This Pork Tenderloin Recipe is one of my favorite ways to make pork tenderloin in the oven! It only takes a few minutes to prep and is covered in a sweet and savory honey garlic sauce!
Love honey garlic everything? Try this Baked Honey Garlic Chicken, this Honey Garlic Salmon, this stovetop Honey Garlic Chicken recipe or this Sheet Pan Honey Garlic Chicken Dinner.
Honey and garlic is one of my favorite flavor combinations (I just can’t resist a savory recipe with a bit of sweet thrown in).
We love how quick this Pork Tenderloin Recipe is to put together! It’s made with juicy pork tenderloins that are doused in a sweet, savory, and tangy honey garlic sauce, then baked until tender, moist, and insanely flavorful.
This easy dinner recipe takes just 25 minutes to make!
Honey Garlic Pork Tenderloin Ingredients:
This Honey Garlic Pork Tenderloin Recipe is made with pantry staples, so you likely don’t even have to leave the house to whip this up!
- Pork Tenderloins: you’ll need two pork tenderloins equalling about 2-2.5 pounds. Be sure they’re both trimmed and ready to go.
- Seasoning Salt: seasoning salt is a simple way to add a ton of flavor to the pork.
- Honey, Chicken Broth, and Soy Sauce: a sweet, salty, and super flavorful base for our honey garlic sauce.
- Garlic: use freshly minced garlic for the best garlicky flavor.
- Apple Cider Vinegar: the bright, tanginess of cider vinegar cuts the sweetness from the honey.
- Cornstarch: helps thicken the honey garlic sauce.
- Red Pepper Flakes: optional, but highly recommended for a kick of heat!
How to Make Honey Garlic Pork Tenderloin Recipe in the Oven
This baked pork tenderloin recipe makes the perfect easy weeknight dinner. Check the recipe card for complete instructions.
- Prep the tenderloins: Place the tenderloins into a lightly greased 9×13″ baking dish, brush them with oil, then season with seasoning salt.
- Make the sauce: In a bowl, whisk together honey, broth, soy sauce, garlic, vinegar, salt, cornstarch, and red pepper flakes.
- Bake: Pour the sauce around the tenderloin, then bake until 140ºF.
- Drizzle the thickened sauce over the finished tenderloin.
Recipe Tips and Notes
- Check the temperature. As always, the best way to tell that meat is done is to use a meat thermometer. Pork tenderloin should be 140-145ºF!
- Don’t overcook. Since pork is a lean meat, it can dry out more easily than other types of meat. Be sure to take it out of the oven as soon as possible after it reaches 140-145ºF.
- Let it rest. Resting the meat for 10 minutes before slicing into it is the key to juicy pork.
- Stocked up on pork tenderloin? Try my Pork Tenderloin Marinade or Honey Balsamic Pork Tenderloin next!
What to serve with Pork Tenderloin:
This Honey Garlic Pork Tenderloin are delicious over a pile of Baked Rice or Instant Pot Jasmine Rice and with a side of roasted vegetables. I love Green Beans with Bacon, Honey Glazed Carrots, or this Easy Broccoli Salad for a prep ahead option.
We always have to have basket of Mom’s Homemade Buns or a slice of No Knead Artisan Bread too!
Honey Garlic Pork Tenderloin Recipe
written by Ashley Fehr
Ingredients
- 2 pork tenderloins,, trimmed (1-1¼ lbs each)
- 1 teaspoon oil
- 1 teaspoon seasoning salt
- ⅔ cup honey
- ½ cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
- 6 cloves garlic, (finely minced)
- 1½ tablespoons cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼-½ teaspoon red chili flakes
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400℉. Lightly grease a 9×13" baking dish.
- Place the pork in the prepared baking dish, brush with oil, and season all over with seasoning salt.
- In a bowl, whisk together the honey, broth, soy sauce, garlic, cornstarch, vinegar, salt, and chili flakes (use more or less according to your tastes). Pour the sauce around pork in the dish.
- Bake, uncovered, for 15 to 20 minutes, until a meat thermometer inserted into the pork reaches 140°F.
- Remove from the oven, cover, and let rest for 10 minutes.
- Slice the pork and serve with the sauce.
Video
Notes
- Size matters: this recipe will not work with a pork loin which is much larger and requires a longer cook time. In the time it takes the loin to cook, the sauce will burn. If your tenderloins are larger than 1.25 pounds each, you may want to add the sauce for the last 15-20 minutes of cook time.
