Easy Slow Cooker Pork Roast

Name: Easy Slow Cooker Pork Roast
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 435 min
Total time: 450 min
Ingredients: 5-6 pounds boneless pork butt picnic or shoulder roast (6-7lb bone-in); 1-2 teaspoons cajun seasoning or seasoning salt (divided); 10.5 ounce can Campbell’s Condensed Cream of Chicken with Herbs Soup; 1 cup chicken broth; 1 1/2 teaspoons flaky poultry seasoning (or 3/4 tsp ground poultry seasoning); 1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder; 8 ounce package regular or light cream cheese; 2 tablespoons cornstarch; 2 tablespoons milk or water

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This Slow Cooker Pork Roast with garlic and herbs takes just 15 minutes to prep, the crock pot does all the work here! With simple ingredients that are mainly in your pantry, you can have a home cooked meal prepared with minimal effort. Served over mashed potatoes or noodles, it’s the best comfort food dinner recipe.

A pork roast with gravy on mashed potatoes.

Ready-or-not, here it comes! Another super easy, comfort-food, Crockpot dinner! Perfect for busy weeknights, this easy slow cooked pork roast takes just 15 minutes to prep with mainly pantry ingredients.

After a quick pork sear and whisk of gravy ingredients, you’re ready to set-it-and-forget-it! The smell alone of the pork cooking is amazing! This is truly an impressive recipe to serve to family and friends when entertaining too.

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At the end of the day, all you’ll need to do is finish off the gravy and prepare whatever you want to serve it over. The meat comes out incredibly tender and the gravy…PERFECTION!

If you love a slow cooker recipe because they are ideal for busy weeks, then I have so many great ones for you to try! Some of my family's favorites are the crockpot chicken and gravy, slow cooker Korean beef, and crockpot Tuscan chicken.

Table of Contents

Why You’ll Love this Recipe

Quick prep time. It takes less than 15 minutes to prepare before cooking in the Crockpot! Perfect for busy days.
Affordable meal for a large group. It’s budget-friendly and goes a long way!
Comfort food. It’s wholesome, rich in delicious flavors comfort food!
Easy recipe made with pantry staples. Most of the ingredients in this recipe are probably already in your kitchen.
Serve over your favorite starch. Flavorful gravy and tender pork roast served over rice, pasta, light bread, or mashed potatoes is perfection! The whole family will love it!

Ingredients

Scroll Down for Ingredient Amounts Listed in the Recipe Card Below

Boneless Pork Butt Picnic or Shoulder: Serves as the primary protein source. Slow-cooking it in the crockpot allows the meat to become tender and absorb the flavors of the other ingredients.
Cajun Seasoning or Seasoning Salt: Provides a bold and flavorful kick to the meat and sauce.
Condensed Cream of Chicken with Herbs Soup: Provides a creamy and flavorful base for the dish.
Chicken Broth: Adds moisture to the dish and contributes savory flavor to the overall sauce. Beef broth can also be used.
Flaky Poultry Seasoning: Brings a flavorful blend of herbs to the dish
Garlic Powder: Complements the herbs and adds depth to the overall taste.
Cream Cheese: Contributes to the richness and creaminess of the sauce. It adds a tangy element that complements the savory flavors in the dish.
Cornstarch: Serves as a thickening agent for the sauce.
Milk or Water: The liquid that creates the cornstarch slurry to thicken the sauce.

The ingredients to make slow cooker pork roast and gravy.

Laura Ashley's Tip: Searing the pork roast before placing in the slow cooker is optional for this recipe. But I do highly recommend taking the extra step for a deeper flavor that's just so delicious.

Cut of Pork for Slow Cooker Pork Roast

The best cut of meat for slow cooking a pork roast is boneless pork shoulder or pork butt. They have a good amount of marbling and fat, which contributes to the tenderness and juiciness of the meat during the longer cook time. The fat slowly renders and connective tissues and collagen break down, keeping the meat moist and flavorful.

You might find them labeled as pork shoulder roast, pork butt, or Boston butt. Trim the excess fat as needed, leaving a thin layer for flavor and moisture.

Tools You’ll Need

6 Quart or Larger Crockpot
Large Skillet (optional)

How to Make Slow Cooker Pork Roast

Season both sides of the pork with 1-2 teaspoons cajun seasoning, seasoning salt or salt and pepper.

Searing the roast first is optional. If doing so, sear in a large skillet over medium-high heat in olive oil 2-3 minutes per side, or until golden brown.

To a Crockpot, whisk together cream of chicken with herbs soup, broth, poultry seasoning, garlic powder and cajun seasoning or seasoning salt. Once combined transfer the pork into the mixture, coating both sides. Cover and cook on low for 8-9 hours or high 5-6.

