Spicy Grilled Pork Tenderloin Recipe | Barbara Bakes (2024)

FAQs

Is pork tenderloin better in the oven or on the grill? ›

Food52: Which cooking method gets the most flavor out of pork loin? CG: You get flavors from grilling that you don't get from roasting. Smokiness, first and foremost. Direct cooking gives a distinct char, and that char adds a lot of taste.

Sear + Roast

This cooking method is a surefire way to make moist and juicy pork tenderloin without much fuss. Searing the meat first gives it that golden-brown crust before a quick roast in the oven finishes it off. It's an easy, crowd-pleasing meal for any night of the week.

Pork tenderloin is a long, narrow, boneless cut of pork. It's quite lean, which means it's prone to drying out when overcooked—but that's not happening on our watch.

The size and structure of a tenderloin make it perfect for cooking quickly on high heat. You want to be able to brown the outside while still keeping it a little pink on the inside.

Then, cut a sheet of foil that is about twice the size of your tenderloin, and place the meat in the center of the foil. Fold up the sides of the foil to create a packet. Then, place the pork tenderloin on the grill in indirect heat and cook for about 25 minutes or until the pork is cooked through.

For the best, juiciest pork tenderloin, sear the pork on all sides in a skillet before finishing it in the oven. The spice blend you use is up to you (we love using a this steak seasoning or fresh herbs like rosemary and thyme).

Is it better to cook a pork loin at 350 or 400? Cooking a pork loin at 400°F will give a nice crust and cook it faster, reducing the risk of drying out.

Quite the opposite, actually! Pork tenderloin should be cooked quickly and then left to rest to ensure it stays tender. If you cook it too long, it will become tough and chewy.

Because of this, the USDA suggests cooking it to an internal temperature of 145 degrees Fahrenheit. This is the same temperature for every variation of pork you might choose from pork tenderloin to shoulder.

Bake the pork tenderloin until the internal temperature reaches 135°F on an instant read thermometer, about 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer to a plate, cover, and let rest at least 10 minutes (pork is considered safe to eat at 145°F, but its internal temperature will continue to rise as it rests).

Should you bring pork tenderloin to room temperature before cooking? ›

Meat juices inside can not react when we cook cold meat. We need room temperature for a juicy and tender steak. If you want to cook a tasty, delicious pork tenderloin in your oven, keeping all the flavors, you need to take it out of the refrigerator one hour before.

Step 4: Place your pork, fat side up, in your prepared pan. Step 5: Add oiled/seasoned vegetables around your pork loin to make it a complete meal. Use vegetables that require longer cook times like potatoes, squash, sweet potatoes, brussels sprouts, and carrots.

Is it ok if my pork is slightly pink? The short answer to this common question is yes! Due to the ingredients and natural preservatives found in many pork products, it's entirely possible that your meat may still be slightly pink even when it's fully cooked. In fact, pork can even be enjoyed medium-rare.

Once the pork loin roast reaches 145°F on an instant-read thermometer, remove it from the oven, and let it rest on a cutting board for 20 minutes. This gives the meat time to reabsorb all its juices. You can also brine the pork before you cook it, which ensures the meat stays tender, juicy, and well-seasoned.

Although thermometers are the best way to determine if your pork is done cooking, you can gauge the doneness of pork by the color of the juices that come out of it when you poke a hole in it with a knife or fork. If the juices that come out of the pork run clear or are very faintly pink, the pork is done cooking.

Accepted methods for cooking beef tenderloin

The food web and a great many cookbooks (very many of them highly reputable) recommend blasting a tenderloin in a hot oven, 450–500°F (232–260°C), for a relatively short time to cook it, followed by a counter rest.

The salt in the marinade is how you keep pork tenderloin from drying out on the grill.

How Long to Grill Pork Tenderloin. On a grill preheated to medium heat, the pork tenderloin should be fully cooked after about 30 minutes over indirect heat. You'll know the pork is done when an instant read thermometer inserted into the center reads at least 145 degrees F.

The Secret to Perfect Grilled Pork Tenderloin

First, sear the outsides of the pork tenderloin on the direct heat side of the grill then move it to the indirect heat side of the grill to finish cooking through. That's it!