Asian Pork Tenderloin Recipe (Slow Cooker) from The Food Charlatan. (2024)

An easy and healthy slow cooker pork tenderloin recipe with Asian vibes and a ginger glaze that gets caramelized under the broiler. Bring on the crusty topping.Originally published January 9, 2015.

Asian Pork Tenderloin Recipe (Slow Cooker) from The Food Charlatan. (1)
Table of Contents
  1. You will love this Slow Cooker Pork Tenderloin
  2. Pork Tenderloin Slow Cooker ingredients
  3. Asian Pork Tenderloin substitutions and additions
  4. How to make Asian Pork Tenderloin Marinade
  5. How to cook Marinated Pork Tenderloin in Slow Cooker
  6. How to serve this Pork Tenderloin Asian Recipe
  7. How to store Slow Cooker Pork Tenderloin
  8. Asian Style Pork Tenderloin FAQs
  9. More satisfying and easy pork recipes!
  10. Asian Style Pork Tenderloin (Slow Cooker) Recipe

Today Charlotte was dropped off at home from a playdate at a friend’s, and as we’re eating lunch she says, “Mom, you never got dressed!”

“What! Yes I did!”

“No, you didn’t.”

“I took a shower! I put on makeup!”

“Well you look the same.”

THANKS A LOT CHARLOTTE. Sometimes living with a 3-year-old is all you need to keep your ego in check. Although to be fair, I probably needed an ego check after The Autograph Incident.

Asian Pork Tenderloin Recipe (Slow Cooker) from The Food Charlatan. (2)

Also, to be even more fair, I’m sick right now, so when I say “I got dressed” I mean that I got out of the shower and put on a whole different pair of yoga pants. Here I come, world.

One time my sister-in-law Sandi didn’t have her usual glasses on, and one of her kids asked why she had to wear them all the time. She explained that she has an astigmatism that makes it impossible to wear contacts. Her son replied, “Well that’s too bad. You look better without them.” ZING. For the record, Sandi, I like your glasses.

Asian Pork Tenderloin Recipe (Slow Cooker) from The Food Charlatan. (3)

Have you guys tried out myBrown Sugar Balsamic Pork Tenderloin? It’s a reader favorite here on the blog. It’s a slow cooker, no-fail kind of recipe. I make it all the time, especially when we are having company for dinner. It’s so easy yet seems impressive.

I wanted to change it up, so I made this version to go with theAsian Cauliflower “Rice”I posted on Wednesday. I’m really loving the addition of ginger to the glaze. It’s just as easy as the original recipe, onlya few more spices called for in the rub. A healthy entree for all us healthy people in healthy January!

You will love this Slow Cooker Pork Tenderloin

I love slow cooker meals. I have a huge section of slow cooker recipes because I am not, shall we say, the best at remembering that dinner is a thing until everyone is already starving, ravenously crawling the kitchen like velociraptors who’ve just learned how to open doors.

This Asian-inspired pork tenderloin is perfect for my forgetful, preoccupied ways because I don’t have to do anything until the last 10 minutes before dinner. I just pull the pork tenderloin out of the crockpot, slap on the glaze, and throw it under the broiler. I can put rice in the cooker, do some frozen cauliflower rice, or steam some veggies, and dinner is done!

Pork Tenderloin Slow Cooker ingredients

Here’s a quick shopping list to help you gather your ingredients. See the recipe card below for the full ingredients and instructions!

  • Brown sugar
  • Ground ginger
  • Ground cloves
  • Cinnamon
  • Garlic powder
  • Crushed red pepper
  • Pork tenderloin (2 lbs.)
  • Cornstarch
  • Rice vinegar
  • Soy sauce
  • Fresh ginger
  • Fresh cilantro (to garnish)
  • Limes (to garnish)

Asian Pork Tenderloin substitutions and additions

If you’re missing a spice for the rub, say, cloves, don’t worry about it–just leave it out. The flavors will still be great. If you prefer less salt in the glaze, you can substitute low sodium soy sauce. And if you’re missing rice vinegar, you can substitute apple cider vinegar. It’s the best swap with its similar sweet and salty flavor.

Looking for something a little different? The original version of this recipe is my Brown Sugar Balsamic Pork Tenderloin. It uses the same technique of cooking the pork in the crockpot before finishing it off in the oven. It has an even shorter list of ingredients in the rub and switches up the Asian inspired glaze with a balsamic glaze.

