Slow cooker pulled pork tenderloin in blackberry bbq sauce is full of flavor and fall-apart tender. It's simple to make and equally perfect for weeknight dinners and entertaining.
Barbecue pulled pork tenderloin is comfort food at its best: packed with flavor from tangy BBQ sauce but without any work! Just dump everything into a slow cooker and let the flavors blend.
It has a backyard barbecue vibe, which is why it's a popular choice for family gatherings. You'll have plenty of time to make fantastic sides and desserts and decorate while it cooks!
You'll love this recipe because:
- It takes minutes to prepare.
- You control the type and amount of sweetener added to the Blackberry BBQ Sauce. (And use can use your favorite bottled sauce instead.)
- It's perfect for parties. Double up on the recipe and serve it straight out of the crock.
- There are many ways to enjoy it, from sandwiches and nachos to topping a baked potato.
- The leftovers taste great! It reheats and freezes well.
- It can be made low-carb and served on keto-friendly buns.
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Ingredients
Here's what you need:
Notes on Blackberry Preserves
The star ingredient in the barbecue sauce is blackberry preserves or blackberry jam. Both are readily available in seedless versions, so annoying seeds don't get stuck in your teeth.
Preserves are a little chunkier and contain larger pieces of fruit. The fruit is more thoroughly crushed in jams.
Short-cut
Use your favorite store-bought barbecue sauce! The cooking instructions are the same.
Can you cook pork tenderloin in a crock-pot?
The short answer is YES!
We made a version of this recipe at our Make-Ahead Meal Stores. We used pork shoulders, Boston butts, and picnic shoulders, which are traditional choices for slow cooking because of the marbled fat. But, we always offered pork tenderloin too!
This cut of pork is lean and a bit healthier than the others. It can be shredded or sliced and is perfect for recipes with lots of flavor like this one or Slow Cooker Pork Tenderloin with Salsa.
Directions with Pictures
Here's how to make pulled pork tenderloin in a slow cooker:
- Place pork and sliced onions into the slow cooker.
- Combine barbecue sauce ingredients in a small bowl and stir until well combined. Remove about ⅓ cup of sauce and store in a sealed container until serving time.
- Pour blackberry barbecue sauce over the top. Cook on low for 5-6 or high for 3-4 hours. The exact time will vary depending upon the appliance and how crowded it is.
- Use two forks to shred the pork.
IMPORTANT: The sauce that is reserved and will be drizzled on the pork at serving time should never touch raw pork.
Blackberry Jam BBQ Sauce
The best thing about homemade bbq sauces is that you can adjust the sugar content to meet your needs. Reduce the amount of sugar in this blackberry barbecue sauce by:
- Leaving out the brown sugar or using a sugar substitute.
- Using low-sugar ketchup.
- Selecting a brand of blackberry preserves with no added sugar.
Cayenne pepper gives the sauce kick. Use a pinch or cut it out if you don't want too much heat.
Note: Blackberry BBQ Sauce is also fantastic on chicken and pork chops!
Variations
- Make it low-carb - Use low-sugar or no-sugar ketchup, blackberry preserves, and sugar.
- Try a different flavor of preserves, such as blueberry, strawberry, or peach. Use this blueberry compote recipe to make your own flavoring.
Make it a Meal
Here's a simple, healthy menu plan where Pulled Pork Tenderloin with Blackberry BBQ Sauce is the star:
- Buns. Toast the bread, so it doesn't get soggy.
- Cole Slaw. It doesn't need to be fancy since the pork has so much flavor. Some people enjoy this on top of the pork in the sandwich.
- Alternative: Green salad is particularly nice if you're going bunless.
- Corn on the Cob. Cook corn in the husk in minutes! This side dish gives the feel of a BBQ without much effort.
- Assorted Fruit. Watermelon, fruit salad, or showcase your favorite seasonal fruit!
Are you having a party? Keep shredded pork warmed in the slow cooker and let everyone serve themselves with tongs.
Storage, Reheating, Make-Ahead
- Refrigerator - Store leftovers in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for about 3 days.
- Freezer - Store leftovers in a plastic bag, with excess air removed, in the freezer for up to 2 months.
- Reheat - Warm leftovers in the microwave or on the stovetop.
- Make-Ahead Sauce - Mix the sauce up ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator for about a week.
- Freezer Meal - Add the raw ingredients to a freezer-safe plastic bag. Seal the bag tightly, remove excess air, and store it in the freezer for up to 3 months. Defrost in the refrigerator overnight and cook as you usually would.
More Easy Slow Cooker Recipes
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📋 Recipe
Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Tenderloin in Blackberry BBQ Sauce
Equipment
Ingredients
- ½ cup blackberry preserves seedless
- 1 cup ketchup
- ¼ cup red wine vinegar
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon ground mustard powder
- 1 Tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 onion halved and cut into slices
- 2 pounds pork tenderloin Pork shoulder roast is another option.
- Hamburger rolls for serving Optional
Instructions
- Add the first 6 ingredients to a small bowl and stir until well-combined.
- Reserve ⅓ cup of sauce for serving time. (The reserved sauce should never touch the raw meat.)
- Place pork and onions in the crock pot.
- Pour the remaining sauce over the pork and onions.
- Cook on low for 5-6 or high 3-4 hours.
- Shred pork tenderloin using two forks.
- Spoon reserved sauce on top, if desired.
Nutrition
This recipe was originally published on 1/16/14 and has been updated to improve the reader experience.
Renee
Oh my what a scrumptious recipe for pork! What a way to brighten up BBQ and give it another level of wonderful flavor.
Marjory
Thanks Renee! It's like makeover for BBQ!
Lesa
Hmmm . . . Maybe a new twist on meatballs in BBQ sauce.
Marjory
Absolutely! Great idea.
Joanie
I made this using pork tenderloin and oh my goodness, the flavor was spectacular! I especially loved the blackberry bbq sauce, so unique and so delicious.
Marjory
Thanks for your comment! 🙂
Sues
This is pretty much my dream summer dinner. Perfect for eating on my deck at the end of a long day!
Marjory
Yes! Sounds like a perfect evening!
Stephanie
The sauce was amazing. I don’t like chunks of onions so put them through the food processor. I’d use a small onion. Everyone loved it