This Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Tenderloin is a simple, satisfying dinner you can make any day of the week. The pork cooks until incredibly tender and easy to shred with a savory, lightly sweet flavor. Mixing in some BBQ sauce at the end gives it the perfect finishing touch!
Recipe Summary
- What is it? An easy slow cooker dinner that cooks pork tenderloin low and slow until it's tender, juicy, and easy to shred.
- Flavor: Savory with a touch of sweetness. A simple spice rub plus BBQ sauce at the end creates balanced, crowd-pleasing flavor.
- Minimal prep: Just season, add to the slow cooker, and let it do the work.
- Budget-friendly: Pork tenderloin and pantry staples keep this recipe affordable.
- Super versatile: Use the pulled pork for sandwiches, tacos, bowls, meal prep, and more.
When it comes to fuss-free dinners, slow cooker recipes like this one are hard to beat. They’re perfect for any night of the week, especially when you don’t have a lot of time on your hands.
This slow cooker pulled pork tenderloin recipe is one you’ll find yourself coming back to again and again (I know I do)! It’s easy to make, turns out perfectly tender and juicy, and can be served in many different ways.
For more easy slow cooker recipes, check out my BBQ chicken thighs and French onion chicken next.
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Why You Will Love This Recipe
- Budget-Friendly: Pork tenderloin is an affordable cut of meat and the rest of the ingredients are pantry staples that you may already have in your kitchen.
- Versatile: Use the shredded pork for sandwiches, tacos, bowls, and more for easy meal prep throughout the week.
- Minimal Hands-On Time: It takes just a few minutes to prepare the pork for the slow cooker and only a few more to shred it when it’s done.
Ingredients
- Pork: I make my pulled pork with pork tenderloin, which I find to be the best cut. However, you can use pork loin, but since it’s larger and less tender, you may need to use additional broth and cook it for a longer period of time. If you love pork tenderloin, try my cranberry orange pork tenderloin too!
- Aromatics: Onion and garlic give the dish depth of flavor.
- Chicken Broth: Keeps the meat moist as it cooks so it doesn’t dry out. You can opt for store-bought or give my chicken broth recipe using a rotisserie chicken a try.
- Seasoning Rub: I used salt, pepper, paprika, and garlic powder as well as some brown sugar for sweetness.
- BBQ Sauce: Mixed with the pork at the end of cooking, it adds smokiness, a touch more sweetness, and helps bring all of the flavors together. You can use your favorite brand and style of BBQ sauce.
See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts, nutritional information, and detailed instructions.
Variations
- Spicy: Try my spicy BBQ sauce or add a pinch of cayenne to the seasoning blend to turn up the heat.
- Sweeter: Swap half of the brown sugar with honey and use a honey-infused BBQ sauce to sweeten things up. It's great served with a slice of honey cornbread on the side.
- No BBQ Sauce: Omit the BBQ sauce and serve the shredded pork with the cooking juices instead.
How to Make Pulled Pork Tenderloin in the Slow Cooker
It’s so easy to make pork tenderloin in the crock pot for pulled pork that you can use for sandwiches, tacos, and more. To get started, lightly grease your slow cooker with olive oil.
Step 1: Season the meat. Mix the seasonings and brown sugar together in a bowl and rub it on all sides of the pork.
Step 2: Add ingredients to the crockpot. Place the onion and garlic in the slow cooker and put the seasoned pork on top. Then, pour the chicken broth around the meat.
Step 3: Cook. Set the slow cooker to low for 6-7 hours or high for 3-4 hours.
Step 4: Shred the meat. Transfer the pork to a large plate or cutting board and use two forks to shred it.
Step 5: Add the BBQ sauce. Put the shredded meat back into the crockpot and mix in the BBQ sauce.
Step 6: Keep on warm. Turn the slow cooker setting to warm and allow the pork to absorb the sauce for 10 minutes.
Expert Tips
- Avoid overcooking: Tenderloin is a lean cut of meat, so it can dry out if cooked for too long. The pork is done when it shreds easily and reaches an internal temperature of at least 145°F.
- Thicken the sauce: If you want to make the sauce thicker, simply cook uncovered on high during the last 20-30 minutes.
- Storing and reheating: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. Reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave, adding a little more chicken broth or BBQ sauce to keep it moist and juicy.
Serving Suggestions
- Make pulled pork tenderloin sandwiches with your favorite bread or use this homemade hot dog bun recipe and form into hamburger or slider-size rolls. Enjoy your sandwiches with some southwest coleslaw!
- Serve the meat over rice and serve with roasted cabbage steaks or roasted green beans for an easy dinner.
- Use the pork for tacos and pile on your favorite toppings along with a drizzle of this avocado hot sauce.
Recipe FAQs
It’s not necessary to brown the pork first, but you can if you’d like to add a little extra flavor. Sear it lightly on all sides in a skillet, then add it to the slow cooker.
I recommend making this during the day to prevent the meat from overcooking. However, you can do this if you have a programmable slow cooker that automatically switches to warm when done.
More Delicious Pork Recipes
Did you try this recipe? Please leave a star rating in the recipe card right below! You can also write a review in the comment section further down the page I always appreciate your feedback. And don’t forget to tag me @freshcoasteats in your photos on social media, I'd love to see your results!
Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Tenderloin
Ingredients
- 1-2 lbs pork tenderloin
- 1 Tb olive oil
- 1 medium onion sliced
- 3 cloves garlic
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 2 Tb brown sugar
- 1 Tb paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ cup BBQ sauce
Instructions
- Prepare the slow cooker by coating it lightly with olive oil.
- In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, paprika, salt, black pepper, and garlic powder.
- Rub the seasoning mixture evenly over the pork tenderloin, coating all sides.
- Place the sliced onion and garlic cloves in the bottom of the slow cooker.
- Set the seasoned pork tenderloin on top of the onions and garlic.
- Pour the chicken broth around the pork.
- Cover and cook on low for 6–7 hours or on high for 3–4 hours, until the pork is very tender.
- Remove the pork from the slow cooker and shred it using two forks.
- Return the shredded pork to the slow cooker and stir in the BBQ sauce.
- Let the pork rest on warm for 10 minutes before serving so it absorbs the sauce.
Notes
- If you want to deepen the flavor, lightly sear the pork in a skillet before adding it to the slow cooker.
- Use a meat thermometer to check the pork for doneness; it is ready when the temperature reads at least 145°F.
- To thicken the sauce, allow the pork to cook uncovered for the last 20-30 minutes on high.
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