Slow Cooker Brown Sugar Pork Loin with Balsamic Glaze
This brown sugar pork loin is made in the slow cooker for an easy weeknight meal. You’ll love the balsamic glaze!
I love my slow cooker. Especially since I started washing it in the dishwasher. HELLO. Why was I not doing that all along?!?
These days, I run out of energy around 3:00. That’s assuming I start the day with any energy, which is rare. Enter reason #2 why I love my slow cooker: Dinner is already taken care of by 3:00. This means more time lying on the couch.
Reason #3, you probably all know already. Meat grosses pregnant Rachel out. Big time. I have a slightly better chance of being able to eat it if the slow cooker does all the cooking.
This recipe really could not be any easier. I highly recommend it. A quick, easy weekday meal. You can eat it plain, over rice, or throw it on a bun and call it pulled pork. All very good choices. Enjoy!
About this brown sugar pork loin:
The brown sugar pork loin has so much flavor because it’s flavored twice: first with a rub, and then with a delicious glaze. Begin by stirring together a rub consisting of brown sugar, Dijon mustard, and balsamic vinegar. You rub the uncooked pork loin with this mixture, then put it in the crockpot with a few cloves of garlic and a bit of water.
Note: For even more flavor, sear the pork loin first in a large skillet or Dutch oven first, then do the rub, and then put the roast in the slow cooker.
Let the pork cook on low for seven to nine hours. This is why I love slow cookers! Put it in there and forget about it for the rest of the day until you’re ready to eat dinner.
After the brown sugar pork loin has finished cooking, make the glaze. Stir together more brown sugar, balsamic vinegar, soy sauce, cornstarch and water in a saucepan. Simmer for ten to fifteen minutes to thicken the glaze and concentrate the flavors.
Now you decide. How do you want to serve this delicious meal? There are options here: Slice the pork loin roast and drizzle the glaze over it. Serve it with rice or noodles. Or, shred the pork, as pictured, mix in the glaze, and serve it with sides, like roasted broccoli or spicy sweet roasted butternut squash. Or, pile it on a bun and make a delicious pulled pork sandwich and serve it with crispy air fryer French fries.
I like to do both actually. I slice half the roast to eat that way, and shred the rest for future meals. Brown sugar pork loin freezes well, too
Garnish with sesame seeds, if desired. A sprinkle of chopped scallions or parsley would be delicious, if you have them. Enjoy!
Whether it’s pork loin roasts, pork tenderloin, pulled pork, or pork chops, cooked in a crockpot, Instant Pot, oven, or skillet, I’ve got you covered! Here’s a sampling:
- Instant Pot Pulled Pork – a faster way to prepare pulled pork, tender and tasty
- Instant Pot Pork Loin Roast – turns out perfectly every time, tender slices with a tasty sauce
- Pork Medallions with Lemon Garlic Sauce – use a pork tenderloin for this recipe
- Mango Bourbon Pulled Pork – another slow cooker recipe
- Crispy Breaded Pork Chops – bake these in the oven
- Breaded Air Fryer Pork Chops – another way to cook perfectly done breaded pork chops
- Pork Tenderloin with Spice Rub – turns out perfect every time
- Pork Tenderloin with Caramelized Apples and Onions
Slow Cooker Brown Sugar Pork Loin with Balsamic Glaze
This brown sugar pork loin is made in the slow cooker for an easy weeknight meal. You’ll love the glaze!
Ingredients
for the pork:
- 1 boneless pork loin (4-6 pounds)
- 2 garlic cloves, halved
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- 1/2 cup water
for the glaze:
- 1 cup light brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
- 1 cup water
- 4 tablespoons reduced sodium soy sauce
- toasted sesame seeds (optional)
Instructions
for the pork:
- Trim fat from pork loin, pat dry. Stab all over with fork. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. If desired, brown pork roast on all sides in a large skillet or Dutch oven.
- In a small bowl, combine brown sugar, mustard and vinegar. Rub all over the pork loin.
- Put in large slow cooker with garlic cloves and 1/2 cup water. Cook on low for 7-9 hours.
for the glaze:
- In a medium saucepan, whisk all ingredients together. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, reduce to a simmer (medium-low heat), and simmer until thickened (10-15 minutes). Stir occasionally.
- Shred pork from slow cooker. I use my stand mixer/paddle attachment! You can also use two forks. Drizzle glaze over pork and top with sesame seeds (optional). Alternatively, slice the pork and serve with a drizzle of glaze.
Notes
- Make ahead tip: If desired, make a half batch of glaze. Shred all the pork, serve half of it and put half of it in the freezer for future use.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 10 Serving Size: 1 of 10Amount Per Serving: Calories: 160Total Fat: 2gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 7mgSodium: 296mgCarbohydrates: 32gFiber: 1gSugar: 29gProtein: 3g
RachelCooks.com sometimes provides nutritional information, but these figures should be considered estimates, as they are not calculated by a registered dietitian. Please consult a medical professional for any specific nutrition, diet, or allergy advice.
