This slow cooker roast pork with sage and onion is a great way to make a traditional roast with less effort. Slow cooking helps keep the pork tender and juicy, while the sage and onion add a classic flavour that works perfectly for a Sunday lunch.
The pork is finished in the oven to give it a lovely roasted exterior and crispy crackling. Serve it with roast potatoes, vegetables and plenty of gravy for a delicious family meal.
When you are busy, throwing a dish in the slow cooker and forgetting about it is great. This slow cooker pork joint only requires a little attention later to finish the crackling, then your main dish is sorted.
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Good Value Option
Have you noticed that near to Christmas pork and lamb is often on offer in the supermarkets? I think this is because everyone is buying turkey and beef, and it means you can pick up a large joint for much less than usual.
I’ve been taking advantage of this and been cooking some delicious midweek roasts using the slow cooker.
So after a few minutes of prep in the morning I can forget about dinner and get on with my day, smug in the knowledge that I already have our meal covered. It only takes a few minutes if that to prepare the dish.
And the bonus of opening the door at the end of the day to the welcoming smell of a tasty meal cooking away is just the cherry on the top.
I can just prepare some roast potatoes and vegetables, and put the cooked pork in a hot oven to make the crackling, without having to start cooking a full meal from scratch or resorting to something quick from the freezer.
Once slow cooked, the meat is soft and full of flavour. A quick blast in a hot oven to create crackling is all that’s needed!
Ingredients
Here’s what you will need for this simple recipe (grab the quantities from the recipe card at the bottom of the page):
- a pork crackling joint – this might be pork loin, pork shoulder or pork leg, look out for a pork joint sold as a pork crackling joint or one that makes good crackling.
- onions
- fresh sage leaves – to add a touch of flavour alongside the onions, for that traditional sage and onion taste. I am lucky that I have a large sage bush in the garden to use. If you don’t have fresh, then dried sage is an alternative.
- salt and pepper to season
How to make roast pork in your slow cooker
Here is the step by step method with photos to help you make this recipe. Get the quantities in the recipe card at the end of the post.
Step 1. Place the pork roast joint in the slow cooker pot on a bed of onions, season it and add fresh sage leaves.
Step 2. Cook it on low for 8-10 hours for a large joint (7-8 hours is fine for a smaller pork joint such as 1 kg), or on high for 5 hours.
Step 3. To make the crackling, transfer the pork to an oven tray, pat the fat dry with kitchen towel and rub it with salt, and put it in a hot oven (220°C (425°F) fan or 240°C traditional oven) for approx. 20-30 minutes until crackling forms.
Step 4. Remove the string, transfer to a serving dish and enjoy as part of your roast dinner.
So tender, the pork is melt in your mouth with wonderful crisp crackling.
Recipe Tips
- Drying the skin is very important to get good crackling. Pat it dry with some paper towels to remove all moisture.
- Rubbing in salt is also key, it helps draw out any remaining moisture. I use coarse sea salt.
- Oven temperature is also important, it needs to be really hot, preheat your oven before popping the slow cooked pork joint in. Remember this is only for the crackling as the meat is already cooked through so approx. 20 minutes is all that is needed.
More to try
For more slow cooker roast dinner recipes make sure you take a look at my guide to making a roast dinner in your slow cooker.
You might also want to check out my collections of winter slow cooker recipes and slow cooker recipes for families.
Related
Recipe
Slow Cooker Roast Pork with Sage and Onion
Ingredients
- 1.5 to 2 kg (3.5 lb) pork crackling joint (pork roast) to serve 6-8 people
- 2-3 brown onions
- fresh sage leaves
- salt and pepper to season
Equipment
Instructions
- Slice the onions and place them in the base of the slow cooker. Tear the sage leaves and scatter a few in with the onions.2-3 brown onions, fresh sage leaves
- Place the joint of pork on top, season and add a few more sage leaves on top.1.5 to 2 kg / 3.5 lb pork crackling joint, salt and pepper
- Cook on low for eight to ten hours or on high for five hours for a large joint of pork. (Reduce the time to seven to eight hours on low for a smaller joint.)
- To make the crackling, transfer the pork to an oven tray, pat the fat dry with kitchen towel and rub it with salt, and put it in a hot oven (220℃ fan oven / 425℉) for 20-30 minutes.
- Remove the string, transfer the meat to a serving dish and enjoy for a roast dinner with roast potatoes and vegetables.
Notes
- Note that no liquid is added to the pot, you will find that the meat produces plenty of juices as it cooks, as you can also see from the step by step photos.
- Slow cookers vary, so cooking times may need adjusting depending on the size of the pork joint and your slow cooker.
- Make sure the pork is cooked through before serving, checking the thickest part with a meat thermometer if you have one.
- Allow the pork to rest before carving to help keep the meat juicy.
- Serve with roast potatoes, vegetables and gravy for a traditional Sunday roast.
- Don’t want crackling? You can skip the oven step and serve the pork straight from the slow cooker once it is cooked through.
Samantha Gaskell says
made this on a rainy UK day with the addition of cooking apples with the onions for a little extra flavour. Perfect for a family get together when arrival times were trafic dependent. We just left it to do its thing until everyone ready, then crisped up the crackling.
bakingqueen74 says
Great, the apples sound delicious!
MARIA SUTCH says
I’m using a boneless leg joint in my slow cooker, is that what you’ve used or is it shoulder pork ?
bakingqueen74 says
Often the pork crackling joints from the shops are loin I believe, so this would be what I would normally use, but according to lovepork.co.uk you can use any roasting cut like pork loin, pork leg, pork shoulder to achieve a joint with crackling, just make sure they have a good layer of fat beneath the rind and score it well.
Paul shelton says
Can I ask as it doesn’t say what liquid or stock did u slow cook it in thanks
bakingqueen74 says
Hi Paul, I don’t add any liquid at all, the meat makes lots of juices as you cook it. So you stand the meat on the onions so it isn’t sitting in all the juices. Hope that helps!
Stephanie Boydell says
Thanks was just wondering myself.
laura_howtocook says
This is definitely the time of year to make recipes that work well but take leiitle effort and slow cooking a lovely piece of pork is exactly what I did today too, tastes so good and pleases the family. Love the sage and onion with it too, perfect!
bakingqueen74 says
Thanks Laura, definitely a hit with the family!
Kavey F says
That looks so good, the meat looks superbly tender and oh the crackling!
bakingqueen74 says
Thanks Kavey, yes so tender from the Slow Cooking
Jo Brigdale says
This looks amazing! I would love to eat this on Christmas day
bakingqueen74 says
Thanks Jo! Yes great as an alternative over Xmas!