Slow-Cooked Pork Roast Recipe (2024)

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I got myself into a tight situation recently. I decided to host dinner with some friends without looking at my schedule. J

ust the night before, I luckily realized that I would have maybe 30 minutes from the time I got home to the time my guests were scheduled to arrive. This left me with little time to throw some elegant feast together.

Slow-Cooked Pork Roast Recipe (1)

Sounds familiar? So, I pulled out something that I don't use often enough, my slow cooker! I had a great piece of pork fresh from the butcher and all kinds of ingredients in the pantry and fridge that I knew would blend together to make something great.

The next morning it was perfect; I just threw it all in, left it for the day, and came home to a house smelling wonderful from floor to ceiling. You must try it for yourself!

Of course, pork roasts are usually roasted in the oven without the use of a cooking liquid, and they are delicious that way, but slow-cooking them is also a great option, and the end result is a piece of meat that's so tender that it almost melts in your mouth.

Here the use of apple cider vinegar and tomatoes brings a great acidity that adds an amazing taste to the whole dish.

The kind of roast I used for this recipe is a boneless pork loin roast, but feel free to use another kind of pork roast or a bone-in roast. Don't worry if, at the end of the cooking process, your roast is still a little pink in the center.

Pork can be enjoyed this way, and good chefs often prepare it this way as well. You'll see in the recipe that the roast is seared on all sides in a pan before placing the cooking liquid in the slow cooker. This is a technique often used when slow-cooking pieces of meat to help seal the juices inside the meat.

Slow-cooked pork roast recipe

Serves: 4

Ingredients

  • 3lbs boneless pork loin roast;
  • 2 tablespoon paleo cooking fat;
  • 5 cloves garlic, minced;
  • 1 onion, thinly sliced;
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder;
  • 2 teaspoon ground coriander;
  • 2 teaspoon ground cumin;
  • ¼ cup apple cider vinegar;
  • 1 ½ cups water or homemade stock;
  • 1 14oz can whole tomatoes, with juices;
  • 2 bay leaves
  • Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste;
Slow-Cooked Pork Roast Recipe (2)

Preparation

  1. Sprinkle all sides of the pork roast with a generous amount of salt and pepper.
  2. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add the cooking fat and then sear the meat on all sides until it begins to turn slightly golden brown. Once finished, place in the slow cooker.
  3. In the same skillet used above, combine the garlic, onion, chili powder, coriander, and cumin. Mix well while scraping up the leftover meat bits in the pan (adds great flavor!).
  4. Add the vinegar to the skillet and allow it to come to a boil. Continue cooking until the liquid is nearly all evaporated.
  5. Finally, add the water or stock to the skillet, using it to whisk up all the drippings and spices in the pan. Pour the whole thing into the slow cooker with the pork roast.
  6. Crush the tomatoes over the roast, followed by the tomato juices. Add the bay leaves, give it a good stir and adjust the seasoning by adding more salt and pepper if needed.
  7. Set your slow cooker to low and cook for about 8 hours. Once the meat pulls apart easily, and it is not too pink in the center, it is ready to serve.
  8. Discard the bay leaves, carve the roast into thick slices and serve with the cooking liquid as a sauce.

📖 Recipe

Slow-cooked pork roast recipe

A healthy Paleo recipe for a slow-cooked pork roast with very little preparation that will leave your house smelling amazing and your guests asking for more.

5 from 1 vote

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Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 45 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Servings 4 people

Calories 571 kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Sprinkle all sides of the pork roast with a generous amount of salt and pepper.

    3 lbs boneless pork loin roast, Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

  • In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add the cooking fat and then sear the meat on all sides until it begins to turn slightly golden brown. Once finished, place in the slow cooker.

    2 tablespoon paleo cooking fat

  • In the same skillet used above, combine the garlic, onion, chili powder, coriander, and cumin. Mix well while scraping up the leftover meat bits in the pan (adds great flavor!).

    5 cloves garlic, 1 onion, 1 tablespoon chili powder, 2 teaspoon ground coriander, 2 teaspoon ground cumin

  • Add the vinegar to the skillet and allow it to come to a boil. Continue cooking until the liquid is nearly all evaporated.

    ¼ cup apple cider vinegar

  • Finally, add the water or stock to the skillet, using it to whisk up all the drippings and spices in the pan. Pour the whole thing into the slow cooker with the pork roast.

    1 ½ cups water or homemade stock

  • Crush the tomatoes over the roast, followed by the tomato juices. Add the bay leaves, give it a good stir and adjust the seasoning by adding more salt and pepper if needed.

    1 14 oz can whole tomatoes, 2 bay leaves

  • Set your slow cooker to low and cook for about 8 hours. Once the meat pulls apart easily, and it is not too pink in the center, it is ready to serve.

  • Discard the bay leaves, carve the roast into thick slices and serve with the cooking liquid as a sauce.

