My uncle taught me this sweet and savory trick. Using only 4 ingredients gives you a mouthwatering dinner that disappears instantly.

My uncle Ray was the one who first showed me this sweet and savory trick out in his drafty little farmhouse kitchen. He believed a good pork loin didn’t need a long list of fancy ingredients—just the right ones. This slow cooker Amish-style maple pork loin uses only four simple pantry staples to make a tender roast that slices like butter and bathes in a thick, sticky amber glaze. It’s the kind of humble, practical supper that fits right into old Midwestern farm life: you tuck it into the slow cooker in the morning, and by suppertime the house smells like a country church potluck. The meat comes out glistening, with dark caramelized edges and sweet brown juices that beg to be spooned over everything on your plate.

Serve this maple pork loin sliced thick, with the sweet pan juices spooned generously over the top. It’s wonderful alongside buttery mashed potatoes or egg noodles to soak up the sauce, and a simple side of buttered green beans, steamed carrots, or coleslaw keeps it feeling like a true Midwestern farmhouse meal. Warm dinner rolls or a slice of crusty bread are perfect for mopping up the last of the sticky maple gravy. If you like, add a crisp green salad with a tangy vinaigrette to balance the sweetness of the pork.

Servings: 6

3 to 4 lb boneless pork loin roast

Pat the pork loin dry with paper towels and trim off any thick, hard outer fat cap, leaving a thin layer for flavor. This helps the glaze cling and the edges caramelize nicely.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the maple syrup, brown sugar, and yellow mustard until the sugar is mostly dissolved and the mixture is smooth and glossy.

Place the pork loin into the slow cooker, fat side up, so the juices baste the meat as it cooks.

Pour the maple mixture evenly over the pork loin, turning the roast once or twice with tongs to coat all sides. Finish with the fat side up and spoon a little extra glaze over the top.

Cover the slow cooker with the lid and cook on LOW for 6 to 8 hours, or on HIGH for 3 to 4 hours, until the pork is very tender and reaches an internal temperature of at least 145°F. Baste the pork with the cooking juices once or twice during the last hour if you can.

When the pork is done, carefully transfer the roast to a cutting board, tent loosely with foil, and let it rest for 10 to 15 minutes. This keeps the slices moist and tender.

While the pork rests, skim off any excess fat from the surface of the cooking liquid in the slow cooker. If you’d like a thicker, stickier glaze, ladle 1 to 2 cups of the juices into a small saucepan and simmer on the stove over medium heat for 5 to 10 minutes, stirring often, until slightly reduced and syrupy.

Slice the pork loin across the grain into 1/2-inch slices. Arrange the slices back into the slow cooker or on a serving platter, then pour the thickened maple glaze and remaining pan juices over the meat so it glistens and the edges stay moist.

Serve warm, spooning extra sweet brown juices over each portion at the table.

For a little more savory balance without adding extra ingredients, use a slightly sharper yellow mustard if you have it; it cuts the sweetness nicely. If your pork loin is very lean, you can sear it in a hot skillet on all sides before placing it in the slow cooker to deepen the caramelized flavor and color, though it’s not required. To stretch the meal for a bigger family, shred leftover slices right in the slow cooker juices and pile the saucy meat onto soft sandwich buns for the next day’s lunch. If you prefer a stronger maple flavor, use a darker grade of pure maple syrup and reduce the brown sugar to 1/3 cup. For a thicker, almost candy-like glaze, reduce more of the cooking liquid on the stove, stirring until it coats the back of a spoon, then brush it over the sliced pork just before serving. This recipe is forgiving, so you can cook it on LOW a bit longer if your day runs late; the pork will stay tender as long as there’s plenty of liquid in the slow cooker.