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Home » Food and Recipes » How to Cook Perfect Pork Tenderloin

How to Cook Perfect Pork Tenderloin

April 13, 2023 by Chef Alli Leave a Comment

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Learn How To Cook Perfect Pork Tenderloin that turns out juicy and tender every single time.

Oven roasted pork tenderloin is an easy and budget-friendly cut of pork to make for your hungry family.

Sliced pork tenderloin medallions on a cutting board.

EASY OVEN PORK TENDERLOIN RECIPE

Pork tenderloin has always been my favorite cut of pork.

I love how you can dress it up when you need a meal that’s a little more special – like this Cherry-Pecan Pork Tenderloin Medallions or this Instant Pot Pork Tenderloin with Cranberry Apple Sauce.

Or if you need a kinda-fancy appetizer check out Pork Tenderloin Crostini.

And on the flip side of that, pork tenderloin makes delicious everyday meals, too. Meals you can count on because pork tenderloin is a cut if meat that loves to turn out rig

It’s nearly fool proof no matter what your experience in the kitchen.

I love making pork tenderloin in my cast iron skillet! Roast Pork Tenderloin with Bacon Cran-Apple Sauerkraut is a favorite skillet meal and so is Bacon-Wrapped Pork Tenderloin with Peach Glaze.

I also love making Instant Pot Pork Tenderloin in under 30 minutes in my pressure cooker.

PORK TENDERLOIN IS SO EASY TO MAKE

Pork tenderloin is great for weeknight meals because it can be on the dinner table in 30 minutes or less!

After the pork tenderloin is seared to golden brown, all its needs is a quick roasting in the oven. Voila! Its ready to eat.

WHAT TO LOVE

  1. It’s super economical. Because pork tenderloin has no bones, you can eat the entire piece of meat.
  2. Pork tenderloin is a cut of meat that gets little use on the pig so its very, very tender.
  3. Because it’s so versatile, you can cook pork tenderloin in many ways – stove top, oven, or pressure cooker. And it’s delicious on the grill or smoker!
Roasted pork tenderloin medallions stacked in a cast iron skillet.

INGREDIENTS NEEDED

  • Pork tenderloin (one package contains 2 tenderloins, typically)
  • Your favorite steak seasoning
  • Olive oil, for searing

STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS FOR MAKING EASY PORK TENDERLOIN

Remove the packaging, then separate the tenderloins and place them onto a baking sheet or platter.

Two pork tenderloins resting on a baking sheet at room temperature.

Season the tenderloins on all sides with your favorite steak seasoning blend – I like Montreal Steak Seasoning.

Let the tenderloins rest, uncovered, on the counter for 30 minutes to allow the chill from refrigeration to escape the meat a bit.

Seasoned pork tenderloins resting on a baking sheet.

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. In a large heavy-duty skillet over medium high heat, add a good drizzle of olive oil (may substitute vegetable or canola oil, if preferred).

When the oil is nicely hot and sizzling, use tongs to transfer both of the tenderloins to the skillet, placing them into the center of the skillet but leaving room between each piece of meat.

Pork tenderloins preparing to be seared in hot oil.

Sear the tenderloins on all sides until they are deep golden brown, using your tongs to turn them in the skillet.

Two pork tenderloins searing off in a skillet.

Transfer the skillet to the preheated oven, placing it on the center oven rack.

Roast the tenderloins, uncovered, for 15-20 minutes, or just until the internal temperature of the pork at the center is 135 degrees F. when tested with an instant-read meat thermometer.

Don’t over cook the pork!

Seared pork tenderloins roasting in the oven.

Remove the skillet from the oven and cover with foil; allow the tenderloins to rest on the counter, completely covered, for 5-10 minutes, or until the internal temperature raises to 140-145 degrees as a fully finished temperature.

Pan-seared pork tenderloins in a skillet.

Transfer the pork tenderloins to a cutting board and slice into medallions about 1-inch in thickness. Serve at once!

Pork tenderloin medallions overlapping in pan juices.

CAN I COOK THE PORK TENDERLOIN RIGHT IN THE SKILLET INSTEAD OF TRANSFERRING IT TO THE OVEN TO FINISH?

Once the tenderloin is seared, you can finish cooking it right on your stovetop, if desired.

Turn the heat to medium, cover the skillet; cook the tenderloin for 10-15 minutes, or just until the internal temperature reaches 135 degrees F.

