Honey Garlic Pork Tenderloin

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Dec 10, 2023

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This is the most flavorful pork tenderloin you’ll ever make. It’s seasoned with a savory, herby spice blend, seared for a golden crust, and then finished off in the oven with a honey garlic sauce that makes each bite extra delicious!

Honey garlic pork tenderloin on a plate. — *Photo: Gayle McLeod*

Pork for dinner just got a whole lot better with this pork tenderloin recipe. Flavor is something I never skimp out on with meaty mains, whether it’s prime rib, beef tenderloin, pork chops, or roast chicken. And in my world, flavor and simplicity go hand-in-hand! There’s no need to slog away in the kitchen for a phenomenal, restaurant-worthy meal.

So what makes this recipe so incredibly delicious and amazing? Let me tell you!

Spice Rub: A handful of dried spices (that I’m sure you have in your spice drawer) are rubbed all over the pork tenderloins to sear in flavor.
Honey Garlic Sauce: This super simple sauce (only four ingredients!) coats the pork tenderloins, and is then reduced down into the most tantalizing, sticky sweet glaze.
Quick & Easy: From start to finish this recipe takes less than 30 minutes! But if you want to make it even faster, you can make the spice rub and sauce ahead of time. Then it’s as simple as searing and popping it in the oven for 15 to 20 minutes.

This is one foolproof, perfectly cooked dinner that’s sure to impress. It makes for a great weeknight meal, though I often make it for family and friends during the holidays like Christmas, New Years, and Easter as well!

Ingredients for honey garlic pork tenderloin.

Pork Tenderloin Ingredients

Pork Tenderloins: You’ll need two pork tenderloins, about 1 pound each. But make sure you’re not buying pork loin because they are completely different cuts of meat! Pork tenderloin is much leaner and cooks faster.
Pork Seasoning: A delicious spice blend of garlic powder, sweet paprika, onion powder, dried thyme, kosher salt, and black pepper gives the pork a ton of flavor.
Honey Garlic Sauce: This is what makes this recipe extra tasty. All that’s needed are honey, tamari soy sauce, apple cider vinegar, and freshly minced garlic.

Find the printable recipe with measurements below.

Equipment You’ll Need

Before we get cooking, here are the two kitchen tools you’ll need to cook your pork tenderloin perfectly — a cast-iron pan and meat thermometer.

Cast-Iron Pan: Grab an oven-safe skillet as you’ll sear the tenderloin on the stovetop before it finishes in the oven. This cast-iron pan has been my go-to for years!
Thermometer: This recipe cooks fast in the oven, so an instant read-thermometer is a must to ensure it reaches the proper temperature. But you could also use a probe thermometer to leave in the meat as it cooks

How To Make Pork Tenderloin

Make the seasoning. Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). In a small bowl, stir together the garlic powder, sweet paprika, onion powder, dried thyme, kosher salt, and black pepper, and set aside.

Then, make the sauce. Whisk the honey, tamari soy sauce, vinegar, and garlic in a separate bowl and set aside.

The sauce in a bowl for pork tenderloin.

Season and sear the tenderloins. Sprinkle the dry spice blend all over the pork, then use your hands to rub it in. Heat the oil in your skillet, add the pork, and cook, turning occasionally, until seared and browned on all sides. This should take about 4 minutes.

Add the sauce. Turn off the stove, add the sauce to the pan, and use tongs to turn the pork in the sauce until it’s fully coated. Transfer the pan to the oven and roast the pork tenderloins for 15 to 20 minutes, or until an instant-read thermometer reaches 140°F (60°C).

Reduce the sauce. Place the skillet back on the stove, remove the pork to a plate, cover with foil, and let it rest for 5 to 10 minutes. Then, simmer the remaining sauce on the stove for 1 to 2 minutes, until slightly reduced and thickened.

Slice and serve. Cut the pork tenderloin across into ½-inch thick slices and arrange on a platter. Drizzle the honey garlic sauce all over, then serve.

Cooking Tip: Remember that pork is a lean cut of meat, and when it’s overcooked it becomes dry, which isn’t very tasty. It’s always best to double-check the doneness with an instant-read thermometer rather than eyeball it. Slightly pink in the middle is okay, and don’t forget there’s carry-over cooking while it rests.

Common Questions

Can I skip the searing step and just bake this in the oven?

You can roast the pork tenderloins without searing them in the frying pan, but they won’t get that delicious crust on the outside. But if you choose this route, roast them in the oven for about one hour or until they reach 140°F (60°C).

Can I cook 3 to 4 pork tenderloins at the same time?

You could cook them in two separate pans on the stove top, then place them in the oven at the same time. If doing it that way, you may need to increase cook time just a couple minutes (use your thermometer to guide you). Alternatively, if you don’t want to use two pans, you could sear all 4 pieces of the tenderloin in the same pan, then place them on a baking sheet in the oven. Just remember that the ones you seared first might need to be removed from the oven first, so as to not overcook.

What should I serve with this?

I love to serve this with a side of cooked vegetables, like garlic sauteed spinach, air fryer Brussels sprouts, or s autéed green beans (for something green), along with mashed potatoes or mashed cauliflower to soak up that delicious sauce.

Sliced pork tenderloin with mashed potatoes.

Storage Tips

If there are any leftovers, slice the pork into pieces while it’s still fresh and tender. This will make storing and reheating a breeze.

Store in the fridge: Store the leftover slices in an airtight container in the fridge for 4 to 5 days.
Freeze for later: If you want to enjoy them later in the month, they’re perfectly safe to freeze. Let the meat cool, and place it in a freezer-safe container (or vacuum seal if you have that too). It’ll last for up to three months in the freezer.
How to reheat pork tenderloin: Thaw the pork in the fridge the night before. To reheat, add the slices to a skillet on medium heat, cover the skillet, and flip after a minute or so. You can also reheat in the microwave for 1 to 2 minutes until warmed through.

More Pork Recipes

If you love pork as much as I do, I’ve got plenty more pork recipes to enjoy! Here are the first few dinner ideas I think you should make:

Slow Cooker Pulled Pork: THIS is how you make tender, fall-apart pulled pork.
Carnitas: Achieve your favorite Mexican pork with this slow cooker recipe!
Meatballs: A blend of ground beef and pork does wonders for a meaty, juicy meatball.
Honey Baked Ham: Always a holiday centerpiece.

I hope you love this honey garlic pork tenderloin! If you make it, I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comment box below. Your review will help other readers in the community.

About the author

Lisa Bryan

Lisa is a bestselling cookbook author, recipe developer, and YouTuber (with over 2.5 million subscribers) living in sunny Southern California. She started Downshiftology in 2014, and is passionate about making healthy food with fresh, simple and seasonal ingredients.