Crock pot Pineapple Pork Loin
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Make this Crock pot Pineapple Pork Loin using basic pantry staples and transform a simple pork loin into a shredded, saucy plate of pineapple pulled pork. With your slow cooker doing the hard work, this is an easy weeknight favorite with leftovers to spare.
Pork loin is a staple standby in our house. Often sold as large roasts, it’s an easy way to feed a group or to cook once and have leftovers to re-imagine for days. This crock pot pineapple pork loin ticks all of those boxes and is packed with big flavor.
With very simple ingredients I can rub the loin down with a homemade spice mix, give it a quick sear, then toss it in my slow cooker for a few hours while I go about my day. A pot of rice later, some Hawaiian rolls, and a few minutes to whip up a sauce from the slow cooker juices, and dinner is on the table. Everyone is happy, myself included!
Pork Loin vs. Pork Tenderloin
If there’s one thing to remember it’s to make sure you’re picking up the right cut. Pork loin is not to be confused with pork tenderloin!
- Pork Loin – A lean, large, wide cut of meat that is broken down into many different cuts, like chops and roasts. You want a boneless pork loin roast for this recipe. It may be sold as a top loin or center loin roast and it benefits from low, long cooks.
- Pork Tenderloin – Similarly named but NOT a similar cut in any other way. Tenderloin is a thin, narrow cut that averages about 1 pound and is considered one of the most tender cuts of pork available. It’s best cooked quickly at high heat, and cannot be substituted in this recipe. Check out recipes like my pork tenderloin salad or pork medallions in mushrooms sauce for that cut.
PRO TIP: Choose a pork loin with a nice white fat cap on it. A lean cut like pork loin benefits from the extra fat to stay moist and tender.
Pineapple Pork Loin Ingredients
I love this kind of recipe, the one that takes just a few very simple, even standard ingredients, and transforms them into magic.
- 3-4 pound pork loin – remember to look for that fat cap!
- Soy sauce – Your preferred brand
- A can of pineapple chunks – make sure they’re in 100% juice
- A sweet onion – Maui or Vidalia onions are my go to, but any sweet onion will do!
- Ginger
- Paprika
- Onion powder
- Salt
- A dash of oil
- Cornstarch – This is for a slurry, so you’ll need a splash of water too
PRO TIP: Can’t find sweet onions? In a pinch, substitute red onion with ½ a tablespoon of honey.
How to Make Pineapple Pulled Pork in the Slow Cooker
While it’s not quite ‘dump and go’, this easy slow cooker pineapple pork loin is a family favorite. Taking 5 minutes to make sauce at the really makes all the difference, so I recommend not skipping it!
- Heat a tablespoon of oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. While your pan is heating, combine your onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper in a small bowl.
- Pat your pork loin dry and rub down with the spice mixture. When your pan is hot, sear the loin on all sides, beginning with the fat side down, until the outside is caramelized and browned, about 3 to 4 minutes per side.
- While the pork is searing, dice your onion. Open your pineapple and pour off the juice into a separate bowl with the soy sauce.
- Place half the chunks of pineapple in the bottom of your slow cooker then place the seared pork loin on top, fat side up. Add in the remaining pineapple, the diced onion, and pour over the pineapple juice and soy sauce mixture. Cover and cook on low for 5 hours.
- When your pork is done, remove from the slow cooker and set aside. Ladle the liquid through a sieve into a saucepan set over medium high heat and bring it to a simmer. Reserve some of the pineapple chunks for serving.
- Whisk the cornstarch with 1 ½ tablespoons of cold water to make a slurry. When sauce is simmering, slowly whisk the slurry in and continue stirring gently until thickened.
- Shred the pork and serve with the reserved pineapple chunks and a generous drizzle of sauce.
Simple, right? It shreds like a dream and with that sauce…mmmmmmm, yes! Keep a couple cans of pineapple chunks in the cupboard and you can whip it up anytime!
Pro Tip: Use a food processor to chop the onion uniformly and quickly!
FAQ’S
Technically yes. Your pork loin will cook fine without searing it first. However searing the spice rubbed pork first wakes up the aromatic nature of the spices (big flavor), and creates a crust. That crust creates a beautiful texture when you shred the pork, a lovely combination of crunchy browned edges and tender shredded meat.
No, it’s certainly not necessary if you’re comfortable with your sauce having chunks of onions in it. However, straining it leaves you with a silky drizzly sauce I highly recommend.
Absolutely! This recipe will work with either pork butt (pork shoulder) or boneless pork country ribs.
