Cranberry Pork Loin Crockpot Recipe - The Magical Slow Cooker (2024)

The Magical Slow Cooker » Recipes » Dinner » Slow Cooker Cranberry Pork Loin

by Sarah Olson on | Updated 91 Comments

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You won’t believe how tender this slow cooker cranberry pork loin is! Cranberry sauce is combined with onion soup mix in this recipe, and it’s a perfect pair. It’s a wonderful comfort food weeknight meal or can even be the main dish for a holiday dinner.

If you love a good pork loin, then cooking it in the slow cooker is a must! We love this recipe or honey apple pork loin.

Cranberry Pork Loin Crockpot Recipe - The Magical Slow Cooker (1)

Why this recipe works

I mix Lipton onion soup mix with cranberry, which helps this dish to taste more savory than sweet. This is one of those three ingredients recipes that you can make any night of the week!

I’m excited to start the holiday recipes with this slow cooker cranberry pork loin. Typically when you think of pairing cranberry with a protein, you think turkey, but surprisingly cranberry is even better with pork! Another great recipe we often make is slow cooker pineapple pork loin!

Recipe Ingredients

Cranberry Pork Loin Crockpot Recipe - The Magical Slow Cooker (2)
  • Pork Loin – This is the larger than a pork tenderloin and has a little bit of fat. It has amazing flavor and doesn’t dry out in the slow cooker.
  • Lipton Onion Soup Mix – This adds a punch of onion flavor to the recipe and pairs very well with cranberry. If you prefer to make a homemade mix, try this homemade onion soup mix recipe.
  • Whole Cranberry Sauce – I use one can of whole cranberry in this recipe, though you can use homemade slow cooker cranberry sauce if you have it.
  • Fresh Cranberries – (OPTIONAL) If desired you can garnish with fresh cranberries, I only do this if I am serving for company.

Step-by-Step Directions

Cranberry Pork Loin Crockpot Recipe - The Magical Slow Cooker (3)

Step One – Add the pork loin roast to the slow cooker. If your pork loin has a fatty side, place that side down.

Step Two – In a small bowl, add the whole berry cranberry sauce and the onion soup mix. Mix these two ingredients until combined.

Step Three – Pour over the cranberry/onion mixture over the pork loin.

Step Four – Place the lid on the slow cooker and cook on LOW for 6 hours. Garnish with fresh cranberries if desired. See suggestions below on how to serve; we love mashed potatoes!

Cranberry Pork Loin Crockpot Recipe - The Magical Slow Cooker (4)

What To Serve With This Recipe

Choose one or more of these options. Think holiday dinner when serving this crock pot cranberry pork.

  • Additional cranberry sauce – we love to serve cold cranberry on the side of this pork just as you would turkey.
  • Rice Pilaf – I make Farmstand Wild Rice Pilaf or Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes.
  • Slow Cooker Dinner Rolls
  • Slow Cooker green bean and bacon or slow cooker green bean casserole.
  • Ceaser Salad – Try this ceaser dressing for the BEST ceaser salad, we make it often.
Cranberry Pork Loin Crockpot Recipe - The Magical Slow Cooker (5)

Variations

  • Cranberry Orange Pork Loin– Add a 1/2 cup of orange marmalade to this recipe, you’ll be amazed how well orange and cranberry go together.
  • Cranberry Pork Loin wirth Sauerkraut– Add 1 bag of sauerkraut around the pork loin. This is for all my sauerkraut lovers!
  • Pineapple Cranberry Pork Loin– Add a drained can of crushed pineapple to this recipe.
  • Flavor burst – Want to add depth of flavor and uniqueness to your recipe? Add one tablespoon of balsamic vinegar, Worcestershire sauce or soy sauce.
Cranberry Pork Loin Crockpot Recipe - The Magical Slow Cooker (6)

Recipe FAQs

Can I use homemade cranberry sauce in this recipe?

