What Is Pork tenderloin and How Can I Use It?

Here's everything worth knowing about pork tenderloin and how to pick it, what it is, how to store it, and what to use instead, plus 134 recipes to cook tonight.

Key Points

Pork tenderloin is the leanest, most tender cut: a slim muscle under the backbone.
Sear then roast at 400°F (204°C), about 20 to 25 minutes total.
Pull at 145°F (63°C), rest 5 minutes; it overcooks fast with no fat to spare.
Slice into medallions for a 15 minute pan dinner; peel off the silverskin first.
Much smaller than pork loin; swap boneless loin chops, chicken, or turkey tenderloin.

What is pork tenderloin?

Pork tenderloin is the leanest and most tender cut on the pig. It is a long, slender muscle (the psoas) that runs under the backbone and barely does any work, so it stays buttery soft.

Do not confuse it with the much larger pork loin. A tenderloin weighs only about a pound and tapers at one end.

Because it is so lean, it has almost no marbling to protect it. That is its whole story: tender to a fault, and unforgiving if you overcook it.

How to Cook It

This cut is built for fast, high heat. Sear the whole tenderloin in a hot pan to brown all sides, then finish in a 400°F (204°C) oven. The whole thing takes roughly 20 to 25 minutes, which is why it makes such a good weeknight roast.

Pull it at 145°F (63°C) and let it rest 5 minutes. The center should be faintly pink. Pork Tenderloin in Thyme White Wine Cream Sauce shows the classic move of building a pan sauce from the browned bits while the meat rests.

The other route is medallions. Slice the raw tenderloin into rounds about an inch thick, flatten them a little, then sear a couple of minutes a side. Sauteed Pork Tenderloin Medallions and Pork Tenderloin Diane both work this way and put dinner together in under fifteen minutes.

Flavor and Common Mistakes

Tenderloin is mild, so it loves a marinade or a bold glaze. Garlic, lime, mustard, soy, and honey all suit it. Grilled Garlic & Lime Pork Tenderloin with Onion Marmalade is a good example of letting an acidic marinade carry the flavor.

The mistake almost everyone makes is overcooking. With no fat to fall back on, even five extra minutes turns it dry and stringy. Use a thermometer and trust 145°F, not the clock.

The second mistake is leaving the silverskin on. That pearly membrane on the surface will not break down with heat and shrinks like a rubber band, curling the meat. Slide a knife under it and peel it off before cooking.

Substitutes

For a quick high-heat job, boneless pork loin chops are the closest swap. They are lean and cook fast, just like medallions.

Chicken breast stands in well for the same reason, since both are lean and dry out the moment they go past done. Turkey tenderloin is an even closer match in shape and texture.

If you want the flavor of pork but more forgiveness, reach for a piece of pork loin and add a few minutes. It is fattier and harder to ruin.

Buying and Storing

Look for a tenderloin that is pinkish-red and firm, moist but not sitting in liquid. Many are sold in vacuum packs, sometimes pre-marinated, which keep well unopened. A whole one runs about ¾ to 1¼ pounds.

Keep it refrigerated and cook within 3 to 5 days of the sell-by date, or freeze for up to 6 months. Once cooked, it keeps 3 to 4 days in the fridge and reheats poorly, so it is better sliced cold over a salad than blasted in the microwave.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 1 oz (28g)

Amount per Serving

Calories 33Calories from Fat 8

% Daily Value *

Total Fat 1.0g 1%

Saturated Fat 0.3g 2%

Trans Fat ~

Cholesterol 18mg 6%

Sodium 14mg 1%

Total Carbohydrate 0.0g 0%

Dietary Fiber 0g 0%

Sugars 0.0

Protein 5.9g

Vitamin A 0% Vitamin C 0%

Calcium 0% • Iron 2%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your caloric needs.

recipeland.com/nutrition

Quick facts

Where to find pork tenderloin: Pork tenderloin is usually found in the meats section or aisle of the grocery store or supermarket.

