Balsamic Brown Sugar Pork Recipe Is a Dinner Winner From a Slow Cooker (8 Ingredients) by Donna John

Pork tenderloin is always an ingredient I buy but not one I've developed at great relationship with. I buy them because when they're on sale, you can get a pork tenderloin for about $4, and one pork tenderloin can make two meals for my husband and me. Talk about a budget-friendly, high-protein ingredient! Another ingredient I've just started associating with meals outside of the holidays is ground sage. This amazing pork tenderloin recipe combines both of these ingredients in an absolutely delicious way. This is the best pork tenderloin I've ever cooked.

This slow-cooker pork recipe is full of complementing flavors and melts in your mouth. The ingredient list is simple, too. Here is your short shopping list for this high-protein dinner recipe: pork tenderloin, ground sage, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, black pepper, brown sugar, balsamic vinegar, soy sauce and cornstarch. The pork is seasoned with the spices then cooked in the slow cooker for about six to eight hours. The glaze, which turns into a sauce at the end, is simmered briefly on the stovetop, then used to glaze the meat during the last hour of cooking time. The sweet balsamic glaze is so good, I had to restrain myself from eating it off a spoon! (Check out the health benefits of protein.)

Variation: The pork also makes wonderful pork sandwiches.

Serve this melt-in-your-mouth tender pork for a high-protein dinner with your favorite side dishes. I served mine with a slow-cooker potato casserole and broccoli. This slow-cooker recipe will be on repeat in my house!

Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 6 to 8 hours
Total Time: 6 to 8 hours
Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 2 pounds pork tenderloin
• 1 teaspoon ground sage
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon onion powder

Glaze/Sauce

• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
• 1/2 cup water
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce or tamari
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch

Here's how to make it: 

1. Stir together the ground sage, garlic powder and onion powder in a small bowl. Season with salt and black pepper, to taste.
   
2. Put the pork tenderloin into a slow cooker. Season it all over with the spice mixture.
   
3. Cover and cook on low heat for 6 to 8 hours.
   
4. Before the last hour of cooking time, put the glaze ingredients into a saucepot. Bring to a simmer and cook until thickened, about 4 minutes. (For a gluten-free dinner use tamari instead of soy sauce.)
   
5. During the last hour of cooking time, baste the pork occasionally with the glaze.
   
6. Cook until the pork is fork-tender.
   
7. Use a knife or two forks to pull the pork into pieces.
   
8. Drizzle with more of the glaze.
   
9. You can serve now or do this optional step to crisp up the pork: Put the pork onto a aluminum foil-lined baking sheet. Pop the meat under the broiler for a few minutes to crisp it up. Do not walk away! It will burn quickly.
   
10. Serve the pork with your desired side dishes. (You should have extra glaze left over after basting that can be served on the side, if desired.) Store any leftover pork in an airtight container in the fridge.
    

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