Slow-cooker pulled pork tenderloin is a simple make-ahead freezer meal. After it thaws, dump it into your slow cooker, shred, and serve. BBQ pork tenderloin cooked in the crockpot makes an excellent freezer meal to bring to new parents.
Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Tenderloin
This slow cooker recipe is packed with flavor and requires very little effort. The pork becomes tender and shreddable, and piled into a soft bun with your favorite barbecue sauce, it’s truly satisfying.
What I love most about this dish is how easy it is to prepare ahead. Fast, make-ahead freezer meals save time and stress—this one takes about five minutes to assemble.
Quick prep steps:
- Grab your favorite bottle of barbecue sauce — tangy, smoky, or sweet, use what you like.
- Slice one onion into half-moons.
- Place the pork tenderloin, barbecue sauce, sliced onion, and a sprinkle of freshly ground black pepper into a large, freezer-safe bag. Seal and freeze.
- Remove the bag from the freezer the night before serving and let it thaw in the refrigerator.
- On the day you plan to eat, dump the contents into the slow cooker and cook until the pork easily shreds.
Keep the ingredients on your shopping list and spend a few minutes prepping each week. Having a prepared freezer meal means your evening self will appreciate the convenience—five minutes now can mean an easy dinner later.
Crock Pot Pork Tenderloin is easy to make ahead and freeze.
Because this is intended as a freezer meal, you can also freeze the hamburger buns alongside the pork. On the day you start the slow cooker, pull the buns out to thaw on the counter so they’re ready when the pork finishes.
Save the rest of the barbecue sauce in the refrigerator for serving, or keep an extra bottle on hand. These sandwiches are best with extra sauce.
I like to top my pulled pork with cold, creamy coleslaw—bagged coleslaw mix makes this quick. Other favorite toppings include dill pickle slices and raw onion rings. Choose what you and your family enjoy.
What to serve with crockpot pulled pork?
Keep sides simple: baked beans and potato chips pair nicely with pulled pork sandwiches. If you make coleslaw, serve extra on the side. For little ones, raw carrot and celery sticks with ranch dressing work well. The goal is an easy, satisfying meal.
Other pork tenderloin recipes:
- Pork Schnitzel
- Crockpot Pork Tenderloin
- Sheet Pan Pork and Cauliflower
Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Tenderloin
Slow cooker pulled pork is an easy freezer meal for new parents or busy weeknights.
5 minutes
4 hours
4 hours 5 minutes
Ingredients
- 1 medium onion
- 1-pound pork tenderloin*
- 1 cup barbecue sauce, plus extra for serving
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 4 hamburger buns, for serving
Instructions
- Slice the onion into half-moon shapes and place in a gallon-size freezer bag.
- Add the pork tenderloin, barbecue sauce, and black pepper to the bag. Seal the bag.
- Place the bag in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- Remove the bag from the freezer the night before cooking and thaw in the refrigerator.
- Dump the entire bag into the slow cooker and cook on HIGH for 4–6 hours.
- After about 4 hours, test the pork by shredding with two forks; if it doesn’t shred easily, cook another hour.
- Serve the shredded pork on hamburger buns with extra barbecue sauce and desired toppings.
Notes
*Pork tenderloins often come two per pack when they’re smaller (about 1–1.5 pounds each). You can double the recipe to make two freezer meals. Pork tenderloin is different from pork loin: it’s leaner, thinner, and smaller.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
4
Serving Size:
1
Amount Per Serving:
Calories: 422Total Fat: 7gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 83mgSodium: 1008mgCarbohydrates: 53gFiber: 2gSugar: 28gProtein: 35g
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