Slow Cooker Honey Apple Pork Loin is a beautiful and tender pork dinner. Apples are tucked into the pork loin and cooked with onions, butter, honey and a touch of cinnamon.
Have you seen pork done with the apples stuffed in the top? I’ve wanted to try this for a while now. I’m glad I finally got around to trying it, and I want to share my results with you. I really love the way the pork turned out. It came out tender and juicy, and with cooking it for only 6 hours I was able to slice the pork instead of having shredded meat.
First I start by cutting slits into the pork, and stuffing sliced granny Smith apples into those slits.. I do this on a cutting board, it would be very difficult to do this in the slow cooker, you will see in my photos and video how tight of a fit the pork is.
I lay onion and more apple slices down in the slow cooker. I also add a few pats of butter. I do this for a bit of cooking liquid for the pork, and to add more flavor.
After adding the pork to the slow cooker I season with salt, pepper and cinnamon. Then I drizzle over honey, and lay over thyme sprigs. I cook this honey apple pork loin for 6 hours on low.
Here is the pork after being cooked for 6 hours.
All ready to serve! I made rice pilaf to go with this, it was a great side for the pork.
See how moist and tender the pork is? AND it was sliceable. If I let this go any longer it would be shredded meat.
Here is the video on how to make this meal. You will see how easy it is, don’t be intimidated about cutting the pork for the apple slices, I did it in one take. You can follow me on YouTube here for more slow cooker videos.
- 3-4 lb. pork loin (I use a center cut)
- 2 granny smith apples, sliced and divided
- 1 white onion, sliced
- ½ cup butter, sliced
- ¼ tsp. salt
- ¼ tsp. pepper
- ½ tsp. cinnamon
- ¼ cup honey
- ½ tsp. dried thyme or a few sprigs of fresh
- 6-quart or larger
- Cut slits on the top of the pork loin, I cut about an inch down. Plug in apple slices into the slits. Set aside.
- Add the onions and remaining apple slices down in the slow cooker. Lay over the slices of butter.
- Add the pork loin.
- Sprinkle the pork with the salt, pepper and cinnamon. Add the thyme.
- Drizzle over the honey.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 6 hours without opening the lid during the cooking time.
- When the cooking time is done. Remove the pork onto a platter and let rest for at least 5 minutes. Slice and serve.
I used my 6-quart oval Crock-Pot for this recipe.
You may also like: Slow Cooker Garlic Parmesan Potatoes
Wendy Patton says
January 31, 2017 at 10:03 pmI’m going to try this recipe this weekend for a dinner party main course – looks easy and yummy!
Sarah Olson says
February 1, 2017 at 6:50 amI think it will be great for a party.
Anonymous says
March 12, 2019 at 7:36 pmCooked this for sunday dinner for some of the family. Got to say was very very nice. will definitely be doing it again.. (MARCH 10TH 2019) England.
colette moreno says
February 1, 2017 at 4:21 amI do not like cinnamon, what can I use instead?
Sarah Olson says
February 1, 2017 at 6:50 amYou can leave it out for sure. You can add a touch more thyme or even some oregano.
Bobbi Range Leonard says
February 8, 2017 at 7:43 pmSage or poultry seasoning might be good, too. I like the idea of cinnamon with the apples and honey–should be a yummy sauce for the pork loin. I’m wondering what the white stuff all over the top of finished pork roast is…?
Hanson says
March 16, 2017 at 12:50 pmThe white stuff on top of the roast, is the juices from the meat that have cooked. The blood, other juices. It Cooks to a whiteish color
Mary Patrice Bradley says
May 23, 2017 at 7:41 amCould you add both thyme and rosemary along with the cinnamon and honey?
Sarah Olson says
May 23, 2017 at 9:16 amYes, I think that would be great!
mike says
April 14, 2017 at 1:15 pmI’m going to try adding some brown sugar with the cinnamon
Tina Meeker says
February 1, 2017 at 11:01 amLooks good. My only question is what recipe did you use to make the rice pilaf?
