Slow Cooker Pork Roast (Easy Slow-Cooked Pork Recipe)

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Slow Cooker Pork Roast is a hearty and comforting meal that’s simple to make. The pork cooks low and slow with potato and carrots in a flavorful beefy onion broth, until it’s fall-apart tender and full of savory flavor. It’s the kind of hands-off dinner that feels effortless but tastes like you spent all day in the kitchen.

A pork roast cooked inside the slow cooker with a fork shredding it.

Best Ever Slow Cooker Pork Roast

This slow cooker pork roast is my family’s favorite pork roast – ever! Even my no meat kids love this one. The beauty of this recipe is that it’s so simple to make and it tastes like it took hours to make – but really, it takes a few minutes prep and then the slow cooker does all the work.

This delicious recipe is full of savory flavors with pork roast, carrots, baby potatoes, that cooks low & slow in a delicious beef broth with beefy onion soup mix. The cooking liquid turns into a savory and tangy glaze, just like a gravy, that coats the shredded pork and veggies.

Pork roast inside the slow cooker with a spoon

The pork turns out so moist, tender, flaky, and full of flavor. The potatoes and carrots are tender and infused with all those flavors from the slow cook time.

Perfect for Sunday dinner and it’s even easy enough for those busy weeknights when you need something ready to eat at dinnertime.

A white plate with a serving of the pork roast and vegetables.

Simple Ingredients Needed To Make Crock Pot Pork Roast

  1. Pork Butt Roast : There are several options for this cut of meat, some more expensive and others are a cheaper alternative but probably have more fatty pieces; it just depends on what you prefer. I use a boneless pork sirloin roast when I make this pork recipe. They are smaller so I usually end up having to buy two of them to equal the 5-6 pounds needed. I prefer the sirloin roast because it is a leaner and nicer cut of pork roast but still has some fat so it doesn’t dry out. Other options are a boneless pork shoulder roast, a pork shoulder butt roast, or for a very lean option you could use a boneless pork loin roast. 
  2. Kosher Salt & Black Pepper : This is to season the outside of the pork roast before searing. 
  3. Olive Oil
  4. Baby Potatoes : A 1.5 pound bag of baby potatoes is needed for the recipe. You can use red baby potatoes, yellow baby potatoes, or a medley mix of baby potatoes with red, yellow, and purple in it. Make sure to wash them and cut each potato in half before adding them into the slow cooker. 
  5. Carrots : You can make it super easy and use a bag of baby carrots, or for the best flavor, I recommend buying carrots and then cutting them into larger sized pieces. Regular whole carrots taste much better than the processed baby carrots. 
  6. Beef Broth : Other options include beef stock or beef bone broth (I love using beef bone broth). You can use reduced sodium broth or regular salted broth, depending on preference. I use full-salt bone broth when I make this recipe. 
  7. Beefy Onion Soup Mix : This is a packet of beefy onion dry seasonings that gets dumped into the slow cooker. It gives the roast so much flavor! Each box comes with two packets inside, you will use both packets. I use the Lipton brand. 
  8. Cornstarch + Cold Water : This is the simply slurry that helps to thicken the gravy. 
Ingredients

How To Make Slow-Cooked Pork Roast (Printable Recipe Card)

Pat the pork roast dry with paper towel. Season all sides of the pork with the kosher salt and black pepper. 

Heat the olive oil in a large skillet pan over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the pork roast and sear it on all sides until browned. 

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Place the pork roast into the slow cooker. Add the halved baby potatoes and carrots all around it. Sprinkle the beefy onion soup mix seasoning over top of everything, and then pour the beef broth over top. 

Put the lid on and cook on LOW for 8-10 hours or HIGH for 7-8 hours. Traditionally, I never cook on high heat in the slow cooker, however, for this recipe it turns out just fine. 

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In a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and cold water until combined well. Pour this into the slow cooker and stir everything together. Let it continue cooking, with the lid on, until the gravy is thickened to your preference. 

Serve & enjoy!

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How To Store Leftover Pork Roast

Any leftover pork roast should be stored in an airtight container, in the refrigerator, for up to 4-5 days. To make it last longer, you can place room temperature leftovers inside a freezer-safe Ziploc bag, and freeze for up to 3 months. Defrost in the fridge overnight before reheating for serving. 

To reheat, you can microwave single servings or, for larger servings, place them in an oven-safe dish and heat at 350 degrees F for 10-15 minutes, or until thoroughly heated throughout. I recommend covering the pork roast with foil while in the oven to prevent it from drying out. You could also add a splash of broth to moisten up leftovers when reheating. 

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What Are Some Substitutions I Can Make?

  • Pork Roast : A pork shoulder butt roast is what most might use in this recipe – another name for it is a boston butt roast. This cut of meat does have a bone in it, which is fine, and it will help add to the moisture that the meat retains while cooking, especially at a lower temperature and slower cook time. A pork shoulder does have more marbling and fat layers in it. I prefer using a pork sirloin roast which is a leaner cut of meat, does not have a bone in it, and it comes in smaller sizes so I usually end up having to buy two of them.
  • Baby Potatoes : These are smaller sized potatoes that only need to be cut in half for the recipe. If you use regular-sized potatoes, be sure to cut them into large chunks, about 1 to 2 inch pieces. 
  • Carrots : You can use a bag of baby carrots for ease, or for the best flavor and texture, use regular carrots that have been peeled and cut into 3-4 large pieces. 
  • Beef Broth : Another option is beef stock, beef bone broth, or use beef bouillon + water. If wanted, you can also use chicken broth or vegetable stock, note that it could change the flavor profile slightly.
Slow cooker with the roast in it and a serving plate with some on it.