Yes! Simply start your recipe by searing the pork in a large dutch oven or oven safe pot. Then add in the pineapple, onion, and the pineapple juice/soy sauce mixture. Cover and place in a 325°F oven for 2 to 3 hours, or until you can shred it easily with a fork
Absolutely. Prepare the pork loin as directed, then shred and freeze in desired portions. I recommend making the sauce and freezing it in an ice cube tray, then adding cubes to the bags or containers of shredded pork.
Eat & Enjoy!
This is one of those simple recipes that I think your whole family will enjoy, even the littlest ones (my little one does!). Best of all, this makes leftovers for days! Pork tacos, pork sliders (with those hawaiian rolls, yum!), or just a plate of rice and pork with sauce can feed us happily all week. What’s not to love? I hope you enjoy, and until next time, Happy Eating!
If you liked this recipe, you may also enjoy…
- Orange and Chicken Braise
- Dr. Pepper Braised Short Ribs
- One Pan Beef and Broccoli
- One Pot Chicken Marsala
- Cuban Braised Mojo Pork
- Sweet and Sour Chicken with Pineapple
Crock Pot Pineapple Pork Loin
Ingredients
- 3 1/2 lb pork loin
- 1 tbs oil
- 1 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp ginger, ground
- 20 ounces pineapple chunks in 100% juice*
- 1/2 cup soy sauce
- 2/3 cup sweet onion, diced about 1/2 an onion
- 1 tbs cornstarch
- 1 1/2 tbs cold water
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Combine the salt, paprika, onion powder, and ginger in a bowl.
- Pat your pork loin dry with paper towels then rub in the spice mixture.
- Sear the pork in the hot pan until browned on each side, beginning with the fat side down. 3 to 4 minutes on each side.
- Meanwhile, dice your onion. Then combine the soy sauce with the juice from the can of pineapple chunks, you should get about ¾ cups of juice from the can.
- Place half the pineapple chunks on the bottom of your slow cooker then place your seared pork loin on top of them with the fat side up.
- Add in the remaining pineapple, diced onion, and pour the soy sauce/pineapple juice mixture over the top.
- Cover and cook on low for 5 hours. The pork should shred easily with a fork.
- Strain the liquid from the slow cooker through a sieve into a medium saucepan over medium high heat and bring to a simmer. Reserve some pineapple chunks from the slow cooker for serving.
- Whisk the cornstarch with 1 ½ tbs cold water to make a slurry then slowly whisk it into the simmering sauce. Continue to stir gently until thickened.
- Serve the pork with the sauce and reserved pineapple chunks.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information and cooking times are provided as a best estimate. Values may vary based upon ingredients and equipment.
We made this recipe this weekend and it was perfect! It was just me and my bf so we had plenty of leftovers so we made sandwiches for an easy Easter lunch! Thank you!
I’m so glad to hear you and your boyfriend enjoyed it! Aren’t those leftover sandwiches delicious? Thanks for stopping by to review!!
Mmm this meat is tender and juicy! So true on making sure to buy the right cut. I’ve almost made that mistake myself (a couple of times). This was a nice reminder 🙂
Glad to help and glad to hear you enjoyed it!
This is such a delicious recipe! The pork is incredibly tender, and that sauce is so flavorful. I love that you make it in the slow cooker — super convenient.
Thanks Amanda, convenience and flavor, what’s not to love 🙂
You are so right about the searing the meat first to get all those spices working right away. The pork loin is such a flavorful meat and its very hard to dry out. Love adding the pineapple to it for a dash of sweetness. This is one my list for making next Sunday dinner.
Thanks Marisa, I’m glad it sounds good to you, I hope you enjoy your Sunday dinner!
Such a beautiful and tempting recipe. Love all the ingredients and your images.
Aw, thanks Gunjan, I appreciate it!
Pork with pineapple is such a good combo and what a great idea to make it in a crock pot. With the simple prep and plenty of leftovers, this recipe looks like a winner.
Thanks Julia!
This is a great idea to make in a crock-pot! I love pork loin and pineapple together. It’s a delicious flavor combo that will go over well at my house with the children too.
Getting the kids to eat is half the battle right! I’m glad you’ll all enjoy, I hope its easy and satisfying for you 🙂
I think I would need to make some leftover pork sliders with this recipe! For me it is all about the great leftovers you can get creative with. Thanks for all the great tips!
You’re so welcome Analida! Leftovers are definitely a perk for this one, and sliders are delicious with it 🙂
A: Pineapple and pork is the golden combo.
B: Crockpots = set it and forget it.
This recipe is awesome.
Your review made me smile, thanks Ben! I couldn’t agree more, it’s easy, delicious, what’s not to love!