This simple 21 Day Fix Southwestern Pulled Pork Tenderloin makes a delicious, healthy base for tacos, BBQ sandwiches, soups and so much more! Make it in the Instant Pot or Slow Cooker!
Originally posted on August 25, 2017, this recipe has been updated with Instant Pot instructions and I swear it's even more juicy and delicious, plus it's done in a little over an hour!
Still don’t have an Instant Pot? Get yours here! ⇐ (affiliate link)
Hey guys!! I'm suuuuuper excited today because this is my first post since my kids started back to school this week and I'm honestly really happy to get back to the blog, because oh, how I've missed you! As my youngest has been saying lately, you guys fill my bucket (of love 😉 ). I know, she's freaking cute as hell, isn't she?
Here's a question for the parents out there - anyone else feel the need to celebrate the first day of school (and the sheer fact that you (and your little angels) made it through the summer more or less in tact? When my husband is home, we usually go out to breakfast that day and basically have a day date. It's the best ever. However, this year the hubs was off guarding our coast, soooo no day date for us.
That's ok though because do you know what I did? I went to the waterfront and enjoyed the most epically peaceful morning of my whole dang life. I took a walk and then just sat on the rocks for a while, listened to the waves and watched the silver salmon jumping in the air. I'm blissfully sighing just thinking about it. Here's a sample 🙂
I digress, we should probably get back to the real reason you're here - this easy, juicy slow cooker pulled pork tenderloin.
In honor of back-to-school season, I wanted to give you guys a really simple, healthy and versatile recipe that you can make on Sunday and then use in a gazillion different ways throughout the week. Something that'll help to make your weeknights a breeze. Yeah, I got you.
Oh, and if you're wondering...
Can you use pork tenderloin to make pulled pork?
Umm... Exhibit "A" ⇓ and don't you let anybody tell you different!
This pulled pork tenderloin starts with my favorite seasoning blend of all time, this smoky southwestern seasoning. It's not spicy, so it's perfect for littles. I made sure it wouldn't be overpowering in this dish, either to keep it super versatile.
I highly recommend that you do as I do, and keep a jar of the stuff on your counter at all times (eggs and guacamole love this seasoning, just fyi). The recipe that I give for it here will make more than you need for your tenderloins, and depending on what I'm using the pork for, sometimes I'll stir a little more of the seasoning into the shredded pork afterward.
How to make pulled pork tenderloin in a crockpot ↓:
Use it to season up your pork:
Liquid in the pot:
Pork in the pot:
Then just cook on high for 4 hours and shred that bad boy up like he's your ex-boyfriend!
Ok, now let's talk about some awesome, super-quick weeknight meals that you can make with this deliciousness.
- Mix in some Apple Cider BBQ Sauce and put it on basically anything... whole wheat bread, a pita pocket, a sweet potato, your arm. Ya know, whatever.
- TACOS (because the answer is always tacos)... ya know, like these.
- Enchiladas Suizas
- Add it to your favorite soup, like this rotisserie chicken soup or this feel better soup. WINTER IS COMING.
- Pita or Flatbread Pizza - with BBQ sauce or you could mix it with some hot sauce and a little yogurt to make a buffalo chicken-style pizza with some blue cheese and mozzarella, that would be sooo good!
- Since it's mildly spiced, you could even toss it with some of the Asian-inspired sauce from this recipe, top it with some cilantro and grated carrot and make lettuce wraps out of it. Man. I could use that in my life RIGHT NOW.
- Etc. Use those creative brains of yours, people, I can't wait to hear what you come up with! Go get 'em, tiger.
If you make this slow cooker pulled pork tenderloin be sure to snap a pic and tag me @thefoodieandthefix or use #thefoodieandthefix on Instagram so I can check it out! It makes me ridiculously happy to see what you guys are making 🙂
Oh! And don't forget to save this 21 Day Fix Southwestern Pulled Pork Tenderloin to Pinterest! ⇓
📖 Recipe
Slow-Cooker 21 Day Fix Southwestern Pulled Pork Tenderloin
Ingredients
Southwest Seasoning:
- 2 Tbs chili powder
- 1 ½ Tbs ground cumin
- 2 teaspoon coriander
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 2 teaspoon salt
Pulled Pork:
- 2 pork tenderloins, about 1 ½ lbs each (not pork loins), trimmed
- 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth (2 cups for Instant Pot version)
- juice of 1 small lime
- Southwest Seasoning
Instructions
Southwest Seasoning:
- Mix together all seasoning ingredients, set aside.
Instant Pot Instructions:
- Season the trimmed pork liberally on all sides. Turn on sauté mode and sear your pork on all sides (just long enough to get the seasonings to stick). Add 2 cups of chicken broth and the lime juice to the pot, close the lid, press the meat/stew setting, changing the time to 60 minutes.
- When it's finished cooking let it naturally release (this took about 10 minutes).
- Remove the meat, shred with two forks. Save some of the cooking liquid to mix into the meat to keep the leftovers moist (I use about 1 cup for 2 tenderloins).
