Juicy Roasted Pork Tenderloin
- PREP 15min
- COOK 35min
- TOTAL 50min
The trick to flavorful and moist pork tenderloin is to sear the pork before roasting. In our recipe, the pork is seared and then is baked on top a bed of apples and onions. Most often, you will find that pork tenderloins are sold in packages with two tenderloins. One tenderloin should generously serve 2 people and most likely serve 3.
One note, “pork tenderloins” and “pork loin” are two different cuts of meat. Pork tenderloins are much thinner and take less time to cook.
You Will Need
2 pork tenderloins (about 1 1/2-pounds each)
2 tablespoons vegetable oil, plus more as needed
1 1/2 teaspoons salt, plus more as needed
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme leaves
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 apples, cored and sliced (we like Granny Smith, Golden Delicious or Braeburn)
2 onions, sliced
1 cup chicken stock, see our homemade chicken stock recipe
1 tablespoon butter
Directions
Prepare Pork
Heat oven to 425 degrees F. Trim each tenderloin of any silver skin (this can be tough when cooked). To do this, use a small sharp knife and slide the blade under and outward to remove it.
Pat pork dry with paper towels and then rub with one tablespoon of the oil and 1 1/2 teaspoons of salt. Heat a tablespoon of oil in a heavy-bottomed oven-safe skillet over medium heat. When the oil is hot and shimmers, add the pork tenderloins and cook, occasionally turning, until evenly browned all over; about 12 minutes. Transfer to a large plate or cutting board. (The pork will not be cooked through).
Prepare Apples and Onions
Keep the pan used to sear the pork on the stove over medium heat. Check the pan, if it looks dry, add two to three teaspoons of additional oil. (If there is fat left in the pan from cooking the pork, there is no need to add extra oil).
Add the apples and onions then cook, occasionally stirring, until lightly browned around edges, about 5 minutes. Stir in 1 teaspoon of thyme.
To Finish
Use a pastry brush (or use your fingers) to rub the seared pork all over with the mustard, 2 teaspoons of thyme, and the black pepper. Place the seared pork tenderloins on top of the apples and onions, and then slide into the oven.
Roast 10 to 15 minutes or until an internal thermometer inserted into the thickest part registers between 145 and 150 degrees F. Transfer the pork to a large plate and cover with aluminum foil. Let rest about 10 minutes.
While the pork rests, place the pan with apples and onions back onto the stove and turn heat to medium. Add chicken stock and use a wooden spoon to scrape the pan, lifting any brown bits from the bottom. Bring to a simmer and cook until reduced by half. Add butter and stir until melted.
To serve, slice pork into 1-inch slices then serve on a bed of the apples and onions with pan sauce drizzled on top.
Adam and Joanne's Tips
- Side Dish Suggestions: You cannot go wrong with the classics like Our Favorite Homemade Mashed Potatoes or Cinnamon Roasted Butternut Squash.
- Update: Some reviewers felt the apples became a little too soft in this recipe. We don’t mind it since they turn into a lovely sauce, but if you are concerned, try cooking the apples and onions separately to the pork — just use two pans. This way you can roast the pork until done, while at the same time cooking the apples and onions until you’re happy with their texture — possibly a few minutes less than stated above.
- Nutrition facts: The nutrition facts provided below are estimates. We have used the USDA Supertracker recipe calculator to calculate approximate values.
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