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.
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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
I’m going to try this recipe this weekend for a dinner party main course – looks easy and yummy!
I think it will be great for a party.
I do not like cinnamon, what can I use instead?
You can leave it out for sure. You can add a touch more thyme or even some oregano.
Sage 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…?
The 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
Could you add both thyme and rosemary along with the cinnamon and honey?
Yes, I think that would be great!
I’m going to try adding some brown sugar with the cinnamon
Looks good. My only question is what recipe did you use to make the rice pilaf?
Hi Tina. I went with the easy route and made 2 boxes of the farmhouse brand.
That looks like so much more than 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon, sure went a long way! Will definitely be trying this very soon, thanks.
Trying this today! I dont have a loin but a pork roast hope that will work. I’m giving it a shot!
I think it will be great!
Can I use the high setting and would that be 3 hours then?
It may need longer than three since its such a large piece of meat. Maybe 3.5 hours without opening the lid.
thank you so much for making receios printable. that just makes my day, and makes me happy to make your delic. receips.
Made 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.
I 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!
I’m glad 10 hours worked for you! That’s great news for people who are gone all day. Thanks for leaving a comment!
Can this be made in the oven?
I’m sure it could!
That’s great. I was wondering the same thing.
I 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.
I 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.
Any 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!
I used a pork tenderloin, perfect for a small slow cooker, thicken sauce, it’s delicious.
I’m making this for tomorrow but will use Chinese 5 spice instead of the cinnamon. So excited to try this!!
The Chinese 5 spice sounds really good! Let me know how you like it!
My loin is only 1.5lb, can you please suggest the cooking time for this size?
5 hours low would work good!
Tried 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.
4 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.
I 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
I 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.
Wow. If you don’t like it, fine. But no need to be an asshole.
Just 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!
I 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.
Happy to hear that Laura!
Silly 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 =) )
Apples and pork go great together, it’s a wonderful flavor combination 🙂
I am so glad this recipe came back up. My computer crashed and I lost everything. This was awesome. Rice is a definite.
Glad you were able to find it again Kathy!
Is this a boneless center cut or with the bone?
Boneless 🙂
I think I may try this tomorrow. Do you think it would work well to add veggies in the crock pot too (potatoes, carrots)?
I don’t see why not!
What do u do with the rest of the drippings and apples and onions ?
I drizzled it over the pork and rice. You could make a gravy from it.
Not enough seasoning. The loin came out very tender. I eat my pork loin with applesauce. Next time I will add more seasoning.
Can you use the juice as a gravy?
Added some Rose wine. Just put in the crockpot. Hope it works out! Looks delicious.
Plus the apples must help to moisten the pork. I was surprised that there was no liquid added though.
This was delicious! I added potatoes, Italian herbs and parsley.