This Crock Pot Pork Roast recipe is tender and juicy and perfect for busy weeknights. It’s also very simple to make in the slow cooker; all you need are a few simple ingredients and about 5 minutes of work.
Serve with some make ahead mashed potatoes, gravy, and green beans for the ultimate comfort food meal. It would make a lovely and simple holiday meal, too.
Cooking a frozen pork roast in a crock pot is a great hands-off way to make a tasty and convenient meal. With just a few simple steps, you can have a delicious and perfectly cooked pork roast ready when you are, without needing to spend hours monitoring the oven or stovetop. I’m going to walk through exactly how to cook frozen pork roast in a crock pot, from start to finish.
Selecting and Preparing the Pork Roast
The first step is choosing a good quality pork roast at the store Look for a bone-in or boneless pork shoulder roast, also called a Boston butt or pork butt These cuts have great marbling which keeps them moist during slow cooking. A 3-5 pound roast is ideal.
Once home, season the frozen roast generously on all sides with salt, pepper, and any other desired herbs or spices Garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and cumin make excellent additions You can also coat the roast with a thin layer of oil or rub on a spice blend.
No need to thaw the roast before cooking! The slow gentle heat of the crock pot will safely thaw and cook the pork from frozen.
Slow Cooking Time and Temperature
Place the seasoned frozen pork roast directly into your crock pot insert No searing or browning required!
Next, add 1-2 cups of liquid such as broth, wine, apple cider, or water to the bottom of the crock. This will create steam and moisture as the roast cooks.
Cook the pork on the LOW setting for 8-10 hours, or HIGH for 4-6 hours. The cooking time depends on the size and shape of your roast. Plan for 1-1.5 hours of cooking time per pound.
Aim for an internal temperature of at least 145°F, checking with a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part. At this temp, the pork will be perfectly cooked, juicy and tender.
Flavorful Add-Ins
One of the best things about cooking in a crock pot is that everything infuses together into one delicious pot of food. Consider adding vegetables, potatoes, onions or other aromatics to cook alongside the pork roast.
- Potatoes, carrots, turnips or parsnips add hearty flavor and balance.
- Onions, garlic, celery, or bell peppers provide aromatic seasoning.
- Brussel sprouts, cabbage, or broccoli give a nice pop of color and nutrition.
Chop the vegetables into large chunks before adding to the crock. Nestle them around the roast so they steam and soak up the savory pork juices as they cook.
Sauce Options
The liquid in the crock pot forms the base for a tasty sauce or gravy. For flavorful results:
- Use chicken, beef or vegetable broth instead of water.
- Add a splash of wine, vinegar, soy sauce, or Worcestershire sauce.
- Mix in tomatoes, tomato paste, BBQ sauce, mustard, or hot sauce.
- Thicken at the end with cornstarch, arrowroot, or flour.
Serving Suggestions
Once cooked, the pork roast will be fall-apart tender and ready for shredding. Use two forks to pull the meat into pieces or slices.
Serving ideas include:
- Sandwiches – Pile pork onto buns for tender pulled pork sandwiches.
- Tacos – Chopped pork is perfect taco filling, just add tortillas and toppings.
- Salads – Shredded pork makes a hearty protein-packed salad topping.
- Soup – Dice pork and add to bean chili, vegetable soup, or ramen.
Any leftovers will keep well refrigerated for 3-4 days. The cooked pork freezes nicely too.
Crock Pot Pork Roast Tips
- Use a slow cooker liner for easy clean up.
- Add roast fat-side up to self-baste as it cooks.
- Let roast rest 10-15 minutes before slicing for juicier results.
- Top sliced roast with crispy cracklings for textural contrast.
- Shred and mix with BBQ sauce for quick homemade pulled pork.
Get Creative with Flavor
From Mexican style barbacoa to Italian porchetta, the possibilities are endless when cooking pork roast in the crock pot. Consider fun flavor profiles like:
- Italian – rosemary, garlic, peppers, red wine.