Serving Suggestions

With the carrots and potatoes with the meat, it is really a complete meal in one pot. Slice or shred your meat, add your potatoes and carrots to a serving plate, and serve. We love this served with some additional gravy poured over top of everything. 

I like to serve it alongside some hot dinner rolls – either store-bought, frozen ready to bake ones, or try my Buttery One Hour Rolls

Inside of the slow cooker with the pork roast

Recipe FAQs

Does This Cut Of Meat Have A Bone In It?

Traditionally, yes, a pork shoulder butt or round roast is usually a bone-in roast, but sometimes they are boneless. The smaller cuts of pork roast – such as a sirloin pork roast – are boneless and smaller in size, so you may need to buy two of them in order to get 5-6 pounds of pork. The bone-in cuts really help add to the moisture the meat retains while cooking, especially at a slow rate. When the pork is done cooking, the meat will be tender enough that the bone should slide out easily. I prefer using boneless, which is also why I prefer using a pork sirloin roast. You can use boneless or bone-in because the recipe cook time is long enough that either one will come out tender and soft. 

Do I Need To Sear The Roast, Or Can It Go Straight Into The Slow Cooker?

If you choose to not sear the roast, it will not affect the cook time, but it will affect the flavor. By searing the roast and browning it on all sides, you are helping to lock in moisture and flavor to the meat while it cooks. It also helps add the more earthy flavors of roast. So no, you do not have to sear the roast, but I highly recommend doing it for the best flavor. 

Are There Other Ways To Enjoy Leftover Pork Roast?

I like to take the leftover meat and make pork roast sandwiches out of ciabatta bread with some cheese (like provolone), or put it inside a tortilla with some bbq sauce and mozzarella cheese – sort of like a bbq pork quesadilla. 

Can I Add Spice To The Dish?

If you would like to add a little spice to your pork roast, you can add red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper in with the other seasonings (about 1/2 teaspoon, less or more as desired). If you really want to add some serious heat and change the flavor profile of the roast, you could try adding a can of chipotle peppers and sauce to the slow cooker. 

Hero shot of the cooked pork roast, shredded, on a plate with potatoes and carrots.
A fork with some pork roast on it

More Family Favorite Pork Dinner Recipes

A pork roast cooked inside the slow cooker with a fork shredding it.
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Slow Cooker Pork Roast


Author Jessica – Together as Family
Course Dinner
Cuisine American
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 8 hours
Total Time 8 hours 15 minutes
Servings 8
Slow Cooker Pork Roast is a hearty and comforting meal that's simple to make. The pork cooks low and slow with potato and carrots in a flavorful beefy onion broth, until it's fall-apart tender and full of savory flavor. It's the kind of hands-off dinner that feels effortless but tastes like you spent all day in the kitchen.

Ingredients
  

  • 5-6 pounds pork shoulder butt roast (see notes)
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 bag (1.5 pounds) yellow or red baby potatoes halved
  • 12 ounces carrots (see notes)
  • 1 box (2.2 oz) beefy onion soup mix (use both packets inside)
  • 2 cups beef broth or beef stock
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 1 tablespoon cold water

Instructions

  • Pat the pork roast dry with paper towel. Season all sides of the pork with the kosher salt and black pepper. 
    5-6 pounds pork shoulder butt roast, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • Heat the olive oil in a large skillet pan over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the pork roast and sear it on all sides until browned. 
    2 tablespoons olive oil
  • Place the pork roast into the slow cooker. Add the halved baby potatoes and carrots all around it. Sprinkle the beefy onion soup mix seasoning over top of everything, and then pour the beef broth over top. 
    1 bag (1.5 pounds) yellow or red baby potatoes, 12 ounces carrots, 1 box (2.2 oz) beefy onion soup mix, 2 cups beef broth or beef stock
  • Put the lid on and cook on LOW for 8-10 hours or HIGH for 7-8 hours. Traditionally, I never cook on high heat in the slow cooker, however, for this recipe it turns out just fine. 
  • In a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and cold water until combined well. Pour this into the slow cooker and stir everything together. Let it continue cooking, with the lid on, until the gravy is thickened to your preference (this won't take long).
    2 tablespoons cornstarch, 1 tablespoon cold water
  • Shred the pork or slice it, and serve it with some potatoes and carrots. Drizzle some extra gravy over top of everything. Enjoy!

Notes

Carrots : You can use a bag of baby carrots for ease, or buy a bag (16 oz) of regular carrots, peel them and cut each carrot into 3-5 larger pieces. You won’t need to use all of the carrots in the bag, just about 3/4 of them or slightly more. 
Beef Broth : I use full salted beef broth, beef stock, or beef bone broth when I make this roast. If you are sensitive to salt then I would recommend using a reduced-sodium or salt-free version of beef broth when making this recipe. 
Pork Roast : A pork shoulder butt roast is what most might use in this recipe – another name for it is a boston butt roast. This cut of meat does have a bone in it, which is fine, and it will help add to the moisture that the meat retains while cooking, especially at a lower temperature and slower cook time. A pork shoulder roast does have more marbling and fat layers in it. I prefer using a pork sirloin roast which is a leaner cut of meat, does not have a bone in it, and it comes in smaller sizes so I usually end up having to buy two of them. Bone-in or boneless are both fine to use (I always use boneless and have never found the meat dry at all). Any cut of pork roast will work fine – shoulder roast, round roast, butt roast, sirloin roast, etc. it just depends on how much fat/grease you want in the final dish. 

Nutrition

Calories: 530kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 67g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 179mg | Sodium: 1491mg | Potassium: 1662mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 7109IU | Vitamin C: 20mg | Calcium: 58mg | Iron: 3mg

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