This Instant Pot Honey Garlic Pork Tenderloin and Potatoes is an easy one pot meal made with SIX ingredients and just 5 minutes prep! The honey garlic sauce is perfectly sweet and savory.
There’s nothing better than a filling, family-friendly meal made with minimal effort and this recipe for Instant Pot Honey Garlic Pork Tenderloin and Potatoes hits all the right flavor notes.
Don’t let the generous quantity of garlic called for in the recipe deter you — the addition of honey and apple cider vinegar balances out the punch from the garlic. You might even find this sauce making a regular appearance whenever pork or chicken are on the menu.
Need some inspiration? My recipes for Juicy Instant Pot Chicken Breast or Slow Cooker Chicken Breast are natural pairings for this versatile honey garlic sauce.
The best part about this super-simple Instant Pot recipe for Honey Garlic Pork Tenderloin and Potatoes?
It’s a one-pot meal! The potatoes are cooked alongside the tenderloin so clean-up is minimal — and who doesn’t love that?
Looking for more easy dinner ideas? Check out my ongoing Six Ingredient Supper series for more recipes and inspiration! I share a new Six Ingredient Supper every Monday (like this one!) and we have an ongoing monthly giveaway and cooking challenge in my Facebook group.
If you’re already a fan of my Instant Pot Pork Tenderloin with Garlic Herb Rub or Crock Pot Pork Tenderloin with Cranberry Sauce you’re definitely going to want to give this incredibly tasty pork tenderloin recipe a try.
I love to make this for my family on busy weeknights, it’s also wonderful when served with a green salad and wild rice if you’re entertaining on the weekend!
What’s the difference between pork tenderloin and pork loin?
When it comes to pork tenderloin and pork loin the only thing that links them is a similar-sounding name and the fact that they come from the same animal.
Understandingly, this can be confusing for home cooks when they’re grocery shopping. Luckily, I’m here to set the record straight!
Pork tenderloin is sometimes labelled as a pork filet or a pork tender and, contrary to its name, it’s a muscle that is located beside the backbone of a pig. Pork tenderloins are boneless and on the small side, typically weighing between ¾ and 1 ½ pounds.
Pork tenderloin is well-known for its lean white meat, tender texture and relatively quick cooking time.
Pork loin, also known as a center cut pork loin roast, is a large piece of meat taken from the animal’s back. If you’ve ever had a Frenched rack or crown roast of pork it would have been cut from a pork loin.
This recipe is written only for pork tenderloin.
Because of the similarity in name, double-check that you’ve purchased a pork tenderloin and not a pork loin. A pork loin can weigh anywhere from 2 to 5 pounds and will take significantly longer to pressure cook because of its size.
How to cook pork tenderloin in the Instant Pot:
Cooking pork tenderloin in the Instant Pot practically guarantees amazing results. The following tips will ensure tender, juicy pork every time.
- Sear the pork tenderloin first: Searing the pork tenderloin involves browning the tenderloin using the saute function of your Instant Pot. Rub the halved tenderloin with oil, salt, and pepper before adding it to the pot. Give the pork tenderloin lots of room for the best result, you might have to work in two batches if cooking more than one tenderloin at a time.
- Don’t overcook the pork tenderloin: Using the pressure cooker function of your Instant Pot will help prevent your pork tenderloin from accidentally overcooking. If in doubt, use a meat thermometer — pork tenderloin should be cooked to at least 145° F.
- Make sure you have enough liquid in your Instant Pot: A 6-quart Instant Pot should have a minimum of 1 cup of liquid while an 8-quart Instant pot should have a minimum of 2 cups.
What kind of potatoes can I use in this recipe?
Small Creamer potatoes, baby potatoes and new potatoes (which have a sweeter flavour) are all excellent potatoes to cook in your pressure cooker Larger potatoes should be cut into smaller pieces — but not too small! You might be surprised how quickly they cook in the Instant Pot.
The main concern is uniformity — similar-sized potatoes will cook at the same speed while randomly-sized potatoes can vary in terms of doneness.
If you can’t get enough Instant Pot Potatoes try my recipe for Garlic Herb Instant Pot Potatoes!
How to store leftover Instant Pot pork tenderloin:
Leftover Instant Pot Honey Garlic Pork Tenderloin and Potatoes can be stored for up to 3-4 days in the fridge. Keep the leftover tenderloin in a sealed container or in foil.
You can freeze leftover pork tenderloin for up to six months by tightly wrapping it in plastic or foil. Store in a freezer bag or sealed freezer-safe container for best results. Potatoes do not freeze well and I don’t recommend storing them this way.
Allow frozen cooked pork tenderloin to thaw in the fridge for at least five hours before using.
How to use leftover Instant Pot pork tenderloin:
If you have leftover honey garlic pork tenderloin don’t worry, there are plenty of creative ways to repurpose this versatile recipe!
- Add thinly sliced pork tenderloin to sandwiches and grilled cheese sandwiches (it’s especially tasty paired with a smoked aged cheddar).
- Cube the pork tenderloin and add it to a crunchy apple, broccoli, and walnut salad with greens.
