This crock pot pork roast always takes me back to when our kids were younger. Walking into the house after a long day, smelling this slow cooker recipe meant a comforting, easy dinner was almost ready. With three teenage boys to feed, this family favorite was one of the best ways to get a hearty meal on the table. Served alongside mashed potatoes, it quickly became a Sunday dinner staple and a dish the whole family looked forward to.
This crock pot recipe is comfort food made easy with simple ingredients you probably already have in your refrigerator or pantry!
What Kind of Pork to Use
- Pork Butt (Boston Butt or Pork Shoulder Roast) - This is the best cut of meat for a crock pot pork roast. It has a good amount of fat, lots of connective tissue, and a lot of marbling. This breaks down during the slow cooking process for tender, shreddable pulled pork and a rich cooking liquid.
- Boneless Pork Loin Roast - A leaner cut that still works, but you may need to add a little bit of extra fat or olive oil to keep it tender during the longer cook time on low heat.
- Pork Chops - Not ideal for shredding, but a great option if that is what you have on hand. They still make an easy dinner using simple ingredients, and I especially love a pork chop over mashed potatoes.
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Ingredients
Ingredients you'll need for Simple Crock Pot Pork Roast
- Pork Roast - the hearty star of the dish, slow-cooked until tender, juicy and packed with flavor.
- Cabbage - Mild, slightly sweet, and perfect for soaking up all those savory juices.
- Carrots - A touch of natural sweetness and color
- Onion - Soft and flavorful, adding depth to every bite.
- Snacking Peppers - Bright and just the right pop of freshness.
- Garlic - Bold, aromatic, and absolutely essential for big flavor
- Oregano -Earthy flavor brings warm notes
- Cumin - Deep and smoky, making the dish extra cozy
- Paprika - mildly sweet, adding beautiful color
- Coriander- Light, citrusy, and unexpected in the best way.
- Salt and Pepper - simple, yet perfect to bring flavors together.
Pro Tip: A pork butt with plenty of marbling delivers the most tender, flavorful crock pot pork roast.
See recipe card for quantities.
Step-by-Step Instructions
How to Cook a Pork Roast in a Slow Cooker
Before you start cooking this Crock Pot Pork Roast, here is everything that you will need to know! This slow cooker recipe is a flavorful, easy dinner made with simple ingredients. Just add everything to the crockpot, set it to low heat, and go about your day. By dinnertime, you'll have tender, juicy pork packed with great flavor and ready to serve the whole family.
- Season the Pork. Mix the seasonings together and generously season the pork roast on all sides.
- Prep the Vegetables. Quarter the cabbage, cut the carrots into 2-inch pieces, halve the onion, prepare the snacking peppers, and peel the 4 whole garlic cloves.
Pro Tip: You can use a whole bell pepper or the snacking peppers. Both add a naturally sweet flavor to the roast.
- Assemble in the Crock Pot. Place the pork roast in the bottom of the crock pot. Add the peppers, cabbage, carrots, onion, and whole garlic cloves around the meat.
- Cook Low and Slow. Cover and cook on low heat for 8 hours, until the pork is tender. Season with salt and pepper and taste before serving.
Pro Tip: Cooking the pork roast on low for about 8 hours produces the most tender, flavorful meat. Making it perfect for shredding.
Made this recipe? Let me know!
Equipment and Supplies
This recipe is easy to make with just the right tools!
- Crock Pot - For cooking the pork roast low and slow until tender and flavorful.
- Knife - Makes prepping vegetables quick, easy, and safe
- Cutting Board - Provides a sturdy surface for chopping and prepping ingredients.
- Tongs - Helpful for removing the pork roast from the crock pot.
Serving Ideas
Different Ways to Serve Pork Roast
- Classic Serving
- Serve the pork roast with Mashed Potatoes and spoon the rich cooking liquid over the top.
- Pair with our sheet pan roasted vegetables for a simple dinner.
- Shred the pork and serve it straight from the crock pot with your favorite side dishes for an easy family meal.
- Fun and Creative Serving Ideas
- Turn the shredded pork into enchiladas by rolling it in tortillas, topping with sauce and cheese, and baking until bubbly.