Nutrition

Calories: 571kcalCarbohydrates: 10gProtein: 78gFat: 23gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 11gTrans Fat: 0.03gCholesterol: 214mgSodium: 708mgPotassium: 1593mgFiber: 3gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 921IUVitamin C: 12mgCalcium: 81mgIron: 4mg

Keyword pork, roast, slow cooker

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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Slow-Cooked Pork Roast Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How do I slow cook pork without drying it out? ›

Pour 1/4 cup cooking liquid, or the liquid left from deglazing your pan, over the chops. If you sautéed any vegetables, tuck some of them below the chops and scatter the rest on top. Cook for 2 to 6 hours on LOW. Cover and cook on the LOW setting for 2 to 6 hours.

What is the best liquid to cook pulled pork in? ›

Transfer everything to a large slow cooker and add a splash of liquid — water is great, but so is broth, apple juice, or beer if you have them handy. Cover and cook on low until the meat is tender and pulls apart easily.

Is it better to cook a pork roast slow or fast? ›

Overcooking any meat dries it out. A pork loin roast is more tender and juicy when cooked to medium than when it is well done. If you're talking about a pork shoulder or pork butt, it is best braised low and slow to let the collagen soften. As soon as the meat pulls apart with a fork, it is done.

Does pork roast get tougher the longer you cook it? ›

But the old method of cooking pork to the well-done stage, offered an excessive margin of safety. And since overcooking shrinks meat fibers and squeezes our juices, overcooked pork is tough and dry. It's well worth investing in a meat thermometer or slender multi-use digital thermometer, to take away the guesswork .

Do you have to put liquid in slow cooker with pork? ›

You don't technically HAVE to add liquid into your slow cooker for pulled pork because the pork will generate moisture. However, we do recommend adding some kind of liquid to the crock pot to make sure things stay nice and moist.

Do you have to brown pork before slow cooking? ›

Preparing the pork

I prefer to season the meat before adding it to the slow cooker with my favourite spices, along with salt and pepper. I also recommend browning the meat slightly prior to slow cooking which will help maximise the flavour. However, this is a step that can be left out if you don't have enough time.

Why add apple cider vinegar to pulled pork? ›

The acid from the apple cider and apple cider vinegar help to tenderize the meat while also keeping it juicy and flavorful. The low and slow cooking method makes it fall apart as soon as your fork touches it and shreds beautifully.

Why do you put apple cider vinegar in pulled pork? ›

After you've pulled your pork butt, drizzle over the meat and combine. The vinegar adds contrast to the smoky flavor and cuts through the fat in the meat. It also helps mellow out the darker, gamier-tasting parts of the butt. This makes enough for a 8 pound pork butt/shoulder.

What is the secret to tender pulled pork? ›

Apple cider vinegar: Adds a little tanginess and helps to tenderize the pork. Without it, the pork tastes flat. Adding the vinegar wakes everything up. Fish sauce or Worcestershire: Seasons our cooking liquid and adds a nice burts of umami, which makes the pulled pork even more delicious.

How long to cook a 4 lb pork roast at 250 degrees? ›

How Long Should I Cook A Pork Shoulder Roast. We roasted this 3.5 – 4 pound roast at 250 degrees F. and our cooking time was about 7-8 hours or until the internal temperature reached 190-200 degrees F (the closer you get to 200 degrees F. the more “fall-apart” it will be – you can go up to about 205 degrees).

Should I put water in the pan of a pork roast? ›

Place pork roast (fat side up) into large roasting pan with 1 cup water in the bottom. Bake for 4-5 hours or until desired tenderness. (I typically go 5 hours for pull apart pork roast) Add water as needed during cook time to prevent burning on the bottom of pan.

Should I sear a pork roast before slow cooking? ›

To ensure the most exceptional flavor, we're browning the pork in a skillet before adding it to the slow cooker (this trick works for my Baked Pork Tenderloin recipe too). It caramelizes beautifully (aka flavor) and creates a yummy sauce that helps keep the meat moist.

How do you keep pork moist in a slow cooker? ›

Yes, it's generally recommended to add some liquid when cooking pork in a slow cooker to prevent it from drying out and to help distribute flavors. You can use broth, wine, barbecue sauce, or even just water depending on the recipe you're following.

Does pork get more tender the longer you slow cook it? ›

Pork shoulder might start out as a fatty, tough cut of meat, but cook it low and slow for a few hours and it will be transformed into tender, juicy shreds that fall apart with the touch of your fork.

Why is my pork dry in slow cooker? ›

The most likely cause of this is overcooking. As meat cooks, its muscle fibers shorten in both length and width and eventually squeeze out the juices they normally hold. As you can imagine, this leaves meat dry, and often stringy in texture. To avoid this problem, choose less-tender cuts of meat.

How long can you leave pork in a crockpot on low? ›

Slow cook the pork 14 to 16 hours.

Cover and cook on the LOW setting until the pork is soft enough to pull apart with a spoon, 14 to 16 hours.

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