Hard Cider Roasted Pork Loin

at a glance
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 35 minutes
Servings 6 servings
4.5 — Votes 2 votes

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This Hard Cider Roasted Pork Loin is a delicious main dish that’s a total crowd-pleaser! Pork loin is seared and baked in a Dutch oven with hard cider, onions, apples, and thyme for a big burst of fall flavor.

hard cider roasted pork loin

This hard cider roasted pork loin is one of the absolute BEST pork recipes I’ve ever tasted, and that’s saying a lot!  With a touch of hard cider for a flavor boost, and perfectly cooked apples for a sweet addition, it’s currently vying for first place in my “Favorite Ways to Eat Pork” competition.

Since the popularity of our Honey Mustard Pork Roast totally launched pork back into the protein spotlight, we’ve been on a mission to take this sometimes persnickety meat and make it a weekly go-to for everyone! Long gone are the days of dry, overcooked, flavorless hunks of grey meat. There’s a new guy in town and this Baked Apple Cider Pork Roast is bringing sexy back to pork! (if you just danced and sang to a little JT in your head too, we’re on the same page) 

If you, like me, have endured one-too-many nights of overcooked pork ruining your dinner plans, you might be skeptical that this method can work for you, too! So step into my office, and let’s talk technique! Searing the pork before cooking gives it a nice crust and increases the flavor of both the roast and the liquid it is braised in. We don’t just stop there though. We take it a step FURTHER, and slow cook our roast in a dutch oven, which keeps it incredibly tender and juicy. Then, we add browned onions and garlic, apples, thyme, and hard cider (our secret ingredient) which infuses the pork with incredible flavor!   

hard cider roasted pork loin

hard cider roasted pork loin

We all know apples and pork are a classic combination, but the cider + roasting method really take this hard cider roasted pork loin to a new level. My two cents? Don’t skip the sear! Take your time with the prep and sear steps, pop it into the dutch oven, and let the slow cooking work it’s magic for a meal that doesn’t require a ton of hands-on cooking time, yet is plenty fancy enough for company! We all need a little more easy in our lives, and this hard cider roasted pork loin totally fits the bill! 

You definitely can’t go wrong pairing this protein with a quick side like our Winter Root Veggie Roast or a hearty harvest slaw like this one that totally completes the meal. We hope you enjoy this tender pork roast just as much as we do!

Hard Cider Roasted Pork Loin

By: Amber Link
4.5 — Votes 2 votes
Prep Time: 20 mins
Cook Time: 1 hr 35 mins
Servings: 6 servings
This Hard Cider Roasted Pork Loin is a delicious main dish that’s a total crowd-pleaser! Pork loin is seared and baked in a Dutch oven with hard cider, onions, apples, and thyme for a big burst of fall flavor.

Ingredients  

  • 1, 2.5-3 pound boneless pork loin
  • 1/2 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme
  • ½ tablespoon coarse sea salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 apples cored and cut into 6 wedges
  • 2 onions quartered
  • 6 cloves garlic
  • 1, 13 ounce can dry hard cider may substitute non-alcoholic apple cider or chicken broth if desired
  • 6 sprigs fresh thyme

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 325 F.
  • Heat olive oil a large Dutch oven, or other heavy-bottomed lidded pot over medium-high heat.
  • Add the onions and whole garlic cloves and cook 3-4 minutes per side until browned and remove from the pan.
  • Season pork roast liberally with the salt, pepper, and thyme, then place in the pot. Brown the pork for 4-5 minutes on one side, then repeat for the 3 remaining sides. Remove the pork and set aside.
  • Add the cider to the pot and whisk to release the browned bits. Then, add the pork, onions, garlic, apples, and thyme springs back to the pan.
  • Place the lid on the pot and bake at 325 F for 1 hour.
  • Remove the roast from oven and let sit for 15 minutes before slicing, then serve alongside the apples, onions, garlic, and additional sauce. Enjoy!

Nutrition Information

Nutrition Facts
Hard Cider Roasted Pork Loin
Amount per Serving
Calories
448
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
13
g
20
%
Saturated Fat
 
4
g
25
%
Polyunsaturated Fat
 
1
g
Monounsaturated Fat
 
6
g
Cholesterol
 
167
mg
56
%
Sodium
 
716
mg
31
%
Potassium
 
1132
mg
32
%
Carbohydrates
 
15
g
5
%
Fiber
 
2
g
8
%
Sugar
 
10
g
11
%
Protein
 
60
g
120
%
Vitamin A
 
110
IU
2
%
Vitamin C
 
9
mg
11
%
Calcium
 
38
mg
4
%
Iron
 
2
mg
11
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Meet the Author
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Cassy Joy Garcia

HOWDY! I’m Cassy Joy and I am just so happy you’re here. I’m the founder, Editor-in-Chief, and Nutrition Consultant here at Fed and Fit. What started as a food blog back in 2011 has evolved now into so much more.
Get to know Cassy

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Erin Elwell says

    Erin Elwell —  10/05/2018 At 14:13

    What cider do you recommend?

  2. TAMI O'BRIEN says

    TAMI O'BRIEN —  10/06/2018 At 09:20

    Like Erin, I was wondering if you had a particular brand of cider in mind, as I have not seen it in cans.

  3. Katrina says

    Katrina —  10/13/2018 At 17:47

    4 stars
    Another successful pork recipe from Fed and Fit! I can’t digest onions, so I had to leave them out. The only reason I went 4 stars instead of 5 was because the flavor was just a hair under what I expected. But, still tender and juicy, and I seasoned my slices after the fact.

  4. Ashley says

    Ashley —  09/18/2020 At 07:41

    Any alterations you would recommend to do this in a Crock-Pot?

    • Brandi Schilhab says

      Brandi Schilhab —  09/18/2020 At 09:51

      Ingredient amounts should stay the same, Ashley. Typically slow cooker cook time is 4 hours on high or 8 hours on low. I haven’t tried this one in the slow cooker, though!

  5. Allison says

    Allison —  09/21/2020 At 13:31

    Hi! Could this be done in the instant pot (after searing)? How long do you think?

    • Brandi Schilhab says

      Brandi Schilhab —  09/21/2020 At 13:51

      Definitely! We recommend setting your Instant Pot to cook on high pressure for 20 minutes!

  6. Dani says

    Dani —  12/04/2022 At 07:23

    5 stars
    Sounds delicious! Wpuld you recommend a dry or sweet cider??

    • Melissa Guevara says

      Melissa Guevara —  12/05/2022 At 08:49

      Hi Dani! We recommend a dry, hard cider. Enjoy! -Team FF