Slow Cooker Maple and Brown Sugar Pork Tenderloin

I have always been a fan of the slow cooker.  I love that you can add a bunch of ingredients to a big ol’ pot, turn it on and walk away.  In a matter of hours you have a delicious and flavorful meal that required very little effort.  More times that not I use my slow cooker throughout the week.  This allows me to have a tasty meal ready for my family whenever we walk through the door at the end of the day.  You really can’t beat that can you?  No racing around the kitchen at 5:30 and more time with my family.  It’s a win win.

Second to chicken, pork tenderloin is probably one of my favorite meats to cook.  I don’t use it as much as I’d like but each time I have it I’m reminded just how much I love it.  It takes on the flavors of whatever it’s marinated it and it penetrates the meat.  You not only taste the flavor of the marinade on the outside of the meat but throughout as well.  Cooking it in the slow cooker only intensifies the flavor penetration creating a very tender and flavorful meat.

I think this is one of my new favorite recipes.  It requires very little preparation and it’s bursting with flavor.  I love balsamic vinegar; it’s tangy, thick and sweet and adds so much flavor.  I think it’s one of my many addictions!  The balsamic combined with the mustard, onions, sticky maple syrup, sweet brown sugar, thick honey, and herbs provides the ultimate of marinades that penetrates throughout the meat.  This marinade not only provides tons of flavor but allows the meat to cook slowly and keeping it tender where it literally falls apart at the touch. 

This pork tenderloin is incredibly tender and moist.  I love the meat alone, but the onions are quite amazing too.  They are tender and soaked in that sweet and tangy goodness and they add another layer of texture to this meal.  The gravy, isn’t a “normal” gravy, it’s a basic gravy that is thickened by leaving some of the onions in the cooking liquid.  The liquid, along with the onions are pureed to provide a slightly thick gravy that has a depth of flavor.  It coats the tenderloin beautifully and compliments mashed potatoes like nobodies business.  This is a meal that is perfect for those busy weeknight since it’s practically ready when you walk through the door, but it’s also go those intense and bold flavors that are impressive enough for guests.

Slow Cooker Maple and Brown Sugar Pork Tenderloin