Sarah Olson says
February 1, 2017 at 12:09 pmHi Tina. I went with the easy route and made 2 boxes of the farmhouse brand.
captaingirl says
February 2, 2017 at 3:05 pmThat looks like so much more than 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon, sure went a long way! Will definitely be trying this very soon, thanks.
Jeanne says
September 25, 2018 at 7:25 amMade this & used much more than 1/2 tsp cinnamon. Fabulous, making again tonight.
Sarah Olson says
September 25, 2018 at 10:00 amYum!
Marcie says
February 12, 2017 at 7:40 amTrying this today! I dont have a loin but a pork roast hope that will work. I’m giving it a shot!
Sarah Olson says
February 12, 2017 at 7:51 amI think it will be great!
Angela says
February 28, 2017 at 11:24 amCan I use the high setting and would that be 3 hours then?
Sarah Olson says
February 28, 2017 at 2:57 pmIt may need longer than three since its such a large piece of meat. Maybe 3.5 hours without opening the lid.
joyce P. lewter says
February 28, 2017 at 12:52 pmthank you so much for making receios printable. that just makes my day, and makes me happy to make your delic. receips.
Ira Brown says
March 4, 2017 at 12:08 pmMade this recipe and 1\2 a cup of butter is to much. Going forward i would olnly use a 1/4 cup of butter. But other than that an amazing recipe and was a huge crowd oleaser for my Wednesday night dinner.
Cindy says
March 7, 2017 at 3:30 pmI just made this yesterday, used apples, onion, butter, rosemary and maple syrup, put it in a slow cooker for 10 hours and, it was amazing ! It was that tender it pulled apart with a fork! This recipe is a keeper! Delish!
Sarah Olson says
March 7, 2017 at 3:46 pmI’m glad 10 hours worked for you! That’s great news for people who are gone all day. Thanks for leaving a comment!
Terri says
March 8, 2017 at 9:21 amCan this be made in the oven?
Sarah Olson says
March 8, 2017 at 11:13 amI’m sure it could!
Martha Vranesevic says
March 10, 2017 at 4:57 pmThat’s great. I was wondering the same thing.
Martha Vranesevic says
March 10, 2017 at 4:56 pmI was wondering if you don’t have a slow cooker can you cook this wonderful Pork Loin with Apples Recipe in the oven. It looks easy and yummy. My mother is looking for an easy recipe and I think I found her one.
Mary says
April 7, 2017 at 6:01 pmI made this last weekend and it was delicious! I suggest making a roux at the end to add to gravy to thicken. I also think the granny smith apples were too tart and would substitue with a sweeter apple if I were to make it again.
Fran says
April 8, 2017 at 12:00 pmAny suggestions how I would modify this recipe for my 4-quart slow cooker? It looks delish…can’t wait to try it, but my crock pot is smaller! Please help! Thank you!
Carmen says
June 19, 2017 at 11:46 amI used a pork tenderloin, perfect for a small slow cooker, thicken sauce, it’s delicious.
AIMEE says
April 22, 2017 at 4:18 pmI’m making this for tomorrow but will use Chinese 5 spice instead of the cinnamon. So excited to try this!!
Sarah Olson says
April 23, 2017 at 7:29 amThe Chinese 5 spice sounds really good! Let me know how you like it!
Nicole says
May 27, 2017 at 4:11 pmMy loin is only 1.5lb, can you please suggest the cooking time for this size?
Sarah Olson says
May 28, 2017 at 8:55 am5 hours low would work good!
Sarah says
May 31, 2017 at 5:38 amTried it and it was absolutely horrible. Cooked it for 4 hours because it was a smaller size and it was still incredibly dry. The cinnamon was too overpowering and didn’t mix well with the taste of the onion. I wouldn’t recommend at all.
Sarah Olson says
May 31, 2017 at 7:53 am4 hours wouldn’t be enough time to make any size roast tender, and since it was smaller I can see the cinnamon being over powering.
