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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!
Crock Pot Pork tenderloin
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
I made this for dinner last night as it was a very, hot day and I wasn’t turning the oven on. Too hot to barbecue, too! This was absolutely delicious!! 4 hours on low was perfect. Thank goodness there are leftovers!! This recipe is a keeper!
To start, I am a vegetarian and have no idea how to cook. I made this for a group of people who are major cooks-so my anxiety level was high. I used 3 lbs of pork for 6 people and adjusted the recipe for the extra meat. What I learned: I should have used 4 lbs at least because the pork shrank up quite a bit. I had exactly enough sauce. I cooked it for 4 hours on low. This got rave reviews from our good cook friends but my husband did admit that it was a bit dry. He said it was very good but dry. We were at an event so I could not check the temperature of the meat so I suspect I really overcooked it. Overall, I thought this was really easy to follow, I will try this again when I can watch the temperature.
Made this last night….absolutely delicious. 4 hours in the crock pot and it came out perfect!! Loved it! Will definitely be making this again!
Loved it !! Even put a little bit of juices on my mashed potatoes !!
My dinner ️ came out amazing !! I put some of the juices on my mashed potatoes. Definitely making it again. Thanks !!!
You’re welcome April!
Can’t believe I’m asking this but did you thaw your meat beforehand? Thanks!
Hi Jessica, it is not recommended to cook directly from frozen in the crockpot so I would recommend defrosting your pork tenderloin first.
I always have roasted my pork in the oven but never used bbq. Going to try this in the crock pot today however for the sauce I’m going to use my famous teriyaki sauce. Basically kikkoman teriyaki sauce, honey, brown sugar, rosemary, cayenne pepper and garlic cloves. Everyone has loved my sauce. When I’ve made it in the oven so we’ll see how it turn out in the crock pot. Fingers crossed I get the same caramelization.
Your sauce sounds delicious! The slow cooker doesn’t caramelize like the oven as it is more of a moist heat than dry heat.
I have a 1 lb Applewood Pork tenderloin that I’d like to cook in my crockpot. Since it’s already seasoned should I add any of these seasonings to it or just cook it as is? I’m not a patient cook so I try to find the simplest recipes I feel I can manage.
I haven’t tried the applewood pork tenderloin so I am not familiar with the seasonings but if it’s already seasoned you could skip adding more seasonings.
Can this be done in an Instant Pot?
We use this recipe for Instant Pot Pork Tenderloin.
What kind of BBQ sauce do people prefer? Open Pit or Sweet Baby Ray?
Made this yesterday but had a 4 lb doubled the ingredients and cooked for 6 hours on low everyone liked it but was kinda dry 2 lbs would not be enough no leftovers any suggestions on how to keep it from getting dry
Was asked by my son to make it again tomorrow bye tje way it must be good because he doesn’t like pork
Thank you
The recipe should be cooked for about 4 hours on low, or until the pork reaches 145F. Cooking for 6 hours would likely have overcooked the pork. I’d suggest that you check the temperature of the meat after 4 hours. Enjoy Keith!
Increase the liquid in the crock pot. It can be as simple is water… but I prefer to add flavor with my liquid. I frequently use orange juice or Coca-Cola.
Made it on January 14th 2020. Had a 4 lb tender loin so i doubled the recipe. My son doesn’t like pork but out of the three of us my wife son and myself he ate my most. Going to make it again by my son’s request day after tomorrow. Out of the 4 lbs leftovers are about 1\2 lb. Only thing im changing is the type of BBQ sauce next time
So glad your family loved this Keith!
I usally make a pot roast in my slow cooker and add water until it is covered i seen that this recipe doesn’t require any water was wondering why. Also do not have a meat thermometer so would cooking it an extra 1/2 hr be ok. It is pork
This recipe doesn’t need water as the sauce acts as the liquid and adds flavor to the meat. The cook time should be fine as listed, pork tenderloin is lean and overcooking it can cause it to be dry.
I made the pork tenderloin in the crock pot for dinner….it was delicious and so tender.
I am attempting your recipe for the crock pot tenderloin and can’t wait till it’s done to see how it will turn out.
I’m new to the crock pot and this is the second time I’ve used it. The first time I made ribs but I didn’t like the way they came out.
Do you have any good sparerib recipes that might help me next time.
Thank you
Hi Sandra! I hope this tenderloin turns out perfect for you! If you wanted to try another rib recipe we have these delicious Crockpot Ribs that might interest you!
I haven’t had the best luck with pork tenderloin recipes in the crockpot with my family. They usually complain about something or everything. They devoured this meal to the point where I don’t even have leftovers. We will definitely be making this again. Thank you!
How Spicey is this recipe? My other half likes sweet and savory. Doesn’t like spicey at all. Or is there a way to change the spicey aspect? I know I see chili powder just not sure if it is cutting back on the bbq sweetness.
Chili powder is a blend of spices used to season a pot of chili and I personally don’t find most brands to be too spicy. You can prepare your own spice blend of chili powder and make it to your liking. Let us know how it works out for you!
you say in the recipe to cook on high for 2-2 1/2 hours, then in a comment you say high for 4 hours. which is correct?
You can cook it on high for 2 1/2 hours or on LOW for 4 hours. Hope that helps!
thanks! It’s cooking right now!
Could you make this in the oven instead of a crockpot?
I haven’t tried this particular recipe in the oven, I most often roast pork tenderloin in the oven without much sauce. You can brush it with BBQ sauce before roasting if you’d like to do it in the oven. Hope that helps!
What about adding veggies and stuff directly to it? Like carrots, celery and maybe red potatoes?
I haven’t tried it but I don’t think this cooks for long enough to cook the veggies through.