How to make Asian Pork Tenderloin Marinade

When you’re making pork tenderloin in the slow cooker, you don’t really need a marinade–or rather, the rub we’re putting on the pork before cooking it acts as a marinade. This is because the pork, with the rub on it, is in the slow cooker essentially “marinating” for several hours.

I take a simple combo of brown sugar, ground ginger, ground cloves, cinnamon, garlic powder, and crushed red pepper, mix it together, and rub it on the pork. The Asian inspired flavor profile gets completed with the glaze we’re putting on after it’s cooked, so don’t worry that you’re not seeing the soy sauce and rice vinegar in this step!

Asian Pork Tenderloin Recipe (Slow Cooker) from The Food Charlatan. (4)

Before broiling, after broiling. Gingery crust. It’s a happy thing.

How to cook Marinated Pork Tenderloin in Slow Cooker

Here’s a quick overview of how to make this recipe in the slow cooker. Full instructions can be found in the recipe card below!

  1. In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, salt, powdered ginger, cinnamon, garlic, cloves, black pepper, and crushed red pepper.
  2. Place the tenderloins in the slow cooker. Rub the seasonings over the pork, including the bottom. Pour ½ cup water in the slow cooker.
  3. Cook on low for 6-8 hours, then preheat your broiler.
  4. Combine brown sugar, cornstarch, rice vinegar, water, and soy sauce in a saucepan.
  5. Set over medium heat and stir until mixture thickens. Remove from heat and stir in minced ginger.
  6. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and spray with nonstick spray.
  7. Remove the pork from the crock pot (discard the liquid) and place on the lined baking sheet. Brush a generous amount of the glaze on the pork.
  8. Put your oven rack as high as it will go, and broil the pork for 1 or 2 minutes, until bubbly and caramelized. Serve with remaining glaze on the side, and garnish with lime and cilantro.

How to serve this Pork Tenderloin Asian Recipe

I love making this pork tenderloin with some Asian Cauliflower “Rice.” No, of course it doesn’t taste like actual rice! But it is super delicious and pairs great with the pork.

If you’re thinking “No way!! I want real rice!!” ok, I got you, make this ​​Coconut Jasmine Rice. It is the realest. And fills your house with an amazing aroma.

This pork would also be awesome with some Marinated Asian Cucumber Salad. Super easy to throw together.

An amazing option for a complete meal would be to make Easy Sesame Noodles with Spring Veggies! Or, you can also stir fry some veggies, fresh or from a frozen bag of mixed stir fry veggies. Always gotta get those veggies in there!

Asian Pork Tenderloin Recipe (Slow Cooker) from The Food Charlatan. (5)

How to store Slow Cooker Pork Tenderloin

This pork tenderloin can be stored in the fridge for 3-5 days. The crust won’t stay crispy but it’s still got tons of flavor. It is a good one for meal prepping with some rice and stir fry veggies (like in the big bag in the freezer section at Costco).

I don’t recommend freezing this pork, though you technically can and it will be safe to eat. It’s just that you won’t get to experience that amazing crispy crust and the pork won’t maintain the ideal texture.

Asian Style Pork Tenderloin FAQs

What is the difference between pork loin and pork tenderloin?

Pork loin and pork tenderloin are actually quite different. Pork tenderloin is a very, very lean boneless cut of meat that is cut from the backbone area. It’s usually around 10-12 inches long and about 3-4 inches wide. Sometimes it’s sold in a 2-pack, but you might not realize that until you open it unless you read the packaging carefully. Pork loin is wide, flat, and can be boneless or bone-in. You can’t just substitute one for the other because they require different cooking methods to turn out tender and juicy.

How do you keep pork moist in a slow cooker?

When you’re cooking pork tenderloin in the crockpot, you want to avoid overcooking it. Pork tenderloin is a very lean cut of meat. After you’ve cooked it for 6 hours, you may want to temp it to make sure you’re not going way overboard. Once the pork hits 145 degrees, you’re done! Cooking it for a longer time is not going to benefit it.

Does pork need to be covered in liquid in the slow cooker?

No, meat never needs to be covered in liquid in the slow cooker. The heat is low enough that the juices from the meat you’re cooking will keep it from burning. We’re adding a small amount of liquid here because the pork tenderloin is very, very lean and doesn’t release as much fat or liquid as other meats.

More satisfying and easy pork recipes!

Brown Sugar Balsamic Pork Tenderloin << this is the recipe that inspired today’s Asian version.

