This garlic herb Pork Crown Roast is a show-stopper of a dinner. It may look intimidating, but this savory dish is surprisingly easy to make with this recipe.
For other delicious and impressive main courses, try this salmon wellington and braised beef short ribs.
This recipe was originally posted December 1, 2017, we’ve tweaked it a bit since then. This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.
Table Of Contents
Pork Crown Roast Recipe Details
If I can think of any holiday where it’s okay to go overboard with dinner, it’s definitely Christmas. And this extravagant Pork Crown Roast is the perfect thing!
- TASTE: This savory roast is covered in a garlic herb paste which absorbs into the meat overnight before it’s baked.
- TEXTURE: With a crisp outer skin and a tender juicy interior, this gorgeous Pork Crown Roast is deliciousness in every bite.
- TIME: This recipe takes just under 2 hours, but only 10 minutes of prep time!
- EASE: Despite its impressive looks, this recipe is so easy. You’ll wow your guests with this simple, yet elegant dish.
What You’ll Need
Ingredient Notes
- Pork Crown Roast- This is basically bone-in pork loin and full of great savory flavor. Ask your butcher to put it together for you. It will save you so much time.
- Seasonings- Rosemary, thyme, and sage all add their own unique taste to this dish. Using fresh herbs is really important here. So don’t use the dried stuff.
How to Make Pork Crown Roast
- Make the garlic herb mixture. Remove the needles or leaves from the thyme and rosemary. Then place all the seasonings into a small food processor. Add the garlic and olive oil, and pulse on high until it forms a paste.
Pro Tip: To remove the needles or leaves from the thyme and rosemary, hold the sprig at the top and slide your fingers down. You should be able to strip the herb sprigs in one motion.
- Pat the pork dry. Using a paper towel, pat the pork dry and then season it (inside and out) with salt and pepper. Then generously spread the herb paste over the entire roast.
- Refrigerate. Place the roast on a large plate, then tightly cover it with foil or plastic wrap, and refrigerate overnight.
- Roast. Remove the roast from the foil or plastic wrap and then wrap small pieces of foil over the top of each bone. Place it in a roasting pan and bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes, then reduce the heat to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes.
Recipe Tips
- Let the butcher do the work- As long as you order it a day or two in advance, most butchers are happy to put this cut of meat together, and it saves you time and effort.
- Pat the pork dry- Since water and oil don’t mix, make sure to thoroughly dry any moisture from the outside of the pork crown so that the oil and herb mixture will stick.
- Wrap the tops of the bones with foil- To avoid charring or burning the bones, wrap them tightly in foil before putting the roast in the oven.
- Check the internal temperature- If you’re not sure if the Pork Crown Roast is done, poke the thickest part with a meat thermometer. It should be at least 140 degrees Fahrenheit.
Add-ins and Substitutions
- Add potatoes- In the roasting pan, you can place some seasoned potatoes along with the crown roast to create an awesome one pan dinner!
- Substitute other seasonings- You can change up the flavors in this roast by using coriander, cayenne pepper, cumin, paprika, or parsley.
- Stuff it- Add a stuffing made of celery, onion, apples, pecans, and Italian sausage to the roast (this may increase cook time) or cook it separately for a complementary side dish.
- Add orange- This Pork Crown Roast would taste great with the addition of citrus, such as orange zest, in the herb spread.
FAQs
The best way to cook a Pork Crown Roast is uncovered. After wrapping the exposed bones with foil to avoid burning/charring, sear it at a high heat first to seal in moisture and flavor, then at a lower heat to fully cook the meat.
A crown roast of pork is made when a butcher takes pork loin chops, scrapes the ends of the bones clean (known as “frenching”), and then scores the meat and ties it so it will curve into a circle, forming a crown.
Serving Suggestions
This Pork Crown Roast is elegant and very complementary. Here are some of the many ways you can serve it.
- Potatoes: This dish is great with Crispy Baby Potatoes, Super Creamy Mashed Potatoes, Scalloped Potatoes, and Air Fryer Baked Potatoes.
- Salad: Start the meal with a crisp Spinach Pomegranate Salad, Broccoli Cranberry Salad, or Cabbage Cucumber Salad. You could also serve this Easy Antipasto Salad (low carb).
