Description
This Easy Baked Pork Tenderloin recipe features tender, juicy pork coated in a flavorful spice rub and baked to perfection. It’s a quick and simple meal that’s perfect for weeknights, delivering a deliciously seasoned main course with minimal effort.
Ingredients
Scale
Pork and Spice Rub
- 2 pork tenderloins about 1 pound each
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper or to taste
Finishing
- 1/4 cup butter cut into pats
- Chopped parsley optional, to taste
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400F and move the rack to the middle position to ensure even cooking.
- Prepare Pork Tenderloins: Trim any excess fat and silver skin from the tenderloins, then pat them dry thoroughly with paper towels for better spice adhesion and browning.
- Make Spice Rub: In a small bowl, combine brown sugar, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Mix well.
- Coat Pork with Spice Rub: Rub the spice mixture evenly all over each pork tenderloin, ensuring full coverage.
- Arrange in Baking Dish: Place the seasoned tenderloins in a 9×13 inch or similar baking dish. Place butter pats evenly on top of the pork for added moisture and flavor during baking.
- Bake Pork: Bake uncovered for about 25 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 145F using an instant-read thermometer.
- Rest and Slice: Remove from oven and let the pork rest for 5 to 10 minutes to allow juices to redistribute. Then slice the tenderloins into medallions for serving.
- Serve: Pour pan juices over the sliced pork and sprinkle with chopped parsley if desired. Serve alongside your favorite sides like mashed potatoes.
Notes
- Serves 6-8 depending on portion size. Halve ingredients for one (1 pound) tenderloin.
- This recipe is specifically for pork tenderloin, not pork loin, which requires longer cooking.
- Cooking pork to an internal temperature of 145F is safe and recommended to avoid overcooking. Some pink in the center is normal and safe.
- Use an instant-read thermometer to perfectly cook pork every time.
- This recipe also appears in the Salt & Lavender: Everyday Essentials cookbook.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 280 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 500 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 8 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg
