I saw this recipe bouncing around on my beloved Pinterest, and knew that I had to try it. I love anything with brown sugar and balsamic vinegar. I am so glad that I did. I cannot think of an easier, more perfect meal for the crazy first days of school. The pork cooks in a slow cooker with some salt, pepper, crushed garlic, and ground sage with a little water for 6 to 8 hours. A hour before it is done, you make a super quick glaze, pour half over the roast and serve the remaining glaze alongside the pork when it is finished. The sauce is dark and rich, sweet and savory. My son ate four helpings of this pork. It was a huge hit, and will be on heavy rotation this fall. I roasted some sweet potatoes with a little taco seasoning and a small salad. A perfect, simple meal.
This little monkey went to Kindergarten today. I do not know where the time went. I swear that she just came home in a pink blanket, swaddled, and screaming. She cried a lot. You would never know it looking at her sweet little face now would you? She was so excited to get to school and could care less that she was leaving me. She literally skipped into school. I know that is how we want them to be, independent and strong, but she didn’t even turn around to wave. My day is done. She came home (she walked home by herself with her brother!) the most excited I have ever seen her. It was adorable.
My handsome son started the 2nd grade today. He had a little apprehension, afraid that he would not make any friends, he would get lost, but he had an awesome day. He came home happy and in a great mood. Will is super smart, but does not love going to school. Today was encouraging. I hope that the rest of the days are like this. We love the new school and are blessed with great teachers.
1 (2-pound) boneless pork loin
1 teaspoon ground dried sage
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 clove crushed garlic
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 Tablespoon cornstarch
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
1/2 cup water
2 Tablespoons soy sauce
Mix together sage, salt, pepper, and garlic.
Rub the mixture over the pork. Add it to the slow cooker and pour 1/2 cup water in the bottom of the slow cooker. Cook on low for 6 to 8 hours.
One hour before the pork is cooked, put the brown sugar, cornstarch, balsamic, water, and soy sauce in a sauce pan. Bring the mixture to a bubble over medium heat. It will get thick.
Pour half of the glaze over the pork. Reserve the rest to serve alongside.
Cook the pork for another hour.
Shred the pork with a fork. It will fall apart, it is so tender.
Serve with the remaining glaze. The original recipe comes from here.
Ingredients
- 1 (2-pound) boneless pork loin
- 1 teaspoon ground dried sage
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1 clove crushed garlic
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1 Tablespoon cornstarch
- 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
- 1/2 cup water
- 2 Tablespoons soy sauce
Instructions
- Mix together sage, salt, pepper, and garlic.
- Rub the mixture over the pork. Add it to the slow cooker and pour 1/2 cup water in the bottom of the slow cooker. Cook on low for 6 to 8 hours.
- One hour before the pork is cooked, put the brown sugar, cornstarch, balsamic, water, and soy sauce in a sauce pan. Bring the mixture to a bubble over medium heat. It will get thick.
- Pour half of the glaze over the pork. Reserve the rest to serve alongside.
- Cook the pork for another hour.
- Shred the pork with a fork. It will fall apart, it is so tender.
- Serve with the remaining glaze.
Your kids are gorgeous!
This pork looks wonderful- I’m secretly a teensy bit excited for fall for slow cooker season!
Hmmm, I’m not much for pork, but this recipe looks like a real winner! I’ll be giving it a try.
I can’t wait to try this – it is perfect for our hectic soccer season schedule. The crock pot will be my new cooking tool for the foreseeable future. And it sounds sweet, so maybe my daughter will actually eat it.
It is sweet. It is big with the kids because of this. But adults love it too. I have been using my slow cooker a lot lately and I have fallen in love with it all over again.
Just discovered your blog recently. I love love all the recipes and amazing photos! Your kids are too cute, can’t believe they are already back to school!!
Welcome Emily! Thank you, I am glad that you like it here.
Bree, the kids look so adorable! They are really growing up fast. They both have changed so much since May! This dish looks delish. I never use my slow cooker and would really like to start. This looks perfect!
Thanks Corks! I can see FM gobbling this up. It has his name all over it. I have been using mine a lot lately. Esp when it was so hot, it didn’t make my kitchen hot like the oven does.
Thank you, I am making this for dinner tonight! I had everything but the pork, so I ran next door and took care of that. Just threw everything into the slow cooker. Today my son went back to school as well. He sprung out of bed, packed his snack, and waited for the bus for a half hour.
I hope that you liked it. Poor dude! The buses always have a rough first day.
What happy cute kids!!
And that pork sounds amazing. I love simple sauces like this!
Thank you MIchelle! This sauce could not be any simpler. My whole family ate it, which says something.
I used to have that crock pot. I got it as a wedding gift and gave it to a bachelor friend a few months ago. Now I have a Wolfgang Puck versa cooker. It’s awesome. Can’t wait to try this recipe!
I really want the new one that Williams Sonoma has. The insert can go on the stove, so you can brown things before you put it in. Want it bad!
This sounds so amazing! I’m a huge pulled pork fan already, but this balsamic business sounds so delicious!