Food group: Pork tenderloin is a member of the Pork Products US Department of Agriculture nutritional food group.

In Chinese: 猪里脊肉
British (UK) term: Pork tenderloin
en français: filet de porc
en español: lomo de cerdo

How much does pork tenderloin weigh?

Amount	Weight
1 ounce	28 grams
1 lb	453 grams

Pork Products

Pork fat 40 Pork loin chops 61 Pork loin roast 89 Pork chops 215 Pork tenderloin 134 Pork shoulder 182 Pork 468 Bacon 1237 Salt pork 115 Pork ribs 148

Recipes using pork tenderloin

There are 134 recipes that contain this ingredient.

Pork Tenderloin Medallions with Elderberry Syrup & Dry-Cured Ham

Pork tenderloin medallions stuffed with dry-cured ham and a touch of elderberry syrup, then seared until juicy. A quick, elegant pork dish balancing sweet, salty, and savory in every bite.

Five Spice Pork Tenderloin with Strawberry Balsamic Sauce

not a 5-spice powder.. a different flavor in almost each bite..

Apple & Fennel Roast Pork Tenderloin with Apple Cranberry Chutney

Apple and Fennel Roast Pork Tenderloin with Apple Cranberry Chutney

Vegetable Pork Stir-Fry

Lean pork tenderloin stir-fried with mushrooms, zucchini, bell pepper, and carrots in a glossy soy-chicken broth sauce. A low-fat weeknight dinner ready in 30 minutes flat.

Pork Souvlaki

These kabobs are served with a greek pasta salad. Filling and delicious.

Oven-Roasted Pork & Vegetables

Lean pork tenderloin roasts with carrots, new potatoes, and onions in one pan. Simple weeknight dinner seasoned with rosemary and sage that's ready in under an hour.

Chinese Steamed Pork Buns

Fluffy steamed buns filled with sweet Chinese BBQ pork. These dim sum favorites take time but reward with pillowy soft dough and savory-sweet char siu filling. Makes 12 buns.

Chinese: Stir-Fry Pork & Peppers

Quick Chinese pork stir-fry with bell peppers, mushrooms and water chestnuts in five-spice marinade, finished with cornstarch-thickened sauce over rice.

Sauteed Pork Tenderloin Medallions

Excellent and very quick and easy to make. A very mild Indian style feel. The tomatoes added a tasty sauce for the tender pork medallions. Will make again.

Pork Tenderloin Diane

Juicy tender pork medallions served with classic French steak Diane sauce for pork tenderloin. This quick and easy pork tenderloin recipe is ready in about 15 minutes flat.

Grilled Garlic & Lime Pork Tenderloin with Onion Marmalade

Absolutely delicious in every way. The lime and garlic marinade works it's wonders and permeated the loin wonderfully. (We marinaded for two days :) The onion marmelade paired perfectly, it actually tasted like apples and everything was easy to prepare.

Pork Tenderloin in Thyme White Wine Cream Sauce

Perfectly cooked juicy pork tenderloin marinated in mustard and thyme served with a white wine cream sauce. This sauce is perfect for the pork and any sides such as steamed potatoes and carrots.

Pot Au Feu

Slow cooker pot au feu with moose, pork tenderloin, chicken breast, kielbasa, and root vegetables in herbed beef stock. The classic French boiled dinner adapted for the crockpot.

Amazing Marinated Pork Tenderloin Birds

Stuffed pork tenderloin birds: pounded pork loins rolled around a sage-bread stuffing, marinated in honey, soy, and cinnamon, then grilled and basted until glazed. A showstopper grill dish.

Stir-Fried Pork Tenderloin with Vegetables

Paper-thin pork tenderloin marinated in soy sauce, sherry, and ginger, then stir-fried with broccoli, mushrooms, and carrots. Lean, colorful, and on the table in 30 minutes.

