Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Smithfield® Marinated Pork. The opinions and text are all mine.
Slow Cooker Apple, Roasted Garlic & Herb Pork Loin with New Potatoes is an easy, family-friendly recipe perfect for busy fall schedules thanks to Smithfield Marinated Fresh Pork! You just need ten minutes of prep in the morning to come home to a delicious fall meal that the whole family will love! #RealFlavorRealFast
It has been a crazy week!! The kids are back to school and they have multiple activities each and every night. You really want to make sure that you have a wholesome and nutritious meal for them on the table at the end of the day, but you just don’t know how you are going to fit in cooking on top of everything else???? Does this sound familiar to anyone?
What if I told you that I have found an easy meal solution for any night of the week, not just occasions? Interested? I thought you would be 🙂 Let me introduce you to Smithfield Marinated Fresh Pork. It is made from 100% fresh pork and packed with protein, is available variety of flavors across Tenderloins, Loin Filets and Sirloins and can be roasted, sautéed, or slow cooked so you get real flavor, real fast!!
I picked up a Smithfield Marinated Roasted Garlic & Herb Pork Loin Filet at my local Kroger and was excited to put it to good use in one of my most-used kitchen appliances this time of the year, the slow cooker! It is such a time-saver and my go-to when things are crazy!! I decided I wanted to go for some fall flavors and came up with my Slow Cooker Apple, Roasted Garlic & Herb Pork Loin Filet.
This meal couldn’t be easier, and I love that with Smithfield Marinated Fresh Pork you don’t have to turn to less flavorful options when you’re in a hurry to answer, “What’s for dinner?” Just spend about 10 minutes in the morning adding some fresh ingredients like apples, onions and garlic to the pre-marinated pork and a few splashes of chicken stock and come home to not only a house that smells amazing but a delicious meal without the work!
I even have a little tip to share with you so you can have a complete meal waiting for you when you get home! Ever tried to add potatoes to a slow cooker meal and they just end up a soggy mess? To fix that problem, place a piece of aluminum foil over your main ingredients in the slow cooker meal and tuck the foil down into the bowl of the slow cooker (in this case, that would be the pork loin). Add your whole potatoes on top of the foil, add some salt and pepper and a splash of chicken stock. Cover and cook everything all together according the recipe instructions.
The potatoes come out perfectly cooked (read: …not soggy) along with the pork (read: …literally falling apart tender) for a scrumptious fall meal that will be a hit for any of the season’s activities such as back to school, tailgates, sports and family dinners! My family devoured my Slow Cooker Apple, Roasted Garlic & Herb Pork Loin Filet with New Potatoes! The hint of sweetness from the apple along with the marinade from the Smithfield Marinated Fresh Pork was a winning combination!! I simply added a nice green salad to finish off the meal and let the compliments roll in 😉
Here is your recipe for Slow Cooker Apple, Roasted Garlic & Herb Pork Loin with New Potatoes:
- 1 large yellow onion, sliced
- 3 cloves fresh garlic, minced or pressed
- 2 medium apples, cored and sliced (I used honey crisps, but you could use any variety that you like.)
- 1 (approximately 1 lb.) Smithfield Marinated Roasted Garlic & Herb Pork Loin Filet
- Sea salt and fresh ground pepper, divided and to taste
- 1 cup reduced-sodium chicken stock, divided
- 1½ lbs. small new potatoes
- Line the slow cooker bowl with a slow cooker liner or spray generously with nonstick cooking spray.
- Add onions and garlic to the base of the slow cooker bowl.
- Remove the Smithfield Marinated Roasted Garlic & Herb Pork Loin Filet from its packaging and place on a cutting board.
- Cut slits about ¾ to 1 inch apart in the pork loin (be careful not to cut through the pork completely) to create pockets for apple slices.
- Place two apple slices in each slit on the pork.
- Place any remaining apple slices in the slow cooker bowl with the onions and garlic.
- Add the pork loin on top of the apple, onions and garlic in the slow cooker
- Sprinkle with salt and pepper and then pour about ¾ cup of chicken broth over pork.
- Place a piece of aluminum foil over the pork and tuck in to fit into the bowl to create a "shelf" for the potatoes.
- Add potatoes on top of the foil, sprinkle with salt and pepper and pour remaining chicken stock over potatoes.
- Cover and cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4 hours.
- Remove potatoes and place in serving dish, cutting in half if desired.
- Serve pork and potatoes hot/warm with remaining onions and juice/gravy that is left from the cooking process.
- A simple green salad complements this recipe nicely! Enjoy!!
Hungry for more Smithfield Marinated Fresh Pork recipes that can be made in 30 Minutes or less? Visit Smithfield online by clicking HERE or check them out on Facebook, Twitter for more recipe inspirations, helpful tips and more!! @SmithfieldBrand
So now it is your turn!! What is your favorite meal tip for crazy weeknights? I would love to hear your tips in the comments below 🙂 #RealFlavorRealFast
I’m always a fan of a good pork loin. This recipe looks great! Thanks for sharing.
What a marvelous idea…this sounds so good! Perfect fall meal. xo
It’s very difficult to create wholesome meals on a busy weeknight, and you just gave me an idea for a good one. Thanks for the recipe, this one’s a keeper!
This seriously looks so good! Will have to give it a try soon 😀
oh I bet that we would love this!
I see these all the time and always wonder about their taste!
Loving the addition of apples and I’m a huge fan of Smithfield pork! Can’t wait to try!