Once the pork easily shreds apart with a fork, carefully transfer the meat to a plate or platter. Break into large chunks and remove any excess fat or bone.

If desired, skim the fat from the top of the Crockpot juices. To thicken the broth/juices into a gravy, first remove any solid bits. Add cream cheese in small chunks to the Crockpot. Allow it to sit for about 5 minutes to soften. Whisk until well combined. In a small bowl whisk together water or milk and the cornstarch. Stir this mixture into the Crockpot. Once combined, transfer the pork back into the Crockpot and cook on high for 5-10 minutes.

A cornstarch slurry being stirred in the crockpot.

Serve as is or over mashed potatoes, noodles or rice.

A plate of asparagus and pork roast with gravy.

Expert Tips and Substitutions

Low or High Temperature on the Slow Cooker. Cook on low for ultimate tenderness, but you can cook it on high if you're short on time. It's ready once it reaches an internal temperature of 200°F. Crockpots can vary from model to model, so if you want to ensure it's ready, just stick an instant-read thermometer inside to confirm.
Homemade Condensed Soup. For 1 can of soup: Melt 3 tablespoons butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in ⅓ cup all-purpose flour and cook for 1 minute. Whisk in ⅓ cup milk and ⅓ cup chicken broth until well combined. Season with ¼ teaspoon onion powder and salt and pepper to taste. Stir and cook for 1-2 minutes or until thickened and creamy. Add more herbs to taste.
Adjust the Fat. You can trim away excess fat. If you prefer a leaner cut, you can also use a top loin boneless roast. The meat won't be as pull apart tender but will have a similar flavor complex. You can also skim away the fat before making the gravy.
Cream Cheese. Whisk the softened cream cheese vigorously with a whisk or fork until it's a cohesive mix. You can also substitute it with 1 cup half-&-half and 2 tablespoons cornstarch whisked together, 1 cup of sour cream, or 1 cup heavy whipping cream and 1 tablespoon cornstarch. The flavor and texture will change slightly with these substitutions.
Gluten-Free. To make this recipe gluten-free, ensure the canned condensed soup is a gluten-free. Campbell's Soup, Pacific, Walmart Great Value, and HEB have gluten-free options.

What to Serve with Crock Pot Pork Roast Recipe

There are so many delicious things to serve with a pork roast. First things first, you can serve it over a comforting starch. I suggest mashed potatoes, noodles, sweet potatoes, white or brown rice, or light bread. All of the delicious pork juices will marinate the starch for the best bite.

When looking for a vegetable based side dish. Pictured on the plate is my Gremolata Asparagus. Here are some more of my recommendations to make this a complete meal:

Storage

For the fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 5-7 days. I like separating the meat from the gravy, but this is optional.
For the freezer: This recipe yields a lot of meat. While the leftovers are excellent, freezing works great as well. Simply place in a freezer-safe container and freeze up to 3 months.
How to reheat leftovers:
- If in the fridge, warm on the stovetop in a pot with some broth for a couple of minutes over medium low heat until warm. You can also microwave for a couple of minutes until warm.
- If frozen, allow to thaw overnight in the fridge or for a couple of hours at room temperature. Reheat according to instructions above.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I brown the pork roast before placing in the crockpot?

Browning, or caramelizing the meat before putting it into a Crockpot isn't 100% necessary, but the searing step does enhance the meat's color, textures, and flavors.

Is it better to slow cook pork on low or high?

Cooking pork on the low for a longer duration is recommended for more tender and flavorful results. If you're pressed for time, cooking pork high is an option. It may not be as tender and flavorful as the low-and-slow method.

What temperature do you cook a pork roast in a crock pot?

It's generally recommended to cook it at a low temperature to achieve the desired tenderness. The low temperature allows the collagen in the meat to break down slowly, resulting in a more succulent and flavorful roast.

What temperature do you cook a pork roast in a crock pot?

The USDA recommends cooking pork to an internal temperature using a meat thermometer of at least 145°F with a three-minute rest time. For slow-cooked pork roasts, aim for a higher internal temperature, 190°F to 200°F to ensure the collagen breaks down for a more tender result.

What are the best vegetables to have with a pork roast?

For slow-cooked pork, root vegetables and those that hold up well to longer cooking times are suitable.

Why is my pork roast not tender in the slow cooker?

Tough pork roast can be an outcome if there hasn't been enough cooking time, not enough liquid in slow cooker, cooking at too high a temperature, using the wrong cut of meat, overcrowding the slow cooker, not checking for doneness, and not trimming excess fat away.

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