This Healthy Keto Slow Cooker Balsamic Pork Tenderloin is tender and juicy and very easy to make! By simply searing a seasoned pork tenderloin and then cooking it low and slow, this slow cooker keto recipe is one of the easiest keto dinner recipes!
This slow cooker balsamic pork tenderloin is one of those easy, no muss, no fuss keto recipes that everyone loves. Serve it with a healthy Keto Broccoli Salad with Maple Bacon Dressing, a Keto Winter Salad with Roasted Squash and Tahini Dressing, or this Healthy Crunchy Roasted Brussels Sprout Salad along with this quick Whole30 Gluten-Free Bread Recipe for an easy keto dinner.
I know that you youngsters may be thinking to yourselves that "slow cooking" is such an 80s thing. But let me assure you that 80s or not, sometimes cooking something low and slow is the best way to create the most delicious keto dinner!
But do not worry as I am pretty sure that very few people even own a slow cooker in today's world, your fancy all-in-one cookers (like my Ninja Foodi) actually has a built-in slow cooker function!
So grab your all-in-one (or your slow cooker!) and let's make this delicious Slow Cooker Balsamic Pork Tenderloin recipe!
This quick and easy keto recipe requires very little prep and almost no hands-on time. Like my Keto Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Recipe, Slow Cooker Keto Chicken Marsala as well as my Slow Cooker Italian Beef, you can walk out of the house, head to work and when you return home, dinner will be done!
Why you will love this Keto Pork Tenderloin
- easy to make with only a handful of ingredients
- turns out nice and juice without any effort
- makes for an easy keto dinner
- using a slow cooker means you can set it, go to work and come home to a deliciously healthy dinner
Ingredients
Asides from a nice piece of pork tenderloin, you only need an additional 5 ingredients for this healthy slow cooker recipe!
- Pork - You will need about 2 lbs of pork tenderloin for this recipe. Make sure you use tenderloin and not simply pork loin, which is entirely a different cut of meat.
- Balsamic vinegar - There are MANY different types of balsamic vinegar on the market and you definitely get what you pay for. Good quality balsamic vinegar will have its ingredients listed as “Grape must, traditional". This means that it has been aged for at least 12 years, and the vinegar will be thick and sweet. Cheaper vinegar will be combined with a wine vinegar, caramel, flavourings, and other ingredients
- Broth - You can use either chicken, beef, or vegetable broth
- Soy sauce - You can use coconut aminos instead which is Whole30 and Paleo approved
- Brown sugar substitute - I used Lakanto Golden but you can use any type of sweetener in this recipe.
- Spices - A combination of garlic powder, cumin, chili powder, salt, and pepper are combined with the sweetener to create the dry rub
*See the recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
Whether you use an old-school slow cooker or a brand new all-in-one cooker, this slow cooker keto recipe is super easy!
Rinse and pat dry the pork. Rub the dry seasoning mix over the pork.
Turn your all-in-on to the "saute - hi" setting (or your slow cooker on high). Once the pot gets hot, sear the meat on all sides (about 10 minutes) until it just begins to brown.
Whisk together the sauce ingredients and pour it over the pork tenderloin. Add the lid with the vent button open (pointing to the "vent") and set the cooker to the "slow cook" feature on low for 6-8 hours
Remove the pork and bring the sauce to a boil. Whisk in ¼ teaspoon xantham gum to thicken the sauce.
Strain the sauce by pouring through a sieve to remove any large pieces.
Slice the pork into thin pieces
Drizzle the balsamic glaze over the sliced pork and enjoy!
Hint: Since there is not much balsamic glaze, I used an extra-fine mesh strainer that I rested above a large glass measuring cup.
Substitutions
Since there are not many ingredients in this keto pork tenderloin recipe, there are only a couple of possible substitutions.
- Balsamic Vinegar - you can use 4 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar or red wine vinegar mixed with 1 tablespoon of sweetener.