Cuban Mojo-Marinated Pork << have you seen the movie Chef? This is the recipe for the meat in the Cubano sandwiches. It’s one of my most popular recipes ever!

Grilled Pork Tenderloin with Peanut Lime Sauce << more Asian flavors on pork tenderloin!

BBQ Pork Tenderloin Wraps << this is a fabulous45 minute meal.

Garlic Balsamic Crusted Pork Tenderloin from Lauren Kelly Nutrition

Roasted Chili Maple Pork Tenderloin from Aggie’s Kitchen

Dominican Pan Seared Pork Tenderloin Medallions from Belqui’s Twist


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Asian Pork Tenderloin Recipe (Slow Cooker) from The Food Charlatan. (6)

Asian Style Pork Tenderloin (Slow Cooker)

4.95 from 39 votes

Prep: 15 minutes mins

Cook: 6 hours hrs 30 minutes mins

Total: 6 hours hrs 45 minutes mins

Servings: 6 Servings

Asian Pork Tenderloin Recipe (Slow Cooker) from The Food Charlatan. (7)

An easy and healthy slow cooker pork tenderloin recipe with Asian vibes and a ginger glaze that gets caramelized under the broiler. Bring on the crusty topping.

Ingredients

For the rub:

  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 teaspoon powdered ginger
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon powdered cloves
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
  • 2 pounds pork tenderloin

For the glaze:

  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • ¼ cup rice vinegar, or white
  • ½ cup cold water
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 2 teaspoons fresh ginger, minced
  • fresh cilantro, to garnish
  • lime wedges, to garnish

Instructions

  • In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, salt, powdered ginger, cinnamon, garlic, cloves, black pepper, and crushed red pepper.

  • Place the tenderloins in the slow cooker. Rub the seasonings over the pork, including the bottom.

  • Pour ½ cup water in the slow cooker, on the edge or in the middle so that you don’t wash off all the spices you just rubbed on.

  • Cook on low for 6-8 hours, then preheat your broiler.

  • While the pork is finishing up in the slow cooker and your broiler heats up, combine 1/2 cup brown sugar, cornstarch, rice vinegar, COLD water, and soy sauce in a small saucepan.

  • Set over medium heat and stir until mixture thickens, about 4 minutes.

  • Remove from heat and stir in minced ginger.

  • Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and spray with nonstick spray.

  • Remove the pork from the crock pot (discard the liquid) and place on the lined baking sheet. Brush a generous amount of the glaze on the pork.

  • Put your oven rack as high as it will go, and broil the pork for 1 or 2 minutes, until bubbly and caramelized. Don’t walk away! Repeat 2 to 3 more times until it is as crusty as you want it. I wouldn’t go many more times than this though, or your pork will dry out.

  • Serve with remaining glaze on the side, and garnish with lime and cilantro. I love to serve this pork with Asian Cauliflower “Rice.”

Notes

If you are in a time crunch, you can use the cooking method found on this post for BBQ Pork Tenderloin Wraps. It will take about 30 minutes. Then continue with the broiling step. The meat will not be quite as tender, but I’ve tried it this way and it was still delicious.

Nutrition

Serving: 1plate | Calories: 274kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 32g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 98mg | Sodium: 1199mg | Potassium: 653mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 20g | Vitamin A: 54IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 33mg | Iron: 2mg

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Asian

Calories: 274

Keyword: Crockpot, ginger glaze, pork tenderloin, slow cooker

Did you make this? I’d love to see it!Mention @thefoodcharlatan or tag #thefoodcharlatan!

Categorized as Dinner, Healthy Dinner, International Flavors, , Pork, Slow Cooker!

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Asian Pork Tenderloin Recipe (Slow Cooker) from The Food Charlatan. (2024)

FAQs

Is it better to cook pork tenderloin fast or slow? ›

The size and structure of a tenderloin make it perfect for cooking quickly on high heat. You want to be able to brown the outside while still keeping it a little pink on the inside.

Why is my slow cooker pork loin dry? ›

Pork loin is infamously difficult to prepare because it dries out faster than other meat—keep it far, far away from your slow-cooker. Because pork loin is a lean meat, it is lower in fat and therefore more prone to drying out, Christine Hazel, recent winner of Food Network's Chopped, tells SELF.

