A fork-tender pork loin drenched in sizzling butter seasoned with Cajun spices cooked to crispy perfection in the crock pot.
The “Mississippi-style” chuck roasts are all the rage right now. Ya know, the ones where you dump a packet of this and a package of that over a roast, slap a stick of butter on it, then arrange pepperoncini peppers around the top?
And they’re delicious! But I got to thinking two things… one, let’s add that butter to a lean cut of meat because it would actually benefit from the extra fat. And two, why are we so prone to use so many packaged ingredients all the time? Ironic that I’m saying that since my next recipe to share is a new potato dish that uses a ranch dressing packet. 😁
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not opposed to them – I love them too! But there are plenty of other, easy ways to season a roast without using so many prepackaged, preservative-packed ingredients.
So, I thought I’d employ some of the same concepts of the “Mississippi-style” chuck roast but use a pork loin alongside that glorious butter and then use my own blend of seasonings. Boom. Too easy!
Now, I do have to tell you this… my initial concept for this roast was to score it so the seasoned butter could really get down into the roast. Which I did. But then I saw a squirrel running across my backyard with a knitting needle (no, seriously, that happened) and got distracted and burnt the scored-side of the dang roast. I easily trimmed away with burned bits but then I had to flip it over to cook in the crock pot or y’all would take one look at the pictures and be like ummm, heifer, don’t quit your day job.
Most pork loins (not tenderloins) have a fatty side. DEFINITELY score it and cook it, fat-side up in the crock pot so all that yummy butter gets down into your roast.
And… did you look at this and think Ain’t no way that was cooked in a crock pot!? Those crispy edges and browned bits don’t look like something that was cooked in a slow cooker do they? Trust me, I know the internet is chocked full of recipes with bogus photos. But this is legit!
All you have to do it take a few minutes to give your roast a good sear, coat the sucker in sizzling, seasoned butter, then cook it without additional liquid in the crock pot.
This is what it looks like going into the crock pot!
When we submerge a roast in liquid, the meat will ultimately boil in the crock pot which, as confusing as it seems, actually dries out the meat.
This is an over-simplification but ultimately when we do that, the Law of Attraction kicks in and the moisture from the roast wants to go join the moisture in the cooking liquid. Which it does. Leaving the roast dry and bland.
Plus, when it doesn’t get drowned in liquid, those crispy, browned parts stay that way! Holla!
Oh em gee, I know I’m getting long-winded here but I have one more thing to tell you about this… IT WAS AMAZING.
Like, I thought it would be good but I didn’t expect it to be this good. It is so moist and tender and the gravy? It’s like liquid gold! GOLD, I tell you!!
And who else is excited about having a recipe for something different?! I’m so tired of my same-ole same-oles! AND it’s a slow cooker recipe! EVEN better!
Mama and Daddy are under the weather right now so I made this to drop off at their house for them to eat for supper. Daddy called me later that evening to tell me how good it was.
And y’all, that doesn’t happen too often. I’m not even sure if Daddy believes that I have published cookbooks or understands what the blog is, and he might think I made the whole Food Network show up… because he rarely ever says anything about my cooking other than the polite comments that you just say because you’re supposed to.
So getting a phone call just to tell me how delicious it was is phenomenal (why was there a slight note of surprise in his voice though??)
Enjoy!!
Butter-Braised Slow Cooker Pork Roast
Yield: 8-10 Servings
prep time: 15 Mcook time: 4 hourtotal time: 4 H & 15 M
A fork-tender pork loin drenched in sizzling butter seasoned with Cajun spices cooked to crispy perfection in the crock pot.
ingredients:
Pork Roast:
- 1 3-4 pound pork loin
- 2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning
- Vegetable or canola oil
- 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) real butter
- 3-4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- Pinch of red pepper flakes
Gravy:
- Rendered stock from slow cooker
- 1 14.5-oz can chicken or beef broth (about 1 3/4 cups)
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch
- Salt & pepper
instructions:
How to cook Butter-Braised Slow Cooker Pork Roast
- Blot roast dry with paper towels then evenly coat with Cajun seasoning. If your loin has a fatty side, score the fat in a diamond pattern (if not, carry on…). Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat then add just enough oil to coat the bottom of the pan. Once pan is very hot, sear roast on all sides. Place roast in a crock pot (scored-side up if applicable).
- Pour off any excess oil from the skillet then reduce heat to medium. Add butter to skillet then stir with a wooden spoon to loosen up all the browned bits from searing the roast. Add garlic, thyme and pepper flakes to butter then sauté for 2 minutes.
- Pour the seasoned butter over the top of the roast. Cover then cook on High for 3-4 hours or Low for 5-6 hours. Remove roast from crock pot then cover with foil to keep warm while we make the gravy (this also gives the roast the necessary time to rest before we cut it).
- Pour all the juices from the crock pot into a small saucepan then heat over medium-high heat. Combine broth and cornstarch in a small bowl and stir well. Pour slurry into pan, add salt and pepper to taste, then heat until mixture starts to boil, stirring constantly. Cook for one minute then remove from heat. You could also do this in the crock pot (set to high), it just takes a little longer for the gravy to thicken.
- When ready to serve, slice roast then either place on a serving plate or return to the crock pot. Ladle a little gravy over the sliced pork to keep it moist then serve the remaining gravy as desired.
NOTES:
I used McCormick Cajun seasoning in this recipe but most any seasoning blends would work well (Montreal Steak, creole seasoning or your own blend).
You can use 2 tenderloins in this recipe if desired but reduce the cooking time to 2-3 hours on High or 4-6 hours on low.
Do not add additional liquid to the crock pot with the roast.
You can use 2 tenderloins in this recipe if desired but reduce the cooking time to 2-3 hours on High or 4-6 hours on low.
Do not add additional liquid to the crock pot with the roast.
Here's the recipe for the potato dish I was talking about up above:
If you'd like to try a pork loin for the Instant Pot, try this recipe for Instant Pot Pork Roast with Vegetables!
This recipe was shared at the Weekend Potluck!
This recipe was shared at the Weekend Potluck!
Keep up with my latest shenanigans by following South Your Mouth!
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