- Make pork tenderloin tacos! Add shredded or sliced pork to warm soft tacos and top with all your favorite taco fixings.
- Make a clean-out-the-fridge stir fry on a hectic weeknight. Stir fry the veggies and warm the leftover pork tenderloin with the sauce.
Check out more meal-in-one Instant Pot recipes:
- Instant Pot Swedish Meatballs and Noodles
- Instant Pot Potato Corn Chowder
- Instant Pot Italian Chicken Pasta
- Honey Balsamic Instant Pot Beef Stew
Instant Pot Honey Garlic Pork Tenderloin and Potatoes
written by Ashley Fehr
Ingredients
- 1 pork tenderloin, trimmed (1-1.5lb)
- salt and pepper
- 1 lb Creamer or baby potatoes (about 15-20) large ones halved
Honey Garlic Sauce
- 2/3 cup liquid honey
- 1/2 cup water
- 2 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons minced garlic
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
- corn starch and water, equal parts *optional
Instructions
- Heat Instant Pot (mine is a 6 quart) on saute and spray with non stick spray.
- Cut your pork tenderloin in half crosswise, rub with oil, then season with salt and pepper.
- Cook on saute just until browned on both sides, about 2 minutes per side.
- Remove pork from the Instant Pot and turn off.
- Whisk together the sauce: honey, water, soy sauce, garlic, vinegar, salt and pepper. Pour into the Instant Pot and scrape the bottom to remove any stuck on bits of pork.
- Add the pork back into the Instant Pot with the sauce.
- Drizzle potatoes with a small amount of oil and season with salt and pepper. Add potatoes to Instant Pot: you can place them on the trivet or in a steamer basket if you want to keep them separate from the pork, but this is not necessary.
- Put the lid on, turn the valve to sealing and select Manual or Pressure Cook on High Pressure, and set the cook time to 2 minutes.
- It will take about 15 minutes for the Instant Pot to come to pressure and begin counting down. When the cook time is up, turn the Instant Pot off and let the pressure release naturally for 12-14 minutes.
- Open the valve and remove the lid. Remove the pork from the Instant Pot and slice to serve with potatoes and sauce.
- OPTIONAL: to thicken the sauce, combine equal parts corn starch and water in a small bowl. Add to the sauce in the Instant Pot, turn to Saute and bring to a boil to thicken. Serve.
Notes
Nutrition Information
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Wilma says
Love the recipe but found it to be a little sweet next time I will cut the honey in half
The Recipe Rebel says
Hi Wilma! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this review!
Donna says
Just made this & added some sesame broccoli that I sautéed in a skillet & then added it after everything was cooked…I seasoned the pork with some Franks Stingin’ Honey Garlic seasoning….it was delicious!!!! 😊
Barrie says
I just made this tonight after taking out a Pork Tenderloin and had no idea what to do with it. I found this on Pinterest and had everything to make it, so that’s w what I went with! It was so simple and so perfect. Not too sweet, not too salty. I didn’t have “creamer” potatoes, but I had a ton of red, so I just quartered those. I didn’t end up thickening the sauce because I forgot my daughter had soccer practice so she needed to eat NOW. My husband couldn’t stop picking at it on the cutting board. My 6 y.o. who said he didn’t like pork, kept asking me for more “steak” (he thought it was steak). I was very skeptical of the 2 min cooking time but it was cooked perfectly. What a great recipe! Thank you!
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Barrie! I’m so glad you liked it!
Natacha says
I just made this and I have to say I was skeptical about the short cooking time in the instant pot, but boy did I get surprised! This recipe is great! Thank you for sharing it with us. Super simple and great taste.
Michele says
So you really only set it for 2 minutes and it fully cooked fully between that and the pressure build/release?
Jennifer Gauthier says
My hat goes off to the cook! My picky kids ate this pork tenderloin recipe and loved it with the sauce. It will be incorporated into our weekly menu. Thank you recipe rebel!
Ashley Fehr says
Thank you so much Jennifer!
Valerie Betker says
It looks like asparagus on the side in your picture. Can I cook this in with the potatoes & pork?
Ashley Fehr says
I wouldn’t recommend doing asparagus or green beans in the Instant Pot as they tend to come out mushy
Mike Dewett says
Hi Ashley,
I have made this recipe several times and also forwarded to friend and family. A big hit. If I double this recipe in should I double everything, including liquids? Also should I increase cooking time? Thanks!
Ashley Fehr says
Thank you Mike! I think doubling it will work fine — I would double everything! You shouldn’t need to increase cook time unless the meat is stacked right on top of each other — it can take longer to cook through that way.
Aeriel says
This recipe looks awesome but I bought a pack of sliced pork loin and I am wondering how long I should cook them with this recipe? Thank you
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks! It would really depend on how thick the slices are so it’s difficult to say. They probably won’t take long to cook through, maybe just a few minutes (2-4?), but if you want to shred them then sometimes they can be cooked longer
Amanda says
With the sliced loin are you saying cook time as in the rest time after it has pressure cooked? (2 min) on pressure cook, then release and leave it sit for an additional 2-4 minutes?? sorry just a bit confused for sliced loin
Ashley Fehr says
Hi Amanda! If your pork tenderloin is already sliced, you probably won’t change the cook time much. If you want it falling apart to shred it, then you could opt for the higher cook time (about 4-5 minutes). The time to release the pressure will remain the same regardless of how long you cook the meat. You want the pressure to naturally release before you open it.