- Check the temp. As always, the best way to tell that meat is done is to use a meat thermometer. Pork chops should be 140-145ºF!
- Don’t over-cook. Since pork is a lean meat, it can dry out more easily than other types of meat. Be sure to take it out of the oven as soon as possible after it reaches 140-145ºF.
- Let it rest. Resting the meat for 10 minutes before slicing into it is the key to juicy pork.
- Slow cooker: you can make this recipe in the slow cooker! Simply add the tenderloins and sauce and cook on low for 3 hours or until done.
- Pork loin: I don’t recommend pork loin for this recipe because they are so much larger and require so much more bake time. If you want to serve the sauce with a pork loin you are cooking, simply simmer it on the stove top until thickened.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Tag @thereciperebelWhat temperature should I cook pork tenderloin?
I find 400ºF to be the perfect temperature for baking pork tenderloin. It’s hot enough that it can brown on top, but not so hot that it burns before the insides are tender and juicy.
How long to roast pork tenderloin:
Mine usually cook all the way through in anywhere from 15-20 minutes, but this depends on the thickness of the tenderloins you’re using. The best way to tell if your pork tenderloin recipe is done is to use a meat thermometer. Check at 15 and add time as needed until they reach 140ºF.
How to store pork tenderloin:
Leftover Baked Pork Tenderloin will last in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days or in the freezer for 4-6 months. To reheat, thaw overnight in the fridge if frozen, then warm either in the microwave or in the oven until heated through.
Can I use pork loin for this recipe?
The short answer is no, because a pork loin is so much larger and the cook times will be way off.
If you do try it, you may want to leave the honey garlic sauce off until the last 20 minutes of bake time so that it doesn’t burn.
Can I use chicken in this recipe?
If you’re looking to use chicken breasts instead of pork tenderloin, I recommend checking out my Crock Pot Honey Garlic Chicken or Honey Garlic Chicken recipes.
Can I make this pork tenderloin recipe in the crockpot?
Absolutely! Check out my Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Pork Tenderloin recipe for all the details.
Jill says
Pretty tasty! Followed recipe, sauce did not thicken – my tenderloins may have been a bit thicker, so they took about 10 minutes longer to reach temperature – very tender. Served it with rice and green beans. Everyone wound up spooning some of the sauce over both the rice and green beans. Truly the sign of a good flavor!
The Recipe Rebel says
Hi Jill! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
Anna says
I’ve made this recipe a few times now. I make it with an Asian inspired bok choy and mashed potatoes and I double the sauce. It’s amazing!!
The Recipe Rebel says
Hi Anna! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this review!
Keith Hammond says
WOW! OK, I “never” measure ingredients… it’s a taste thing. Also, I have a family member that requires me to sneak soy sauce into things. I did not have apple cider vinegar, but subbed in Balsamic, lemon juice, chicken stock and white vinegar. Red Pepper flakes were a great add, and the fresh garlic also, minimal honey used as the corn starch would act as a thickening binder.
I actually basted 30 minutes in, smelled amazing (so I tasted it:-))
15 minutes later, pulled from the oven to allow it to rest, and to start the water for pilaf… took the dogs for a quick walk, and by the time I returned my wife and daughter had already eaten half of it!!
“What is this?” my daughter asked… “…it’s amazing…”
So good job!
The Recipe Rebel says
Hi Keith! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this review!
Larine Kwolek says
This is delicious. I’ve tried many pork tenderloin recipes but the flavor never seems to get into the pork leaving a bland dish. This was super easy to put together and the sauce made the dish. Followed directions exactly except I used less honey, (I ran out). The pork was so tender. I did use the hot peppers and I recommend adding them, gave a little zing without overpowering the sauce. Served over rice pilaf. Love that it’s one pan too. Thank you! A definite keeper
The Recipe Rebel says
HI Larine! So glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for this kind review!
Michelle says
Could this be made in a crockpot
The Recipe Rebel says
Hi Michelle! I haven’t tried it myself, but other readers have with great success. If you decide to experiment, let me know how it goes!
Barb Merrill says
This was delicious! The meat was very tender. I seared it before I baked in the oven. Next time, I would reduce the honey to 1/4 -1/2 cup.
The Recipe Rebel says
Hi Barb!! So glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for this kind review!
