Apple Cider Pork Tenderloin with Crock-Pot® Slow Cooker - Honeysuckle

apple cider

🥗Healthier: unsweetened apple juice

💰Cheaper: water + apple concentrate

Unsweetened apple juice provides a similar flavor with less sugar.

brown sugar

🥗Healthier: coconut sugar

💰Cheaper: white sugar

Coconut sugar is less processed, while white sugar is more economical.

pork tenderloin

🥗Healthier: chicken breast

💰Cheaper: pork loin

Chicken breast is leaner, while pork loin offers a similar taste at a lower cost.

Core and slice one honey crisp apple into thin slices and set aside.

Heat olive oil in a skillet until hot.

Season the pork tenderloin with salt and pepper and sear it in the skillet for about 3 to 4 minutes on each side until golden brown.

Add the seared pork tenderloins to the Crock-Pot slow cooker.

Add the sliced apples, a few sprigs of thyme, 1 teaspoon of kosher salt, ground pepper, 1 1/2 cups of apple cider, and 1/2 cup of chicken broth to the slow cooker.

Cover the slow cooker and set it on low for 4 hours.

After 4 hours, remove the pork from the slow cooker and scoop out the leftover juices to use for gravy and topping.

In a heavy bottom skillet, melt 1 tbsp of butter and add 1 cup of sliced onions, cooking for about 3 minutes until soft and slightly brown.

Add 2 cored, peeled, and sliced honey crisp apples and fresh thyme to the skillet, cooking for about 2 minutes.

Add 1/4 cup of fresh cranberries and 1/3 cup of the leftover juices from the slow cooker to the skillet and let simmer on low heat for 10 minutes until the apples cook down, sprinkling in some pepper.

In another pot, melt 2 tbsp of butter and add 1/4 cup of all-purpose flour, cooking until it turns a nice brown color.

Slowly incorporate the meat juices into the flour mixture and let it cook for a few minutes to thicken up, stirring occasionally until the gravy is done.

Assemble the dish by pouring some gravy over the pork loin and layering on the caramelized onion and apple topping, letting cranberries fall for decoration.

Garnish with a few sprigs of thyme and serve with suggested side dishes like garlic mashed potatoes and green beans.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Allergens