Yes! I have done this recipe with my homemade slow cooker cranberry sauce and had great results. Use 1 1/2 to 2 cups of fresh cranberry sauce if you have slow cooker cranberry butter, that works great too!

What can be used instead of Lipton onion soup mix?

You can use a can of Campbell’s French Onion Soup (don’t add water) in place of the powdered mix. Alternatively, you can use a half cup of dried minced onions. If you can’t have onions, skip it!

What other cuts of meat will work?

Try this cranberry and onion mixture over boneless pork ribs, pork butt, or even chicken thighs.

Can jellied cranberry sauce be used?

Yes, use a can of jellied cranberry in this recipe. I know many people don’t like whole cranberry sauce and making this switch won’t affect the recipe at all.

Other great slow cooker pork loin recipes:

  • Slow Cooker Brown Sugar Sesame Pork Loin
  • Slow Cooker Honey Apple Pork Loin
  • Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Pork Loin
  • Slow Cooker Green Chile Pork Loin
  • Slow Cooker Apple Barbecue Pork Loin

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Cranberry Pork Loin Crockpot Recipe - The Magical Slow Cooker (7)

Slow Cooker Cranberry Pork Loin Recipe

4.97 from 79 votes

Delicious holiday cranberry sauce is given a new place on your table in this savory pork loin roast. Onion soup mix gives this roast a wonderful flavor.

Print Pin Rate

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 6 hours hours

Total Time: 6 hours hours 5 minutes minutes

Servings: 8

Calories: 385kcal

Author: Sarah Olson

Ingredients:

  • 4 lb. pork loin 3-4 lbs
  • 14 oz. can whole cranberry sauce
  • 1 oz. packet Lipton onion soup mix

Optional but recommended for serving

  • 1 can cranberry sauce (whole or jellied) cold cranberry sauce on the side of this pork for serving is AMAZING. Grab another can if you can.
  • fresh cranberries for garnish

US CustomaryMetric

Instructions:

  • In a small bowl add the cranberry sauce and the onion soup mix, stir until combined.

  • Add the pork loin into the slow cooker.

  • Pour over the cranberry mixture.

  • Cover and cook on low for 6-7 hours without opening the lid during the cooking time.

  • Slice and serve with the sauce in the slow cooker.

How to Video:

Sarah’s Notes:

Can I use homemade cranberry sauce?

Yes! If you have leftover cranberry sauce, it will work wonderfully in this recipe.

Can I use jellied cranberry sauce?

Yes! Jellied works fine in this recipe and will make a smoother sauce.

What other cuts of meat will work?

Try this cranberry and onion mixture over boneless pork ribs, pork butt, or even chicken thighs.

What can be used instead of Lipton onion soup mix?

You can use a can of Campbell’s French Onion Soup (don’t add water) in place of the powdered mix. Alternatively, you can use a half cup of dried minced onions. If you can’t have onions, skip it!

Variations

  • Cranberry Orange Pork Loin– Add a 1/2 cup of orange marmalade to this recipe, you’ll be amazed how well orange and cranberry go together.
  • Cranberry Pork Loin wirth Sauerkraut– Add 1 bag of sauerkraut around the pork loin. This is for all my sauerkraut lovers!
  • Pineapple Cranberry Pork Loin– Add a drained can of crushed pineapple to this recipe.
  • Flavor burst – Want to add depth of flavor and uniqueness to your recipe? Add one tablespoon of balsamic vinegar, Worcestershire sauce or soy sauce.

Nutrition Information:

Serving: 8g | Calories: 385kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 51g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 143mg | Sodium: 410mg | Potassium: 887mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 19g | Vitamin A: 21IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 18mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.

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Cranberry Pork Loin Crockpot Recipe - The Magical Slow Cooker (2024)

FAQs

Can you put pork in slow cooker without liquid? ›

How much liquid do you put in pulled pork? If your cooking it in a slow cooker, then none. Just add an onion and maybe a green pepper. The liquid from them will not only help flavor the meat, but will also add more than enough liquid to keep it moist.

