Slow Cooker Pineapple Pork Loin

This is one of my favorite pineapple pork recipes as once it’s assembled and layered up in the crock pot you can get on with the rest of your day and leave it to bubble away and cook. However, I do recommend searing the pork and browning the meat first as it adds an extra layer of flavor to the dish.

I’ve flavored the slow cooker pineapple pork tenderloin with sweet, slightly sour pineapple, fresh ginger, and added onion and garlic for depth of flavor. So many of you loved my pineapple pork chops and today’s Slow Cooker Pineapple Pork Loin Recipe is another great one to try!

The sauce is seasoned with soy sauce for saltiness, and brown sugar and a touch of honey for that all important sweetness.

This easy pork and pineapple recipe is versatile too, the sauce works well with other cuts of pork. Try it with pork tenderloin, shoulder or chops, all you need to do is adjust the cooking times to suit.

If you want a crockpot recipe to feed a crowd try this pork roast in crock pot.

Why you will Love this Pineapple Pork:

• Easy Preparation: This recipe requires very little hands on preparation, once the dish is assembled, the slow cooker does all the hard work. I just love slow cooker recipes!
• Versatile Recipe: You can serve the pork as I’ve done here, or cook it a little longer to make pineapple pulled pork.
• Meal Prep: Cooking a large piece of pork like this at the weekend is a great way of getting ahead and meal prepping for easy dinners through the week.
• Healthy, Protein Packed Meal: If you want a healthy, easy meal for your family pork is a great choice! Pork provides nutrients that are hard to get from plant-based diets alone. We’re talking vitamin B12, iron, zinc and essential fatty acids.

If you like pork tenderloin check out this Cast Iron Pork Tenderloin or this post explaining How to Make Pork Tenderloin in the Slow Cooker.

Recipe Ingredients You’ll Need

• Pork: I used a 3-4 pound boneless pork loin, which I trimmed of excess fat.
• Oil: for the best flavor I always use olive oil.
• Seasoning: I season the pork simply with some sea salt and freshly ground black pepper.
• Onion: I add a small sweet onion to flavor the pork.
• Garlic: I always use freshly minced garlic in this recipe as it has the best flavor.
• Garnish: I garnish the dish with freshly chopped cilantro and some sliced green onions.
• Serve: I like to serve the pork with steamed rice or quinoa.

For the Pineapple Sauce:

• Soy Sauce: I use light soy sauce in this recipe. Use gluten free soy sauce if required.
• Sugar: I add brown sugar to the pineapple sauce as it adds great molasses flavor. You can use regular white sugar if you don’t have brown sugar but it won’t have quite the same depth of flavor.
• Honey: I also like to add some honey for extra flavor.
• Ginger: I use freshly minced ginger in this recipe for the best flavor. You can substitute this with ground ginger if you don’t have fresh.
• Pineapple: I use a 23.5 ounce can of sweet pineapple chunks in juice, adding both the pineapple and the juice to the sauce.

For exact ingredient amounts and instructions, see the full recipe card below. 

Recipe Variations

• Pork: I used pork loin in this recipe, however the sauce will work just as well with pork tenderloin, pork shoulder or pork chops. You will just need to adapt the cooking times to suit the cut being cooked.
• Chicken: I’ve opted to cook pork, but this pineapple sauce recipe would work equally well with chicken. Try chicken breasts, thighs or whole chicken legs, and adjust cooking times accordingly.
• Vegetables: Add extra vegetables to the slow cooker for the last 2 hours of cooking. Try any color bell pepper, green beans, baby corn or zucchini.
• Spice: Some red pepper flakes or freshly chopped red chili can add some spicy heat to the pineapple pork sauce.
• Low-Carb: Serve the pork over a bed of zucchini noodles or cauliflower rice instead of pairing it with rice.

How to Make Slow Cooker Pineapple Pork Loin

Step 1: Prepare the Pork

Trim the silver skin and any excess fat from the pork loin. Season the whole thing with salt and pepper and set aside on a large plate. 

Step 2: Sear the Pork (Optional Step)

In a large skillet heat the olive oil over medium high heat. Add the pork loin and brown both sides for 3-4 minutes. This step is optional to add more flavor to the pork. Add the pork loin and onion into the slow cooker.

Step 3: Prepare the Cooking Sauce

In a small mixing bowl combine the minced garlic, soy sauce, brown sugar, honey, ginger and pineapple chunks and juice and mix well. 

Pour the pineapple mixture over the pork loin and make sure it is covering the pork well. 

Step 4: Cook the Pineapple Pork

Cook on low for 4 hours {or until pork is 145 degrees F} or 6-8 hours if you want to shred the pork.

Step 5: Rest and Serve the Pork

Remove the slow cooker pork loin and put on a serving platter and cover with foil to rest for 5 minutes. You can slice the pork or shred the pork if it is tender enough. 

Serve over jasmine rice and garnish the pork with fresh cilantro and sesame seeds. 

Expert Tips for Perfect Pineapple Pork

• Use the best quality pork as it will have the best flavor in the finished dish.
• I recommending browning the pork first as it will add extra flavor to the finished dish.
• To thicken the sauce if it is too thin at the end of cooking, add 2 tablespoons of corn-starch and 2 tablespoons of water into a small bowl and whisk together to form a slurry. Add the corn-starch slurry into the sauce and stir to thicken.
• Use an instant-read thermometer to check the internal temperature of the pork loin after the 4 hour cook. It needs to reach an internal temperature of 145 degrees F, if it is less than this cook the pork a little longer until it reaches this temperature.

Storage Tips

Store cooked and cooled pineapple pork in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days. Warm leftovers in a 275°F oven for about 15 minutes. If necessary, add a splash of water to the sauce to prevent the pork from drying out.

To freeze, place the cooled pork in an airtight container or ziplock bag, and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge before reheating.

Leftover Ideas

If you’re lucky enough to have leftovers, they can be turned into another delicious meal:

• Salad & Rice Bowls: Add leftover pork to your favorite rice bowl, try my Tropical Coconut Rice Bowl, or Sweet Potato Bowl.
• Wraps: If you cook the pork a little longer and shred it, it makes a great addition to burritos, tacos or carnitas, just add your favorite salsas and salads.
• Quesadillas: Leftover pineapple pork makes a great addition to a quesadilla, just add some extras like your favorite salsa, black beans or even some cheese.