This grilled pork tenderloin is soaked in a garlic and herb marinade, then cooked on the grill under caramelized and tender. A quick and easy meal option that pairs well with a variety of side dishes!
It’s grilling season, and when the weather is warm, you can find me outside cooking up some grilled shrimp, grilled salmon or this fabulous grilled pork loin.
Pork tenderloin is such a versatile cut of meat – it’s tender, easy to cook and full of flavor. One of my favorite ways to prepare this cut of meat is with this grilled pork tenderloin recipe. The savory marinade can’t be beat!
How do you make grilled pork tenderloin?
The first step to make grilled pork tenderloin is to bring out the flavor of the pork with a marinade. All you need to do is place the pork in a resealable bag with a mixture of olive oil, honey, Dijon mustard, soy sauce, lemon zest, lemon juice, parsley, thyme, salt, pepper and garlic.
To cook the tenderloin, heat a grill to medium heat and cook the pork for 15-18 minutes. Be sure to turn the pork occasionally to cook the meat evenly. Let the meat rest for 5 minutes, then garnish with parsley and serve.
Tips for grilled pork tenderloin
- This marinade can be made up to 3 days before you plan to use it. Simply store the marinade in the fridge until you’re ready to add your pork.
- You can really use any cut of pork for this marinade such as bone in pork chops, boneless pork chops or pork shoulder.
- This marinade contains a little bit of honey which adds great flavor, but can easily burn. Make sure your grill or pan is not overly hot before you add your meat, and be sure to turn it frequently!
HOW LONG DO YOU MARINATE PORK TENDERLOIN?
Pork loin should be marinated for a minimum of one hour. I recommend marinating your meat for a longer period of time for the best flavor. I try to let my pork marinate for at least 6-8 hours.
What is the difference between a pork loin and a pork tenderloin?
Pork loin and pork tenderloin are two different cuts of meat. Both are from muscles on the pig’s back. However, the pork loin is a large, wide cut that runs between the shoulder and the leg. The loin can be broken down in to several cuts of meat such as the center loin chop or the top loin roast. The typical “loin” in the supermarket is the top loin roast which may or may not have a layer of fat on top depending on how it was cut.
The tenderloin is a specific muscle that is part of the loin. Tenderloin is a round and long piece of meat cut from the rear of the loin under the backbone. Tenderloin is unique in that it is a very tender, boneless cut with very little fat. Pork tenderloin is more expensive than pork loin due to its smaller size and popularity.
WHAT TEMPERATURE SHOULD PORK BE COOKED TO?
Pork tenderloin should be cooked to an internal temperature of 145 degrees F. The easiest way to check if your pork is done is to insert a thermometer into the thickest part of the meat. Once you’ve reached the correct temperature, remove the pork from the grill and let it rest for 5 minutes before you slice it.
Pork tenderloin is a delicious cut of meat that is perfect for grilling. With this fabulous and flavorful marinade, you can make a grilled pork tenderloin that is perfect for anything from dinner parties to everyday meals.
More great pork recipes
- Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Pork Chops
- Smoked Pork Chops
- Stuffed Pork Chops
- Slow Cooker Pork Tenderloin
- Mushroom Pork Chops
Grilled Pork Tenderloin
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 pounds pork tenderloin
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 2 1/2 tablespoons honey
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon parsley leaves chopped, plus more for garnish
- 1 tablespoon thyme leaves chopped
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
Instructions
- Place the pork tenderloin in a bowl or resealable gallon sized bag.
- In a medium sized bowl, whisk together the olive oil, honey, Dijon mustard, soy sauce, lemon zest, lemon juice, parsley, thyme, salt, pepper and garlic.
- Pour the marinade over the meat. Marinate for at least 1 hour, or up to 8 hours.
- Preheat a grill to medium heat. Place the pork on the grill. Cook for 15-18 minutes, turning occasionally, until the interior of the pork registers 145 degrees F on a meat thermometer.
- Let the meat rest for 5 minutes. Top with additional parsley, then slice and serve.
Nutrition
This is the BEST pork tenderloin and is a summer staple at our house. The flavors are wonderful and the pork is super moist. We’ve tried many recipes from Dinner at the Zoo and all are exceptional.
Super easy and quick. Everyone loved this. Make sure you rest meat and then mop up the resulting juices!
The meat came out so tender and flavorful! Great recipe!
Such a fantastic cut of meat! Can’t wait to toss this onto the grill for dinner tonight! Looks beautifully delicious!
My family absolutely loved this pork loin!
Omg, mouthwatering. I am literally goign to crave tenderloin until I make it! The color of the outside is so pretty.
So juicy and full of flavor! Love this recipe.
Pork tenderloin is one of my favorite meals! The marinade is full of flavor and perfect for dinner!
I couldn’t agree more, pork tenderloin is tender, easy to cook and full of flavor. I love your version of grilled pork tenderloin and I’m adding it to our summer menu.
I think I just heard my tummy growl. lol! Must print the recipe.
I really like that marinade and will have to try that this week. Glad I came across this recipe because I had pork tenderloin on hand and needed some inspo for it
Thanks for all the tips. This sounds like a good option for an upcoming dinner party.
A lovely summer recipe. Perfect with some potatoes and salad.