- Use the pork for pulled pork sandwiches with a simple slaw.
- Add the shredded meat to tacos or burrito bowls for a fun weeknight twist.
Substitutions
Possible Pantry Swaps
If you don't have everything on hand, that's no problem. The beauty of this recipe is that it is very forgiving and works well with simple swaps.
- Pork Butt - Use pork loin or even pork chops. Just add a little extra broth or fat to keep the meat tender.
- Snacking Peppers - Use a whole bell pepper or skip entirely if needed.
- Fresh Garlic - Use garlic powder (about ½ teaspoon per clove)
- Onion - Use Onion Powder
- Cabbage - substitute with kale, green beans or extra carrots.
- Carrots - use sweet potatoes or parsnips for a slightly sweeter flavor
- Seasonings - adjust spices to taste. Paprika, cumin, and oregano are flexible and easy to customize.
Leftover Ideas
The best part of this crockpot pork roast is that it makes a lot of leftovers, which is perfect for easy meals for busy weeknights later in the week.
- Pulled Pork Sandwiches - warm the shredded pork and pile it onto buns with your favorite toppings.
- Enchiladas or Tacos - Use the leftover shredded meat for quick enchiladas, tacos, or burrito bowls.
- Breakfast Hash - Chop the pork and cook it with potatoes and onions for a hearty breakfast.
- Next-Day Dinner - reheat the pork with a little of the broth to keep it moist and flavorful.
More Slow Cooker Recipes
- Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Dip (with Frank's RedHot)
- Easy Jamaican Oxtail Stew in the Slow Cooker
- Slow Cooker Filipino Kare Kare (Beef Stew with Peanut Sauce)
- Wendy's Chili Recipe in the Slow Cooker
Storing Leftovers
Refrigerator:
- Store leftover pork roast in an airtight container with a little of the cooking liquid to keep it moist. It will keep in the fridge for 3-4 days.
Freezing:
- For longer storage, freeze shredded pork in freezer-safe bags or containers with some broth. Frozen pork will keep for up to 3 months.
ProTip: Lay bags of frozen pork flat for easy storage and quicker defrosting.
Reheating:
- Reheat pork gently on the stovetop or in the microwave with a splash of chicken broth or beef broth. Heat just until warmed through to avoid drying it out.
Video of Recipe
Recipe
Crock Pot Pork Roast
Equipment
- Slow Cooker
Ingredients
- 5 lb Pork Shoulder or Pork Butt
- ½ Green Cabbage
- 6 Carrots
- 4 Garlic Cloves
- 1 Onion White or Sweet Onion
- 1 Bell Pepper or 4 snacking peppers
- 1 teaspoon Coriander
- 1 teaspoon Oregano
- 1 tablespoon Cumin
- 2½ tablespoon Salt
- 2 tablespoon Black Pepper
- 2 tablespoon Paprika
Instructions
- Season the Pork. Mix the seasonings together and generously season the pork roast on all sides.
- Prep the Vegetables. Quarter the cabbage, cut the carrots into 2-inch pieces, halve the onion, prepare the snacking peppers, and peel the 4 whole garlic cloves.
- Assemble in the Crock Pot. Place the pork roast in the bottom of the crock pot. Add the peppers, cabbage, carrots, onion, and whole garlic cloves around the meat.
- Cook Low and Slow. Cover and cook on low heat for 8 hours, until the pork is tender. Season with salt and pepper and taste before serving.
Video
Nutrition
Frequently Asked Questions
For the best results, low heat is the best way to cook this recipe to allow the breakdown of the meat, giving you tender, flavorful pork. Cooking on high heat may result in tougher meat.
Yes! This recipe works well with extra root vegetables like potatoes, carrots, or sweet potatoes.
The pork is ready when it's fork-tender or reaches an internal temperature of about 195°-205°F when checked with a meat thermometer.
Casey L says
I love a good crock pot meal! I love it even more when I’m not required to sear it first! This one is a winner!
Bree says
This is one of my favorites to cook for the whole family! The kids absolutely devour this everytime! Thankyou for your delicious and easy quick recipes!