★ Why You'll Love this Recipe ★
This Coca-Cola pot roast is a recipe that once you make it, you’ll be hooked. Moist and lightly caramelized pork swimming in a flavorful gravy, it's perfect for weekend dinner or a holiday meal. This old-fashioned pork roast au jus (with juices) might just be the tastiest pork you’ve ever had!
Cooked in the Oven
Oven baked in a blend of brown sugar, soda, tangy mustard, and Worcestershire sauce, this southern-style Coca-Cola pork loin recipe makes for an easy yet absolutely delicious home-cooked meal!
Just 15 Minutes of Prep
With minimal prep time, this pork roast makes feeding a hungry family, a breeze.
A Complete Meal
Pop some carrots or other veggie of choice in the oven and let them roast along with the pork. Then, whip up some mashed potatoes (or grab some already made). Dinner = done.
Au Jus for the Pork and Your Potatoes
The au jus that's flavored by the pork as it cooks, is the perfect blend of sweet and tangy. The brown sugar and soda work together to create a caramelized flavor.
This recipe is:
Flavorful: Once you try this Coca-Cola version you’ll never go back to the classic. The sweetness from the soda brings out the perfect texture of tender meat that almost melts on your tongue.
Versatile: This recipe is delicious as a full-course meal, but it also works well for leftovers the next day in a sandwich, on top of a salad, or served in pasta.
Simple: Most of the ingredients you need you’ll probably already have on hand making this pot roast recipe easy to whip up.
★ Ingredients You'll Need ★
There are two parts to this recipe: the pot roast itself and the au jus sauce that goes with it. Add mashed potatoes and a roasted veggie to complete the meal.
Here's a look at everything you'll need for the pork roast:
For the pot roast:
- Pork loin: Either pork tenderloin or pork shoulder can be used in place of pork loin though cook time might vary a bit. Be sure to check the temperature to determine when pork is fully cooked.
- Olive oil: Any neutral-based oil will work for the pork.
- Seasonings: You need a sprinkle of salt and pepper along with minced garlic for the rub.
For the au jus:
- Onion: Slice the onion thinly or mince it so that it mixes well.
- Coca-Cola: The best soda (or as we call it, pop) for pot roast, though other brands and flavors such as Dr. Pepper will work. The sugar is necessary so be sure not to use diet soda.
- Brown sugar: This helps to create a caramelized taste to the pot roast that won’t be the same as white sugar. However, both honey and maple syrup can be used instead.
- Apple cider vinegar: Vinegar helps breakdown the protein in meat making it tender while cooking. Lemon juice can be used in place of this if needed.
- Worcestershire sauce: A little bit goes a long way for this sauce, so make sure to measure.
- Dijon mustard: Adds a bit of tang to balance out the sweetness of the pop.
- Soy sauce: If you need this recipe to be gluten-free make sure to choose an appropriate brand.
- Rosemary: A tasty herb that brings all the au jus flavors together. Fresh is best but dried works well too.
★ How to Make this Recipe ★
This roast is simple to make using one pot when you use a dutch oven which can be used on the stovetop as well as in the oven.
Here's a look at the steps for making this pork roast au jus:
- Rub pork with oil and seasonings.
- Sear pork and set aside.
- Sauté onion.
- Mix together au jus ingredients.
- Place pork on top of onions.
- Pour au jus on top and bring to a boil.
- Cover and bake, basting occasionally.
- Let rest covered with foil, then slice.
★ Tips & FAQs ★
Storing Leftovers
Let the pot roast cool fully before storing leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge.
The pork will stay fresh for up to 4 days. Reheat slices in the oven at 325ºF until warmed through or gently on the stovetop in a skillet.
How do I know when my pork loin is done?
Use a meat thermometer. Your pork is fully cooked when it reaches 145ºF.
Can I freeze cooked pot roast?
Yes. Let it cool fully before wrapping the roast in plastic wrap and placing it into a plastic freezer bag. Store it for up to 3 months allowing it to thaw in the fridge overnight when you’re ready for it.
Can I prep the pot roast in advance?
Yes, you can marinate the pork loin in the refrigerator overnight and then cook it the next day for deeper flavor.
What can I serve with this pork roast?
Almost anything can be paired with a pot roast. Some classic side dishes are mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables, cornbread, coleslaw, green salad, and garlic bread.
Can I use a different soda instead of Coca-Cola?
Absolutely! You can substitute with any cola or soda of your choice for a similar flavor profile. Store brand cola works if you want to save a buck.
What if I don't own a dutch oven?
You can sear the pork loin in a regular skillet and then transfer it to a baking dish for roasting in the oven.
Can I cook this pork roast in a crockpot?
Yes! Sear the pork loin and cook your onions first, then add everything including the sauce to your crockpot and slow cook on low for 4 hours or high for 2 hours or just until the internal temperature of the pork reaches 145ºF.
Can I make the sauce less sweet?
Yes. Adjust the sweetness by reducing the amount of brown sugar and/or using a sugar-free cola.
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Coca-Cola Pork Roast au Jus
Equipment
Ingredients
Pork
- 2 lbs pork loin roast
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 2 teaspoon garlic paste
Sauce (au jus)
- 1 onion sliced
- 1 cup Coca-Cola (8oz)
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 2 sprigs fresh rosemary or 1 teaspoon dried
Serve with
- 4 cups mashed potatoes warm
- 2 cups carrots roasted or cooked with pork
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Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325°F.
- Season pork. Rub pork loin with olive oil, salt, pepper, and garlic, ensuring it's evenly coated.
- Sear pork. Place your dutch oven on the stovetop over medium-high heat. Sear the pork loin until golden brown on all sides. Remove pork and set aside.
- Sauté onions. In the same dutch oven, without cleaning it, sauté onion until translucent.
- Prepare the sauce. In a medium bowl, whisk together Coca-Cola, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, soy sauce, and rosemary leaves until the sugar is mostly dissolved.
- Roast pork with sauce. Place pork loin back in the dutch oven on top of the onions (and carrots if cooking with pork). Pour Coca-Cola mixture over the pork loin. Bring sauce to a boil, then cover with lid.Transfer dutch oven to the preheated oven and bake for about 60-75 minutes, or until the internal temperature of the pork reaches 145°F. Baste the pork occasionally with the pan juices throughout the cooking process.
- Slice and serve. Once cooked, let the pork loin rest for 10 minutes on a cutting board, loosely covered with foil, before slicing. Serve pork with mashed potatoes and roasted carrots using the sauce as gravy for the mashed potatoes and spooning some over the slices of pork as your "au jus."
Notes
- Nutrition Facts include pork only.
- Roast sliced carrots drizzled with olive oil, seasoned with salt and pepper, in the oven on a baking sheet along with pork for about 30 minutes or until desired tenderness is reached.
- Or to cook carrots with the pork, add along with onions. Note, that this will change the flavor of the au jus sauce to make it sweeter.
- Pork is done when internal temperature reaches 145ºF. Do not overcook or pork will taste dry. Allow pork to rest in order to distribute juices before slicing. Cook time will vary with the shape and exact weight of the loin so be sure to check the temperature early and keep an eye on it as it gets close to done.
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