You will love this then. It is sweet and rich. So good.
i realize this is a strange comment, but i love the light in your new kitchen!
Thank you Emily. Parts of it does, and the other side is dark. I have been cranking my ISO super high for process photos.
I really need to try this recipe. Looks so yummy!!
School starts really early for you! My little one starts kindergarden, but not for 3 weeks (thank goodness). I’m not ready.
Yes, it really does. This recipe is so fabulous, and so easy.
this sounds wonderful, i can’t wait to try it! i have a question that i’m slightly embarrassed to ask because it’s probably super simple (i’m not so great in the kitchen but if i don’t ask i won’t learn)…how do you roast sweet potatoes? and not just roasting them…but with taco seasoning? i love sweet potatoes and that sounds really good. thanks so much! adorable kiddos btw:)
Never be embarrassed to ask me a question. Ever, ever. I peel the sweet potato and cut into chucks. Toss with a little olive oil and a good sprinkle of taco seasoning (and salt if your seasoning doesn’t already have some in it) . I used the Trader Joes kind, but any is fine. And then baked in a 400 degree oven for about 45 minutes?
We don’t eat pork but the recipe still looks amazing. Do you think this would work well with chicken breasts?? I hope so!
I bet that it would be delicious with chicken. I would just reduce the cooking time. If you try it, let me know how it is.
Sounds like your kids are getting a great start! I’d love to get my paws on some of that pork…yum!
thanks Julie, so far, so good!
I just made this pork for dinner and it is my new favorite. So yummy and so easy. I love that I already had all the ingredients in my kitchen.
Yeah Chesney!
Wow, balsamic vinegar and brown sugar. I never would’ve thought what a great balance! This recipe is amazing and very out of the box.
Thanks Nia.
I love simple recipes like this one, especially when it pairs well with sweet potatoes.
Me too. This is so easy and so good.
I had to go buy a slow cooker to make this and was a little unsure as to how it would be received but was totally take aback when I was being asked for seconds, thirds, and fourths. A total hit to say the least! Thank you!
Wow, I am impressed that you went out and bought a slow cooker. I bet that you will fall in love with it. I use mine all the time.
Bree,
I noticed that you tied the pork loin. Any particular reason for a loin piece that small?
I didn’t do it, the guy at Whole Foods did.
He cut it for me from a larger loin.
Hi! I made this recipe last night and it was delicious. The sauce really made the dish.
Thanks again
you are welcome Marissa!
Making this tonight (just stuck it in the crockpot), along with roasted sweet potatoes and asparagus. Important question, though: would you serve it with red or white wine?
It is really up to you. I know nothing about wine, other than, I know what I like and don’t like.
I ended up serving it with a Sonoma Valley Pinot Noir. It worked really well with the pork, which was out of this world. My husband and I both loved it, and I will definitely be making it again, especially since it was so easy. Thanks, Bree!
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Thanks Courtney! Glad to know a Pinot Noir goes well, which happens to be my favorite varietal.
I made this last night and it got rave reviews from my husband and 3 year-old! Thanks for all your awesome recipes – I look forward to your posts! (particularly ones that feature dinners – I am always looking for new things to try
Thanks Mara. Glad that it was a hit with the fam. I have a few more this week that I think that you will like.
Did you have to add more water as it cooked for those many hours? Half a cup of water doesn’t seem like much, although I did notice the crock pot looked dry in the photo where you started adding the sauce.
Love your blog!
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Nope, it actually makes liquid. I got rid of some of the extra water before I added the sauce.
Thank you so much for posting this recipe! I’ve already made it twice and it was a total hit with my family- love your blog, especially the quick weeknight meals you’ve been posting since school has started!
that makes me happy! Glad that you are liking the quick weeknight meals.
Hi Bree, I’m rediscovering your blog. It looks great – love the changes. I made your cucumber salad tonight and am poking around for some more recipes. I’m trying to do more slow cooker cooking – I’ve used my slow cooker twice in 5 years! Where are you these days? I think you used to live in Sac area – I’m north of there.
I made this recipe tonight, and it turned out AMAZING. My wife is about ready to worship me for the end result. She came home from work, to great smells and an excellent dinner. Thanks for sharing this! I’m a slow cooker aficionado and this is one I’ll keep for repeated use.
I will not tell her how easy this one is either! Glad that she liked it.
Just popping in to say I finally tried this recipe over the weekend and loved it. I’m not a pork person and I’ve been gingerly eating at pork loins but this recipe was so incredible I went back for seconds.
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glad that you liked it Julie!
This was delicious! I made it with the sweet potato casserole with the pecan topping and some creamed spinach! Yummy fall dinner.
that sounds like a yum dinner.
Back again and another winner! Thanks Bree-so yummy. I think both my parents had 3rds. I even did the sweet potatoes too.
Yeah Brandy!
how many does this recipe serve?
At least 8.
Wow. I’ve been in a rut with pulled pork. So I made this tonight and everyone loved it. I served it with some freezer steak fries and the extra sauce was perfect for dipping the fries in. So easy and delicious. Thanks for a great recipe.