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Honey Garlic Pork Tenderloin is tender, juicy, and coated in a sweet-and-savory glaze. This honey garlic pork tenderloin recipe is a simple skillet dinner that finishes in the oven and is ready in under an hour. If you are looking for reliable, full-of-flavor honey garlic pork tenderloin recipes, this one delivers every time.
Many people search for honey garlic pork loin or honey garlic pork, but pork tenderloin cooks faster and stays incredibly juicy. This honey garlic glazed pork tenderloin recipe creates a sticky, flavorful glaze that pairs perfectly with rice, potatoes, or roasted vegetables.
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❤️ Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Easy weeknight dinner – This honey garlic pork tenderloin recipe uses simple ingredients and cooks in under an hour.
- One-skillet cooking – The pork sears and bakes in the same pan for easy cleanup.
- Sweet and savory flavor – The honey garlic glaze gives this honey garlic pork incredible flavor.
- Juicy and tender – Pork tenderloin cooks quickly and stays moist when finished in the oven.
- Versatile meal – Serve this honey garlic glazed pork tenderloin recipe with rice, noodles, or roasted vegetables.
Key Ingredients
Pork Tenderloin
Pork tenderloin is lean, tender, and cooks quickly, making it perfect for this honey garlic pork tenderloin recipe. It absorbs the glaze beautifully and stays juicy when cooked properly.
Honey
Honey gives this honey garlic pork its signature sweet flavor and helps create the sticky glaze that coats the meat.
Garlic
Fresh garlic adds bold, savory flavor that balances the sweetness of the honey in this honey garlic glazed pork tenderloin recipe.
Soy Sauce
Soy sauce adds saltiness and depth, creating the classic sweet-and-savory balance found in many honey garlic pork tenderloin recipes.
Apple Cider Vinegar
A small amount of vinegar brightens the sauce and balances the sweetness of the honey.
Ingredients & Substitutions
- pork tenderloins – no substitution recommended
- salt – reduce slightly if using regular soy sauce, and prefer less sodium
- garlic powder – substitute with additional fresh garlic if preferred
- paprika – substitute with smoked paprika for a deeper flavor
- black pepper – no substitution recommended
- honey – substitute with maple syrup, flavor will change slightly
- soy sauce – use reduced-sodium if preferred
- garlic cloves – substitute with 1 teaspoon dried garlic if needed
- apple cider vinegar – substitute with rice vinegar or white vinegar
Variations
- Make It Spicy – Add red pepper flakes or a drizzle of hot honey to the glaze for heat. This works well if you enjoy a little kick in your honey garlic pork.
- Use Pork Loin Instead – You can adapt this into a honey garlic pork loin version by using a larger cut. Increase the cooking time and monitor the internal temperature carefully to prevent drying out.
- Add Fresh Herbs – Stir in chopped rosemary or thyme before baking for a more savory finish.
- Citrus Twist – Add a squeeze of fresh orange juice to the glaze for a brighter flavor profile.
- Grill It – Turn this into a grilled honey garlic pork tenderloin recipe by searing and finishing over indirect heat until it reaches temperature.
Tips For Best Results
- Use a thermometer – Pork tenderloin cooks quickly, so checking the internal temperature prevents overcooking.
- Sear first – Browning the pork adds flavor and helps the glaze stick better.
- Let the pork rest – Resting allows juices to redistribute so the pork stays tender.
- Thicken the glaze – Boiling the sauce for a minute or two creates the perfect sticky glaze.
FAQs
Yes, but pork loin is much larger and takes longer to cook. Many people search for honey garlic pork loin, but pork tenderloin works better for this quick recipe.
Pork tenderloin is safe at 145°F, but many honey garlic pork tenderloin recipes cook it to about 150°F so it stays juicy after resting.
Yes. This honey garlic pork reheats well and makes great leftovers for sandwiches, rice bowls, or wraps.
Absolutely. If you love extra sauce for rice or vegetables, doubling the glaze works well for this honey garlic pork tenderloin recipe.
Cooked carrots, mashed potatoes, steamed green beans, or rice pair perfectly with this honey garlic pork.
How to Store Honey Garlic Pork Tenderloin
Leftovers store very well, making it perfect for meal prep or next-day lunches.
Allow the pork to cool completely before storing.
Place sliced or whole pork tenderloin in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
For best results, store the pork with some of the honey garlic sauce to keep it moist.
You can also freeze honey garlic pork for longer storage. Place cooled pork in a freezer-safe container or freezer bag and freeze for up to 3 months.
Thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then reheat.
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How to Make Honey Garlic Pork Tenderloin
- This pork tenderloin recipe is surprisingly simple to make and comes together in one skillet, then finishes in the oven. The result is a tender, juicy pork dinner coated in a rich honey garlic glaze.
- First, season the pork tenderloins with salt, garlic powder, paprika, and black pepper.
- Next, heat vegetable oil in a large oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the pork tenderloins on all sides until nicely browned. This step helps lock in moisture and adds flavor to the honey garlic pork.
- Remove the pork from the skillet and reduce the heat to medium. Add minced garlic to the pan and cook briefly until fragrant.
- Stir in the honey, soy sauce, and apple cider vinegar to create the sauce for this honey garlic glazed pork tenderloin recipe.
- Return the pork tenderloins to the skillet and turn them to coat in the sauce.
- Transfer the skillet to the oven and bake until the pork reaches an internal temperature of about 150°F.
- Once cooked, allow the pork to rest before slicing. Meanwhile, bring the sauce to a quick boil on the stovetop to thicken it into a glossy honey garlic glaze.
- Slice the pork and spoon the sauce over the top before serving.
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Honey Garlic Pork Tenderloin
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Equipment
- 12-inch cast iron skillet or other oven-safe skillet
- mixing bowl (small)
Ingredients
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 pork tenderloins, (1 ¼-1 ½ pounds each)
- 2-3 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 5 garlic cloves, minced
- ½ cup honey
- ¼ cup soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F. In a small bowl, combine salt, garlic powder, paprika, and black pepper. Season all sides of both pork tenderloins evenly.½ teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon paprika, ¼ teaspoon black pepper, 2 pork tenderloins
- Heat a large oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. Add vegetable oil and heat for 1 minute. Add tenderloins and brown on all sides, about 1-2 minutes per side. Remove from skillet and set aside on a plate.2-3 tablespoons vegetable oil
- Reduce heat to medium. Add minced garlic to the skillet and cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Stir in honey, soy sauce, and apple cider vinegar until well combined.5 garlic cloves, ½ cup honey, ¼ cup soy sauce, 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- Return tenderloins to the skillet and turn to coat in the glaze. Transfer skillet to the oven and bake for 20-22 minutes, or until internal temperature reaches 150°F in the thickest part.
- Remove skillet from oven. Transfer tenderloins to a plate and let rest for 10 minutes.
- Place skillet back over medium-high heat and bring sauce to a boil. Cook 1-2 minutes until thickened.
- Return tenderloins to skillet and turn once to coat in the glaze. Slice and serve with extra sauce spooned over the top.
Notes
🥡 STORAGE
- Store leftover Honey Garlic Pork Tenderloin in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Store pork with extra sauce to help keep the slices moist.
♨️ REHEATING
- Microwave – Heat slices in 30-second intervals until warmed through. Add a spoonful of sauce to prevent drying.
- Skillet – Reheat pork slices in a skillet over medium heat with extra sauce until warmed through.
- Oven – Place slices in a baking dish, cover with foil, and heat at 325°F for 10-15 minutes.
- Air fryer – Reheat at 350°F for 3-4 minutes until heated through.
❄️ FREEZING
- Freeze cooked Honey Garlic Pork Tenderloin in an airtight container or freezer bag for up to 3 months.
- Thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then reheat.
💡 TIPS FOR BEST RESULTS
- Pat the pork dry before seasoning so it browns properly in the skillet.
- Use a meat thermometer to ensure accurate doneness.
- Allow the pork to rest for 10 minutes before slicing so the juices redistribute.
🍳 ALTERNATE COOKING METHODS
- Grill – Sear the pork tenderloins over medium-high heat, then move to indirect heat and cook until the internal temperature reaches 150°F. Brush with glaze near the end.
- Air fryer – Cook pork tenderloin at 375°F for about 18-22 minutes, turning halfway through. Brush with glaze during the final minutes.
- Slow cooker – Sear the pork first, then cook with the sauce on low for 3-4 hours.
♻️ LEFTOVERS
- Slice thin and make pork sandwiches or sliders.
- Add sliced pork to fried rice or noodle bowls.
- Serve leftovers over rice with roasted vegetables for an easy meal.
📝 NOTES
- Pork tenderloin cooks quickly, so check the internal temperature early to avoid overcooking.
- The glaze thickens quickly once it begins boiling, so stir frequently.
- If the sauce becomes too thick, add 1-2 tablespoons of water or broth to loosen it.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
