Slow cook pork tenderloin in seasoned apple butter for the most delicious, sweet and savory shredded pork. Perfect with baked cheese grits.
If you like this recipe, check out my Air Fryer Pork Tenderloin next!
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Pork tenderloin absorbs whatever flavors you add to it with ease. It’s a very lean cut of pork, but it cooks up juicy and tender every time in the slow cooker. I published this recipe a long time ago and it becomes very popular in the fall. Apple butter has an earthy and spicy sweet depth of flavor. Mixed together with whole grain mustard, a little vinegar, brown sugar and savory spices it becomes a really delicious sauce. The tender shredded pork bathed in this sauce has earned a big fan club over the years. I love serving it over baked cheddar cheese grits. It’s like a southern, land-locked version of shrimp and grits.
More pork recipes
Ingredients for apple butter pork tenderloin
- Pork – I tested this recipe with a 2-lb package of two individual pork tenderloins. You could use a 2 pound boneless pork loin as well.
- Apple Butter – I buy my apple butter from the store for this recipe. But by all means if you have homemade apple butter on-hand, use it!
- Liquid Seasonings – Both whole grain mustard and apple cider vinegar for some brightness and tang.
- Dry Seasonings – Brown sugar, salt, smoked paprika, garlic powder and thyme. You could also add black pepper. I usually don’t because my daughter doesn’t like pepper.
Instructions
Pat dry the pork tenderloin with paper towels and place it into the bottom of a 6-quart slow cooker insert. In a small bowl, stir together the apple butter with the vinegar, mustard and dry ingredients. Spread the mixture evenly over the pork tenderloin. Cover and cook on high power for 5 – 6 hours or low power for 8 – 10 hours. The pork will easily shred with forks when it is done cooking. Shred it right in the slow cooker so it can absorb all of the apple butter mixture.
For printable recipe card and video tutorial, keep scrolling to the bottom of this post.
Serving suggestions
My favorite way to serve this pork tenderloin is atop baked cheddar cheese grits. The recipe I’m linking you to is made with pepper jack cheese. Just replace it with shredded cheddar cheese. And here’s some more recipes to turn this apple butter pork into a complete meal –
Storage directions
Store leftovers in an airtight container. The pork will stay fresh in the refrigerator for 3 – 4 days. Or it can be frozen and stay fresh for 2 – 3 months.
Kitchen tools
- I use a 6-quart slow cooker similar to this one for my slow cooker recipes.
Video
Slow Cooker Apple Butter Glazed Pork Tenderloin
Equipment
- 1 6-Quart Slow Cooker
Ingredients
- 2 lbs pork tenderloin
- 1 tbsp light brown sugar
- 1 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp thyme
- 3/4 cup apple butter
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tbsp whole grain mustard
Instructions
- Dry the pork tenderloin with paper towels and place it into the bottom of a 6-quart slow cooker insert.
- In a small bowl, stir together the apple butter with the vinegar, mustard and dry ingredients. Spread the mixture evenly over the pork tenderloin.
- Cover and cook on high powder for 5 - 6 hours or low power for 8 - 10 hours. The pork will easily shred with two forks when it is done cooking.
- Shred it right in the slow cooker so it can absorb all of the apple butter mixture.
Nutrition
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Lori says
I made this according to the recipe and it was fantastic!!!
foodtasticmom says
I’m so happy to hear this. Thanks for taking the time to come back to rate and review my recipe. I really appreciate it!
Melanie says
Very good. I don’t make pork too often but this recipe sounded easy enough. It was easy and delicious. I paired mine with Mac and cheese.
foodtasticmom says
This pork is great for pairing mac and cheese. Thanks for sharing your experience. I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Kelly says
Do you think I could half this recipe and only use a pound of pork tenderloin? What adjustments would you make? Can’t wait to try!
foodtasticmom says
Yes. Just halve all the other ingredients too. It might not take as long to cook either…
Adrianne says
Interesting recipe! At 1st I thought ‘grits’ were root vegetables but now I am thinking they are a grain, like polenta as per comments is that right? Is it another name for polenta or is it slightly different? The pork sounds fab, cheers!
foodtasticmom says
They are both corn. Polenta is made from yellow and is more course. Grits are made from white and is finer. But they are VERY similar. I hope you try the pork!
