Roasted Pork Tenderloin
This Roasted Pork Tenderloin is an easy way to prepare a lean protein for dinner that’s flavorful and pairs well with many different sides like Maple Glazed Carrots and Crispy Smashed Potatoes. It only takes 20 minutes to cook!
Anytime I see pork tenderloin on sale at the store, I always snatch it up. It’s such an easy meat to cook as the focal point of any dinner.
Pork tenderloin has gotten a little more expensive over the past 5 years, but it’s still a relatively affordable cut of meat.
Especially considering it’s trimmed up already, and there’s no excess fat to cut away.
What you get and cook is pretty much all lean protein that can be sliced and served.
Just as with beef tenderloin, pork tenderloin is a really lean cut, but relatively tender since it’s not a heavily used muscle.
Because it’s so lean, I like to flavor it with a marinade or at least with some spices, which I’ll go over further below.
One really nice thing about roasted pork tenderloin is how well it goes with many different types of sides and dishes.
I love serving it with Greek Zucchini Salad, but this Mediterranean Quinoa Salad goes really well with it too.
How to Make Roasted Pork Tenderloin:
This first step is optional, but I like to flavor the pork with a marinade or spice mix.
While you can do just salt and pepper, pork tenderloin is such a lean cut of meat that it really needs some sort of flavor.
This Pork Tenderloin Marinade has olive oil, lemon, garlic, rosemary, and Dijon mustard:
If I don’t have the time to marinade, I’ll at least rub on some Sazon Seasoning, which goes beautifully with pork.
To cook the pork, heat a large ovenproof skillet over medium high heat, then sear the pork tenderloin all over for about 3 minutes total, until golden brown:
Technically you could skip this step and just throw the pork tenderloin in the oven, but it will look a bit pale on the outside.
The searing also helps develop flavor and caramelization on the outside.
After searing, place the entire skillet into the oven. The pork will receive heat from the hot air circulating around, plus it will keep searing from the heat of the skillet.
So, I’ll flip the pork over about halfway through the oven roasting period to keep things even.
How Long to Roast Pork Tenderloin:
For the standard 1-lb or 1.25lb piece of pork tenderloin, usually no more than 10-15 minutes in a 450F oven. You want the interior temperature to reach 140F.
A thermometer (affiliate) is essential for making pork tenderloin, as it’s more difficult than other cuts of meat to go by feel. Since there’s such little fat in the meat, there’s little wiggle room for overcooking.
You can get a good thermometer for $10. I use mine all the time because I don’t like risking overcooked meat.
Once the pork has reached the target temperature of 140, remove it to a plate and let it sit for 10 minutes.
During this time, the pork will continue cooking another 5 degrees or so, and the juices will get a chance to redistribute.
If you’ve ever cut into a piece of meat right out of the oven and had all the juices come rushing out onto the plate, that’s because the meat needs a chance to rest.
Cut the pork into slices, and serve. I like to collect any of the juices from the plate and put them into a little bowl on the side for dipping. There’s so much flavor there.
Slow Cooker Pulled Pork is another one of my staple pork dishes in the house for mealtime. Enjoy!
What to Serve with Pork Tenderloin:
Can pork tenderloin be pink inside? Yes, the recommended doneness for pork is 145F, which will have pink inside. We pull the pork from the oven at 140F, and the meat continues to cook another 5 degrees, so it’s perfectly done.
Is this recipe healthy? Yes, especially if you buy pastured pork. It’s a very lean cut of protein, and it’s paleo, keto, low carb, and Whole30 compliant.
Will it shred? No, this is not the right cut to use for shredding. You want pork shoulder for that like in this Pulled Pork recipe.

Roasted Pork Tenderloin
Ingredients
- 2 pork tenderloins 2.5lbs total*
- pork tenderloin marinade ,sazon seasoning, or any other desired spices or flavorings
- salt
- pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 450F.
- Season and flavor the pork however you desire. Sometimes I do a marinade beforehand, but you can also do a quick rub with sazon seasoning, or simply sprinkle on some salt and pepper.
- Heat a large ovenproof skillet (I prefer cast iron) over medium high heat until it starts to smoke, then sear the pork on each side for about 60-90 seconds, until brown on the outside. Don't cook the pork for more than 3 minutes total on the stove.
- Place the entire skillet into the oven. Roast for 5 minutes, then flip the pork over.
- Cook for an additional 5-10 minutes, until the interior measured at the thickest part reads 140F. It will continue cooking another 5 degrees as it rests.
- Remove the pork to a plate and let it rest for 10 minutes, so the juices can redistribute throughout the meat.
- Slice into thin pieces, and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition is estimated using a food database and is only intended to be used as a guideline for informational purposes.
47 Comments on “Roasted Pork Tenderloin”
I made this recipe but had to substitute several ingredients – bottled lemon juice, jarred minced garlic, regular mustard and dried oregano for the fresh rosemary. It still came out great. My picky daughter asked for seconds and thirds! Thank you so much for your recipe and your easy to follow directions.
I used this cooking method with a preseasoned pork tenderloin and it came out amazing. My family loved it like this and it wasn’t dry as is my typical problem with pork. I will be cooking all my tenderloins like this from now on.
I’m thinking about making this tonight and am wondering if you put any oil in the pan when you sear the tenderloin. I’m using an oven safe stainless steel pan.
Thanks!
I use a cast iron skillet that’s well-seasoned, so typically no. But for stainless steel I definitely would. Enjoy!
So juicy and tender, only marinated for about 1 hour, next time will be 24 hours. Highly recommend this recipe.
So juicy and flavorful! This is my new favorite way to make pork tenderloin.
Made this for dinner and it was Wonderful!
I made this last night for dinner. It was so easy and very tasty. Mine was still pink, almost red in the middle. I cooked exactly to directions and took it out at 140. Should I have cooked it a little longer?
140 is sufficient for pork, as it will cook a little more during resting. Some people even pull it at 137. Pink in the middle is just fine so long as you check with the thermometer. Glad you enjoyed!
This looks so juicy, and not dry. Perfect for a Sunday dinner.
Both the marinade and the seasoning are wonderful! Such a good dinner!
It looks so perfect! Would love to give this a try!
This is perfectly cooked and delicious!
Beautiful meal! Taste and look!
Great recipe and tips , thanks so much
The searing makes the difference in the depth of flavor in this fantastic recipe!
Looks like it turns out perfect every time with your great tips!