Making a slow cooker pork roast with onion soup mix is both easy and convenient. With a slow cooker, you just have to toss the ingredients in and go about your day. Using a prepackaged onion soup mix means less work for you in terms of meal prep.
If you like mushroom gravy, you can make your pork roast with onion soup mix and cream of mushroom soup as well. You can serve your slow cooker pork roast with vegetables to boost the fiber and nutrition value of your meal.
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Pork Roast With Onion Soup Mix and Cream of Mushroom Soup
Follow these steps to make a slow cooker pork roast with onion soup mix. You can add a can of cream of mushroom soup to it, if preferred.
- Put the meat in the slow cooker: You can use pork tenderloin for your pork roast. The USDA states that the meat should be completely thawed before you attempt to cook it.
- Add the soup: Prepare the onion soup according to the instructions on the package. Add it to the slow cooker. If you're using cream of mushroom soup, add a can of that as well. Your slow cooker will specify instructions as to how much liquid is required to cook the meat; if the amount of liquid you already have is insufficient, add water to make up the difference.
- Let the roast cook: Put the lid on the slow cooker and let the roast cook. The cooking time may vary depending on the size of the roast, but you should plan for approximately eight to 10 hours. A large pork roast should take around 9 1/2 hours, according to Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.
- Check for doneness: The USDA recommends checking the temperature of the meat with a food thermometer, to ensure that it is properly cooked and safe to consume. According to the University of Illinois, pork needs to be cooked to an internal temperature of 145 degrees Fahrenheit, which should be held for three minutes.
- Serve the roast: Serve your slow cooker pork roast with vegetables on the side. String beans are an example of a quick and easy side dish.
Be Mindful of the Sodium
According to the USDA, a medium-sized slice of pork roast provides 103 calories, 11.3 grams of protein and 6.1 grams of fat. It is not a significant source of carbs. It also provides nutrients like potassium, phosphorus, choline, magnesium and calcium.
Watch out, though, because this pork roast recipe can be a significant source of sodium, since both mushroom soup and onion soup mix contain considerable amounts of this mineral. According to the American Heart Association (AHA), more than 70 percent of the sodium that Americans consume comes from prepared, packaged and restaurant foods — and not the salt shaker.
Since packaged soups already contain a lot of sodium, don't add additional salt to your meal and try to limit your portion size. The AHA links excess sodium consumption to blood pressure and heart problems. A study published in the December 2018 issue of the Journal of Clinical Hypertension found that high-sodium diets were also linked to kidney disease, in addition to blood pressure and heart disease.
Read more: Pork Skin Nutrition
- University of Illinois: “Meat Temperature Chart”
- USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service: “Slow Cookers and Food Safety”
- USDA: “Cream of Mushroom Soup”
- USDA: “Onion Soup Mix”
- USDA: “Pork Roast, Loin, Cooked, Lean and Fat Eaten”
- American Heart Association: “How Much Sodium Should I Eat Per Day?”
- Journal of Clinical Hypertension: “High Sodium Intake Increases Blood Pressure and Risk of Kidney Disease”
- Iowa State University Extension and Outreach: “Slow Cookers – Times, Temperatures and Techniques”