Apple Pomegranate Pork Tenderloin Freezer Meal Recipe

A blend of sweet and savory, this Apple Pomegranate Pork Tenderloin is simple enough for weeknights but special enough to serve at a holiday dinner or family gathering. Each bite is layered with rich, tender pork, crisp apples, and bursts of pomegranate, making it absolutely delicious. 

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Apple Pomegranate Pork Tenderloin Freezer Meal Recipe

This Apple Pomegranate Pork Tenderloin is a sweet and savory dinner that’s easy to prep ahead and is perfect for weeknights or even special occasions. 

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Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 4 hours hrs

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Servings 4

Calories 310 kcal

Ingredients

  

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• 3 lbs pork tenderloin
• 2 cups pomegranate seeds
• 2 Gala apples roughly chopped, no need to peel
• 1 tbsp orange zest from clementines
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp rosemary

Sauce (blend together):

• 1 clementine peeled and seeded (use for zest first)
• 3 Medjool dates pitted
• 0.5 cup pomegranate juice
• 1 tbsp onion flakes
• 1 tsp dried parsley
• 0.5 tsp celery seed
• 0.25 tsp paprika
• 0.25 tsp garlic powder
• 0.5 tsp black pepper

(Optional) Serve with:

• Rosemary Roasted Potatoes
• Citru Quinoa Salad
• Honey-Glazed Carrots with Thyme

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Instructions

 

Make it Fresh | Slow Cooker Directions:

• Add sauce ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth. (You may have to scrape sides once or twice).
• Add all ingredients, including the sauce, to the slow cooker.
• Cook on low for 4-5 hours. 
• Slice or shred pork. After plating, top with sauce from the slow cooker. Serve and enjoy.
• Optional: garnish with fresh rosemary.

Freezer Meal Prep Directions:

• Prepare a gallon freezer bag, labeling according to your preferred method.*
• Add sauce ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth. (You may have to scrape sides once or twice).  
• Add all ingredients, including the sauce, to the freezer bag.
• Seal bag, removing as much air as possible, and freezer for up to three months.

Slow Cooker | Cooking Directions:

• Thaw freezer bag in fridge for 12-24 hours before cooking.
• Dump the contents of the freezer bag into the slow cooker.
• Cook on low for 4-5 hours.
• Slice or shred pork. After plating, top with sauce from the slow cooker.
• Serve and enjoy (optional: garnish with fresh rosemary).

Instant Pot | Cooking Directions:

• Dump the contents of the freezer bag, plus ½ cup water, into the Instant Pot.
• Set to High Pressure for 25 minutes, then allow a 10-minute natural release followed by a quick release.
• Remove pork from Instant Pot and shred or slice. After plating, top with sauce from the Instant Pot. Serve and enjoy.
• Optional: garnish with fresh rosemary. 

Notes

*Labeling Methods:

1. Handwrite recipe name and cooking directions on freezer bag with permanent marker.
2. Print off a freezer label, write in recipe name and cooking directions, and tape onto freezer bag

Nutrition

Serving: 0.75cupCalories: 310kcalCarbohydrates: 16gProtein: 40.4gFat: 7.3g

Keyword Easy pork tenderloin slow cooker, Freezer meal pork tenderloin, Healthy pork tenderloin recipe, Slow cooker pork tenderloin, Sweet and savory pork tenderloin

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Why You’ll Love this Apple Pomegranate Pork Tenderloin Freezer Meal

• The fruit and sauce keeps the pork moist and tender. 
• Freezer-to-table convenience, so dinner is ready whenever you say it is. 
• Fancy for guests, easy for any weeknight dinner. 
• Kid-friendly flavors, it’s a mild, but tasty dish. 
• Nutrient-rich, pomegranates and apples bring vitamins, antioxidants, and flavor. 

What to Serve with this Apple Pomegranate Pork Tenderloin Recipe

Savory Sides 

• Garlic Mashed Cauliflower – Creamy and low-carb with just enough butter (or olive oil) to balance the sweet fruitiness of the pork. 

• Wild Rice Pilaf – Cooked with a little orange zest and slivered almonds for a nutty contrast. 

• Rosemary Roasted Potatoes – Crispy on the outside, tender inside — a perfect texture balance. 

Fresh and Bright Sides 

• Winter Greens Salad – Mixed greens with shaved fennel, apple slices, walnuts, and a honey-balsamic dressing. 

• Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Balsamic Glaze – Slightly sweet and tangy, they echo the depth of the pomegranate flavor. 