Gloria says
I was cleaning out my freezer today and found some pork tenderloin. I was wondering what I was going to make with it. This sounds like a plan. I love my slow cooker. This is going to be good.
foodtasticmom says
Awesome. Glad I could help!
Carmella says
This recipe scream so much yas. I never would’ve thought to have pulled pork in my cheesy delicious grits. Then you go and put one of my all time favorite things in the world on it, apple butter! I am totally and completely sold.
foodtasticmom says
Yay! Hope you try this recipe!
Karen @ Seasonal Cravings says
This sounds like the perfect flavor combo! Why do I never think of making grits? I’m sure my family would love them! Thanks for the inspiration!
foodtasticmom says
Grits are for sure one of my favorite sides. So simple!
Emily says
What a delicious recipe- my kids love any recipe that involves brown sugar. Can’t wait to try this pork soon.
foodtasticmom says
Mine too! Thanks Emily!
Pam Greer says
I love the flavors in this! Apples and pork go so good together, so I’m sure this apple butter is wonderful. I especially like that you serve it over grits!
foodtasticmom says
Thanks very much Pam!
Noelle says
This looks amazing, I can not wait to try it!
foodtasticmom says
Thanks so much Noelle!
Mary says
Hello! As others have said, this recipe sounds amazing. I was wondering, could I use different cuts of pork in this recipe? Thanks for your help! Happy New Yeat
Brown Sugar says
Is that pork over cheese grits?!!!!!! Girl…awesome idea!
Erin @ The Spiffy Cookie says
The slow cooker is seriously my favorite way to cook pork.
Jennifer Osterholt says
I love the pork and apples, applesauce or apple butter combinations. Great fall meals!
foodtasticmom says
Thanks Jennifer 🙂
Donna says
I am going to try your recipe for this pork tenderloin. It sounds wonderful! I tried to enter the contest and had everything filled out down to the bottom where it ask for the state and I couldn’t get it to accept anything but when I hit submit it says I left that question blank so I couldn’t enter. I would love to have a LeCreuset Dutch Oven!!
foodtasticmom says
Thanks so much Donna! I know the link was having some issues the other day. You might want to go in and try it again. That’s the only way I know to make sure that you are entered to win. Good luck!!!
Donna says
O.K. Thanks!
Bintu @ Recipes From A Pantry says
I keep forgetting to use my slow cooker – which is crazy right. I should bring it back out and try this.
foodtasticmom says
Yes you should absolutely get out your slow cooker and make this 🙂
April J Harris says
My mouth is watering just reading this post! Your Slow Cooker Apple Butter Glazed Pork Tenderloin with Cheesy Grits looks just amazing. I love the sweet, salty, savoury flavour contrast you have going on with this recipe. Great giveaway too – I have a LeCreuset Dutch Oven and it is the best! (In fact, it’s over 25 years old and still going strong!)
foodtasticmom says
Thanks so much April. I hope you took the survey… never hurts to have a back up 🙂 I appreciate the kind comments!
Hungry_Healthy_Happy says
This looks so delicious and comforting! Pork and apple just go so well together.
foodtasticmom says
Thank you I hope you try it!
Iryna says
You described the recipe so good. Definitely going to make this. I’ve had a slow-cooker for about 3 months now and I only cooked chicken there. I’ve used to cook pork tenderloin only in the oven, but I love your recipe and going to make this soon.
foodtasticmom says
Thank you so much Iryna. I’m so glad you are going to try it!
Becca @ Amuse Your Bouche says
Those cheesy grits sound lovely – I wish we could find grits here in the UK! Is it the same as polenta?
foodtasticmom says
Yes! It is absolutely the same as polenta. I used Bob’s Red Mill brand and it even says grits (same as polenta) on the package label 🙂