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

Pork loin should be slow slow-roasted in order to become tender. It should not be cooked quickly or roasted at high temperatures. Pork tenderloin cooks quite quickly at higher temperatures, anywhere from 350 degrees to 425 degrees F.

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.

What pork is best for slow cooking? ›

NOTE: Pork shoulder is a large piece of meat and is usually divided into two (or even three) for retail, each around 1.2-1.5kg. The top part (known as the butt) is best for slow cooking, while the lower shoulder section absorbs flavours beautifully.

What liquid should I cook pork in? ›

Mix hot water and soy sauce. Put one sliced onion in bottom of crockpot. Add browned pork roast and remaining onion and other ingredients. Cover and cook on high for 4 or so hours.

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

Slow cook the pork 14 to 16 hours.

Cover and cook on the LOW setting until the pork is soft enough to pull apart with a spoon, 14 to 16 hours.

What is the secret to tender pork loin? ›

Once the pork loin roast reaches 145°F on an instant-read thermometer, remove it from the oven, and let it rest on a cutting board for 20 minutes. This gives the meat time to reabsorb all its juices. You can also brine the pork before you cook it, which ensures the meat stays tender, juicy, and well-seasoned.

Is there a difference between pork loin and pork tenderloin? ›

A pork tenderloin is a long, narrow, boneless cut of meat that comes from the muscle that runs along the backbone. A pork loin is wider and flatter, and can be a boneless or bone-in cut of meat. Pork loin comes from the back of the animal.

Should you sear 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.

Can you overcook pork in a slow cooker? ›

The internal temperature will rise while resting, about another 5 degrees or so and you'll still have perfectly cooked pork. Can we slow cook pork for too long? Of course you can slow pork too long. You can overcook anything, even with moist heat.

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.

Why is my slow cooker pork too tough? ›

It's because you haven't let the collagen break down. Extend the cook time, make sure there's enough liquid and keep an eye on the dish.

Can you put raw pork in a slow cooker? ›

Can You Put Raw Meat in the Slow Cooker? It is safe to add raw meat to a crock pot or slow cooker if it will be cooked through completely. Tough cuts like pot roast, pork shoulder, and stew meat can be browned first and then cooked through in the cooker or simply added to the crock pot.

Can you use a pork loin for pulled pork? ›

You can shred pork loin to make a massive batch of pulled pork great for cook-outs, potlucks, parties for a sizable group, or for lunches and dinners — with plenty of extras to freeze and reheat. This dish can be served by itself or "sloppy joe" style on hamburger buns.

What's the longest you can slow cook pork? ›

pork loin: 6–8 hrs on Low or 4–6 hrs on High. Can you slow cook already cooked pork? Yes, and no. Sure you can do it.

What happens if you don't put liquid in a slow cooker? ›

It's really no different from cooking something on a stove: if you have no liquid at all, things are probably going to start getting too hot, sticking on the bottom, and maybe burning. As long as there's some liquid, you'll be fine.

Can you put meat in a slow cooker with no liquid? ›

Water or liquid is necessary to create steam. When cooking meat or poultry, the water or liquid level should cover the ingredients to ensure effective heat transfer throughout the crock. Some manufacturers of slow cookers recommend adding liquid to fill the stoneware 1/2 to 3/4 full.

Can you slow cook meat in a slow cooker without liquid? ›

There is no need to cover the meat in liquid when cooking with a slow cooker, you only need enough liquid to cover the base of the slow cooker as the meat and vegetables will release liquid as they cook.

Can you cook things in a slow cooker without liquid? ›

A slow cooker does not need any liquid added at the beginning of the cooking process, because it will generate steam, which will become liquid in the bowl. For recipes that use liquid, and have not been written specifically for a slow cooker it make sense to reduce the amount of liquid by half.

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