Fall is the perfect time to let your crock pot make this Pork Tenderloin with Apples dinner. It is such an easy, delicious meal. Prep it in the morning and by evening you’ll have a hearty and healthy meal ready to eat. The pork is so tender and flavorful! This is a great way to use apples in the fall!
If I could eat this weather with a giant spoon, I would. It makes me happy. It’s been saving me, through a really tiring and busy time. I keep saying to Dan, “Please tell me we’re going to survive this stretch.” Thankfully he tells me exactly what I need to hear.
We made this pork tenderloin a few weeks ago and the two of us literally ate the entire batch in one sitting. The meat was tender and infused with a delicious apple-onion flavor. The moisture from the apples really help the pork stay tender and juicy. We are hoping to get to an apple orchard tomorrow and if we do, this will be on the menu again very soon.
By the way, do you know the trick for keeping apples from turning brown while you peel, core and slice?
KEEP YOUR APPLES FROM BROWNING
When chopping and peeling the apples, fill a large bowl about half with cool water and squeeze the juice of 1/2 lemon into it. The lemon juice will keep your apples from getting brown while you get them prepped for the recipe. Use an apple corer/peeler if you have one because they will make this process go super fast. If you don’t have one, use a potato peeler and a knife to get the job done. You’ll need to peel, core and chop the apples. Place them into the water-lemon juice mixture as you work.
WHAT IS A PORK TENDERLOIN
Not to be confused with the similar Pork Loin, these two cuts of meat come from the same animal but appear different and have several important differences, as well. Pork Tenderloin is thin and small. It’s known for being tender, as its name suggests. It also has a finely grained texture to it.
There is not an easier, yummier meal than this one. And it is the perfect time of year for recipes that involve onion and apples and crock pots.
HOW TO MAKE A DELICIOUS TENDER PORK TENDERLOIN MEAL IN YOUR CROCK POT
This pork recipe is a great weeknight meal, all your cooking gets done during the day while you get other things done and is delicious with an apple to infuse into the meat for a filling meal!
STEP 1
Place a 1.5-pound pork tenderloin (use up to a 3-lb tenderloin) in a crock pot along with apple slices, onion slices and apple cider. Salt and pepper never hurt.
STEP 2
Cover and cook on high heat for 4 to 5 hours. Cut the pork and place on serving plates. Pour the apple-onion mixture over the top of each serving.
RECIPE TIPS: MAKE THE BEST EVER SLOW COOKER PORK!
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If you prefer to let this cook slower and longer, you can adjust your cooking time to 7-8 hours on low heat.
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Pick a couple different types of apples to give really great flavor. Choose from the sweet and tart list below!
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If you don’t have apple cider on hand, apple juice is an acceptable substitute.
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This main dish does not need any further condiments to give it great flavor but I know many people love a good BBQ sauce to dip their meat into – if so – try this wonderful homemade sauce!
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With any remaining apples you have, try some of my favorite fall recipes – see them below!
SIDE DISHES FOR PORK
Any of the following sides would taste great alongside this apple pork loin meal!
TYPES OF APPLES TO USE WITH PORK TENDERLOIN
I recommend using a variety of apples and at the very least, use two kinds: one sweet and one tart. My favorite combo is Honeycrisp and Granny Smith apples.
Sweet/Softer Apple Brands
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Fuji
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Honeycrisp
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Red Delicious
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Golden Delicious
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Cortland
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Gala
Tart (or a little Sour) Apple Brands
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Granny Smith
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McIntosh
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Ida Red
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Braeburn
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Empire
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Jonathan
OTHER GREAT APPLE RECIPES
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Homemade Apple Cider – Make Homemade Apple Cider in your slow cooker! It’ll warm you from the inside out with amazing flavors and it’s so delicious. It’s a must have fall drink and tastes so much better when you make it yourself. Such a great way to use up apples in the fall. Best of all, your house will smell amazing!
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Apple Coffee Cake – This is the best Apple Coffee Cake recipe you’ll find. Enjoy as an indulgent breakfast treat or an any-time snack or dessert!
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Salted Chocolate Caramel Apples – sprinkling of sea salt and a bit of chocolate turns Caramel Apples into an extravagant dessert.. Salted Chocolate Caramel Apples!
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Apple Carrot Cake Muffins – Apples and carrots create the most delicious little muffin you could ever imagine. These babies are moist and yummy and will not last long in your kitchen. Great as a snack, breakfast or dessert!
Crock Pot Pork Tenderloin With Apples
Equipment
- Crock Pot
Ingredients
- 1.5 lb pork loin
- 3 large apples peeled, cored and chopped
- 1 onion sliced
- 1 cup apple cider
- salt/pepper to taste
Instructions
- Place the pork loin into a crockpot. Pour the apples, onion slices and apple cider over top. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cook on high for 4 to 5 hours or low for 7 to 8 hours.
- Cut the pork into quarters and serve, pouring the apples, onion and remaining sauce over the top.
Have this in my crock pot right now for dinner but I accidently put apple cider vinegar will it ruin it?!?!?!?
No, it should still be great!
We have this in the crockpot now!! We decide to mix in a bowl: applewood rub, smokehouse maple seasoning, a little brown sugar and apple cider and rubbed it on the tenderloin really well before placing in the crockpot then the apples onion and a little more apple cider. Smelling amazing!!
That sounds like a wonderful concoction – thanks for sharing it with us. I’m sure someone else would love that addition!
I like this recipe but I thought it lacked a bit of flavor. I used apple cider and a Yellow onion. Aside from salt and pepper and other tricks?
Hi Kristen,
You could use a good spice blend – I love Weber’s Chicago steak seasoning and we also use McCormick’s Cajun seasoning a lot. These are two flavorful seasonings you could easily use! I love garlic on everything but not everyone does.
Ive made this dozens of times. My family and I love it! I was just reading through the comments and realized that the recipe actually calls for apple cider. I’ve always used apple cider vinegar. Oops! What a wonderful mistake though. It make the pork taste like a sweet and sour pork, but clean.
Thanks for the comment, Nicole! Ok, I LOVE your "happy oops" and I just might have to give apple cider vinegar a try! Thanks for sharing!
Megan
Is it really 7-8hrs on high and 4-5hrs on low???
GREAT catch, Monica. No, that isn’t right! 7-8 hrs on Low or 4-5 hrs on High. Thank you for pointing it out!
Megan
I add some bourbon to this recipe and it’s delicious.
Marcia…NICE! Bourbon!! Something I’ve never thought of! I’ll be trying this within the next week. Thanks for sharing!
Megan
Im taking part in the Whole 30 challenge, what I can substitute the apple cider with? Thanks!
Just made this for dinner it was awesome. Will definitely make again .
Hi! I'm planning on cooking this tomorrow for Christmas Eve dinner. I have 2 pork loins of about 1.5 lbs each. My slow cooker is a big one.. If I do them both and add more apples should I also double de amount of Apple cider or will it be too much liquid? Thanks!
Hi Elizabeth! I use a yellow onion for this recipe!
Megan
Hi! What kind of onion do you use?
This looks delicious! I have all that I need except the apple cider. Is there a substitution you could suggest?
Hi Nancy! I'd suggest using sweeter apples like Fuji or Gala. A great side would be greens or broccoli or asparagus. Brussels sprouts, even! I hope this helps!
Megan
I was looking for something easy for x-mas eve gathering with family. This sounds delicious (probably will need to make two). What kind of apples and onions do you prefer? Also, what sides would you suggest?
HI AB! Just plain old apple cider, or apple juice would work great, too.
Megan
Apple cider or apple cider vinegar?
Cooking now and my whole house smells deliciously like fall.