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….😂
Debra Caroline McCallum says
Made this last night – WOW! My husband and I rarely eat pork fillet but this will change from now on! Next dinner party this will be on the menu! Again, thanks Nagi!! x
Wendy says
I made this last night. Easy to make and an absolute winner. Will definitely make again.
Paula Clarke says
I’m cooking this for a second time. It’s absolutely delicious. Thank you for this recipe.
Sian says
Made this tonight it was delicious! Every plate was licked clean.
I added Brussel sprouts into the pan in the oven to roast.
Served it with the Brussel sprouts potato bake and steamed broccoli and carrots.
Will add this to my fortnightly meal plan for sure
Kylie says
That was so insanely good. Absolute restaurant quality and one I will make for company. Thank you again Nagi for another beautiful recipe
Joelle says
Made it multiple times – it was a big hit in my house. The maple syrup version is our favorite so far.
Catherine says
I have almost lost count of the times I have made this yummy easy recipe for pork tenderloin. My family loves it and I’ve gotten rave reviews from guests, as well!
Paul says
First time with this recipe and as an inexperienced cook, I didn’t expect it to turn out so very well.
Will serve to our guests next time.
Thanks,
Paul
Roberta says
Absolutely delicious! Grilled the tenderloin, brushed with the glaze toward the end and served the remaining glaze tableside. A huge hit with guests. Thanks for the great recipe.
Emma Jane B says
Easy Quick and absolutely yummy. I did thinly slice garlic because I love the chewiness of if. But now this is my go to after a hard days work.
KATE says
Made this for dinner tonight, Absolutely restaurant quality. So quick and easy. Served with Wok veggies in sweet chilli and oyster sauce. Thanks Nagi
Rosa Lajoie says
Made this today. It was absolutely delicious. You never disappoint Nagi. Will definitely be making this again and again.
Thank you for sharing your recipes❤
Jacinta pake says
Perfectly done
Beverley says
Made this for tea 31/07/23 OMG it was absolutely amazing 😋😋 me and my son really enjoyed it and will be having it again soon thanks for sharing your recipe nagi 😊😊
Karina says
I’ve just made this. It was delicious and I will be making it again tgankyou
Natalie says
OMG Gob smacking deliciousness!!
Cathy F. says
Will definitely make again. I also plan to try the rub & sauce with chicken thighs & shrimp. On first bite I thought I might take it up a notch & add a few chili pepper flakes, but as I continued eating it already had a pleasant little kick to it. My husband took seconds, so that is always a good sign. Thank you for sharing. This is one recipe that tastes as good as it looks.
Linda says
I made this last night for dinner and it was delicious! So simple to make and we all loved it. Another great dish to add into our rotation and one that I would proudly prepare for company (which for me is always a sign of a winner dinner!).
Madi says
Oh my goodness, this recipe is amazing, super simple, tasty and very affordable to make! My 3 young kids ate it with absolutely no complaints.
Phoebe says
This dish was so tasty. Such a delicious way to cook pork. My husband and I both loved it, and my fussy eater gave it a 10 out of 10. Served with mash potatoes and beans. Yum!! Thanks Nagi for another amazing recipe!!