Crock Pot Herb Pork Roast

By
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
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Updated on 12/8/21
Pork roast
Brian MacDonald/Photodisc/Getty Images
Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 8 hrs
Total: 8 hrs 10 mins
Servings: 8 servings

A pork loin roast is a great family meal but can also be a special dish to serve guests. This well-seasoned pork roast is a snap to prepare and cooks unattended in the slow cooker. Garlic, dried herbs, ground cloves, and lemon zest give the roast wonderful flavor and when cooked low and slow, the meat becomes tender and juicy.

The pork loin is first studded with pieces of garlic and then rubbed with a mixture of thyme, sage, rosemary, and tarragon, cloves, and lemon peel. The roast is then placed in the slow cooker with water and left to cook for several hours. If you like, you can make a gravy with the liquid left in the crock pot; simply add a cornstarch slurry and cook the mixture until thickened.

The old way of cooking pork was that it had to reach 160 F, but it is now accepted that it be cooked to just 145 F, which makes for a much more palatable dish. Use a meat thermometer to check the temp about seven hours into cooking time.

Serve this herb pork loin roast with roasted potatoes, mashed sweet potatoes, or creamy mashed cauliflower, as well as vegetables like roasted asparagus, sautéed zucchini, or glazed carrots.

Ingredients

  • 1 (4- to 5-pound) boneless pork loin roast

  • 4 large cloves garlic, quartered

  • 1 teaspoon salt

  • 1 scant teaspoon dried thyme

  • 1/2 teaspoon dried sage, crumbled

  • 1/4 teaspoon dried rosemary, crumbled

  • 1/4 teaspoon dried tarragon, crumbled

  • Dash of ground cloves, or allspice

  • 1 teaspoon grated lemon peel, optional

  • 1/3 cup water (divided)

  • 3 tablespoons cornstarch, optional

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. With a small, sharp knife, make 16 small cuts—about 1/4- to 1/2-inch deep—in the pork roast. Insert the garlic quarters into the slits.

  3. In a small bowl, combine the salt, herbs, cloves, and lemon peel (if using). Rub the seasoning mixture all over the roast.

  4. Pour 1/2 cup water into the slow cooker and add the roast. Cover and cook on low for 7 to 9 hours. The pork roast should read at least 145 F on an instant-read thermometer.

  5. Remove the roast from the slow cooker and set aside to rest for 5 to 10 minutes loosely covered with aluminum foil.

  6. If you'd like to make a gravy, combine the cornstarch with the remaining water in a small bowl or cup; stir until smooth. Add to the juices in the crock pot and stir well to combine. Cook on high until the gravy has thickened.

  7. Slice the pork loin and serve with the gravy if using. Enjoy.

Recipe Variation

To make this a complete one-dish meal, you can add cut-up potatoes, carrots, and onion to the slow cooker.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
547 Calories
25g Fat
1g Carbs
75g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 8
Amount per serving
Calories 547
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 25g 32%
Saturated Fat 8g 40%
Cholesterol 227mg 76%
Sodium 396mg 17%
Total Carbohydrate 1g 0%
Dietary Fiber 0g 0%
Total Sugars 0g
Protein 75g
Vitamin C 1mg 3%
Calcium 26mg 2%
Iron 2mg 11%
Potassium 999mg 21%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)