- Brown sugar substitute - use a white sugar substitute or even sugar-free maple syrup
- Spices - feel free to play around with the spice mixture or use any spices that you have on hand.
This recipe is gluten-free and dairy-free naturally but if you want to make it Whole30 or Paleo, simply replace the sweetener with Date paste and use Primal Balsamic Vinegar.
Variations
You can take this slow cooker balsamic pork tenderloin recipe and with a few simple changes, create a wide variety of different easy keto dinner recipes.
- Spicy - add chili pepper flakes
- BBQ - add some keto BBQ sauce or this White BBQ Sauce
- Mustard - add some Keto Creamy Mustard Sauce
Equipment
This healthy slow cooker recipe can be made either in a Crock Pot or in a Ninja Foodi All-in-One. Be aware that different cookers may require more or less cooking time.
When using a Ninja Foodi, make sure that you use the pressure cooker lid with the vent dial pointing to "open".
Storage
Slice this keto pork tenderloin in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. You can also freeze this pork for up to 1 month.
Top tip
In order to know when your slow cooker balsamic pork tenderloin is fully cooked, use a cooking thermometer and insert it into the center of the pork tenderloin. According to the Pork Association, fully cooked pork should reach an internal temperature of 145 degrees F.
What are the different temperatures for pork?
Medium-rare pork has an internal temperature of 130 degrees F, medium is 140 degrees F. and medium-well is 150 degrees F.
Is pork tenderloin the same as pork loin?
No. Pork tenderloin comes from a different area of pork that is much leaner.
Do I have to sear the pork before slow cooking?
Searing the pork is not a must but it does help brown the pork on the outside as well as seal the juices inside the pork.
Why did my slow cooker meat turn out tough?
You either did not allow the meat a long enough cooking time in order to break down the collagen or there was not enough liquid in the slow cooker.
Slow Cooker Balsamic Pork Tenderloin
This Healthy Keto Slow Cooker Balsamic Pork Tenderloin is tender and juicy and very easy to make! By simply searing a seasoned pork tenderloin and then cooking it low and slow, this slow cooker keto recipe is one of the easiest keto dinner recipes!
- Total Time: 6 hours 10 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
Ingredients
- 2 lbs lean pork tenderloin, divided into 1 pound sections
- 1 tbsp avocado oil (or other cooking oil)
- ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
- ½ cup broth (chicken, beef or vegetable)
- ¼ cup soy sauce (or coconut aminos)
- 3 tbsp brown sugar substitute
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp cumin
- ¼-½ teaspoon chili powder
- salt and pepper
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine the balsamic vinegar, broth and soy sauce. Whisk to incorporate the ingredients.
- Combine the brown sugar substitute, garlic powder, cumin, chili pepper and a pinch of salt and pepper. Rinse and pat dry the pork tenderloin and rub the spice mix over the pork.
- Add the oil to the bottom of your slow cooker and turn your all-in-on (or slow cooker) on high. Once hot, sear the meat on all sides, about 10 minutes total time (this will help the spice rub stick to the pork).
- Pour the balsamic mixture over the pork and turn the slow cooker on "low" for 6-8 hours.
- Remove the pork and allow it to rest. Bring the sauce to a boil and whisk in ¼ teaspoon xantham gum (if desired) to thicken the sauce.
- Slice pork and drizzle with balsamic glaze.
Notes
- For a crisp exterior, turn your all-in-one to "broil" or "air fry" and cook until the the pork begins to brown. IF using a slow cooker, remove the pork and place it in the oven under the broiler for 3-5 minutes.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 hours
- Category: Main Meals
- Method: Slow Cooker, Ninja Foodi
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (4 oz)
- Calories: 155
- Sugar: 1.7
- Fat: 4.3
- Carbohydrates: 3
- Fiber: 0.1
- Protein: 24
Cat
We love it too! Thanks for the nice comment!
Chris
I have tried making pork tenderloin so many different ways and it always turns out bland and dry. This recipe created the most moist and delicious pork…my wife raved about how good it was!