Pork Tenderloin seasoned with a rub, seared until golden then oven baked in an incredible Honey Garlic Sauce until it’s sticky on the outside and juicy on the inside! A quick and easy pork fillet recipe with high returns for very minimal effort.
Pork tenderloin recipe
Pork tenderloin is like chicken breast – it’s a lean, tender cut of meat and when cooked just right, it’s juicy and succulent.
It is also easy to overcook, and overcooked tenderloin = dry and bland.
Hence the beauty of this pork tenderloin recipe. It’s unbelievable when the pork is cooked perfectly.
But if you go slightly over, no one’s going to notice with this outrageously delicious honey garlic sauce!
What you need
VERY few ingredients! This is another one of those recipes with high returns for low effort – minimal ingredients, less than 10 minutes of active effort for incredible flavours!
How to cook pork tenderloin
The best way to cook pork tenderloin is to start it on the stove and finish it in the oven. Sear the pork first to give it a nice crust (remember, colour = flavour 🙌🏻) then finish cooking it in the oven.
Can’t it be cooked entirely on the stove??
Yep, it sure can, but the outside ring of the tenderloin will be cooked more than ideal by the time the centre is just cooked. Reduce this uneven cooking by bringing the pork to room temperature before cooking.
What about in the oven?
Again, yep, you sure can, but you won’t get the same colour on the surface of the tenderloin so you’ll notice a loss of flavour. But with a sauce this good, it’s forgivable to skip the initial sear! 😇 Directions in the recipe notes.
Look at that sauce glazing the pork!!! Doesn’t it look incredible??!
The Honey Garlic Sauce used in this pork tenderloin recipe has made an appearance in various forms on my website, such as with Salmon, Chicken Breast and as a dipping sauce for the crispiest ever Baked Chicken Wings.
It’s just one of those terrific back pocket sauces that works with virtually every protein. Just a few ingredients that totally transforms when simmered on the stove into a savoury-sweet sauce.
It’s inevitable that it will make yet another appearance one of these days!
What to serve with pork tenderloin
Though you cannot see it properly in the photo above, that yellow/green blur in the background is this Lemon Potato Salad which I added steamed green beans to. A two-in-one carb + veg side that keeps for days, I’m a big fan of those! Here’s a few more:
-
Kale and Quinoa Salad and Garlic Butter Rice with Kale (kale is a nutrition powerhouse and these are 2 seriously tasty ways to eat it!)
Otherwise, serve it with a fresh garden salad tossed with a fresh vinaigrette like French, Italian or the everyday salad dressing used in this Cabbage Salad.
I’d also recommend something to slop up the sauce with – bread, mashed potato, or Cauliflower Mash. What looks like mash in the photo below is actually Mashed Cauliflower. Carb free, creamy smooth indulgence – you’ll see it in the recipe video! ~ N x ❤️
Watch how to make it
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Pork Tenderloin with Honey Garlic Sauce
Ingredients
- 2 pork tenderloin (pork fillet), 500g/1lb each (Note 1)
- 1 1/2 tbsp olive oil (or butter)
- 3 garlic cloves , very finely chopped
Pork Tenderloin Rub:
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
Honey Garlic Sauce:
- 3 tbsp cider vinegar (Note 2)
- 1 1/2 tbsp soy sauce, light or all purpose (Note 2)
- 1/2 cup honey (or maple syrup)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 180C/350F.
- Mix Sauce ingredients together.
- Mix Rub ingredients then sprinkle over the pork.
- Heat oil in a large oven proof skillet (Note 3) over high heat. Add pork and sear until golden all over.
- When pork is almost seared, push to the side, add garlic and cook until golden.
- Pour sauce in. Turn pork once, then immediately transfer to the oven.
- Roast 15 - 18 minutes or until the internal temperature is 68C / 155F (Note 4).
- Remove pork onto plate, cover loosely with foil and rest 5 minutes.
- Place skillet with sauce on stove over medium high heat, simmer rapidly for 3 minutes until liquid reduces down to thin syrup.
- Remove from stove, put pork in and turn to coat in sauce.
- Cut pork into thick slices and serve with sauce!
Recipe Notes:
- Cider vinegar - white wine vinegar, rice vinegar or champagne vinegar. OR 2 tbsp normal white vinegar.
- Soy Sauce - Use light or all purpose. Do not use dark soy sauce or sweet soy sauce.
Nutrition Information:
Life of Dozer
I love the robe so much, I got another one and put his name on it. Poor boy, now he’s been named and shamed….😂
This is just such a beautiful, easy and tasty dish. I’m the sole carer for my amazing 87 yr old Mum and she just adores it, as do I Works so well with chicken wings too! .For an old bush cook like me, this is next level. Thanks Nagi!!
My family and I love this, it’s a weekly meal for us. I’m thinking of pulling this out on Christmas Day. Do you think I could prepare it ahead of time, then finish off in the oven? Just trying to be as organised as possible on Christmas Day.🤞
Really delicious, easy recipe
Awesome recipe! Family loved it. Very easy to follow.
Yum! So simple and easy the sauce is grand . I used 1/4 Pure Maple syrup and 1/4 honey for sauce . I think this will be on my weekly menu . Loved it ♥️
Love your recipes Nagi,but love Dozer more! BJ
And that’s exactly what I love to hear!! 😂 N xx
Delicious! What a easy fantastic meal!
Hi Nagi,
Your Pork Tenderloin recipe is absolutely the best I’ve ever had! Great for weeknight and entertaining. Cost effective, easy, fast and wonderful!! Thank you for what you love to do.
Easy to prepare. Super moist and tasty.
So easy, soooo tasty 😋
Ill be looking at your other recipes. Thanks xx
Amazing and not difficult to do.
Usual ingredients is a plus. Husband and son loved
This was such a simple recipe but totally amazing. My hubby gave it two thumbs up!!
The Pork Tenderloin with Honey Garlic Sauce was delicious. My husband really loved it. Pork was tender and juicy, sauce very flavorful. Nagi, your pork tenderloin recipes are becoming my go-to Sunday suppers!
I am so glad you enjoyed it Mo! N x
I make this every couple of weeks and everyone loves it. I don’t change a thing and it comes out perfect every time. Thanks!
So glad you enjoyed it, Annie! N x
So easy and delicious! One of our local Thai restaurants has a crispy honey chicken and the sauce tasted just like that so now I don’t need to get my ‘chicken candy’ fix from them any longer because I can make this much more healthy version with pork tenderloin and this sauce.
It’s a good one and you’re right…so easy! So glad you enjoyed it! N x
Hi, could I season the pork earlier in the day, or best not too?
Hi Nagi can you use kikkomans soy sauce it doesn’t say if it’s light or dark on the bottle x
Hi Pat…you definitely can! Kikkoman is an all-purpose soy sauce close in flavour to light soy but has a bit more colour. There are details about substituting Asian ingredients on my post here if you even have similar questions: Thanks! https://www.recipetineats.com/asian-market-grocery-store-shopping-list/
This is delicious!! My picky family loved it. Thank you for the recipe.
You are welcome Windy! N x
Fast and easy. delicious!!!!
Fantastic recipe. I am by no means a competent coo but the meat came out perfect. Juicy and tender with lots of flavour. A great recipe!
Excellent!! Quick, Easy and delicious!! So tender and is a bit sweet so you can cut that, but this will be a top if the list favorite in our house
Thanks! N x
Made this tonight. So delicious! The whole family loved that sauce. I’ll definitely make this again. Thank you.
Thanks! N x