This Easy Pork tenderloin recipe is made in the oven, slightly browned, and made crisp on the skillet prior to keeping all the juicy flavors inside the meat, exactly like a good cut of pork should taste like.
This a very easy recipe that is served with homemade lingonberry sauce or this delicious semi-sweet and tart Cranberry Sauce With Mandarin Oranges to turn your dinner into a festive one.
There is a skip-to-recipe button in the top left corner along with a clickable table of contents list (just below) that will quickly take you to the part you are more interested in. Enjoy!
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Check out our full Christmas recipe list over here.
Pork is a delicious and healthy alternative to beef. Not only is it super lean, but it’s also unbelievably and naturally juicy and tender.
You don’t need to do much here, a bit of salt and pepper is a good start. But what really transforms the tenderloin (either fried or cooked in the oven) into a festive meal is the right marinade and sauce.
I really love my lingonberries and love to serve the pork with this sauce or another alternative, cranberry sauce.
Is pork tenderloin healthy?
If you’re looking for a healthy dinner recipe besides chicken then pork is a great choice.
Pork tenderloin is one of the healthiest cuts of pork and is just as lean as boneless, skinless chicken breast.
Most cuts have a really small amount of fat and also provide protein, vitamin B6, riboflavin, thiamine, phosphorus, and niacin.
Easy Pork Tenderloin Recipe
For this recipe, you'll need 3 things: pork, marinade and lingonberry sauce for serving.
In total you'll need 8 ingredients + sauce:
- pork tenderloin from Kurobuta Pork" target="_blank" aria-label="Snake River Farms (opens in a new tab)" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="ek-link">Snake River Farms
- sea salt
- black ground pepper
- garlic powder
- cumin
- thyme dried
- smoked paprika powder
- olive oil
- lemon juice
How to make Pork Tenderloin With Lingonberry sauce
STEP 1
- Preheat oven to 400 F.
- Meanwhile, prepare tenderloin. Trim off the fat (white part) with a large sharp knife.
- Poke with a fork all over the tenderloin.
STEP 3
- In a mixing bowl, whisk together all spices and 1 tablespoon of olive oil.
- Pour the mixture over the pork and rub to coat evenly.
STEP 4
- Heat a large pan over medium heat with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, add pork tenderloin and cook on both sides until golden brown and slightly crispy outside (cooking this way will ensure that all meat juices remain inside the meat).
- About 5-6 minutes.
STEP 5
- Transfer to a baking dish or sheet lined with parchment paper and set timer for 8 minutes.
- After 8 minutes of baking, flip the tenderloin and bake for an extra 8 minutes.
- To check the meat for doneness use a thermometer - the right temperature we are looking for is 150 F.
STEP 6
- When meat ready, take out of the oven, and let the meat rest for 10-15 minutes.
- Use the same baking dish or transfer to a cutting board.
Done! You are ready to serve this yummy juicy and tender pork!
For serving slice the meat to desired thickness and place in a sharing dish or individual plates. Pour over some homemade lingonberry sauce, barbecue sauce or cranberry sauce.
This pork tenderloin recipe makes about 4 portions depending on the chosen side dish.
Note: If by any chance, you’ll have some leftovers (I know, barely possible but still!!) you can use the meat in tacos, wraps, and your favorite sandwiches. Yummy!
Serving Suggestions
I like to serve this pork tenderloin with simple garnishes such as mashed potatoes, air fryer fingerling potatoes, cauliflower, asparagus, steamed veggies (broccoli and green beans especially good), or a side salad.
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I hope you'll enjoy this easy and festive pork tenderloin with berry sauce!
Thank you for reading,
Julia
Pork Tenderloin With Lingonberry Sauce
INGREDIENTS
- 1 ½ lb pork tenderloin
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- ½ teaspoon black ground pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon thyme dried
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika powder
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
INSTRUCTIONS
- Preheat oven to 400 F.
- Meanwhile, prepare tenderloin. Trim off the fat (white part) with a large sharp knife.
- Poke with a fork all over the tenderloin.
- In a mixing bowl, whisk together all spices and 1 tablespoon of olive oil.
- Pour the mixture over the pork and rub to coat evenly.
- Heat a large pan over medium heat with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, add pork tenderloin and cook on both sides until golden brown and slightly crispy outside (cooking this way will ensure that all meat juices remain inside the meat). About 5-6 minutes.
- Transfer to a baking dish or sheet lined with parchment paper and set timer for 8 minutes.
- After 8 minutes of baking, flip the tenderloin and bake for an extra 8 minutes. To check the meat for doneness use a thermometer - the right temperature we are looking at is 150 F.
- When meat ready, take out of the oven, and let the meat rest for 10-15 minutes. Use the same baking dish or transfer to a cutting board.
- For serving slice the meat to desired thickness and place in a sharing dish or individual plates. Pour over some homemade lingonberry sauce, barbecue sauce or cranberry sauce.
- Done! You are ready to serve this yumminess!
NOTES
PRIVATE NOTES
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)
Mario
I followed this recipe to a T and it came out absolutely delicious! The tenderloin was super flavorful, tender, and juicy. I served it with lingonberries which really complimented the tenderloin. This would be great for a dinner party!
Julia | The Yummy Bowl
Thank you so much Mario!