40 Comments on “Slow Cooker Brown Sugar Pork Loin with Balsamic Glaze”
Sorry to be anal but there doesn’t seem to be any specific instructions for this recipe especially for the glaze. The word Directions is there but nothing after. Would love to make it as I love pork and can’t eat chicken so I am always looking for something new to try. Thanks for the help.
Not anal at all! I’m actually in the process of having my assistant go through all my recipes and reformat them so that they are pretty and also so you can print each recipe. Looks like somehow this one got a little short-changed when it came to the reformatting. Thankfully I’m super type-A and have all the recipes saved somewhere else. And I’m super thankful for readers like you who let me know when things aren’t the way they should be.
So, long story short, thank you! And it’s all there now — hope you enjoy!
Rachel-
I want to try this out tonight but i need to have it prepared entirely and warming in the crock as i am leaving the house but want the hubby to be able to eat it when he gets in. Do you think i could heat the glaze, pull the pork and then just mix it all together in the crock for the last hour or so? Or will the glaze burn with all that sugar?
Either way, looks great! Thanks for the recipe!
Oooh I’m not sure! I think it would be okay on low for an hour or so. But I haven’t tried it that way!
Does the pork have to be seared first or do you just put it in raw?
I didn’t — but you certainly could! It would definitely add some great flavor but I took the shortcut and put it in raw. :)
Hope you love it!
This was very good stuff. Served this with sticky rice. I didn’t have any light brown sugar(which I find odd..lol), but did have dark. It tasted fine.
Oh yum–I bet it was great with sticky rice! And I love dark brown sugar, I bet that was wonderful in this recipe.
Rachel,
I hope you have discovered this by now, CrOcKpOt LiNeRs!!!! They’re they best thing ever, you don’t have to clean your crockpot, period. You can find them in the ziplock section!
Yes! I think I even have some in my cupboard. Something about the plastic being heated all day right next to the food weirds me out, though.
Jen! Thank you for catching that! I am in the process of changing my recipes over to Ziplist format, and I must have left that out by accident. Should be there now–hopefully you still have time to make it today! Sorry about that!
Everyone loved it, kids as well!
Hooray!
My husband came home yesterday with a pork loin (something I never purchase). This recipe looks perfect and I think the kids may like it too. Giving it a try today! Thank you.
Perfect! Hope you like it! :)
I just made this and it was awesome! It is a keeper for sure, plus the glaze would be good on anything. Thanks!
Glad you liked it! Isn’t the glaze heavenly?
This sounds amazing!!
This looks so good! Really flavorful and who doesn’t love a good slow cooker meal?!
Oh my word, I SO need this in my life!! I adore a good balsamic glaze and I can only imagine how heavenly it is with the brown sugar pork. If only I hadn’t already planned this week’s menu…
You’re the first person I’ve heard of who doesn’t crave meat maniacally while pregnant!! Crazy.
I actually gave my slow cooker away at the beginning of this year and now I’m kind of regretting it. I’ve just seen too many great recipes like this that use it lately!! That glaze sounds drinkable.
This. Seriously. Looks out of this world! Yuuum!
i’ve made a similar pulled pork with balsamic and was blown away by the flavor! must try this variation!
rachel, i looooove the balsamic glaze! takes a regular ole crockpot recipe & jazzes it up a ton. great job!
This looks perfect…mouthwatering flavors. ANd I love the sesame seeds!
I can’t wait to try this – pork is my favorite! Although I totally feel you, when I’m pregnant, the thought of meat is usually really revolting, especially raw meat! Do you think it would be okay if I omitted the dijon mustard? I just can’t get myself to like it…maybe I could sub regular mustard?
Great idea about allowing the kids to dip, my daughter just ate carrot sticks with ketchup the other night, but at least she ate the carrots :)
This sounds really tasty – I love the idea of that balsamic glaze.
And how cute is E?! I love that she’ll dip anything in anything!
OMG Rachel. I want a HUGE serving of this on a bun when I get home from work today. I am a HUGE pig when it comes to pork (no pun intended…). and my boyfriend inhales it. we’re pretty gross but OMG I love this! Saving this recipe now. :)
I’ve never done balsamic on meat but have seen a few blog postings now with it…with your description I’ve pinned this and putting on my meal plan!
Just pinned this, can’t wait to make it!
OMG – I’m so gonna have this for myself. (me being a pig). This looks incredible and very easy. Seriously, this looks so mouthwatering!
I really need to get a slow cooker.. this sort of dish looks perfect for a weeknight dinner!!
Whoa, Rachel, this looks AWESOME! I need this in my life as soon as possible.
My husband would love this! That’s so funny that your daughter dips everything in anything… kids are crazy. My niece does that, too, and it totally grosses me out! LOL. Little ppl… I tell ya! :)
mmm Im always looking for more pork recipes..this sounds delish! I love that its in a slowcooker..Im all about the couch these days too :)
Sounds like a great combination of flavors!
Wooooooow my eyeballs are kind of freaking out.
This looks so tasty! I’m a traditionalist when it comes to pulled pork but I think this adaptation would work for me. It looks so saucy and delish!
My husband would LOVE this!!! Maybe he wouldn’t even add BBQ sauce. ;-)