Remove the pork tenderloin from the skillet to a platter; cover with foil and let it rest for 10 minutes to allow the temperature to raise to 140-145 degrees at the center.

Slice into medallions as desired and serve.

WHY DO YOU SEAR PORK TENDERLOIN BEFORE BAKING IT IN THE OVEN?

Searing the pork tenderloin on all sides first caramelizes the exterior, ensuring two things: lots of extra flavor and a very juicy pork experience.

Please don’t skip the searing step of making pork tenderloin – it’s totally worth it!

Seasoned pork tenderloins searing in hot oil.

WHAT IS THE PERFECT INTERNAL TEMPERATURE FOR PORK? IS IT STILL 160 DEGREES F. AT THE CENTER? 

NOOOO!! The USDA says we can now safely cook all pork just until it’s 140-145 degrees F. at the center.

Pork cooked to this temperature will have a slight pink tinge to the meat and that is perfect! No more gray, overcooked, funky pork – hallelujah!

To be sure your pork is cooked to that perfect 140-145 degree temperature, you’ll need to remove it from the cooking source (grill, oven, grill pan, etc) when the pork has an internal temperature of 130-135 degrees.

Then, tent the pork with foil and let it rest. 

During this resting time, the pork will raise 5-10 more degrees in internal temperature, finishing out at that perfect 140-145 degrees F.

IS PORK TENDERLOIN THE SAME THING AS PORK LOIN?
Not at all, actually. Learn how they are completely different cuts of pork and why this is so important to know!

MORE FAVORITE MEAT RECIPES TO ENJOY

  • Cranberry Pork Tenderloin in a Skillet
  • INSTANT POT BEEF EYE OF ROUND {DELI-STYLE ROAST BEEF}
  • BEGINNER SMOKED BABY BACK RIBS {1-2-3 STYLE}
  • SAUCY BACON-WRAPPED PORK LOIN ROAST
  • HOW TO MAKE BEEF TRI TIP ROAST WITH CRISPY POTATOES
  • LAZY-BUTT BEEF SUBS (SUB SANDWICHES)
Sliced pork tenderloin in a skillet.

How to Cook Pork Tenderloin

Learn How To Cook Pork Tenderloin that turns out juicy and tender every single time. Oven roasted pork tenderloin is an easy and budget-friendly cut of pork to make for your hungry family.
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes
resting time: 30 minutes minutes
Total Time: 1 hour hour
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 183kcal

Ingredients

  • 2 pork tenderloins, 1 lb. each (these typically come two per package from the grocer)
  • Olive oil for searing the tenderloins, may substitute vegetable or canola oil
  • Your favorite steak seasoning such as Montreal Steak Seasoning

Instructions

  • Remove the packaging, then separate the tenderloins and place them onto a baking sheet or platter.
  • Season the tenderloins on all sides with your favorite steak seasoning blend – I like Montreal Steak Seasoning. Let the tenderloins rest, uncovered, on the counter for 30 minutes to allow the chill from refrigeration to escape the meat a bit.
  • Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. In a large heavy-duty skillet over medium high heat, add a good drizzle of olive oil (may substitute vegetable or canola oil, if preferred). When the oil is nicely hot and sizzling, use tongs to transfer both of the tenderloins to the skillet, placing them into the center of the skillet but leaving room between each piece of meat.
  • Sear the tenderloins on all sides until they are deep golden brown, using your tongs to turn them in the skillet.
  • Transfer the skillet to the preheated oven, placing it on the center oven rack. Roast the tenderloins, uncovered, for 15-20 minutes, or just until the internal temperature of the pork at the center is 135 degrees F. when tested with an instant-read meat thermometer. Don’t over cook the pork!
  • Remove the skillet from the oven and cover with foil; allow the tenderloins to rest on the counter, completely covered, for 5-10 minutes, or until the internal temperature raises to 140-145 degrees as a fully finished temperature.
  • Transfer the pork tenderloins to a cutting board and slice into medallions about 1-inch in thickness. Serve at once!
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: easy pork meal, easy skillet meal, how to make pork tenderloin

Nutrition

Calories: 183kcal | Protein: 35g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.03g | Cholesterol: 109mg | Sodium: 89mg | Potassium: 670mg | Calcium: 8mg | Iron: 2mg
Did you make this recipe?
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Medium rare slices of pork tenderloin.

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Filed Under: Food and Recipes, Main Dishes Tagged With: easy, meat, pork, skillet meal

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