Garlic & Herb Slow Cooker Pork Roast

Garlic & herb slow cooker pork roast is tender, juicy, and flavorful. Cooked low and slow until fall-apart tender, this pork roast can be served alone, over mashed potatoes, or on a sandwich.

The slow cooker is a fantastic way to prepare dinner whether you're at work or busy at home.

You'll love this slow cooker pork roast because it's versatile - serve over mashed potatoes, on a sandwich, or on its own with a side of vegetables. Plus, leftovers reheat beautifully, making it a great way to meal prep for several days.

This pork roast is slow cooked until fall-apart tender and juicy. Garlic, onions, and a blend of a few simple herbs and spices flavor this roast, with very little prep work involved.

Ingredients and substitutions

• Pork roast - Pork butt or pork shoulder work best in this recipe.
• Broth - Broth can be pork, chicken, beef, or vegetable - feel free to use what you have on hand.
• Onion - Slice your onion into thick wedges - they will cook down almost entirely in the slow cooker.
• Garlic - Fresh garlic will give you the best flavor, but can be substituted with 1 teaspoon of garlic powder if needed.
• Herbs and spices - Salt, pepper, paprika, thyme, and rosemary. Herbs can be substituted with an Italian seasoning blend.

What type of roast should I use?

For this recipe, you'll want to use a 3-4 pound pork butt or pork shoulder.

A pork shoulder or pork butt works best in the slow cooker because it is a fattier cut of meat. The slow cooking allows the fat to melt away, flavoring your meat and keeping it nice and juicy. Any remaining fat can be removed from your pork before serving.

I do not recommend using a pork loin as a substitution, because it is a less fatty cut of meat and would end up overcooked if prepared in this manner. A pork loin would need about half as much time in the slow cooker. (Check out my recipe for oven roasted pork loin!)

How long do I cook a pork roast in the slow cooker?

Pork roast cooks down best on low heat, for 9-10 hours. Once your pork roast can easily be shredded with a fork, you'll know it's ready.

If you don't have time, you can cook your pork roast on high heat for 5-6 hours instead.

Can I overcook my pork roast?

It is difficult to overcook a roast in the slow cooker. Roasts do well the longer they cook, because they become more tender over time.

With the added broth in the slow cooker, your pork should not turn out dry. However, if you find yourself with dry, overcooked pork meat, here are a few tips.

Shred your pork and add a sauce or gravy. Make a gravy from the remaining drippings in the bottom of your slow cooker, or add barbecue sauce to make a pulled pork sandwich.

If reheating dry meat, add a splash of water, then cover with a damp paper towel. This will help your meat retain moisture.

Ways to serve pork roast

Serve your pork roast over mashed potatoes, with the cooked onions and juices from the bottom of the slow cooker. Or, make a gravy with the drippings.

Pile shredded pork onto your favorite lightly toasted sandwich bread. We like to add mayonnaise and dijon mustard (this is how we use up all of our roast leftovers now!).

This pork roast is also great on its own. Try serving with a side of oven roasted potatoes or green beans.

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