Asian Apricot Glazed Crock Pot Pork Tenderloin

Here's one for each of you who asks that age old question... "What am I going to cook for dinner?" Well this fall-apart pork tenderloin could not be any simpler for an easy family dinner.  So for sure, this is not the prettiest dish in the world, but oh wow it was tasty - and easy.

Pork tenderloin may not be what you would think of as a protein to throw into the crock pot, but for around $6, this super lean piece of meat just falls apart after being slow cooked in an Asian inspired glaze. And then to create a little bit of a caramelization of sorts on the glaze, I threw it in my oven at the end while my potatoes were finishing up roasting.  And that's it!  The price per person comes out way less expensive than even your favorite drive through window, and believe me when I say it's way healthier and more tasty!

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Ingredients:    

(1 tenderloin shown, but the glaze is enough for 2 tenderloins)

• 1/4 c low sodium soy sauce
• 1 Tbsp yellow mustard
• 2-3 Tbsp maple syrup
• 2 Tbsp canola oil
• 2 Tbsp dried onion flakes 
• 1 Tbsp garlic powder
• 1 Tbsp light brown sugar
• 1/4 c apricot preserves
• garnishes optional
• sesame seeds
• sliced chives or green onions
• 1 1/2 - 2 pound pork tenderloin, trimmed 

Step-by-Step:

Let's start off by mixing together this super easy glaze.  Just mix all the ingredients together in a bowl.  

We start off with 1/4 c low sodium soy sauce + 1 Tbsp yellow mustard.

2 - 3 Tbsp maple syrup + 2 Tbsp canola oil.

2 Tbsp dried onion flakes + 1 Tbsp onion powder.

1 Tbsp light brown sugar + 1/4 cup apricot preserves.

So this is what the glaze looks like.  That was so easy!   This would also be great on chicken or basted onto shrimp for grilling! 

You will want to trim the tenderloin of extra fat and the silverskin.  Unfortunately, I have a round crock pot, rather than an elongated oval shaped one, so I had to bend mine.  But hey... it still worked out just fine.  

Cook in the crock pot on high for around x 3 1/2 hours.  My boys like it when it's absolutely falling apart.  Then if you would like the glaze to have that bit of caramelization, transfer the meat to the an oven safe dish and pop it into the oven at 400 degrees F until you get the look you would like.  In the crock pot, the glaze will remain pretty soft.  It's up to you.   

To serve, garnish with sesame seeds (try dry toasting them in a small pan on the stovetop first), and and some thinly sliced chives or green onions.  Good luck trying to "slice" the meat.  It works better to just break it apart into big chunks to serve with some of the glaze from the bottom of the crock pot. 

I hope you enjoyed this simple and delicious recipe!

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Written Method:

Mix all the glaze ingredients together. Trim the tenderloin of extra fat and the silverskin.  Pour the glaze over the pork in the crock pot.  Cook on high for around x 3 1/2 hours.  My boys like it when it's absolutely falling apart.  Then if you would like the glaze to have that bit of caramelization, transfer the meat to the an oven safe dish and pop it into the oven at 400 degrees F until you get the look you would like.  In the crock pot, the glaze will remain pretty soft.  It's up to you.   

To serve, garnish with sesame seeds (try dry toasting them in a small pan on the stovetop first), and and some thinly sliced chives or green onions.  Good luck trying to "slice" the meat.  It works better to just break it apart into big chunks to serve with some of the glaze from the bottom of the crock pot.