How do you cook a pork tenderloin without drying out? ›

Tips for baking the best pork tenderloin
  1. Do not overcook it. As with any lean cut of meat, if it is overcooked, it will be dry. ...
  2. Use an instant-read meat thermometer. ...
  3. Sear the pork before you bake it. ...
  4. Add a little liquid. ...
  5. Pour a little apple cider vinegar over the pork.
Jun 1, 2020

Do you need to cook pork before slow cooking? ›

Preparing the pork

I prefer to season the meat before adding it to the slow cooker with my favourite spices, along with salt and pepper. I also recommend browning the meat slightly prior to slow cooking which will help maximise the flavour. However, this is a step that can be left out if you don't have enough time.

Does pork get more tender the longer it cooks in a slow cooker? ›

The cut comes from closer to the shoulder (as the name implies!), where the muscles are a bit tougher and have more connective tissue. This is a good thing for slow cooking since it means the cuts become more tender as they cook.

Does pork get tough in a slow cooker? ›

As long as you don't overcook them, these crock pot BBQ pork chops are deliciously tender and easy to cut. Know When They're Done. Dry, tough pork chops are likely over-cooked.

Should pork be covered with liquid in slow cooker? ›

Your liquid should not cover your pork in the slow cooker: it should only come up about a quarter of the way up the sides. The pork will make more liquid as it cooks, and you need to leave room for that. And 10 hours later, this huge hunk of meat is tender and ready.

Do I need to add liquid to slow cooker pork? ›

You don't need much liquid to slow cook pork since it releases juices while cooking when using the low setting. I use just enough to flavor the pork along with the reserved juices of the pork and serve the extra BBQ sauce on the side. If you wish to add liquid, you can add 1 cup of chicken broth.

How do you keep pork from drying out in a slow cooker? ›

Yes, it's generally recommended to add some liquid when cooking pork in a slow cooker to prevent it from drying out and to help distribute flavors. You can use broth, wine, barbecue sauce, or even just water depending on the recipe you're following.

Should you rinse pork tenderloin before cooking? ›

Washing beef, pork, lamb, or veal before cooking it is not recommended. Bacteria in raw meat and poultry juices can be spread to other foods, utensils, and surfaces. We call this cross-contamination.

Can pork tenderloin be a little pink when done? ›

If fresh pork has reached 145°F (62.8 °C) throughout, even though it may still be pink in the center, it should be safe. The pink color can be due to the cooking method or added ingredients.

How long can you leave pork in slow cooker on low? ›

1 – 2 hours, cook it for 3 – 4 hours on High or 6 – 8 hours on Low. 2 – 4 hours, cook it for 4 – 6 hours on High or 8 – 12 hours on Low.

How long can you leave pork in a crockpot on low? ›

Stick to the cook time indicated on your recipe

Most slow cooker meals take 8-12 hours on low or 4-6 hours on high, but there are also recipes for slow-cooked meat that take up to 24 hours. If you want to avoid overcooking your dish, follow the given guidelines as closely as possible.

What liquid should I cook pork in? ›

Water: A cup of water helps the pork tenderloin stay moist during cooking. Wine: Red wine lends complexity and enhances the flavor. Soy sauce: Soy sauce adds savory flavor.

What is the best temperature to cook pork tenderloin? ›

Pre-heat oven to 325F (165C). Bake pork tenderloin in the oven UNCOVERED for approximately 20-25 MINUTES *PER POUND* (44-55 MINUTES PER KILOGRAM) Or until internal temperature reaches 155F (68C), rested to a final 160F (71C).

What is the best way to cook pork so it is tender? ›

How to Make Tender Pork Chops
  1. Opt for Thick-Cut Bone-In Pork Chops. Thin-cut pork chops won't sear properly in the time it takes to cook them through. ...
  2. Skip the Brine, but Season Liberally. ...
  3. Let the Pork Chops Rest. ...
  4. Sear Pork Chops Over Medium-High Heat. ...
  5. Baste the Pork Chops. ...
  6. Let the Pork Chops Rest, Again. ...
  7. Serve.
Feb 14, 2018

Is it better to cook a pork loin at 350 or 400? ›

First, you will want to preheat your oven to 400° F. You will end up lowering the heat later on but it is important to start at a high temp to trap the moisture inside the pork loin. Next, grab your favorite dry rub and rub it all over the pork loin and make sure it's evenly distributed throughout the whole loin.

What is the best cooking method for loin? ›

CG: Roasting is the most natural way to cook a pork loin, and it's the easiest and the quickest to get into the oven. I like to sear the outside and then roast it, or you can just roast it as is. The indirect method of cooking preserves pork loin's inherent juiciness and tenderness.

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