Apple Cinnamon Pork Loin is a delightful and comforting dish that’s perfect for a cozy weeknight dinner. It combines the savory flavors of pork loin with the sweetness of apples, honey, and cinnamon, creating a delicious and tender roast. Plus, it’s incredibly easy to make in a slow cooker.
Few things can compare to the satisfaction of indulging in a succulent roast that didn’t require all-day labor and constant attention. Returning home to the enticing fragrance of pork, apple, and honey will undoubtedly make your mouth water as soon as you open the door.
Prepare the Apple Cinnamon Pork Loin, and you’ll be rewarded with a remarkably tender and flavorful dish, all thanks to straightforward ingredients and minimal prep work. In under 20 minutes, your pork roast can be nestled in the crock pot, and after just a few hours, you’ll have a juicy main course ready to devour.
When it comes to serving your pork loin, it pairs exceptionally well with side dishes featuring sweet or regular potatoes. These mild starches complement the pork and its delightful apple honey flavor without overpowering it.
Traditionally, applesauce has been the go-to sauce for pork chops and roasts. However, for this recipe, we’ve taken a different approach by crafting an Apple Cider Gravy using the slow cooker juices, instead of the typical turkey drippings. This gravy offers all the sweetness of applesauce but boasts a rich, buttery, and savory dimension. It’s a fantastic addition, especially if you choose to serve your Apple Cinnamon Pork Loin with Mashed Potatoes and Roasted Veggies. For more effortless weeknight dinner recipes, stay tuned.
How to Make Apple Cinnamon Pork Loin
- Season the roast and sear it on all sides in a large skillet.
- Create approximately sixteen 3-inch deep slits on the top of the roast and insert one apple slice into each slit.
- In a 4-quart slow cooker, place half of the remaining apple slices, then position the roast on top.
- Drizzle honey over the roast, and then add the onion and the remaining apple slices. Sprinkle cinnamon over the top.
- Cover the slow cooker and cook on the low setting for 6-8 hours or until the meat becomes tender.
- Remove the pork roast and apple mixture from the slow cooker, and keep it warm.
- Optionally, you can reserve the cooking juices to make Apple Cider Gravy.
How to Make Apple Cider Gravy
- Season the roast and sear it on all sides in a large skillet.
- Create approximately sixteen 3-inch deep slits on the top of the roast and insert one apple slice into each slit.
- In a 4-quart slow cooker, place half of the remaining apple slices, then position the roast on top.
- Drizzle honey over the roast, and then add the onion and the remaining apple slices. Sprinkle cinnamon over the top.
- Cover the slow cooker and cook on the low setting for 6-8 hours or until the meat becomes tender.
- Remove the pork roast and apple mixture from the slow cooker, and keep it warm.
- Optionally, you can reserve the cooking juices to make Apple Cider Gravy.
Principal Components of Apple Apple Pork Loin
- Pork: Opt for a substantial boneless pork loin, typically weighing around 2-3 pounds, with a rich dark pink color. It should feature a creamy white fat cap on top, approximately half an inch thick.
- Apples: Given the honey’s inherent sweetness, go for tart and crisp apple varieties like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp to balance the flavors.
- Honey: Traditional clover honey is an excellent choice for this recipe. If your honey has crystallized, you can easily restore its smooth texture by placing the container in a bowl of hot water or scooping it out with a spoon to distribute dollops onto the roast before slow cooking.
- Onion: Red onion brings an aromatic dimension to the dish, harmonizing with both the savory and sweet elements, thus helping to unite the flavors.
- Cinnamon: Cinnamon contributes a warm and spicy note that blends harmoniously with the honey and sweet apples, resulting in a multi-layered flavor profile for the pork.
Apple Roasted in an Oven Apple Pork Loin
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
- Prepare pork loin by browning and stuffing with apples.
- Add pork loin to baking pan with onions and remaining apples.
- Drizzle honey over the top of the roast and sprinkle with cinnamon.
- Bake for 60-70 minutes, or until roast reaches 150-160 degrees internally
Apple Cinnamon Pork Loin in the Instant Pot
- Brown pork loin in skillet and stuff with apples.
- Add 1 cup water, onions, and half of the remaining apples to your Instant Pot.
- Place stuffed pork loin into the pot and drizzle with honey.
- Top roast with remaining apples and cinnamon.
- Lock lid into place and seal steam nozzle.
- Cook on high pressure for 35 minutes.
- Let pressure release naturally for 15-20 minutes.
- Remove and allow to rest for 5 minutes.
Variations on Apple Cinnamon Pork Loin
- Spices and Seasonings: Instead of ground cinnamon, consider using a more robust spice like ground cloves or nutmeg for a different flavor profile. You can also introduce seasonings like garlic, thyme, or rosemary to enhance the savory aspects of the dish.
- BBQ Sauce: To balance out the sweetness of the honey and apples while infusing a smoky and tangy twist, try adding a cup of your favorite BBQ sauce.
- Cranberry Apple Stuffed Pork Loin: Embrace the holiday season by incorporating cranberries. Include either frozen or fresh cranberries along with the apple slices to impart a festive touch to your dish.
- Brown Sugar: For a delectable twist, replace half of the honey with brown sugar. Rub it onto the cut pork before drizzling with honey to create a sweet and caramelized crust on the pork.
Ingredients
- 1 boneless pork loin roast , 2 to 3 pounds
- 1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon coarse ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon canola oil
- 3 medium apples , peeled and sliced, divided
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1 small red onion , halved and sliced
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Start by seasoning the pork roast with salt and pepper to taste.
- In a large skillet, heat the cooking oil over medium-high heat. Brown the pork roast on all sides until it develops a nice sear. Remove the roast from the skillet and allow it to cool slightly.
- Using a paring knife, make approximately sixteen 3-inch deep slits in the top of the roast.
- Insert one slice of apple into each of these slits.
- In a 4-quart slow cooker, begin by placing half of the remaining sliced apples.
- Position the browned roast on top of the apples.
- Drizzle the honey over the roast, and then add the thinly sliced red onion and the rest of the sliced apples on top.
- Sprinkle the ground cinnamon evenly over the ingredients.
- Cover the slow cooker and set it to cook on the low heat setting for 6-8 hours or until the meat becomes tender and easily pulls apart.
- Once the pork is done, remove it from the slow cooker along with the apple mixture, and keep it warm.
- Optionally, you can reserve the cooking juices to make Apple Cider Gravy as a delicious accompaniment.
Enjoy your scrumptious Apple Cinnamon Pork Loin!