Kate says
This recipe is such a crowd pleaser and has now become a regular in our meal plans. I’ve not had the best luck with one pot recipes for the instant pot but I follow this recipe exactly and it has never failed me. Thanks so much!
Ashley Fehr says
Thank you Kate! I’m so glad!
Jennifer Duty says
Hi Ashley! I want to make this! I like how you have green beans with it! How would it affect the time to throw in some fresh green beans or fresh broccoli? Thank you!
Jen
Ashley Fehr says
Hi Jen! I tend not to cook green beans or broccoli in the Instant Pot because they are easily overcooked (especially broccoli). You could open it in the last minute and throw them in, but with the time it takes to release pressure naturally twice, and reach pressure again, I don’t really know if it’s worth it! I think you might be better off sauteeing them or roasting.
Carrie Klair says
5 star in my house. It was easy to make and even the 11yr old picker eater said that thos recipe is a keeper. Thank you!
Ashley Fehr says
I’m so happy to hear that!
Chris says
My brother and I loved this one. The sauce is perfection and the potatos melted in my mouth. Everything was so tender. I ended up using a tablespoon of cornstarch to thicken the sauce a bit as recommended. I upped the cook time to 5 mins and 14min slow release. Every pressure cooker is a like different but this one is a pot of gold!
Ashley Fehr says
Thank you Chris! I’m glad you liked it!
Stew says
Looking forward to trying this recipe! Couple quick questions. Is this recipe for 8qt Instant Pot or 6qt? If not 8qt, how much more liquid do I need to add for an 8qt Instant Pot? Because I typically use at least 2 cups. Also, is “liquid honey” anything different than USDA Grade A pure honey for peanut butter and honey sandwiches? Thanks!
Ashley Fehr says
All of my recipes are tested in a 6 quart so you may find that you need to add more liquid. There is roughly 1.5 cups liquid in the recipe, so you may want to add a half cup or so. Liquid honey is just clear honey and not creamed. I hope that helps!
Sarah says
Hi! I’m new to the instant pot world—I have a pork tenderloin in the freezer, can I cook it from frozen for this recipe or should I thaw it first? Thank you!! Looks delicious.
Ashley Fehr says
Hi Sarah! I usually double the time if it is frozen solid.
Michelle says
Really wanting to try this recipe but all I have is a pork loin roast. Can you please give me a ball park idea of cooking time as my loin roast weighs about 1.5 pounds. Thank you and looking forward to seeing your response!
Ashley Fehr says
Hi Michelle! It will depend on the thickness of the roast more than anything, since roasts are generally much thicker than tenderloins. If you would slice it in half so that it is thinner, I would think you could keep the cook time mostly the same.
Shelly says
Tried this recipe for the first time and it was delicious. Was 9 adults and I did 3 tenderloins, everyone loved it and we only had 4 slices leftover! (Because I did 3 tenderloins I did the potatoes separately in the oven but they were still delicious with the gravy)
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Shelly! I’m so glad to hear that!
Sandy Frank says
Little confused about cutting in half…..the picture looks like it may have been just cut in half (not length wise)….sometimes the tenderloins are not very fat so cutting lengthwise may make it too thin?….just want to verify….Thanks
Ashley Fehr says
You’re right, it shouldn’t be lengthwise!
Beth Pierce says
Yummy! I love this recipe! It’s so delicious and easy. My husband absolutely loves it. Thanks!
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Beth! We love it too!
wilhelmina says
I am all about the garlic, never too much in my opinion! This was one easy and delicious dinner. It will be making regular appearances on our menu!
Ashley Fehr says
I’m so glad to hear that!
Erin says
There’s never too much garlic for me! This recipe was perfect. Loved every last bite.
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Erin!
Krissy Allori says
I love one pot meals, especially when it’s my instant pot. So quick and easy for us busy moms. Honey and garlic sound great with the pork.
Ashley Fehr says
We love them too!
Gail Jones says
Can this recipe be doubled if you’re cooking for more people or you want leftovers? If so, what would I need to do differently, if anything? Thanks!
Ashley Fehr says
Yes you definitely can! You shouldn’t have to change anything else, as long as you have enough room and enough liquid for your instant pot then it will be fine!
Margaret says
I’d like to make it in the Crock Pot as well!
Ashley Fehr says
Yes you definitely could! I haven’t tested it out, but for my slow cooker I would add the pork and potatoes at the same time and cook on low for 3-4 hours. Every slow cooker is different and yours might need a little longer.
ANNE MARIE HIGGINS says
Hi Ashley,
Can this recipe be made in my crock-pot, since I don’t have an Instant pot.
Thank you…..
Ashley Fehr says
Yes you definitely could! I haven’t tested it out, but for my slow cooker I would add the pork and potatoes at the same time and cook on low for 3-4 hours. Every slow cooker is different and yours might need a little longer.