Small Pork Roast
Enjoy a classic Sunday dinner for two without the leftovers by cooking Small Pork Roast in the oven with vegetables and gravy.
Previously I posted my Instant Pot Pork Roast with vegetables recipe.
Now I’m going to explain how to make boneless Small Pork Roast in the oven.
Pork roast with vegetables and gravy is one of those classic Sunday dinners you think of from childhood.
Unfortunately for me, that meant dry overcooked meat.
That’s why it’s important to learn how to make these recipes as an adult because they can taste delicious when seasoned and cooked properly, like my pork chops with mushroom gravy.
For example, this pork loin roast has a beautiful, crispy golden brown crust when roasted properly. If your roast is dry and anemic, you’re doing it wrong. Let me show you how to do it right.
The thing about most roast pork recipes is they serve large families. The thing is I’m not a large family. It’s me and sometimes the cat if he steals my food.
I don’t know about you, but I certainly don’t want to be eating leftover pork all week long.
Sure, I could freeze a few slices, but I don’t have much freezer space (not to mention the accompanying potatoes do not freeze well).
That’s why I developed Pork Roast For Two using 1 pound of meat. Enough for 1-2 people without drowning in leftovers.
It’ll take some time to cook, but it’s ideal for a hearty and comforting Sunday supper or even a Christmas Dinner For Two.
What is the difference between pork loin and pork tenderloin?
Nothing is as frustrating as getting to the grocery store then realizing you have to choose between pork loin and pork tenderloin.
Although the names are similar, the cuts are different and not interchangeable.
Pork loin is wide and thick with a fat cap on top while pork tenderloin is long and narrow with limited fat (similar to turkey tenderloin).
Due to the size and amount of fat, pork loin is best for roasting. If you were to roast tenderloin, it would dry out and overcook quickly.
Pork loin roast can be bought either bone-in or boneless. For this recipe, boneless is best because you’ll be slicing it to serve afterwards.
How To Buy 1 Pound Pork Loin Roast
The hardest part about cooking for two is buying a small quantity of meat.
Due to cost saving, most grocery stores sell pork roasts in 2-3 pound packages. This is too much meat for one dinner, so you have two options:
1 – If your store has a butcher counter, ask them to cut a 1 pound piece.
2 – If your store doesn’t have a butcher counter, buy the smallest roast you can then portion and freeze. This is where a digital food scale (affiliate link) comes in handy so you can divide the meat into equal pieces.
My pork loin weighed about 2.25 pounds. I cut the meat into two equal pieces weighing slightly over 1 pound. Although they aren’t perfect 1 pound pieces, they are close enough to make pork roast for two.
Wrap the extra meat in plastic wrap then place in a freezer bag. Freeze for up to 6 months.
Can I substitute pork shoulder for pork loin?
Although pork shoulder and pork loin are both large pieces, they are not interchangeable due to the amount of fat content; they will cook differently and have different end results.
What vegetables go well with pork roast?
Every pork roast dinner has the following ingredients – carrots, celery, potatoes, onion, garlic, and of course pork.
For the potatoes, I used red potatoes because that’s what I had on hand. However, you can also use gold Yukon or Russet. I usually don’t peel red or gold potatoes, but I do for Russet.
How to cook a pork roast in the oven
First, heat some oil in a large skillet because you want to sear the pork on all 4 sides.
Browning your pork will add another layer of flavor, giving it more depth by caramelizing the surface.
Once the pork is done, transfer it to a plate then drain the excess oil from the skillet.
Next, add the broth and scrape any brown bits left behind from the pork. Again these brown bits add extra flavor to your dinner.
Pour the broth mixture over the vegetables then spread evenly into a roasting pan. Transfer the pork on top of the vegetables then let the roasting begin.
Do you cover a pork roast in the oven?
No, you don’t need to cover a pork roast in the oven. Roasting it uncovered allows the outside to develop a nice golden brown crust.
If you were to cover with foil, the outside will remain gray and soggy.
How long does it take to cook a 1 pound pork roast to cook?
Because a 1 pound pork loin roast isn’t large, it only takes 35-40 minutes. The pork is done when the internal temperature is between 145F-165F.
How To Make Gravy With Pan Drippings
While the pork roast is resting, you can make gravy from drippings.
Because this is a small roast, you won’t get a ton of drippings. However, it’s enough to make some kick-ass gravy.
It’s best to make the gravy in the same roasting pan you used for the meat. This allows you to scrape the bottom and sides of the pan for any delicious brown bits left behind.
However, if you don’t want to heat the pan directly on your stove, you can transfer everything to a saucepan.
Add some butter to the drippings so there’s enough fat in the recipe.
Once melted, stir in the flour to form a roux (paste). This is what will thicken your gravy. Cook for 1 minute to help cook out that raw flour taste.
