Cranberry Pork Roast

This tender, flavorful Cranberry Pork Roast is super easy to prepare, yet looks and tastes like a gourmet meal. A holiday winner!

Sometimes you want something other than turkey for your holiday dinner, and for those times, this cranberry pork roast is perfect. Still elegant and impressive, but very little effort required.

Succulent and savory, tender and flavorful, this cranberry pork roast is a must! With a homemade cranberry sauce, this pork roast will make you look like a gourmet cook in your kitchen! This pork loin is going to fill your house with the most mouth watering aroma ever as it cooks!

Ingredients

• Pork Loin – I’m using pork loin, see below for the difference between pork loin and pork tenderloin.
• Olive oil – You can use whichever oil you prefer, whether it be olive oil or a super light tasting vegetable oil.
• Thyme – We’re just using dried thyme today, try not to use fresh for this step as we don’t want our herbs to burn and we want a nice little flavor concentrate.
• Spices – nutmeg and allspice.
• Seasoning – salt and pepper to taste.
• Honey – for a little bit of sweetness which is also going to help caramelize and create a beautiful crust on our pork loin.
• Orange Zest – Orange and pork are natural partners. The sweetness and tart flavor of the orange is the perfect complement to tender and mild pork.
• Cranberry Sauce – you can use store bought cranberry sauce but if you want something truly delicious, try my recipe for homemade cranberry sauce.

How To Make Cranberry Pork Roast

1. Prepare oven: Preheat the oven to 375 F degrees and arrange the rack in the middle of the oven.
2. Season pork: Drizzle the olive oil all over the pork loin. Season with thyme, nutmeg, allspice, salt and pepper on all sides evenly.
3. Sear pork: Heat a large 12 inch cast iron pan with a little bit of olive oil, then brown the pork on all sides, 4 to 6 minutes per side. Sear until it’s a deep golden brown and easily releases from the pan. Remove from heat. Drizzle honey on all sides of the pork loin then grate some orange zest over it.
4. Bake: Cover with aluminum foil, transfer the skillet to the oven and roast for 30 minutes. Remove the foil and finish roasting for another 30 minutes or until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the pork reads anywhere from 145 to 160 F degrees.
5. Prepare cranberry sauce: Meanwhile prepare the cranberry sauce. I used my own cranberry sauce recipe, however, store bought cranberry sauce will work as well.
6. Let the pork rest: Transfer the pork roast to a cutting board and let it rest for at least 15 to 20 minutes before slicing into it.
7. Slice and serve: Slice then top with cranberry sauce before serving it.

Pork Loin Versus Pork Tenderloin

Pork loin and tenderloin while often mistaken as the same meat, they are in fact, quite different. They do not come from the same part of the animal and actually look quite different.

Pork loin comes from the back and it’s generally bigger than a tenderloin. Sometimes it’s referred to as center cut pork loin roast, pork center loin roast, pork center cut rib roast, among other names. It usually is a larger piece of meat, and can be anywhere from 2 to 5 pounds.

Pork tenderloin, also known as pork filet or pork tender, comes from the muscle that runs alongside the backbone. Pork tenderloin is usually boneless while pork loin can be both boneless and with bone-in. Tenderloin usually averages about one pound per piece.

For this recipe I recommend using a pork loin because they tend to cook differently and a tenderloin is much smaller in size.

Some Tips

1. Always trim and season the pork loin. Trim any loose pieces of fat, but leave the fat cap in place. Season the pork loin generously, with herbs such as thyme, rosemary and lots of salt and pepper.
2. Brown the pork loin in a large cast iron skillet until it has a nice golden brown crust. Make sure you get a nice deep color before turning. If your try and turn the meat and it sticks, wait another minute or so before trying again. The meat will release from the pan easily when ready.
3. The key to juicy pork is to not over cook it. Always use an instant read thermometer and when the it registers 145 to 160 F degrees, it’s done. The recommended time is 8 to 11 minutes per pound.
4. Always rest your pork loin for 15 to 20 minutes before slicing into it. Resting is important as it allows the juices in the outside of the meat to settle back into the middle, making it juicier and easier to carve.

How To Serve

This cranberry pork roast is wonderful because it’s so versatile and really goes with a number of side dishes. Here are some of my favorite ways to serve it:

• Mashed Potatoes
• White Beans with Bacon and Herbs
• Harvest Rice
• Garlic Parmesan Roasted Brussels Sprouts
• Old Fashioned Green Beans
• Brandy Glazed Carrots
• Instant Pot Baked Beans

Craving More Pork Recipes? Try These:

• Rosemary Garlic Pork Roast
• Pan Seared Pork Chops with Gravy
• Pork Schnitzel
• Perfect Pulled Pork
• Crockpot Pork Carnitas
• Balsamic Pork Loin
• Pork Loin Roast