My Honey Garlic Crock Pot Pork Roast delivers melt-in-your-mouth tenderness with a sweet, savory kick of garlic. The slow cooker does all the heavy lifting. Just add your ingredients, set it, and let the magic happen. It’s the kind of effortless comfort food that fills your kitchen with cozy aromas and your plate with flavor-packed goodness.
Certain meals are just better cooked low and slow, such as my Italian Roast Beef and my Slow Cooker Chicken and Stuffing. Try adding one to your meal planning.
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Why this Slow Cooker Pork Roast Recipe is a Keeper
This easy, pork roast in crock pot is as delicious as it is simple to make. It takes minimal effort, it’s full of flavor and ends up so tender and juicy. I love to make it on a busy day in the morning and have it ready when it is time for dinner.
- Simple and Minimal Effort: The slow cooker does 90% of the work. After a quick sear and sauce assembly, you can set it and forget it for 4–5 hours.
- Perfect Balance of Flavor: The sauce hits all the right notes.
- Tender and Juicy Result: Slow cooking is a gentle method that keeps the lean pork loin moist, especially when bathed in the savory sauce. The initial sear locks in extra flavor and texture.
- Versatile Leftovers: The sweet and savory profile is excellent for transforming into completely new meals (tacos, sandwiches, stir-fry).
Do I Have to Sear the Pork Roast Before Putting it in the Slow Cooker?
If you don’t want to sear the pork, you don’t have to. I recommend searing it so it has a nice crisp skin and locks in the juices and flavors.
Pro Tip for Crockpot Pork Roast
Thicken the sauce: After cooking, transfer juices to a saucepan and simmer with a cornstarch slurry (1 Tablespoon cornstarch + 2 Tablespoons water) for a glossy glaze.
Ingredient Notes for the Pork Recipe
All of the required ingredients are easy to find at the store, but some of the ingredients may be around the kitchen already.
Get the full printable recipe with specific measurements and directions in the recipe card below.
- Pork Loin: You will need about 3 pounds of pork to make this slow cooker pork roast recipe.
- Honey: I prefer to use local honey to add the sweetness.
- Dijon Mustard: Mustard is a great way to bring out the savory flavors to this fall apart tender pork.
Variations and Substitutions for Crock Pot Pork Roast
Roast pork slow cooker recipes are super flexible. Switch up crockpot pork roast recipes to make it work for your families tastes.
- Heat: Use sriracha or sambal oelek instead of red pepper flakes (start with 1 teaspoon) to spice up flavorful pork and vegetables.
- Acidity/Tang: Substitute Dijon with yellow mustard (less pungent) or add some rice vinegar for brightness.
- Aromatics: Use fresh minced onion (about 1/4 cup) instead of dried. Use fresh minced garlic (4-6 cloves) for the rub.
- Sweetener: Use maple syrup or brown sugar to replace the honey.
- Gluten-Free: Substitute Tamari or Coconut Aminos for the soy sauce.
Special Equipment Needed for this Tender Pork Roast
Pork roast benefits from gentle, extended cooking. The slow cooker breaks down connective tissue, giving you juicy, fall-apart meat without babysitting the oven.
- Crock Pot: A crock pot or slow cooker will cook your this recipe low and slow, resulting in a wonderfully juicy pork loin roast that pulls apart easily.
How to Make Crock Pot Pork Roast Recipe
In just 3 steps, you can have a delicious pork shoulder roast. This simple recipe takes just a little effort but the results are well worth it.
Get the full printable recipe with specific measurements and directions in the recipe card below.
- Season and Sear the Pork: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Mix the red pepper flakes, garlic powder, minced onion and thyme and rub over the pork. Sear on each side.
- Make the Sauce: Place roast in the slow cooker bowl. Mix together the honey, soy sauce, minced garlic and Dijon mustard, and pour over the roast.
- Cook the Roast: Cover and cook on low for 4 hours. When done, slice the pork and top with the green onions. Serve the pork roast with potatoes and carrots.
Prep Ahead Suggestions for Flavorful Crock Pot Recipe
Preparing steps ahead of time can be the best way to go to be able to make juicy pork roast and enjoy it whenever.
- Make the Rub: Mix the red pepper flakes, garlic powder, minced onion, and thyme. Feel free to add Italian Seasoning and salt and pepper. Store in a small airtight container.
- Make the Sauce: Mix the honey, soy sauce, minced garlic, and dijon mustard. Store in a covered container in the refrigerator.
- Prep the Garnish: Slice the green onions and store them in an airtight container in the fridge.
