Fall is the perfect time for pork tenderloin with apples! It is such an easy, delicious meal with only 10 minutes of prep required. Prep it in the morning and by evening a hearty and healthy dinner is ready to serve. The pork is so tender and flavorful! This is a great way to use apples in the fall!
Original post: October 2014 | Updated: August 2022
Why This Recipe Works
We make this pork tenderloin with apples recipe frequently in the late summer and fall. The meat comes out so perfectly moist and tender and infused with a delicious apple-onion flavor. The moisture from the apples helps to tenderize the meat.
If you are looking for a super easy meal to fill all the bellies around your table, this is your recipe. It requires a mere ten minutes of prep time and brings unique yet delicious flavor to the table. Grab your slow cooker along with just a few ingredients and let’s make dinner!
Recipe Ingredients
Pork loin – Your local grocer will pre-package the pork loin for you, but look for that pinkish-red color with some marbling on the meat. The fat adds flavor!
Many pre-packaged pork tenderloins come in packages of two, so be aware of this. You can easily double the recipe following the same cook time and everything will cook perfectly.
Apples – Select a few different varieties of apples to achieve really great flavor. Choose from the sweet and tart list below! Then peel, core and chop them and add the sliced apples to a large bowl half filled with cool water. Squeeze the juice of half of a lemon into it.
The lemon juice will keep the apples from getting brown while prepping for the recipe.
Apple cider – If you do not have apple cider on hand, apple juice is an acceptable substitute.
Onions – Yellow or white onions both work great for this recipe.
How To Make A Tender Pork Tenderloin Meal In Your Crock Pot
Step 1
Place a 1.5-pound pork tenderloin (use up to a 3-lb loin) in a crock pot along with apple slices, onion slices and apple cider. Sea salt or kosher salt and ground black pepper never hurt.
Step 2
Cover and cook on high heat for 4 to 5 hours. Cut the pork and place on a serving platter. Pour the apple-onion mixture over the top of each serving.
Recipe Notes
- If you prefer to let this cook slower and longer, you can adjust your cook time to 7-8 hours on low heat.
- 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 this is you, try this wonderful homemade sauce!
- With any remaining apples you have, try some of my other favorite apple recipes!
- It is super easy to cook this recipe in the oven instead of a crockpot! Create a delicious roasted pork tenderloin recipe by combining all ingredients in a baking dish or roasting pan. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Cook for 20 minutes per pound of meat, or until the internal temp has reached 145 degrees F.
- Give the meat a bit of spice by adding red pepper flakes or 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard.
What To Serve With Pork
Pork is such a great main course or party food option, requiring only a few ingredients and minimal effort. But what do you serve alongside this savory dish? Read on for 20 perfect side dish options to serve with pork!
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
- Fuji
- Honeycrisp
- Red Delicious
- Golden Delicious
- Cortland
- Gala
Tart (or a little Sour) Apple Brands
- Granny Smith
- McIntosh
- Ida Red
- Braeburn
- Empire
- Jonathan
FAQ About 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 is known for being tender, as its name suggests. It also has a fine-grain texture to it.
A good visual cue to select your pork tenderloin would be to pick pork that is pinkish-red in color. It should also have some marbling, or fat through the meat because that will give the meat flavor as it cooks.
Pork tenderloin is a healthy cut of meat, similar to boneless, skinless chicken breasts. They are also a great source of protein, Vitamin B6 and more.
The internal temperature of a pork tenderloin should reach 145° F.
The USDA shares that you can cook pork tenderloin and as long as it reaches 145° F while cooking and then allowing it to rest a few minutes, it is safe to eat even when you visually notice the meat is pinkish in hue.
Delicious Apple Recipes
- Homemade Apple Cider is so good when made in your slow cooker! It’ll warm you from the inside out with amazing flavors. It’s a must-have fall drink and tastes so much better when you make it yourself.
- This is officially the most delicious loaf of bread you’ll ever eat. Apple pie bread is infused with all the flavors of an apple pie! Juicy apples along with a streusel make up a perfect bite of moist bread.
- Enjoy Apple Coffee Cake as an indulgent breakfast treat or an any-time snack or dessert!
- Apple Carrot Muffins are moist and yummy and will not last long in your kitchen. Great as a snack, breakfast or dessert!
Yummy Pork Recipes
- This easy roasted pork is delicious, affordable and easy, done in 30 minutes! The ingredients are likely already in your kitchen. Enjoy it as a Whole30 compliant and low carb meal, too!
- This is the best pulled pork meal and it requires only 4 ingredients and minimal effort. Dinner could not get any easier than this! Spoon into hamburger buns and serve at your next gathering or for family dinner this week.
- This is my mom’s pan fried pork chops recipe. Make the chops while steaming some veggies and dinner will be done in less than 20 minutes!
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Pork Tenderloin With Apples and Onions Recipe
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.
Notes
- If you prefer to let this cook slower and longer, you can adjust your cook time to 7-8 hours on low heat.
- 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 this is you, try this wonderful homemade sauce!
- With any remaining apples you have, try some of my other favorite apple recipes!
- It is super easy to cook this recipe in the oven instead of a crockpot! Create a delicious roasted pork tenderloin recipe by combining all ingredients in a baking dish or roasting pan. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Cook for 20 minutes per pound of meat, or until the internal temp has reached 145 degrees F.
- Give the meat a bit of spice by adding red pepper flakes or 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard.
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Could you add any vegetables to the crockpot with other ingredients to have as a side?
Good question, Michelle. I haven’t experimented with it but I could see that you could easily throw in veggies. Depending on which ones you choose will help you decide how long they should be in there. There shouldn’t be any issue cooking them together as long as you like them!
Also, check out this recipe on cooking a side of veggies in the crock pot.
https://pipandebby.com/pip-ebby/slow-cooker-vegetables-how-to-cook-veggies-in-a-crockpot/
I, typically, brown the pork tenderloin & onions beforehand. I think it adds flavor and looks more appealing. This is delicious. Thank you so much.
Yes, I agree that’s a great tip. Sometimes I do it, sometimes for time, I do not. But thank you for sharing!
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.