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….😂
Carol A Davis says
Do you think this could work for a pork loin? Maybe cooking it longer?
Nagi says
Hi Carol – check the recipe notes for loin 🙂 N x
Esjay says
Great recipe! We eat pork tenderloin at least once a week but I am getting to the point of being tired of my recipes. I also made mashed potatoes and broccoli. My teenage sons cleaned their plates quickly!
Thanks, Nagi
Pauline says
Easy and delicious. Next time I’ll double the sauce as everyone was asking for more!
Michelle says
I’ve just been told that this recipe is a WINNER from my kids! Many thanks Nagi, you’ve won me as a regular!
Nagi says
Thanks so much Michelle! N x
Wendy P Stiplovsek says
Fantastic! So delicious. I cooked it with the oven roasted vegetables and rice. This is a keeper.
Nagi says
Wahoo, thanks Wendy! N x
Jason Darham says
Very tasty indeed Nagi, thanks !
Nagi says
You’re so welcome Jason! N x
karen stephens says
Hi Nagi I made your garlic and honey pork tenderloin and warm lemon potato salad with beans and I added Brussel sprouts. I love your recipes so much and your website is great. The only thing is I give people your website to follow and they question the name and think the recipes are all Made from tinned food . How did the name come about Nagi? X Karen
Nagi says
Sounds fabulous Karen! N x
Sharon McKay says
Tight on time, not motivated to cook – this was so easy and delicious!! Will be making this again! Thanks.
Nagi says
And that’s what we love Sharon!!! N x
Cheryl says
This recipe was excellent! My whole family enjoyed it! I was wondering if you know of a way I could make a 2nd batch of sauce a little thicker for “gravy”?
Donna says
Made this for my husband’s birthday! Awesome recipe! A big hit for the entire family.
Nagi says
That’s great to hear Donna! N x
Anushka Ramkissoon says
This was yummy! Recently discovered your website… will def be trying more recipes. Thank you!!
Nagi says
I’m so glad you’re loving them Anushka, thanks so much for letting me know ❤️ N x
Starmount says
I am always looking for another recipe for pork fillet and this was the bomb. My husband raved about it and it was really easy to make. I never changed a thing except I only had 1 fillet for two of us and still could have had more sauce. Definitely on my keeper list
Nagi says
I’m so happy you enjoyed it Starmount, you can definitely double the sauce if you prefer more! N x
Maria says
Just made this and it was really lovely. Also did the creamy cauliflower mash which went down a treat. Thank you.
Nagi says
YUM, sounds perfect Maria! N x
Sophia says
I cooked it for our dinner today and it was delicious. This recipe is by far my favorite for pork tenderloin! Thank you for sharing it with us!
Nagi says
You’re so welcome Sophia!! N x
Anthony Dixon says
Made this for my family tonight! Thank you for sharing it was a delicious meal!
lesley cook says
made this absolutely fabulous will defo make it again
Nagi says
That’s great to hear Lesley! N x
mary says
Made this a number of times. Everyone loves it. This is a winner.
Nagi says
Wahoo!!! N x
Eileen Culverhouse says
Such an amazing recipe we had it with your lemon potato salad and buttered cabbage. Even impressed my chef husband. Thank you Nagi
Nagi says
Sounds amazing Eileen!! N x
Diane Brannan says
Made this soooooo many times !! My husband, son and I love this !! It was our dinner tonight. Served it with your seasoned buttered rice. Dinner was a homerun !!!
Nagi says
YUM, sounds great Diane! N x
Jenna E Donovan says
Hey! Did you use a cast iron pan to sear and move to the oven?
Nagi says
Hi Jenna, yes I did 🙂 it’s all there in the directions and the video – N x