• Citrus Quinoa Salad – Quinoa tossed with mandarin segments, dried cranberries, and chopped parsley. 

Cozy or Seasonal Add-Ons 

• Butternut Squash Mash – Subtly sweet, creamy, and gorgeous with the pomegranate color palette. 

• Honey-Glazed Carrots with Thyme – Bright orange pop on the plate, and the flavors marry perfectly with the sauce. 

Freezer Notes for Apple Pomegranate Pork Tenderloin Freezer Meal Recipe

• Recipe will last 3-6 months in the freezer (squeeze out as much air as possible when sealing freezer bag to ensure long-lasting)
• As a meat recipe, I recommend thawing for 12-24 hours before cooking. This follows food safety guidelines and makes it much easier to transfer from the freezer bag to your slow cooker/Instant Pot. 
• Recipe can be frozen after cooking, however this does change the texture and flavor. I recommend freezing raw, not cooked.
• When reheating, warm mixture in a skillet over medium heat with a splash of water or reheat in the microwave in 30–45 second intervals, stirring between each.
• Toast your bun separately to avoid sogginess when reheating.

Want to Make It Fresh in the Slow Cooker today?

Skip the freezer prep and add everything into the slow cooker today.

Step 1: Add sauce ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth. (You may have to scrape sides once or twice). 

Step 2: Add all ingredients, including the sauce, to the slow cooker. 

Step 3: Cook on low for 4-5 hours.  

Step 4: Slice or shred pork. After plating, top with sauce from the slow cooker. Serve and enjoy  

Optional: Garnish with fresh rosemary. 

Real Mom Tips

• Use those pre-seeded pomegranate arils you can find in the refrigerated produce section to save time. 
• Spring for the rosemary sprigs, the elevated presentation is everything. 
• Peel and separate the clementine segments over a small bowl to catch all the juice. 
• Try swapping the apples for pears, slightly different flavor and texture, but still super delish. 
• Definitely go with Medjool dates, they are the sweetest, have the best flavor, and they blend smoother than other date varieties. 

Apple Pomegranate Pork Tenderloin Dietary Adjustments:

Make it Gluten-Free: Recipe is naturally gluten-free.

Make it Dairy-Free: Recipe is naturally dairy-free.

Make it Nut-Free: Recipe is naturally nut-free.

Make it Egg-Free: Recipe is naturally egg-free.

Gourmet doesn’t have to be complicated. This Apple Pomegranate Pork Tenderloin simplifies gourmet and is simple, satisfying, and effortless.

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FAQs

Do I have to peel the apples? 

Nope, no need to peel the apples. Leaving the skin on saves time and adds fiber, and since the apples cook down quite a bit, you won’t notice the skin. 

I can’t find pomegranate juice; is there something else I can use as a substitute? 

Unsweetened apple or cranberry juice are great substitutes for the pomegranate juice.  

What if I don’t have Medjool dates?

No problem, you can substitute Medjool dates with maple syrup.

1 Medjool date = 1 tbsp of maple syrup

Can I use chicken instead of pork? 

Definitely! Although pork really is the best partner for these flavors, chicken thighs are my suggestion when going the poultry route. Don’t forget to adjust cook time: chicken thighs need 4-6 hours in the slow cooker on low, and in the Instant Pot you’ll want to do 12-16 minutes of cook time with a 10-minute natural release. 

Should I brown the pork before cooking in the slow cooker or Instant Pot? 

I don’t typically do this because it is an extra step that isn’t necessary. You certainly can do it, but skipping it keeps everything simple and fast. 

Will the pomegranate seeds soften during the cooking process?  

The cooking process does soften the pomegranate seeds, but they’ll still keep a subtle pop. It adds a bit of texture to the dish, and a slight burst of flavor. 

How can I adjust the flavor, either to make it stronger or a bit spicier? 

To make the flavor stronger, add extra zest, a little more juice, or even a pinch of salt just before serving. To make it spicier, add some crushed red pepper flakes to the sauce, but just a pinch. I love this recipe as is, but if you’re looking to adjust the flavor I would go for stronger over spicier. 

Other Apple Recipes You’ll Love

• Sweet Potato Apple Turmeric Soup Whole 30 Freezer Meal 
• Apple BBQ Pulled Pork Freezer Meal 
• Butternut Squash and Apple Soup Plant-Based Whole 30 Freezer Meal
• Gluten Free Cranberry Apple Chicken Thighs Freezer Meal 

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Comment below and let me know how your Apple Pomegranate Pork Tenderloin turned out!