Description
Succulent pineapple pork loin delivers tropical flavors with tender, juicy meat infused by sweet and tangy marinade. Slow cooking ensures rich, mouthwatering results that will delight dinner companions and make weeknight meals exceptional.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2–3 lb pork loin roast (boneless or bone-in)
- 1 can pineapple chunks (20 oz / 567 g, with juice)
- ¼ cup soy sauce (regular or reduced-sodium)
- ¼ cup light brown sugar
- 8 cloves garlic (minced)
- 2 tbsps vegetable oil
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp ground black pepper
- 1 tsp salt
Instructions
- Spice Preparation: Blend onion powder, smoked paprika, kosher salt, and black pepper in a mixing bowl to create a dynamic seasoning mixture.
- Meat Seasoning: Vigorously massage the spice blend into every contour of the pork loin, guaranteeing comprehensive coverage.
- Searing Process: Heat vegetable oil in a cast-iron skillet over medium-high temperature and quickly sear each side of the pork loin until a rich, caramel-colored crust emerges, approximately 1-2 minutes per side.
- Slow Cooker Assembly: Transfer the golden-brown pork loin to the slow cooker, scatter minced garlic across its surface, and drench with low-sodium soy sauce and pineapple chunks, including their natural juice.
- Caramelization Layer: Sprinkle dark brown sugar evenly over the meat to create a sweet, glossy coating.
- Cooking Cycle: Cover and cook on LOW temperature for 5-6 hours, allowing the meat to transform into a meltingly tender centerpiece infused with tropical essence.
- Serving Preparation: Remove the pork loin, let it rest for 10 minutes, then slice or shred against the grain, drizzling the strained cooking liquid over the meat for an intense flavor boost when serving alongside steamed jasmine rice or roasted seasonal vegetables.
Notes
- Sear for Maximum Flavor: Browning the pork loin before slow cooking creates a rich, caramelized exterior that locks in deep, complex flavors and improves overall taste profile.
- Meat Tenderness Technique: Cooking on LOW temperature for 5-6 hours ensures the pork becomes incredibly tender, allowing connective tissues to break down slowly without drying out.
- Juice Preservation Trick: Retain the cooking liquid by straining and drizzling over the meat to enhance moisture and intensify the tropical pineapple-soy flavor combination.
- Resting Meat Matters: Let the pork loin rest for 10 minutes after cooking to redistribute internal juices, resulting in more succulent and easier-to-shred meat.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Fusion
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 700 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 26 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg