Pork Tenderloin Marinade is the perfect way to make tender and juicy pork. Some honey, a little bit of Dijon mustard, some fresh rosemary, and a dash of red pepper flakes give this savory marinade a little sweet with a lot of flavor!
Perfect pork tenderloin can be roasted or grilled and if cooked properly, will be deliciously juicy and fork tender!
How to Make a Pork Tenderloin Marinade
To make pork tenderloin marinade, simply stir together honey, mustard, garlic, rosemary, a bit of oil and salt & pepper to taste (per recipe below). Ensure it is combined in a glass or plastic bowl (or a freezer bag).
Just like a chicken marinade, the best pork tenderloin marinade contains a bit of each sweet, salty, fat and bold flavors.
Ingredients in Marinade
- Sweet: Honey adds sweetness and also helps with the caramelization process. Swap honey for maple syrup or brown sugar.
- Flavors: Two types of mustard, rosemary and garlic add great flavor. Add in your favorite herbs or chopped green onions.
- Oil: Olive oil smooths out the marinade and is great for grilling or roasting. I generally use vegetable or olive oil but whatever you have on hand will work just fine.
TIP: To remove the leaves from fresh rosemary, hold the tip between your finger and thumb and use your other hand to in the opposite direction from the top to the bottom of the stalk. The leaves will easily separate for chopping!
How Long to Marinate Pork Tenderloin
Pour over the pork tenderloin and marinate for at least 2 hours, up to 24 hours. Beyond 24 hours the salt may begin to deteriorate the meat causing a mushy pork tenderloin.
This pork marinade can also be used on grilled pork chops or large pork loin cuts.
Remember to discard any leftover marinade as it is not safe to consume. If you would like to use it as a dipping sauce, the marinade will need to be boiled for at least 2 minutes according to foodsafety.gov.
Better yet, set a little bit of the marinade aside before adding the meat and mix it with a bit of mayonnaise for a delicious dip!
How to Cook Marinated Pork Tenderloin
You can cook pork tenderloin on the grill, in a pan or roasted in the oven (my preference). To keep it juicy, cook just until it reaches 145°F as tenderloin is very lean and can easily overcook. Use a thermometer to take the temperature in the center of the thickest part of the meat.
To Roast Tenderloin:
- Preheat the oven to 400°F
- Cook a 1lb pork tenderloin about 20 minutes or until an internal meat thermometer registers 145°F in the thickest part.
- Remove from oven and let rest at least five minutes before slicing and serving.
Can You Freeze Pork Marinade?
You sure can freeze marinade! I often mix it up and place the pork tenderloin in the marinade and freeze it all together. Once defrosted, the pork is ready to cook right away!
Great Pork Marinades and Sauces
- Homemade Sweet and Sour Sauce – a perfect balance of sweet & savory!
- Sesame Ginger Dressing – also a great marinade
- Teriyaki Sauce – mouthwatering umami flavor!
- Balsamic Vinaigrette – just 5 simple ingredients!
- Honey Glazed Mushroom Pork – easy and delicious
- Ginger Soy Marinade – sweet, savory, & spicy
Easy Pork Tenderloin Marinade
Equipment
Ingredients
- ½ cup honey
- ¼ cup dijon mustard
- ¼ cup whole grain mustard
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary minced
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes crushed
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 4 cloves garlic minced
Instructions
- In a medium sized mixing bowl add all the ingredients and whisk to combine.
- Marinate over pork tenderloin for at least 3 hours or up to 24 hours.
To Cook a 1 lb Pork Tenderloin
- Preheat oven to 400°F.
- Brown marinaded tenderloin.
- Then cook for 18-20 minutes or until reaches an internal temperature of 145°F. Lest rest 5 minutes before slicing.
Notes
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Dressing
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I was looking for another way to make pork tenderloin, and this marinade was just perfect. I had two pork tenderloins, a little over 1 pound each. I doubled the marinade ingredients, and put them in the marinade overnight. Just cooked them for dinner tonight. It took a few minutes longer in the oven since I had two tenderloins. But my whole family enjoyed this. It was the perfect blend of flavors, and was absolutely delicious! Thank you so much for another terrific (and easy!) recipe! Thank you also for instructions on how to cook a perfectly tender pork tenderloin :-)
I am so happy to hear this recipe was a hit Karen!
I am cooking a 2.5 lb tenderloin. How long do you think it should take for 145 degree.
Hi Peggy, check out our how-to cook a pork tenderloin guide for more information. But it is about 20-25 minutes per pound at 400°F.
Can’t believe you can cook a whole tenderloin in 20 minutes. Can this be a rare doneness?? We like our meats cooked well done, not half cooked. Want it well cooked, not red inside. Could this be a mistake in the bake time?? Thanks!!!
Hi Jackie, it takes about 20 mins to cook a 1lb tenderloin to a safe internal temperature of 145°F. If your tenderloin is larger, or you prefer it cooked to a higher internal temperature you will need to increase the cook time. Hope that helps :)
This is amazing. Just perfect with no alterations. I’m s a regular one for us. As a tenderloin or cut up as pork kebabs
When roasting a tenderloin, what do you think about basting the meat in pure salted butter, pepper, a touch of garlic or onion powder and serving it with your mushroom sauce.
I think that sounds delicious Gene! Let us know how it turns out.
Need a lote more salt than this.
This amount worked for 2 tenderloins.
You can adjust the salt to your preferences Dawid. :)
This recipe is amazing! Thank you!
So happy you loved it Katrina!
Hi! I think I already know the answer, but just want to clarify. What do you mean by ‘brown’ the tenderloin? Is this browning the sides in a saute’ pan or done in the oven?
Hi Shelley, great question! We browned it in a saute pan before baking it.
Remove the marinade before browning? And then put it back on for the oven part?
Hi Robert, you can leave the marinade on while browning. Enjoy!
Id like a recipe for Mexican cabbage roll soup
Hi Janet, you may like our cabbage roll soup . Enjoy!
Recipe for honey mustard pork tenderloin calls for only one pound of pork tenderloin. Is that correct.
There is enough marinade for a couple of pounds, each tenderloin is about 1 pound.
Have you ever tried this with turkey tenderloin? If so, are there any adjustments to make for turkey?
I haven’t tried it but it would certainly work with turkey tenderloin. I would suggest marinating for 1-4 hours and the cook time may need to be adjusted depending on size, you’ll want them to reach 165°F