Slow Cooker Instructions:
- Add the chicken broth and lime juice to your slow-cooker
- Season your trimmed pork liberally on all sides with the Southwest Seasoning (the amount here should be more than you need - it's nice to have extra, you can mix some in at the end or you can save it for other things - ideas in post!)
- Put the seasoned pork into the slow-cooker with the liquid, cook on high for 4 hours.
- When they're done, pull them out of the liquid (don't toss the liquid though!), shred with two forks and it's ready to go for whatever you'd like to use it in!
- When you put it in the fridge or freezer to store it, mix the liquid into the meat. This will help to keep it juicy after being stored.
Notes
Container Equivalents per Serving: 1 Red
Weight Watchers Freestyle Points: 2
Recommended Products
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 12 Serving Size: ¾ cupAmount Per Serving: Calories: 136Total Fat: 4g
Victoria says
I have a Ninja Foodi instead of an instant pot. Do you know what the equivalent is to the meat/stew setting?
Stephanie says
Hi! Yes, you can just use the "pressure" button 🙂
Linda says
Just the recipe I was looking for! Simple but sounds yummy! I want to make this recipe for a crowd and have @4.5 lbs of tenderloin. Would the 6 qt Instantpot be large enough and if so do I increase the liquid as well as the seasonings??
Linda
Stephanie says
I think you could probably fit 4.5 lbs in the 6 qt, but it's hard to say until you try to put it in there! I know I do 3 lbs sometimes with some room. I would definitely increase the seasonings and the liquid 🙂
Pam R says
I am new to the instant pot so forgive my silly question. In the introduction it says this recipe has been updated for the instant pot and it can be made in an hour. Did I miss something in the instructions? I only see the directions for 4 hours in a crock pot? Any help would be much appreciated!
Stephanie says
Hi! Sorry for the late response, I've been on vacation! Hopefully you found it by now, but just in case, here are the IP instructions (they can be found as the first instructions in the recipe card, before the slow cooker instructions).
Instant Pot Instructions:
Season the trimmed pork liberally on all sides. Turn on sauté mode and sear your pork on all sides (just long enough to get the seasonings to stick). Add 2 cups of chicken broth and the lime juice to the pot, close the lid, press the meat/stew setting, changing the time to 60 minutes.
When it's finished cooking let it naturally release (this took about 10 minutes).
Remove the meat, shred with two forks. Save some of the cooking liquid to mix into the meat to keep the leftovers moist (I use about 1 cup for 2 tenderloins).
Marie says
Hi,
I made this in the crockpot. It was great! I’m wondering could I cook this on low for 8 hours while I’m at work? Or do the 4 hours on high and have it switch to the ‘warm’ setting? Thank you!
Stephanie says
Hi! I think you could definitely have it switch to the warm setting after going for 4 hours on high, but I haven't tested it going for 8 hours on low so I couldn't make any promises. If you try it, please let me know how it turns out!
Elyse says
This was terrific, I'm so glad I found it. Hubs said I gave him too much - but he finished it! I love it without the extra sauce - nice tang from lots of lime. Who knew? You did. I added no salt and used a low sodium veggie broth.
Stephanie says
Hey Elyse! I love the lime, too! I'm so glad you guys enjoyed it and thanks so much for letting me know, it really made my day!!
Donna T. says
This looks fabulous. Can't wait to try it out next week. Love the fact that you are using a pork tenderloin ~ less fat. These is one thing I don't understand and that is you Note: Container Equivalents per Serving: 1 Red. What does this mean?
Stephanie says
Hey Donna! That's just if you're doing the 21 Day Fix plan, it just means it counts as a protein. 🙂
Donna T. says
Thanks ~~ I found your recipe via yummly.com. I love using it to find what I can do with items on hand or like with the pulled pork I have never made it and wanted to try. Using pork tenderloin keeps the calories down. Thank you again.
Michelle says
What would be the cooking time in an instant pot for one pork tenderloin instead of 2 and How much liquid would I use?
Thank you!
Stephanie says
Hi! You would keep the time and liquid the same 🙂
Julia says
If I don't have broth can I use water?
Stephanie says
Absolutely!
Kaleigh says
if you halve the recipe, does that change cooking time?
Stephanie says
Nope!
Raquel says
I've been making your recipes all week and my family has loved every meal. I'm trying to find the recipe for the southwestern pulled pork sandwiches with mustard BBQ . Is this it? Thank you!
Stephanie says
Hey Raquel! This made my day!! I'm so sorry, but some things came up and I didn't get that post out this past Sunday like I had meant to, but I should have it finished up tomorrow sometime! It IS with this pulled pork though!
Tadej says
The meat looks juicy, thanks for posting.
Stephanie says
Thank you, it is!
Richard@Pool Sunday says
This was delicious!! I don’t usually like pork, but I went back for seconds with this!!
Stephanie says
Thanks, Richard, I'm so glad!!