Ham and turkey get all the glory during the holidays (with an occasional nod to lamb if you’re lucky), but we’re here to tell you, pork roast is where it’s at. It’s just as impressive as a holiday table centerpiece, takes well to a variety of different flavor applications, and makes for the best leftovers. Don’t be nervous if you’ve fed into the bad reputation pork has for turning out dry, either. Follow one of our 16 best pork roast recipes, and you’ll be rewarded with some of the most tender and juicy meat imaginable. Give them a try this holiday season, you won’t regret it.
There’s a bit of nomenclature contention over which cuts of pork constitute a roast, so for the purposes of this roundup, we’re focusing on pork loin, pork tenderloin, and pork shoulder. The best part about these recipes is really how well many of them transition from being easy weeknight staples to meals fancy enough for guests. Take our , our glazed pork tenderloin, our pork loin roast, or our maple rosemary pork tenderloin. These recipes take simple ingredients like oranges, Dijon, red wine vinegar, and bell peppers and turn them into something spectacular. Looking to take it even one step further? Try stuffing your pork, like in our mushroom, spinach, and Gruyère stuffed pork tenderloin; our apple, bacon, rosemary, and pecan stuffed pork loin; or our mushroom, cream cheese, and spinach stuffed pork tenderloin. They’ll add variety to your meals both in taste and presentation. We’ve even got a few recipes for our favorite shortcut appliances, like our Crockpot pork roast or our Instant Pot pork tenderloin. They’re great when you need a holiday dinner on the table, stat.
Pork is great on its own, but like most meats, it’s better with sides, so check out our favorite Thanksgiving and Christmas side dishes for the perfect accompaniments.
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1
Crockpot Pork Roast
You may not normally think to turn to your slow cooker for a large, lean piece of meat, but this dish will definitely change your mind. Pork loin becomes super-tender and juicy as it cooks, and the sweet and tangy glaze on the outside seals the deal.
Get the Crockpot Pork Roast recipe.
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2
Maple Rosemary Pork Tenderloin
The maple rosemary glaze is so good on the pork here, but it also helps flavor the potatoes too. You can also add some carrots and red onions in place of some of the potatoes for even more delicious roasted vegetable options.
Get the Roast Pork Tenderloin recipe.
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3
Pork & Sauerkraut
Pork and sauerkraut are commonly eaten on New Year's Eve as a good luck tradition (may we suggest alongside some black-eyed peas?!), but don't let that not inspire you to eat it throughout the year too.
Get the .
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4
Glazed Pork Tenderloin
All you need is a couple of oranges, brown sugar, minced garlic, and Italian seasoning to turn pork into something easy enough for a weeknight dinner, but fancy enough to impress for the holidays too.
Get the Glazed Pork Tenderloin recipe.
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5
Slow-Cooker Pork Shoulder
Nothing embodies the idea of giving yourself a future gift than this slow cooker recipe. With just a little bit of initial effort, you can leave the pork to slowly and gently cook throughout the day. The spiced garlicky herb sauce is absolutely heavenly and will make this the best pork shoulder of your life.
Get the Slow-Cooker Pork Shoulder recipe.
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6
Slow-Roasted Pork And Peppers
This is a mostly hands-off dinner that's both perfect for busy weeknights and pretty enough to serve at a dinner party. There's very little prep—it's just a matter of halving bell peppers and cutting onions into wedges, then the oven does the rest of the work, transforming the boneless pork shoulder into meltingly tender meat.
Get the Slow-Roasted Pork And Peppers recipe.
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7
Pork Loin Roast
Pork loin may seem intimidating, but it's actually pretty straightforward. Plus, you can flavor it in so many ways. Start with butter, then switch it up with chimichurri, a fig jam, or even sauerkraut.
Get the Pork Loin Roast recipe.
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8
Mushroom, Spinach & Gruyère Stuffed Pork Tenderloin
Fast-cooking pork tenderloin is a regular in our weeknight dinner rotation, but that doesn’t mean we let it become so routine that it becomes boring. Instead, we mix it up each week with a variety of different flavors and preparations, like this ultra-stuffed mushroom, spinach, and Gruyère pork tenderloin.
Get the .
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9
Instant Pot Pork Tenderloin
Juicy pork tenderloin seriously deserves its own spotlight. We keep the seasoning simple here: chili powder, cumin, garlic powder. If you want another flavor profile, the sky's the limit. Oregano and Italian seasoning, ranch seasoning, taco seasoning, or even just salt and black pepper will do.
Get the Instant Pot Pork Tenderloin recipe.
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10
Bacon Wrapped Pork Tenderloin
No one wants to spend their time doing dishes after dinner, and that's why we love fun sheet-pan dinners like these. This bacon wrapped pork tenderloin gets baked with asparagus and red onion to create a complete meal.
Get the Bacon Wrapped Pork Tenderloin recipe.
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11
Stuffed Pork Tenderloin
Weeknight dinners need to be simple, but that doesn't mean they have to be boring. This stuffed (with CREAM CHEESE) pork tenderloin is beyond easy to make but still exciting enough that you'll want to invite people over.
Get the Stuffed Pork Tenderloin recipe.
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12
Stuffed Pork Loin
This pork loin is jam-packed with the classic, tried-and-true flavor combination of apple, bacon, rosemary, and pecan, complemented perfectly by the Dijon glaze on top. Pair it with some mashed potatoes and hearty roasted vegetables for a simple but delicious dinner all year round.
Get the Stuffed Pork Loin recipe.
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13
Cider-Glazed Pork
This sweet and savory roast pork will definitely be a favorite fall entrée. In just 15 minutes, you'll be transported to mustardy, cider-glazed oblivion.
Get the Cider-Glazed Pork recipe.
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14
Roasted Pork Tenderloin with Dijon Bread Crumbs and Brussels Sprouts
These panko bread crumbs seasoned with Dijon and thyme instantly upgrade any type of meat, especially this juicy pork tenderloin. We like this dish with Brussels, but feel free to swap for your fave veggies.
Get the Roasted Pork Tenderloin with Dijon Bread Crumbs and Brussels Sprouts recipe.
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15
Spiced Pork Tenderloin with Grilled Peaches and Arugula Salad
Sweet peaches are the perfect complement to juicy pork tenderloin and peppery arugula. Try swapping in other sweet stonefruits like plums or nectarines.
Get the Spiced Pork Tenderloin with Grilled Peaches and Arugula Salad recipe.
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16
Apple, Sage, and Prosciutto-Stuffed Pork Loin
The most brilliant way to stuff pork? With more pork, duh. Consider this a huge upgrade on the classic combo of pork chops and apples.
Get the Apple, Sage, and Prosciutto-Stuffed Pork Loin recipe.
