You will love this Slow Cooker Pork Tenderloin
It’s a cozy winter over here with just me and my crockpot. I’m happy to be filling up the crockpot recipes for two section here on Dessert for Two, and I’m even happier that I did it all before baby was born. It’s been so lovely to pull a meal out of the freezer, read the tag for defrosting instructions and have a plan for dinner. Because if there’s anything about babies, it’s that the day goes by so quickly. I feel like I barely finish drinking my morning tea and before I know it, it’s time to pick up my older kid from school and start planning for dinner. My ‘meal in a bag’ freezer recipes to the rescue! This slow cooker pork tenderloin boasts a hefty glug of Balsamic vinegar, olive oil, crushed garlic cloves and fresh rosemary sprigs.
Why this Pork Tenderloin Crock Pot recipe works for two
The lovely thing about pork tenderloins is that they’re perfectly portioned for two people. Each pork tenderloin weighs about one pound. They usually come two in a pack, and I make a plan for the second pork tenderloin immediately. I make my slow cooker pulled pork tenderloin usually, because it’s another dump in a bag and go recipe, just like this one! Into a freezer-safe bag, add the pork tenderloin and all of the other ingredients. Zip the bag closed, squish everything around, and then place it in the freezer. Yes, it’s really that easy to make crockpot recipes for two! I use the smallest crockpot that is commonly found. It’s a 6-quart slow cooker model, and while I know smaller slow cookers exist, they’re hard to find and vary widely in size. Plus, it’s nice to know that you can make recipes for two in your regular crockpot. Recipes for two are going to cook faster in a standard size crockpot, so I’ve adjusted my recipes accordingly for this. If you’re adapting one of your own, be mindful of this. Technically, slow cookers work best when they’re two-thirds full, but that’s too much food for two people.
What you need for Crockpot Pork Tenderloin
Pork Tenderloin. Pork loin and pork tenderloin are not the same thing. Pork loin is usually wider, shorter and has less fat. Ensure the package says ‘tenderloin.’ They usually come 2 per pack, each weighing about 1-2 pounds. This recipe is for using one, but if you want to use both, you don’t need to double any other ingredients. Olive Oil. One-third cup of olive oil for the marinade, which will also become the cooking liquid. It’s not necessary to use extra virgin, since it will be cooked for such a long time. Save your extra virgin oil for salad dressings or other raw uses. Balsamic Vinegar. An equal amount of balsamic vinegar (⅓ cup). If you have a flavored balsamic that isn’t too sweet, it’s great here! I’ve used a fig balsamic many times. Garlic Cloves. Three whole cloves of garlic, smashed before adding to the marinade. Rosemary. Two long sprigs of fresh rosemary, about 4-5 inches in length. Salt and Pepper. Equal parts salt and freshly ground black pepper, ½ teaspoon each.
How to make Pork Tenderloin in Crock Pot
Freezer to crockpot meals
The beauty of ‘meat in a bag’ freezer to crockpot meals is that the real marinating happens as it defrosts in the fridge. So, please be sure to follow the defrosting instructions before attempting to cook. You can make this crockpot pork tenderloin a meal by adding roasted vegetables or mashed potatoes as a side dish. Most often, I choose Yukon gold potatoes for roasting, but if I have carrots or beets in the fridge that need to be used up, I’ll add those to the roasting tray, too. If I’m really struggling with a fussy baby, it’s microwave frozen vegetables, like peas or cauliflower, to the rescue as our side dish. Some days are easier than others with multiple babies in the house, you know this! One final note: a pork tenderloin is not the same thing as a pork loin. A pork tenderloin is a much smaller, long and skinny cut of meat; a pork loin is a large, short and thick cut of meat that is meant to be cut into steak-like slices. Another fun thing to do with pork tenderloin is make my perfectly golden brown pork schnitzel recipe. Be sure to check out all of my freezer meals for two and my crockpot recipes for two.
How to serve Crock Pot Pork Tenderloin
My favorite way to serve this is with roasted potatoes. An hour before the pork is done, preheat the oven to 400. Wash and chop 1.5 pounds of baby Yukon gold potatoes into 1" pieces, and place them on a large baking sheet. Toss the potatoes with 2 tablespoons olive oil, ½ teaspoon salt, and ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper. If you have an extra sprig of rosemary, remove the leaves and mix them with the potatoes. Roast the potatoes for 20 minutes, shake the pan to flip them, and then roast for another 15-20 minutes until golden brown.
*Most pork tenderloins that come in a bag are trimmed, but if you see any grey or silver skin on the surface, pick it up and run your knife underneath it to remove it.
Crock-Pot 6-Quart Slow Cooker with Digital Timer
