How to Cook a Delicious Pork Picnic Roast in a Crock Pot

This crock pot pork roast is full of flavor and so easy to make. It’s done in the crockpot and only has 5 ingredients. Dinner has never been easier or more delicious.

Crockpot Pork Roast was the perfect post holiday meal. After the holidays I always struggle a bit with getting back into the swing of cooking. My excuse is usually that I cooked so much over the holidays that I’m just cooked out. I can’t use that excuse this year because I didn’t really cook for Thanksgiving. We were in Utah and I bought the pies!.

Pork picnic roast is an economical and flavorful cut of pork that’s perfect for making in a slow cooker. This inexpensive cut comes from the upper part of the foreleg and includes a portion of the shoulder. It has a good amount of fat marbled throughout for tenderness and moisture. The bone-in cut helps add even more flavor as the meat cooks. With just a few simple ingredients and steps, you can have a delicious pork picnic roast ready with almost no hands-on effort.

Benefits of Cooking Pork Picnic Roast in a Crock Pot

Using a crockpot to prepare pork picnic roast offers several advantages:

Requires minimal preparation and cleanup. Simply throw in the ingredients and let it cook.
Provides moist, tender pork. The slow cooking breaks down the collagen in the meat.
Infuses the pork with flavor. As it simmers, the seasonings and aromatics penetrate the meat.
Allows flexibility in cooking times. Cook on low for 7-9 hours or high for 4-5 hours.
Keeps the meat warm for serving. The crockpot switches to a warm setting when done.
Frees up your oven. Make side dishes or desserts while the roast cooks.
Lets you serve it straight from the crock. No need to dirty extra serving platters.

Tips for Choosing a Pork Picnic Roast

When selecting a pork picnic roast for the crockpot, keep these tips in mind:

Choose a 3-5 pound roast to feed 6-8 people. Larger roasts may not fit.
Pick a roast with some fat marbling for moisture and flavor.
Opt for bone-in for more flavor and to help the meat retain moisture.
Look for uniform color without many blood spots.
Avoid roasts with an off smell or sticky, tacky feel.

Simple Pork Picnic Roast Crockpot Recipe

This straightforward recipe produces a savory roast full of flavor.

Ingredients:

3-4 lb. bone-in pork picnic roast
1 lb. small potatoes, halved
1 lb. baby carrots
1 onion, sliced
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 cup chicken or beef broth
2 tbsp brown sugar
2 tsp dried thyme
1 tsp each salt and pepper

Instructions:

Pat roast dry and season all over with salt and pepper.
Place onions and garlic in crockpot. Top with roast.
Add potatoes and carrots around roast.
In a bowl, mix broth, brown sugar, and thyme. Pour over roast.
Cook on low for 7-9 hours or high for 4-5 hours.
Remove roast and veggies with a slotted spoon.
Using two forks, shred roast in the crockpot.
Return shredded meat to crockpot and moisten with cooking juices.

The roast pulls apart easily once cooked, so you can shred it right in the crockpot. The bone slides out cleanly too. Serve this succulent pork topped with the tender veggies along with some of the delicious cooking liquid.

Tips for the Best Crockpot Pork Picnic Roast

Follow these tips for maximum flavor and moisture:

Sear roast first to enhance browning and caramelization.
Use a meat thermometer to ensure safe internal temp (145°F).
Add broth or water if liquid reduces too much.
Turn roast over halfway through cooking.
Let roast rest 10-15 minutes before slicing or shredding.
Skim off excess fat after cooking if needed.
Add more herbs, broth, or sauce after shredding if dry.

Flavorful Options and Variations

While the simple recipe above makes a tasty roast, you can also kick up the flavor or customize it:

Apple cider: Use apple cider instead of broth for sweetness.
Barbecue: Coat pork in barbecue dry rub and sauce.
Herbs: Use rosemary, sage, or Italian seasoning blends.
Fruit: Add diced apples, pineapple, or apricots.
Vegetables: Swap in parsnips, turnips, mushrooms, etc.
Sauerkraut: Top pork with sauerkraut and caraway seeds.
Spices: Add cumin, chili powder, paprika, cayenne, etc.

No matter how you season it, a pork picnic roast cooked low and slow in the crockpot can deliver a super tender and full-flavored Sunday dinner or weeknight meal with little fuss. Enjoy this savory cut of pork simply shredded for tacos and sandwiches or sliced for a hearty roast entree.

how to cook a pork picnic roast in crock pot

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

This week’s Crockpot Pork Roast recipe was just what the doctor ordered. We love a good pork roast or pork tenderloin around here. It smelled wonderful as it cooked and tasted great. The best part was how easy it was. A great way for me to get back into cooking! One great thing about this pork roast is that you can make it in a lot of different ways. It’s good as is, or you can add potatoes and vegetables and call it a meal. We decided to make Pork Nachos out of it and they were delicious. Another great way to use the pork is to shred it and put it in a taco, burrito, enchilada, quesadilla, etc.

how to cook a pork picnic roast in crock pot

Crock Pot – Pork Shoulder slow cooked that is super tender and delicious

FAQ

Do you need to add liquid to crock pot when cooking pork?

Should I add liquid to pork roast in the crock pot? Yes, crock pot recipes benefit from the addition of liquid during cooking, which helps tenderize the meat and prevents everything from getting dry during the long cooking time.

How do you keep pork roast from drying out in a crock pot?

Adding liquid to a slow cooker when cooking pork is generally recommended. The liquid helps to keep the meat moist and tender during the long cooking process and also adds flavor. You can use broth, water, wine, juice, or a combination of these liquids, depending on your preference and the recipe you’re following.

Is a picnic roast the same as a pork roast?

Pork shoulder, also called picnic roast, is the primal cut that comes from a pig’s shoulder, above the forelegs.

Is it better to cook pork in a crock pot on high or low?

Set the cooker to low; the high setting will boil the meat instead of braise it, so it’s only a quicker trip to an undesirable outcome. Pork shoulder self-bastes and stays moist, and is nearly impossible to overcook. After the meat is done, the fat can be skimmed off the braising liquid.