- Mexican – cumin, chili powder, salsa, beans, lime.
- Asian – ginger, five spice, sesame oil, soy sauce.
- BBQ – molasses, ketchup, mustard, liquid smoke.
- Moroccan – coriander, cumin, cinnamon, apricots.
Use your favorite herbs, spices, sauces and vegetables to make that pork roast distinctly your own.
Which Cut of Pork is Best in a Slow Cooker?
For this easy recipe, I roast a pork loin roast, which is my favorite type of pork to do so. Because it’s a big roast, it will feed at least six people. After a few hours, it’s juicy, flavorful, and so tender.
One more good cut is the long, thin tenderloin. However, I’ve found that because it is thinner, it tends to get dry more quickly. I prefer Bacon Wrapped Pork Tenderloin or Pan Roasted Pork Tenderloin.
You’ll need a big pork shoulder for pulled pork, and crockpot ribs are always a hit.
The Easiest Crock Pot Pork Roast
This tasty slow cooker pork roast recipe is perfect for those times when you don’t want to cook or when you have guests over for dinner but don’t have time to make anything fancy. Making this roast is so easy that you could practically do it in your sleep!.
- You can eat this pork as is, or you can add an easy gravy (recipe included) to make it taste even more like home.
- They are simple pantry items that are easy to find and don’t take long to prepare.
- Even if you cook it from frozen, it’s so soft and juicy!
A two to three-pound pork loin roast that comes in a four-pack is what I buy at Costco. That way, I always have some on hand. Additionally, it contains up to 10% of a solution of broth and salt, which increases the flavor but also means you might not need to add more salt until after cooking.
Since I buy a lot of meat in bulk, I keep it in the freezer. When I’m ready to cook, I just take it out of the freezer and put it in the slow cooker.
- Pork Roast—A pork loin roast is the best kind to use. It’s big enough for six people to eat, but still soft and juicy.
- This poultry seasoning has sage, thyme, marjoram, rosemary, and nutmeg. I love putting it on pork because it makes it taste so much better. If you’d rather, you could make your own or use a different seasoning.
- Salt and pepper
- Gravy: To make the gravy (which I really think you should!), you’ll need butter, flour, and 2 cups of the slow cooker juices or chicken broth.
Frozen Pork Tenderloin in the Slow Cooker #mondaymeal #yodathedog
FAQ
Can I put a frozen pork roast in the crockpot?
Can you put a frozen roast in the crock pot?
How to thaw a pork roast quickly?
Can you cook frozen pork roast in a crockpot?
Another benefit of cooking frozen pork roast in a crockpot is that it is a healthier cooking method. When you cook meat on the stovetop or oven, you often need to add oil or butter to prevent it from sticking to the pan or drying out. However, when you cook in a crockpot, you don’t need to add any extra fat as the meat will cook in its own juices.
Can you cook frozen pork loin in a crock pot?
Tender frozen pork loin in Crock Pot is possible! This is how to cook frozen pork perfectly in a slow cooker all day, then enjoy for dinner. Grease a slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray. Place potatoes into the bottom of the slow cooker in a single layer if possible. Add chicken broth. Place pork loin, fat side up, on top of the potatoes.
How do you cook a frozen roast in a crockpot?
Place the frozen roast in the crockpot and season with the spices and dried herbs on top. Step 3: Add the vegetables. Place the carrots, onions, and potatoes around the roast in the slow cooker and pour the beef broth on top of everything. Step 4: Cook. Slow cook the roast and vegetables on high heat for 6 hours.
Can you cook a frozen Chuck Roast in a slow cooker?
Easy frozen roast in slow cooker directions are here! Forgot to defrost your chuck roast for dinner, no problem. Use your Crockpot. Place frozen roast in a slow cooker. Add cup of broth on the top. In a small bowl combine all the seasonings, then sprinkle on top of meat. Cook on high for 6 hours.