Erica says
May 31, 2017 at 6:10 pmI followed the recipe exactly as written. In my opinion, the 6 hour sale of cook time is too long. The pork was drier than saw dust. I am trying to salvage the meat by slicing it and letting it soak up the juices. The flavour was nice though
Kayla says
June 18, 2017 at 5:56 pmI made this exactly as directed and it was great… if you like dry tasteless pork and soggy apple stew. I was mislead by how simple the recipe was and how good the video made it look. Mine looked the same all the way throughout the steps but the taste is not worth the price for meat and produce. Going to make the leftovers (nearly all of it) into pulled pork with some sweet baby rays.
miishen says
March 31, 2018 at 2:31 pmWow. If you don’t like it, fine. But no need to be an asshole.
Candy says
July 15, 2017 at 8:11 pmJust tried it and it is super delicious. My six year old had three servings. My aunt hosts a lot of dinners at her house and I sent her the recipe to try. Definitely recommend it!
Laura says
August 6, 2017 at 3:34 pmI read several of the replies and altered original as some of the others did. Delicious!!! I used 1/4 cup butter ,onion salt ,macintosh apples ,oregano ,thyme ,honey and cinnamon. My pork was 1.5lb cooked it for 5 hours on low. I definitely will cook it again.
Sarah Olson says
August 7, 2017 at 6:37 amHappy to hear that Laura!
Ashley Kirk says
August 15, 2017 at 7:42 amSilly question but what is the point of the apples? What do they add to it? Thanks =) (Yes, I am new to this more than basic cooking thing although I have done alot with my slow cooker =) )
Sarah Olson says
August 15, 2017 at 8:37 amApples and pork go great together, it’s a wonderful flavor combination 🙂
Kathy Bossenberger says
September 20, 2017 at 6:35 pmI am so glad this recipe came back up. My computer crashed and I lost everything. This was awesome. Rice is a definite.
Sarah Olson says
September 20, 2017 at 6:57 pmGlad you were able to find it again Kathy!
Sue says
October 8, 2017 at 4:05 pmIs this a boneless center cut or with the bone?
Sarah Olson says
October 8, 2017 at 5:37 pmBoneless 🙂
Rachel H says
October 11, 2017 at 5:23 pmI think I may try this tomorrow. Do you think it would work well to add veggies in the crock pot too (potatoes, carrots)?
Sarah Olson says
October 11, 2017 at 6:46 pmI don’t see why not!
Clarissa says
October 22, 2017 at 6:01 pmWhat do u do with the rest of the drippings and apples and onions ?
Sarah Olson says
October 22, 2017 at 8:02 pmI drizzled it over the pork and rice. You could make a gravy from it.
Linda says
November 18, 2017 at 5:41 pmNot enough seasoning. The loin came out very tender. I eat my pork loin with applesauce. Next time I will add more seasoning.
Connie Tebbe says
November 21, 2017 at 10:31 amCan you use the juice as a gravy?
Janice says
February 21, 2018 at 12:08 pmAdded some Rose wine. Just put in the crockpot. Hope it works out! Looks delicious.
Anonymous says
June 8, 2018 at 11:11 amPlus the apples must help to moisten the pork. I was surprised that there was no liquid added though.
beckycarol622 says
June 18, 2018 at 4:03 pmThis was delicious! I added potatoes, Italian herbs and parsley.
Tammara says
November 23, 2018 at 5:24 amThis recipe looks delicious! I’m not a fan of dry pork and wondering if it comes out dry as other reviewers have said. I am considering adding Apple cider vinegar to it for a little extra moisture. Do you thunk this could work?
Robin says
December 17, 2018 at 9:52 amDid that work for you? Thinking of doing the same thing…
Alex says
February 5, 2019 at 2:39 pmThis was really bland and dry. The apples were a soggy mushy mess and the pork only had a hint of flavor on the outside, very tasteless and dry inside. I think this recipe would benefit a lot from more seasonings, a liquid base (maybe apple juice or chicken stock depending on how you wanted to flavor it), adding the apples closer to the end, and a longer cook time. Like a previous commenter I ended up dousing the entire mess in BBQ sauce and letting it sit on low for a couple more hours to salvage it into pulled pork.