Slow Cooker Pork Loin Barbecue

By
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
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Updated on 03/24/21
Slow Cooker Pork Loin Barbecue recipe

The Spruce

Prep: 20 mins
Cook: 7 hrs
Total: 7 hrs 20 mins
Servings: 6 servings

A jazzed-up barbecue sauce and a variety of seasonings and spices make this a flavorful pork roast, cooked to perfection in the slow cooker. Serve the pork roast with potatoes or mac and cheese and your favorite side vegetables, or slice and serve in sandwiches with extra sauce and coleslaw.

Ingredients

For the Pork Roast:

  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil

  • 1 large onion, sliced or coarsely chopped

  • 1 (2- to 3-pound ) boneless pork loin roast

  • Kosher salt, to taste

  • Freshly ground pepper, to taste

For the Sauce:

  • 1/2 cup barbecue sauce

  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar

  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

  • 1 tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce

  • 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

  • 1/2 teaspoon minced garlic

  • 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Slow Cooker Pork Loin Barbecue ingredients
    The Spruce

  2. In a large skillet, heat the vegetable oil over medium heat. Add the onion and cook for 3 minutes.

    Sautéing onions
    The Spruce 

  3. If the roast is wrapped in netting, remove it. Sprinkle the roast all over with salt and freshly ground black pepper.

    Pork loin with spices
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  4. Add to the onion and brown on all sides, about 8 to 10 minutes total.

    Cooking pork loin
    The Spruce

  5. Transfer the roast and onion to the slow cooker.

    Pork loin in a slow cooker
    The Spruce

  6. In a bowl, combine the sauce ingredients—barbecue sauce, brown sugar, cider vinegar, soy sauce, ginger, garlic, black pepper.

    Barbecue sauce with garlic
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  7. Pour over the roast.

    Pork loin with barbecue sauce
    The Spruce

  8. Cover and cook on low for 5 to 7 hours, or until the roast is tender and thoroughly cooked. The minimum safe temperature for pork, according to the USDA, is 145 F. 

    Pot lid
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  9. Carefully remove the pork loin roast to a pan or platter.

    Slow Cooker Pork Loin Barbecue on white plate
     The Spruce

  10. Skim excess fat from the sauce and pour it into a saucepan. Bring to a boil on the stovetop and cook, stirring occasionally, until the sauce is reduced and thickened, about 4 minutes.

    Making gravy
    The Spruce

  11. Put the pork loin roast and sauce back in the slow cooker and keep warm until serving time.

    Slow Cooker Pork Loin Barbecue
     The Spruce

  12. Slice and serve the pork roast. Enjoy.

    Easy Slow Cooker Pork Loin Barbecue sandwich
    The Spruce 

Tips

  • Double the sauce for the recipe and serve it on the side in a sauce dish or gravy boat.
  • This recipe is excellent with boneless country-style ribs as well.

Recipe Variations

  • A boneless pork shoulder can be used instead of the leaner pork loin roast. If you do use a pork shoulder, add at least 2 hours or more to the cooking time. It should be very tender.
  • Replace the barbecue sauce ingredients with about 2/3 cup to 1 cup of your family's favorite commercial sauce.
  • Add a small amount of liquid smoke or mesquite seasoning to the sauce for a smoky flavor.
  • Add about 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of crushed red pepper flakes to the sauce mixture.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
523 Calories
22g Fat
16g Carbs
61g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6
Amount per serving
Calories 523
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 22g 29%
Saturated Fat 7g 33%
Cholesterol 181mg 60%
Sodium 488mg 21%
Total Carbohydrate 16g 6%
Dietary Fiber 1g 2%
Total Sugars 12g
Protein 61g
Vitamin C 1mg 7%
Calcium 34mg 3%
Iron 2mg 10%
Potassium 902mg 19%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)