Chinese Spaghetti (Frud Bee Hoon)

Stir-fried rice noodles with marinated pork, crunchy vegetables, and scrambled eggs in savory oyster sauce. This Singapore-style bee hoon is ready in about an hour.

Pork Tenderloin with Bleu Cheese Bacon Whipped Potatoes & Dri

Grilled pork tenderloin medallions with blue cheese bacon whipped potatoes and a dried cherry port wine demi-glace. A steakhouse-quality dinner with three stunning components.

La Marada

Tex-Mex tostadas with deep-fried flour tortillas piled with pork, Rotel tomatoes, refried beans, shredded cheese, lettuce, avocado, and sour cream. Family-style Southwest dinner.

Hickory Pork Tenderloin with Spicy Apple Topping

Grilled hickory-marinated pork tenderloin drizzled with a warm spiced apple topping. Sweet-smoky main dish with a cider-boosted apple pie filling sauce poured right over the sliced pork.

North Thai Tomato-&-Meat Sauce

Nam prik ong, Northern Thai tomato-pork relish with lemongrass, chilies, and dried shrimp served over sticky rice. Chiang Mai street-food staple built on fresh aromatics and pounded herbs.

Pork Tenderloin with Roasted Plums & Rosemary

Pork tenderloin seared and roasted until juicy, served with plums slow-roasted in balsamic, vanilla bean, and rosemary. A bistro-style main that reduces its own pan liquid into a glossy, sweet-tart sauce.

Pork Tenderloins with Orange Pepper Sauce

Pork tenderloin medallions pounded thin, seared golden, and finished in a bright pan sauce of shallots, black pepper, white wine, and fresh orange juice. A 40 minute bistro-style dinner.

Paprika Pork Tenderloin Sandwiches

Breaded paprika pork tenderloin sandwiches pounded thin, pan-fried crispy, and served on onion rolls. A homemade take on the Midwest pork tenderloin sandwich with a golden, crunchy crust.

Grilled, Stuffed Pork Tenderloin

Grilled stuffed pork tenderloin rolls olive tapenade through the center, sears and grills the loin, then plates with a yellow bell pepper-saffron-honey sauce. Mediterranean main dish.

Grilled Tenderloins

Jerk-rubbed grilled pork tenderloin served with dirty rice, black-eyed peas, chicken livers, and crumbled goat cheese. A bold Southern-meets-Caribbean main dish with serious depth of flavor.

Marinated Pork Strips

Marinated pork tenderloin strips in soy sauce, ginger, garlic, sugar, and sesame seeds. Roasted tender, sliced thin, and served on cocktail picks as an appetizer.

Pork Pinwheels with Roasted-Garlic Mayonnaise

Pork Pinwheels with Roasted-Garlic Mayonnaise recipe

Grilled Chili-Cumin Pork & Chicken

A smoky chili-cumin dry rub with brown sugar and garlic coats both grilled pork tenderloin and chicken breasts, sliced onto one platter with a bright orange-pineapple sauce. A make-ahead crowd-pleaser.

Jambonnette Et Les Aiguillettes De Canard Aux Myrtilles

French stuffed duck legs and sliced breast with blueberry gastrique sauce. Duck thighs filled with a veal, pork, and giblet forcemeat, served with seared aiguillettes.

Beef & Pork Tenderloin Sandwiches

Beef and pork tenderloin party sandwiches on rye with port-brandy marinade, served with endive and horseradish sauce. Cocktail party classic that feeds a crowd with elegant sliced tenderloin.

Grilled Pork Tenderloin with Steamed Asparagus

Grilled Pork Tenderloin with Steamed Asparagus recipe

Jerked Pork & Mushroom Stack

Jerked pork tenderloin seared then stacked on rice with sautéed portabello mushrooms, all drenched in a spiced cream sauce with allspice, coriander, and Worcestershire. Caribbean heat meets French technique on one plate.

Moo Grataem (Stir Fry Pork with Garlic)

Moo grataem, a Thai garlic pork stir-fry with fish sauce, sweet dark soy sauce, and fresh cilantro. Thin-sliced pork tenderloin over rice in 30 minutes flat.