Susan says
Fantastic! Took 40 minutes to cook but it was so worth the wait! Tender and juicy and that sauce…OMG!!!
The Recipe Rebel says
Hi Susan! So glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for this kind review!
Susan says
Baking it now…so far so good!
Sherry says
I am NOT a cook and even I was able to pull this off. It was delicious. Im making it now for my second time!
The Recipe Rebel says
Makes me so happy to hear! Thank you Sherry!
Susan Dewey says
Sounded so good, because we love all the ingredients, but this was not for my family – the honey/soy sauce tasted off. Perhaps it was the proportion or type of honey (although I just used basic honey.). Glad others enjoyed it.
The Recipe Rebel says
I’m sorry to hear you didn’t enjoy it Susan.
lucille bedard says
5 stars It was excellent. my family loved it.
The Recipe Rebel says
Hi Lucille! So glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for this kind review!
Trixie says
Yay! Haven’t tried it yet, but I’ve been making my pork roast the same way for forever, and it looks like a great recipe to mix things up! Thank you!
The Recipe Rebel says
Hope you enjoy it Trixie!
Donna says
Hi, I’m wondering if I could make this with just one tenderloin instead of two. It’s just my husband and me and 2 would be to much. What do you recommend? Would there be any changes in the amount of ingredients and better to bake or crock pot. Thank you in advance.
The Recipe Rebel says
Hi Donna! Maybe just try halving the recipe. I haven’t tried it myself, so I am not completely sure.
Jessica says
I halved it tonight and it worked perfectly.
The Recipe Rebel says
Thanks for the feedback Jessica!
Stephanie says
Great flavors but I substituted 3 Tbsp all-purpose flour for the cornstarch and I think that was a mistake. The sauce came out so thick it was no longer a sauce consistency, more like a paste and it burned a bit on the edges after 15 min (and the pork wasn’t even done yet). What else can I use to thicken the sauce instead of cornstarch? But the meat itself came out perfectly! So tender 🙂
The Recipe Rebel says
Hi Stephanie, you will need to use either cornstarch or flour. Maybe just try to use less flour.
Bethieallyn says
Stephanie, I used tapioca starch and presume very similar results
The Recipe Rebel says
Thanks for the feedback!
cathy G says
Made this today since I needed a quick meal. My husband whom is not a rice lover raved about how good this pork loin was and even liked the rice. I will definitely make it again.
The Recipe Rebel says
Hi Cathy! So glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for this review!
LuAnn says
Was very tasty! Next time I would put foil in the bottom of the pan. Once the sauce cooks down it’s very sticky and once it hardens, pretty tough to clean up. It did take longer than 15-20 minutes at 400, but worth the wait.
Mine came out a bit salty so I would reduce that a bit. I wish I had seared the filet first as I think it would have improved the flavor, but overall a winner and I will make it again. Thank you for posting the recipe.
The Recipe Rebel says
Thanks for the feedback LuAnn!
Ray says
Definitely NOT 15-20 minutes but still good
The Recipe Rebel says
Sorry to hear you had trouble with the recipe, Ray. The timing has worked well for myself (and others) so I wished it would of been a hit for you too. Glad you still enjoyed it!
Merrill says
Tastes yummy, but I had to cook it for 50 minutes at 400 degrees.
The Recipe Rebel says
Thanks for the feedback Merrill!
Paige Rock says
Awesome recipe! It was SO easy to make and incredibly tasty. My family loves it….I will definitely be making this yummy recipe again!
Thank you so much for sharing 😊
The Recipe Rebel says
Hi Paige! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
Gina Marie says
I use something like this sauce on many other things so I knew this would be easy inspiration. I used salt, pepper, onion and garlic powder to season meat..heated a dash of oil in the cast iron. Seared on all sides getting it the nice flavorful crust…put the tenderloin in the oven and made the sauce. The adjust ingredients I did : I used 1 tablespoon rice vinegar instead of apple..added 3 tablespoons of soy, 2 tablespoons garlic, 1 tablespoon grated ginger, 1 teaspoon high quality sesame oil and the rest of the ingredients listed..half way through I poured the sauce in the cast iron and Stirred it around the meat..pulled out of oven sliced the meat put it on top of rice and drizzled the sauce everyone loved it
The Recipe Rebel says
Glad you enjoyed it Gina!
jill says
Sounds like a different recipe to me. Did you try it as originally posted? Your thoughts on that recipe would be very helpful!