How To Cook Pork Loin 4 Ways

This one is a classic. It is easy, mostly hands-free and requires minimal prep time. You can even cook some veggies besides the cut of meat to make yourself an outstanding side dish to go with the pork.

So, gather the following ingredients and let’s get cooking:

Ingredients

• 3-4 pounds pork loin roast (NOT pork tenderloin)
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1/2 cup kosher salt or ¼ cup table salt
• 1/2 cup light brown sugar
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 2 tsp paprika
• 2 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1 tsp chili powder
• Salt and Pepper to taste

Instructions

• This recipe starts by brining the pork loin. Dissolve the kosher salt (or table salt), apple cider vinegar and brown sugar in warm water and put it into a roasting bag that also fits the pork.
• Close the bag while making sure that the pork is entirely submerged in the liquid. Now rest in the refrigerator for anywhere between 90 minutes and 24 hours.
• Take it out of the bag and dry well with paper towels. Meanwhile, prepare your pork loin dry rub. Mix in the paprika, garlic powder, onion powder and chili powder and some pepper. Avoid salt if you brined your pork.
• Use 3-4 tablespoons of the dry rub to season the cut entirely. Give it a proper massage so that every corner of the meat is seasoned. Leave it for 5 minutes to rest before you start cooking.
• On a cast iron skillet, add unsalted butter or some vegetable oil(whichever is convenient) over medium-high heat. Once the butter starts smoking, add the pork loin.
• Sear the meat on all sides for about 3-4 minutes in total while pressing to release some juices. The sides of the pork should develop light golden color.
• Transfer the seared pork to a foil lined baking sheet with the fat side up. Brush the top with some melted butter to add moisture back into the pork and cover it with another foil piece.
• Roast at 325°F for about 60-75 minutes or until the thickest part of the pork reads 145°F (62.5°C). This cooking time is for a 3-pound pork loin so adjust accordingly.
• Bring the loin out of the oven and remove the foil. Baste the meat with some of the juices present on the baking sheet to prevent dry pork interior.
• Allow the meat to rest for 15 minutes before cutting. You can then top it with some BBQ sauce or a sweet and sour sauce for serving.

The second on our list is the slow cooking technique. Despite being a slow cooking method, it involves less hands-on time than any other technique. It truly allows the Crock-Pot to do all the work.

Ingredients

• 2 lbs pork loin
• 2 cups barbecue sauce
• 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
• 2 tbsp chili powder

Instructions

• Get started with the seasoning. Add in Dijon mustard along with BBQ sauce seasoned with some chili powder, salt and pepper together in a bowl and give it a good mix.
• Place the pork loin in the Crock-Pot and add in the mixture. Allow everything to combine well so that the meat is entirely seasoned.
• The next step is to cook the pork. Close the lid and operate the Pot at HIGH for 2 hours 30 minutes or LOW for 4 hours. By the time the pork is done cooking, it should be fork-tender.
• Once it reaches the temperature, your pork is done. Take it out of the slow cooker and let it sit for 10 minutes. Then, slice it up and enjoy the pork with the sauce mix.

Leaner cuts of pork, unlike the other cuts that happen to be rich in fat, cook well in the air fryer. High temperature and lesser time are needed to cook the leaner cut so that the meat does not go dry.

Ingredients:

• 3 lbs. pork loin
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp poultry seasoning
• Oil

Instructions

• Trim the extra fat from the pork loin, if needed. Season the cut with the poultry seasoning on all sides. Don't have poultry seasoning? Make yourself some with this simple poultry mix recipe.
• Spray some oil in the air fryer basket and let it heat to 370°F. Place the seasoned pork on the basket carefully.
• Cook for 40-45 minutes or until you see dark brown coloration on the outer surface of the pork. To confirm, take a form and pierce into the meat to see the pink meat.
• Once its cooked to your preferred doneness, let it rest for 15 minutes and enjoy!

Grilled pork loin offers a much exciting option. The method of grilling food is also healthier as compared to roasting and baking.

What you will need is a good charcoal/gas grill and classic pork rub. This recipe also includes a reverse sear on the grill to add a crispy coating on the pork.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 2 tbsp. smoked paprika
• 2 tbsp. salt
• 1½ tsp. ground black pepper
• 1 tsp. garlic powder
• 1 (3 – 4 lb.) pork loin

Instructions

• Start with a mixing bowl. Add your dry ingredients, brown sugar, smoked paprika, salt, black pepper and garlic powder to create the dry rub.
• Get yourself a room temperature pork loin out and season it with the dry rub. Use your hand to properly massage the seasoning all over the cut of meat.
• Next, prepare your grill with cold and hot spots. Prepping your grill is key so this step is crucial. If you are using a gas grill, one of the grills remain at medium high while the other one remains off. Using a charcoal grill instead? Arrange the charcoal so that there are hot and cold spots. Prep the grill by spraying oil on the grates to prevent sticking.
• Time to sizzle! Place the seasoned loin on the cold spot of the grill and let it cook for about an hour or until the temperature of the pork reaches 135ºF. Now, its time for the reverse sear. Transfer it to the hot spot on the grill top side down to get the crispy brown spots on the meat.
• Now for the final step. Check the meat occasionally to avoid overcooking. Once its done (when the internal temperature reaches 145ºF), it's time to remove it from the gril and cover with a foil. Let it rest for 5 minutes before serving.

The knowledge of when to remove meat from the heat is an important one, especially when you're cooking something leaner like the pork loin. The best cooking methods come together in less time, most of which (preferably) is hands-free.

Based on what type of seasoning you choose and what doneness you prefer your pork to be, the following is the total cooking time (including prep and resting) for different cooking methods:

Oven Roasted Method

• Cook Time (325°F): 60-75 minutes
• Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes

Slow Cooker Method

• Cook Time: 2- 2 ½ hours at HIGH or 4 hours at LOW

Air Frying Method

• Cook Time (370°F): 40-45 minutes
• Total Time: 1 hour

Grilling Method

• Cook Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
• Total Time: 1 hour 45 minutes 

Pork loin is your main but thankfully, it goes well with a bunch of side dishes. The following list of side dishes include some of the best dishes that are non-complicated and take very little prep time.

The following contains everything from something healthy to something indulgent to complete your meal.

1. Roasted Potatoes: Potato sides go great with meat dishes. Roasted potatoes, especially, stands out because you can adjust the seasoning on it based on how it complements your dish. You can even try a homemade cajon seasoning that pairs well with pork loin.
2. Grilled Asparagus: For something classy, serve grilled asparagus with your pork. It is extremely easy to make and the slight crunch on the vegetable goes well with the leaner cuts.
3. Dinner Rolls: This is the indulgent option. Go with dinner/potato rolls if you’re looking to serve a larger gathering of people. You cannot find a better option if you're making slow cooker pork loin.
4. Chopped Kale Salad: Looking for something light? Chopped kale salad to the rescue. Simply combine kale with some lettuce, tomatoes and parmesan cheese to round out the meal.
5. Sauteed Green Beans: Green Beans are a good side with almost everything and sauteeing them is an easy way that serves its purpose without making it more complicated. Cook them with some bits of bacon to bring the flavors together.