Alternate Cooking Methods for Fall-Apart Tender Pork
This easy meal is best in the crock pot, but there are a couple ways to switch it up.
- Oven Roasting: Making pork in the oven is super easy. First, sear the roast first. Place in a baking dish. Pour the sauce over. Roast at 375°F for about 45−60 minutes. Cooked pork is done when the internal temperature reaches 145°F.
- Instant Pot/Pressure Cooker: Sear the roast using the Sauté function. Pour the sauce over the roast. Cook on Manual/Pressure Cook for 8–10 minutes on high, followed by a 10-minute natural pressure release (NPR), then quick release any remaining pressure.
How to Store, Reheat and Use Leftovers
- Store: Keep sliced pork and the leftover sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3–4 days.
- Reheat: The best method is to reheat the slices gently in a skillet with a splash of the leftover sauce or a little chicken broth. Cover the skillet to trap steam and keep the meat moist.
- Use Leftovers: Shred or slice, top with a spicy slaw, and a drizzle of the warmed sauce.
- Pork Sandwiches: Thinly slice and layer on crusty bread with provolone.
- Stir-Fry: Cube the pork and toss into a vegetable stir-fry with a bit more soy sauce.
Questions About The Best Slow Cooker Pork Roast
Make sure the pork is fully coated in cooking liquid so that it doesn’t dry out as it cooks. You can add chicken broth if you need to. It’s also better to let roast cook on low rather than to cook on high.
Sure! Try this recipe using another cut of meat like boneless pork shoulder, pork butt or pork tenderloin, but be aware that cooking time may change especially if you use bone-in pork.
Tips for Roast Pork Slow Cooker Recipe
- Choose the Right Cut/ Cook Time: Pork shoulder or butt is best for shredding; rich marbling means juicy results. Pork loin or tenderloin: Leaner, better for slicing; reduce cook time to avoid dryness.
- Sear for Depth: Browning the roast before slow cooking adds caramelized flavor and improves texture. Use a hot skillet and don’t skip the fond—those browned bits are flavor gold.
- Balance the Smooth Gravy: Combine honey, garlic, soy sauce, and apple cider vinegar for sweet-savory harmony. Add a touch of ginger or chili flakes, onion soup mix for warmth and complexity.
- Layer for Flavor: Place onions, carrots or aromatics beneath the roast to infuse flavor from the bottom up. Add broth or pineapple juice for moisture and a subtle fruity note.
- Finish Strong: Thicken the sauce with a cornstarch slurry after cooking for a glossy glaze. Shred or slice, then return pork to the sauce to soak up every drop.
- Serve With: Serve with Roasted Smashed Red Potatoes, Pork Gravy or Cream Puff Cake.
More Recipes You Might Like
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Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Pork Roast
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Ingredients
- 3 pounds Pork loin
- 1 Tablespoon Olive oil
- 1 teaspoon Red pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon Garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon Minced onion
- ½ teaspoon Dried thyme
- ¼ teaspoon Salt, to taste
- ¼ teaspoon Pepper, fresh ground, to taste
- ½ cup Honey
- 3 Tablespoons Soy sauce
- 3 Tablespoons Minced garlic
- 1 Tablespoon Dijon mustard
- Green onions, to garnish
Instructions
- Heat oil in a large skillet over medium/high heat.
- Mix the red pepper flakes, garlic powder, minced onion, and thyme together and rub over pork roast. Sear on each side for 3 minutes.
- Set roast in a crockpot.
- Mix the honey, soy sauce, minced garlic, and dijon mustard together. Pour over roast.
- Cook for 4-5 hours on low.
- Slice the roast and top with green onions to serve with mashed potatoes or rice, and choice of veggie.
Christina’s Notes
- Right Cut: Pork shoulder or butt is best for shredding, and pork loin or tenderloin is better for slicing.
- Sear: Browning the roast before slow cooking adds flavor and improves texture.
- Layer for Flavor: Place onions or aromatics beneath the roast to infuse flavor. Add broth or pineapple juice for moisture and a fruity note.
- Scale the recipe: Simply adjust the serving size in the recipe card and the ingredients will update automatically.
- Make your own All Purpose Seasoning: When a recipe calls for All Purpose Seasoning, you can use my homemade All Purpose Seasoning recipe or substitute salt and pepper to taste.
- Meat doneness: I always use a meat thermometer to test for doneness when cooking meat.
- Use unsalted butter: I use unsalted butter so I can control the salt level in the recipe.
- Preheat the oven: Unless otherwise noted, always preheat your oven before baking.
For more helpful information about this recipe, such as variations, substitutions and other pro-tips, check out the blog post.