Slow Cooker Pork Tenderloin with an amazing maple syrup and mustard sauce couldn't be easier to make but impressive enough for any special dinners. Serve it with Mashed Cauliflower and Honey Garlic Carrots for a delicious, healthy meal.
Pork tenderloin is one of my favorite things to make in the slow cooker since I find the end product resembles a much fattier cut of pork without so many calories. It also generally erases the worry of cooking a dry tenderloin, which is very easy to do in the oven. I can't tell you how many dry pork tenderloins I made, almost swearing off it forever, because I was cooking it too long or at the wrong temperature.
For this slow cooker maple pork tenderloin, maple syrup (the real stuff!) and mustard are used to add tons of flavor and create a lovely sauce that can be spooned over the pork afterward. There's also some soy sauce as the salty element, which adds some umami flavor you wouldn't get with just salt. Make sure to choose a really good mustard, since it is an important flavor in the sauce. I always use whole grain mustard, but a good Dijon or brown mustard would be great as well.
When it comes to side dishes, I like to serve it with crispy roasted Brussels sprouts and carrots. Sometimes I also throw some carrots and potatoes right into the slow cooker as well when I know I won't have time to roast the vegetables later in the day.
Tips for Making this Slow Cooker Maple Pork Tenderloin
- To add some extra flavor, consider browning the pork in a hot pan before adding it to the slow cooker. This will add a nice brown color to the outside and also deepens the flavor.
- If you opt to add potatoes to the dish, I recommend Yukon gold potatoes since they will hold up well and have a super creamy texture.
- Make sure to use real maple syrup for this recipe. It adds so much more flavor than the fake stuff. Also, a good mustard is key.
- If you are gluten-free, you can use a gluten free soy sauce or coconut aminos in the recipe.
- Feel free to add some herbs to the dish! Rosemary and thyme both work really well and pair really well with the maple mustard sauce.
Can I add vegetables to the crockpot with the pork?
The short answer is yes, but it will depend on how you like your vegetables cooked. So you can definitely add vegetables to this dish right in the slow cooker but I would only recommend adding vegetables that you don't mind mushy. For example, heartier vegetables like carrots, potatoes, sweet potatoes, or butternut squash would all work. You could also add some cabbage or even apples. However, I wouldn't recommend adding something like broccoli or zucchini since it would end up extremely mushy and those veggies should maintain some bite.
Can I use a different cut of pork?
This recipe will work great with something like a pork loin roast for a more traditional roast pork. You could also use ribs or a shoulder but it most likely will need to cook for 8-10 hours to ensure it is tender.
Can I make this with a different protein?
Absolutely! This would turn out great with chicken thighs. You could also use chicken breasts but would want to cut down the cooking time to 3-4 hours on low to ensure they don't dry out.
Looking for more Healthy Slow Cooker Pork Recipes?
- Slow Cooker Balsamic Brown Sugar Pork
- Slow Cooker Spicy Pulled Pork
- Slow Cooker Korean Pulled Pork
- Slow Cooker Honey Pork Tenderloin with Pears
- Slow Cooker Pork Tenderloin with Apples
Here are some of the products I used when making this recipe.
- Slow Cooker: There are so many different slow cookers on the market but I personally use this one that allows me to brown, sear, or saute in the same pan. Plus I find the cooking temperature to be really even and consistent.
- This is my favorite whole grain mustard. I use it on sandwiches all the time plus in recipes and sauces since it adds so much flavor.