Now slowly stir in the broth. Bring to a boil then cook until thickened, about 5 minutes. Stir in the milk and any juices accumulated from the pork resting.
Taste and add more salt if necessary. I added 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt, but this could vary depending on how salty your broth is and what type of salt you’re using.
Once your gravy is done, serve it with the pork and vegetables.
Pork Roast Dinner For Two
Enjoy a classic Sunday dinner for two without the leftovers by cooking Pork Roast For Two in the oven with vegetables and gravy.
Ingredients
- 1 pound (16 ounces) pork loin (not tenderloin)
- Salt (kosher preferred) and black pepper, to taste
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 cup chicken or vegetable broth/stock
- 1/2 small yellow or white onion, sliced (about 1 cup)
- 1/2 pound (8 ounces) red potatoes, cut into 1-inch pieces (about 2 large potatoes)
- 8 garlic cloves, peeled
- 2 ribs celery, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 carrot, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary leaves
Gravy
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup chicken or vegetable broth/stock
- 1 tablespoon milk
- Salt to taste, preferably kosher
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400F. Have a roasting pan ready.
- Season the pork on both sides with salt and pepper.
- Heat oil in a large skillet. Once hot, add the pork fat side down. Cook until brown, about 4 minutes. Flip and cook the other side until brown, about 4 minutes.
- Turn the pork onto one side and sear for 1 minute or until brown then sear the remaining side for 1 minute or until brown. Transfer pork to a plate.
- Drain the excess oil from the skillet. Very carefully, add the broth to the skillet (it will sputter so add a little bit then once it settles down add the rest). Stir and scrape up any brown bits left behind from the pork.
- In a large bowl add the onion, potatoes, garlic, celery, carrot, and rosemary. Add broth mixture and salt to taste then stir until coated. If the vegetables don't seem fully coated, add a little bit of olive oil. Transfer to the bottom of the roasting pan.
- Add pork fat side up on top of vegetables. Roast for 35-40 minutes or until the internal temperature of the pork is between 145-165F. Transfer the pork to a plate and tent with some foil to keep it warm. Let it rest while you make the gravy. If the vegetables aren't soft enough, roast the vegetables another 5-10 minutes while the pork rests.
- For the gravy: Place a strainer on top of a large bowl. Strain the vegetables and keep warm for serving. Transfer the liquid back into the roasting pan. Alternatively, you can use a medium saucepan.
- Heat the pan on the stove until hot. Add butter and cook until melted, scraping up any bits stuck in the pan.
- Stir in the flour to form a roux (paste) and cook for 1 minute or until lightly brown.
- Slowly stir in the broth. Bring to a boil then cook until thickened, about 5 minutes. Stir in the milk and any juices accumulated from the pork resting. Taste and add more salt if necessary (I added 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt). Serve with pork and vegetables.
Notes
Own a pressure cooker? Check out my Instant Pot Pork Roast For Two recipe.
This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchase.
This is an old recipe from fifty years ago at least. I really doubt that the pork loin would get moist unless one drenched it in gravy? And it won’t give off much fat to flavour the veggies either. Pork loin is difficult to flavour as you know, so we have to overcome that shortcoming. I have a couple in the freezer right now. Personally I would opt for apples, apple juice, onions and perhaps cabbage, with fennel seeds? Just a thought. You can liven this recipe up? Perhaps Schnitzel? I know, write my own blog. Not interested in that, just love to get ideas from good blogs such as yours, and under the former name. Cheers! Not meaning to pick, perhaps because it is -9C here in Nova Scotia, and probably not that much better where you are. Cheers!
I never said it was a brand new recipe. My readers want to know how to cook their favorite meals in smaller quantities. Sometimes that includes “boring” classics. And pork loin can be moist if you don’t overcook it. If you actually read the recipe, you’ll see how I flavored the vegetables. Try the recipe before knocking it. And for someone who’s not interested in writing his own blog, you sure are trying to rewrite mine. I don’t mind the suggestions – I actually do have an apple version posted on another site – but please don’t come here and pretend my recipe sucks without even trying it. Hopefully when Nova Scotia thaws out, your manners will too. Cheers!
I hate making a recipe for a giant pork loin and then having leftovers that go bad because there are just too many to eat! I’m so glad I came across this recipe! It was SOOO flavorful, moist and just downright perfect. Thanks for sharing it!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Tasty fantastic loved the flavour will cook again
Wonderful! Glad you liked it.
The vegetables were wonderful. However I didn’t have any juice left with either the vegetables or the meat to make the gravy. I had added additional olive oil to the vegetable mixture, hoping to have extra juice.
That’s weird! What size pork did you use and how much of each vegetable? You also added the broth, right?
Excellent! I grabbed a mini sirloin roast that was just under 1.5 pounds and this worked perfectly!
Great idea!