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….😂
I made the pork tenderloin with the honey. This was the best pork tenderloin recipe I’ve ever had. It was absolutely delicious. Couldn’t stop eating it.
Delicious! I messed up a little on the sauce and cooked my pork in it, but it turned out perfect. My husband doesn’t like his pork pink so I cooked it about twenty five minutes and kept turning the pork over in the sauce. Not dry at all! Maybe it’s a no fail recipe. Thanks.
I made this tonight for dinner and it was absolutely delicious. Simple ingredients put together beautifully.
I’m so happy you enjoyed it Paula, thanks so much for letting me know!! N x
This is now a family favourite. The kids request it whenever we have pork fillet, absolutely love it and have even got some friends on to it too.
If you ably have dark soy sauce, will it still be okay to use. Would you just use less?
Can this be converted to the instant pot?
Hi Linda, this one cooks so quick, you really don’t need an IP here! You could try this one instead though: https://salesdock.info/slow-cooker-pork-loin-roast/%3C/a%3E N x
Loved it! Hubby loved it too (which is the best compliment ever!)
Cooked this for my family, it’s absolutely delicious. Omg and the syrupy sauce, can’t get enough! Definitely on the list to cook again. I think with extra sauce!
Absolutely delicious, this was quick and easy but by far the best pork fillet recipe I have ever made. Served with broccoli rice and vegetables. Will definitely be making this dish again,
I would love to try this recipe but i only have pork loin strips so can i still use this recipe and if so are there any adjustments i need
Hi Renee, what size/weight are the strips? You can use the recipe, you’ll just need to adjust the cook time. N x
This was delish and so quick and easy to prepare. Served it with mashed potatoes , Brussel sprouts and salad.
Hubby only has one complaint, not enough sauce.lol.
Thankyou will be keeping this one
Amazing recipe…this has become a weeknight favourite…dont change anything!
It honestly tastes so good!
Too sweet for my palette. Perfect recipe in method and ingredients. I just prefer to use my pork tenderloin with the creamy mustard version. My family enjoyed it very much.
Very enjoyable recipe!
First attempt was a little on the sweet side for our tastes with all that honey – second attempt we increased the spice rub, added ginger and red pepper flakes, mixed some chilli pepper in with the garlic and garnished with scallions and sesame seeds. Took it to another level!
What a fabulous recipe. I’ve already cooked it a few times and it has gone on my go-to list for dinner parties! I served it with mashed potato, carrots and ginger garlic bok choy. I also make extra sauce as it’s so delicious. Than you
Fantastic dinner. Everyone liked it and wants to have it again. We had the cabbage pancakes with the spicy mayo. Excellent!
Made this a few weeks ago, I have never cooked a pork fillet before. So glad I found this recipe. It was SO delicious, the family loved it. Can’t wait to make this recipe again
Made this a few week ago. It was fantastic. I’m making it again tonight.
This was delicious. Such an easy recipe to follow and super easy to make. Definitely a new favourite.
I’m so glad you loved it Heather!! N x
Amazing, amazing, amazing, there was not a sign of food left on anyone’s plate !! Absolute winner of a recipie and so so easy to make, thank you so much for this. Now it’s time for your chicken in creamy mushroom sauce recipie 😊
Giving this recipe a try, but had to pause – is it really 150g honey for the sauce, NOT 15g? 🙂
Yes! It’s half a cup 🙂 Honey is dense and heavy!~ N x