Pork Sate with Peanut Dipping Sauce

Thai pork satay with peanut dipping sauce: lemongrass-marinated pork tenderloin skewers broiled fast, served with a silky peanut sauce built with lime, jalapeño, and fresh coriander.

Pork with Apples & Noodles

Pork tenderloin strips with Granny Smith apples, paprika, and tomato served over egg noodles. A savory-sweet microwave dinner ready in 35 minutes.

Orange Pork Stir-Fry

Orange pork stir-fry with tenderloin marinated in orange juice, soy sauce, ginger, and sherry. Tossed with fresh vegetables and cashews in a glossy orange sauce over rice.

Marinated Pork Kabobs

Yogurt-marinated pork kabobs with cumin, coriander, garlic, and lemon juice, grilled with bell peppers, onions, and cherry tomatoes. Marinate overnight for tender, flavorful meat.

Oriental Barbecue Pork Tenderloin

Asian-style barbecue pork tenderloin marinated in soy sauce, sesame oil, garlic, and fresh ginger, then smoked on a covered grill. Served with a sesame barbecue sauce.

Pork Tenderloin with Mustard Sauce

Microwave pork tenderloin with a tangy Dijon mustard sauce, green pepper, and onion. A quick dinner for two that's ready in about 25 minutes.

Grilled Pork Tenderloin & Apricot Salad

Grilled pork tenderloin glazed with apricot preserves, served over peppery arugula with fire-kissed stone fruit and a shallot vinaigrette. A bright summer main that balances smoky, sweet, and sharp in every forkful.

One-Skillet Pork Cashew Stir Fry

One-skillet pork cashew stir fry with tenderloin strips, carrots, green pepper, and roasted cashews in a sweet soy-brown sugar sauce. A fast weeknight dinner served over rice in 40 minutes.

Pork Tenderloin with Apples in Cider Sauce

Pork tenderloin medallions with apples braised in apple cider and white wine with sage, thyme, and sweet red onion. A French-inspired one-skillet dinner with a reduced cider pan sauce.

Pork Piccata - Wcdj16B

Pork piccata with Parmesan-crusted tenderloin medallions pan-fried in garlic butter, served with a creamy caper and lemon sauce. A quick Italian-style weeknight dinner.

Stir-Fried Pork on Lettuce

Stir-fried pork tenderloin with mushrooms and snow peas in a soy-sherry sauce, served over shredded lettuce. A light, low-carb Asian-style dinner.

Pork Kabobs with Barbecue Sauce

Pork tenderloin kabobs marinated in homemade chile barbecue sauce with molasses, jalapeños, and Dijon mustard. Broiled or grilled until juicy. Served with steamed cabbage.

Pork Spiedis

Pork spiedis from upstate New York: cubed pork tenderloin marinated overnight in tomato juice, garlic, onion, and herbs, then grilled and served wrapped in Italian bread.

Oriental Pork with Hot Mustard Sauce

Asian-style roasted pork tenderloin marinated in soy sauce, ketchup, garlic, and molasses. Sliced thin, sprinkled with toasted sesame seeds, served with sharp homemade hot mustard sauce.

Seriously Delicious Pork Tenderloin

Grilled pork tenderloin marinated in soy sauce, Worcestershire, and mustard, then cooked over indirect heat until juicy. A savory, six-ingredient marinade that turns lean pork into a tender, flavorful main.

Shredded Pork with Yellow Chives

Stir-fried shredded pork tenderloin with fragrant yellow chives, dried Chinese mushrooms, ginger, and garlic. A fast, aromatic wok dish that's on the table in 35 minutes.

Grilled Tenderloin Salad with Honey-Mustard Dressing

Grilled pork tenderloin salad with cantaloupe, fresh pineapple, Belgian endive, and toasted almonds tossed in a honey-mustard ginger dressing. A light, fruity summer main course salad.

All 134 recipes