- Vegetables: Pair this Pork Crown Roast with Roasted Air Fryer Vegetables, air fryer baby potatoes, Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts, or Bacon Green Bean Salad.
- Bread: Serve it with Buttermilk Biscuits, Buttery Brioche Bread, Focaccia Bread, or Moist Buttermilk Cornbread, and a side of Herbed Bread Dipping Oil.
Make This Pork Crown Roast in Advance
Make ahead: You can prepare this Pork Crown Roast the day before by making the oil and herb mixture and spreading it on the pork. Refrigerate it overnight before roasting.
Storing: Store this Pork Crown Roast in the refrigerator in an airtight container or tightly wrapped with plastic wrap and foil for 3-5 days.
Freeze: If you haven’t cooked the pork yet, you can store it in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 6 months. Once cooked, allow it to cool before freezing it for up to 3 months. Let it thaw overnight before reheating it in the oven.
More Decadent Dinner Dishes!
Full Recipe Instructions
Pork Crown Roast
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 tbsp rosemary
- 1 1/2 tbsp thyme
- 1 1/2 tbsp sage
- 6 garlic cloves
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 1 14 rib crown pork roast
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 1/2 tsp kosher salt
Instructions
- Remove the needles or leaves from the thyme and rosemary by holding the sprig at the top and sliding your fingers down. You should be able to strip the herb sprigs in one motion.
- Place the rosemary, thyme, and sage leaves into a small food processor. Add the garlic and olive oil and pulse on high until it forms a paste.
- Using a paper towel, pat the pork dry. Season the entire roast (inside and out) with salt and pepper.
- Generously spread the herb paste over the entire roast. Place the roast on a large plate, then tightly cover with foil or plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
- Remove the roast from the foil or plastic wrap. Wrap small pieces of foil over the top of each bone. This will prevent the bones from burning/charring. Place the pork into a roasting pan and bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes, then reduce the heat to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes. If you're unsure if the roast is done, poke the thickest part of the meat with a meat thermometer, it should be at least 140 degrees Fahrenheit.
Notes
- Let the butcher do the work- As long as you order it a day or two in advance, most butchers are happy to put this cut of meat together, and it saves you time and effort.
- Pat the pork dry- Since water and oil don’t mix, make sure to thoroughly dry any moisture from the outside of the pork crown so that the oil and herb mixture will stick.
- Wrap the tops of the bones with foil- To avoid charring or burning the bones, wrap them tightly in foil before putting the roast in the oven.
- Check the internal temperature- If you’re not sure if the Pork Crown Roast is done, poke the thickest part with a meat thermometer. It should be at least 140 degrees Fahrenheit.
- TIP: In the roasting pan, you can see that I baked a few seasoned potatoes along with the crown roast. I was just experimenting to see if they could be roasted at the same time as the pork; which totally worked out to an awesome one-pan dinner! That’s totally optional though.
Nutrition
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A RODRIGUEZ-RICH says
Dream Dinner fit 4 a KING……
Dina says
It sure is!! 🙂
Joyce says
I have a question.
Am I able to stuff the roast in the center at the same time? I bake the roast. thank you.
Dina says
Hi Joyce, it really depends on what you stuff the center with. Some vegetables may have a longer or shorter bake time vs the roast.
Rhonda says
Do you put a rack in your roasting pan for the pork crown roast to sit on while cooking?
Dina says
Hi Rhonda, the pork is sitting on a rack in the roasting pan.
Michelle says
How long did you let the roast rest after baking?
Dina says
Hi Michelle, let the roast rest for about 10-15 minutes before serving.
N prurett says
Cooking it now and it smells great. I’m sure it will taste as good as it aroma is filling our home. Thank you for an easy recipe
Dina says
You are very welcome! Glad to hear your house is filled with the amazing smell of this pork crown roast! Thank you for your feedback! 🙂
Liliya says
This crown roast was a huge hit with my family. So flavorful and delicious. Thank you for the recipe!
simplyhomecooked says
Thank you for the kind recipe review. I’m glad you and your family enjoyed it!
Yelena P says
Wow! This meat looks beautiful and delicious. Will try soon. Thank you Dina awesome job!
simplyhomecooked says
Thank you Lena! A crown roast is definitely eye catching ????