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….😂
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 !!!
YUM, sounds great Diane! N x
Hey! Did you use a cast iron pan to sear and move to the oven?
Hi Jenna, yes I did 🙂 it’s all there in the directions and the video – N x
HI Nagi,
We just made this succulent meal tonight, and it was again another win-win.
thank you very much, and keep well xx
That’s great to hear Monserrat!! N x
Super easy and quick recipe that taste amazing. It was all ingredients I had on hand and cost less than $15 to feed 4 people.
I’m not usually a pork lover but this was divine. A great recipe for entertaining – when isolation is over haha.
That’s amazing Nikki!!! N x
Just made this tonight and it went down a treat. Made as per recipe with maple glazed baked carrots, cheddar mash and potato rosti. My teenage son who ‘doesn’t like pork’ wants it next time I make it. Can still smell the dinner in the house just now. Brilliant Nagi absolutely brilliant recipe 👍
You’ve totally converted him Jim! That’s the best compliment ever!! N x
I was indeed short on time yet wanted to serve a better than quick dinner. I made the recipe exactly as written. My only comment is that I cooked the tenderloin until temp reached 155F; it was still just a tad bit too pink for me so next time will try 160F. Aside from that, my family loved it as did I. Served with roasted vegetables, multigrain bread and lemon thyme pudding. I will definitely make this again and appreciate the simplicity of the recipe and ingredients. Thanks, Nagi!
YUM! That sounds divine Jean!!! N x
Hi Nagi
Made this recipe tonight roast potatoes and crunchy salad and it was DELICIOUS!!! I will definitely make it again. Thank you sooo much.
Made this recipe tonight, delicious with roasted veg.
Definitely make again soon.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it Deb!! N x
Hi Nagi, I made it yesterday. Gorgeous and so quick to prepare. Thank you for your effort. I love your recipes.
You’re so welcome Anita, I’m so glad you loved it! N x
will red wine vinegar work? No cider vinegar and I’m trying to avoid the grocery store (for obvious reasons)
Hi Kimberly, do you have rice vinegar or white vinegar on hand? N x
another awesome recipe! Thank you, Nagi.
You’re so welcome Chris! N x
My sauce burnt. Not sure why?
Normally stay away from pork, unless it is belly, cos it ends up so dry. Added a splash of cayenne (like you add garlic to everything) and it was wonderful. Loving your recipes heaps.
You’re totally converted now Anne!! N x
Do you put the pork *and* sauce into the oven, or just the pork? Not clear!
Hi Sadie, yes as you’re adding the sauce to the pan in step 6 🙂 You can see this all in the video – N x
The pork filet was scrumdidlyumptious!
This pork tenderloin with the honey garlic sauce was absolutely delicious. Thank you so much for this recipe.
I’m so glad you loved it Carmen – thanks so much for letting me know!
This has become a family favorite. Thanks for sharing!
That’s great to hear Caryl!!
Is it apple cider vinegar and smoked paprika? Can’t wait to make this tonight!!!
Hi Laurie, yes apple cider vinegar and either smoked or sweet paprika will work (although I use sweet). N x
Made this for my family a few weeks ago. Was a huge hit! Trying it in the crockpot today. Love the sauce! Thanks for sharing.
You’re so welcome Stephanie!!
Easy to make. The family really liked it. We’ll be using this recipe again.
I’m so glad it was a hit!