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Home ยป Ketogenic Recipes

How to Cook a Pork Tenderloin in the Oven

Published: Jan 10, 2023 ยท Modified: Jan 12, 2023 by Madalaine ยท This post may contain affiliate links ยท

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How to cook a pork tenderloin in the oven is easy to do and produces a moist succulent dinner easy enough for a weeknight dinner and tasty enough for a dinner party.

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Pork Tenderloin vs. Pork Loin

Getting the right cut of meat is paramount. These are two entirely different cuts of meat.

A pork tenderloin comes from along the backbone and is a boneless cut about 8 inches long and about 2 inches in diameter. The loin is also a cut of pork from the back but can be boneless or bone-in and is a wider flatter cut of meat.

How to Cook Pork Tenderloin Recipe

Pork has a tendency to be dry since it's a lean cut of meat. In other words, it has very little fat to keep it moist. Using a marinade and a quick roasting method are two ways to make sure you get tender pork in every bite.

This savory cherry sauce doubles as a marinade and a sauce. It's tart with a slightly sweet edge and balanced with red wine and fresh herbs.

Ingredients

Pork Tenderloin

  • 1 boneless pork loin 2 lbs
  • 2 teaspoons salt coarse kosher
  • 3 fresh thyme sprigs
  • 1 fresh rosemary 6-inch piece

Cherry Sauce/Marinade

  • 1 cup dried cherries
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 shallot minced
  • 1 cup chicken stock
  • ยฝ cup red wine vinegar
  • ยฝ cup aged balsamic vinegar
  • ยผ cup orange juice
  • salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions

Make the Cherry Marinade/Sauce

  1. In a small saucepan, simmer all marinade ingredients for 10 minutes.  If it reduces down too much, add more chicken stock.  You should have at least 1 ยฝ cups of marinade.
  2. Let the marinade cool and blend in a blender until smooth.

Marinate Pork

  1. Rub the tenderloin with salt.
  2. Put the salt-rubbed pork and marinade in a zip lock for at least 1 hour and up to overnight.

Roast Pork Tenderloin

  1. Preheat oven to 475ยบF.
  2. Put the pork in a roasting pan or baking dish fat side up. Top with thyme and rosemary sprigs.
  3. Pour the marinade into a saucepan over medium to high heat and reduce by ยฝ.
  4. Pour the marinade over the pork tenderloin.
  5. Roast the marinaded covered pork in the oven for 10 minutes at 475โ„‰ uncovered.
  6. Turn the temperature down to 350ยบF and roast at the lower temperature for 20 minutes per pound. The internal temperature should reach 145ยบF with an instant-read thermometer.
  7. Remove from oven and tent with tin foil for 10 minutes.  
  8. Slice thinly and serve.

How to Cook Pork Tenderloin Notes:

Rubbing the pork with salt seasons the meat and helps draw the moisture from the center so every bite is succulent and juicy. If you want extra flavor add 1 teaspoon of both onion powder and garlic powder to the salt rub.

When checking the temperature of the tenderloin, insert a meat thermometer in the center at the thickest part about halfway through the meat.

Frequently Asked Questions About Pork Tenderloin

How Long Do I Cook Pork Tenderloin in the Oven?

Cook the tenderloin at a high temperature (at least 400โ„‰) for 10 minutes. Then lower the temperature to 350โ„‰ and continue to roast the meat for 20 minutes per pound.

How Do I Brown Pork Tenderloin Before Cooking It?

Roasting it in the oven at a high temperature browns the meat and locks in flavor.

You can also brown it in a pan on the stove prior to marinating it. If you do, make sure the meat is rubbed with salt and dry. The oil in the pan should be very hot as well before you place the tenderloin in it.

Why do I have to let it rest after cooking?

If you cut into any meat immediately after cooking it, most of its juices will run out of it. Letting the meat rest, for at least 10 minutes, allows the juices to retreat back into the heart of the meat a settle in. This will ensure every piece you cut into will be moist and juicy.

Variations

Pork chops with cherry sauce: Use this same recipe but replace the tenderloin with 4 to 6 pork chops. Season the meat with salt and brown them in a pan on the stove with 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Then marinate them in the sauce for a least 1 hour. Finish them off in the oven at 350โ„‰ for 20 minutes.

What To Serve With Pork Tenderloin

These are all wonderful sides to serve with pork tenderloin with a savory cherry sauce. Since the cherry sauce has a slightly sweet edge to it, stay away from sweet vegetable sides like baked sweet potatoes or honey-glazed carrots.

  • Braised Asparagus and Tomatoes
  • Almond Green Beans
  • Black Beans and Rice
  • Garlic Parmesan Salad
  • Garlic Puff Pastry Breadsticks
Pork Tenderloin with Cherry Marinade - A little sweet and a whole lot savory, slow roasted for tender moist succulent pork. | www.lakesidetable.com
5 from 2 votes
Print

Pork Tenderloin with Cherry Sauce

A little sweet and a whole lot savory, slow roasted for tender moist succulent pork. | www.lakesidetable.com
Course Main Course, Sauce
Cuisine American
Keyword cherry, fruit, pork
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Marinate Time 1 hour
Servings 8 servings
Calories 437 kcal
Author Madalaine

Ingredients

  • 1 boneless pork loin 2 lbs
  • 2 teaspoons salt coarse kosher
  • 3 fresh thyme sprigs
  • 1 fresh rosemary 6-inch piece

Cherry Marinade

  • 1 cup dried cherries
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 shallot minced
  • 1 cup chicken stock
  • ยฝ cup red wine vinegar
  • ยฝ cup aged balsamic vinegar
  • ยผ cup orange juice
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt

Instructions

Make the Marinade

  1. In a small saucepan, simmer all marinade ingredients for 10 minutes. ย If it reduces down too much, add more chicken stock. ย You should have at least 1 ยฝ cups of marinade.

  2. Let the marinade cool and blend in a blender until smooth.

Marinate

  1. Rub the tenderloin with salt.

  2. Put the salt rubbed pork and marinade in a zip lock for at least 1 hour and up to over night.

Roast

  1. Preheat oven to 475ยบF.
  2. Put pork in a roasting pan fat side up. Top with thyme and rosemary sprigs.

  3. Pour marinade in sauce pan over medium to high heat and reduce by ยฝ.
  4. Pour the marinade over pork tenderloin.

  5. Roast the marinaded covered pork in the oven for 10 minutes at 475โ„‰ uncovered.

  6. Turn the temperature down to 350ยบF and roast at the lower temperature for 20 minutes per pound. The internal temperature should reach 145ยบF.

  7. Remove from oven and tent with tin foil for 10 minutes. ย 

  8. Slice thinly and serve.

Nutrition Facts
Pork Tenderloin with Cherry Sauce
Amount Per Serving
Calories 437 Calories from Fat 99
% Daily Value*
Fat 11g17%
Saturated Fat 3g19%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
Monounsaturated Fat 4g
Cholesterol 173mg58%
Sodium 444mg19%
Potassium 1090mg31%
Carbohydrates 16g5%
Fiber 2g8%
Sugar 11g12%
Protein 63g126%
Vitamin A 575IU12%
Vitamin C 5mg6%
Calcium 38mg4%
Iron 2mg11%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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Comments

  1. Hilario Pena says

    November 24, 2018 at 11:46 am

    5 stars
    5 stars.

5 from 2 votes (2 ratings without comment)
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