combine bbq sauce, mustard, chili powder, and kosher salt (and any other spices you'd like, see notes).
- Pour bbq sauce mixture over the pork tenderloin and add the lid to the slow cooker.
- Cook on high for 2- 2 ½ hours or low for 4 hours, until the pork tenderloin reaches 145°F.
- Remove from the slow cooker and rest 10 minutes. Slice and serve with sauce.
Notes
- ½ teaspoon oregano (adds an herbal note)
- ¼ teaspoon cumin (adds a nutty flavor)
- ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika (adds a smoky flavor)
- ¼ teaspoon chipotle powder or a pinch of cayenne (adds some heat/spice)
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Main Course
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Tasty Crockpot Pork Recipes
- Dr. Pepper Crock Pot Pulled Pork – perfect to feed a crowd!
- Crock Pot Pork Chops – one of our all-time favorites
- Crock Pot Ham – great holiday recipe!
- Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas – succulent & meaty!
- Easy Crock Pot Ham and Potato Soup – a cold-weather staple
Do you brown it first before putting in the crockpot?
We don’t brown it first.
Is it okay to not put mustard? My son has a mustard allergy.
If you don’t want mustard you can leave it out or even try a couple of dashes of hot sauce. Enjoy Nazanin!
Cooked almost 5lbs of pork tenderloin in the sauce. Delicious. The sauce is necessary to moisten the meat when you pull it apart. Nice seasoning. Maybe the best pork tenderloin I have ever made though I admit I was also very hungry.
So glad you love this tenderloin David!
Good taste but OMGOSH…2 CUPS of BBQ sauce, overkill??? I followed this exactly. I had 2.25 lbs of PT…when I read 2 cups of sauce I thought woww…okay?? Not sure what to do with the wasted 1-1/4 cups of leftover sauce, there’s only so much you can add to portions?? The leftover sauce isn’t like some type of gravy you can pour over potatoes or something?? Good taste but lots of waste :(
The sauce is used in this recipe for cooking (similar to how you might use broth) as opposed to a baste as we tend to usually use BBQ sauce. There will definitely be some leftover (and even more leftover if the pork releases a lot of juice). I’m glad you enjoyed the flavor of the recipe.
If you double the recipe do you have to increase the time in the crock pot?
I haven’t tried doubling this recipe so I can’t say for sure.
I have a 4 pounds. On low or high for 4 1/2 hours?
Hi Luz, cook on high for 2- 2 ½ hours or low for 4 hours, or until the pork tenderloin reaches 145°F.
Made it today and we loved it served with a side of fried brown rice. Thank you for the recipe.
Love this quick and easy entree! The cook time on this is short enough on high that I could even cook it after work. Served with cole slaw, mac and cheese, and baked beans for a delicious country style meal but this could be paired with many different sides. Keep your great recipes coming please… they are served in my kitchen frequently and I appreciate you for it!
Question, do you recommend browning the meat first, or put in crock pot completely raw?
Thank you!
For this recipe, we add it straight to the crockpot but you can definitely brown it first if you prefer Caroline.
Thank you for your recipe for the pork tenderloin. I cut up red potatoes and small carrots and sprinkle them with olive oil and pepper and wrap them in tin foil and place inside the slow cooker. They come out nice and tasty and tender and with the sauce you have a complete meal in just over 4 hours. Thanks !!
Yum, so delicious Richard!
Would cutting the amount of pork in half effect the cook time?
If making a 1lb pork tenderloin it should still take roughly the same amount of time. You could check it around 1½ hrs to see if it is done. To do this use a meat thermometer to check that the internal temperature has reached 145°F.
Is cook time the same if frozen? If not how long on low,?
Hi Crystal, it is not recommended to cook directly from frozen in the crockpot so I would recommend defrosting your pork tenderloin first.
Excited to try this! We have a 4 lb-er so I doubled the recipe. What would you say for the timing of the cook with more meat?
Hi Jess, that will probably need close to double the time (4-5hrs). I would check it towards the end to make sure it reaches 145°F internal temperature to avoid overcooking it.
This was so good! My fiancé and I loved it! I sprinkled about a TBSP of garlic powder on the mix! Yumm :) thank you!
Will the pork loin be as good if it is frozen in the crockpot?
Hi Cindy, for this recipe we use pork tenderloin. If using pork loin, place it with the fat on top (it will help keep the rest of the meat moist) and cook on high 4-5 hours or low 8-9 hours or until tender. I would still defrost it prior to cooking though.
Hi Holly! Could I substitute something else for the spicy mustard? Sounds like a great recipe!
I’ve only tried this as written but the mustard adds a bit of zip. You could try some dijon or a bit of dry mustard if you have it. If you don’t have (or want) mustard you can leave it out or even try a couple of dashes of hot sauce.
Should the meat be cooked fat side up or fat side down? Does it matter?
Pork tenderloin should not have a fat cap on it although pork loin does. The two cuts of meat cook differently (I haven’t made this with pork loin so I can’t say for sure how it would work). If you do cook this with pork loin, I would suggest the fat on top (it will help keep the rest of the meat moist) and cook on high 4-5 hours or low 8-9 hours or until tender.
I cooked it with a pork loin because I honestly didnt even realize it said tenderloin! I cooked it on high for like 5 hours, it was delicious but I should have cooked it with the fat side on top, would have been more moist but with the barbecue sauce mixture it wasnt too dry at all!!
I made this last night. It was so good.
The only thing I had to change was cooking time. It was more like 3 1/2 hrs cooking times. It was so juicy and tasty. I’ll definitely be doing this again. I also added paprika because I love it so much
Pork tenderloin is one of our favorite meals and I will use this recipe the next time make it. Thank you for the cost effective simple approach you incorporate into your recipes. I used your chicken parmigiana recipe for a small dinner party last night and it was a great success. Thanks for sharing your talents!
Thank you Ed! So happy we can share these recipes with you! :)
Description of crock pot pork tenderloin mentions smoked paprika but it isn’t listed in ingredients. How much should I add?
Apologies for the confusion Steve, my note wasn’t showing up. I’ve updated the recipe. I add about ¼ teaspoon to add a smoky flavor.