TOTAL TIME: 55 MINS | PREP TIME: 35 MINS | COOK TIME: 30 MINS | SERVINGS: 4-6
This baked pork tenderloin is easy to make. It’s the best-baked pork tenderloin, bursting with flavor, and incredibly juicy! Enjoy this melt-in-your-mouth pork tenderloin for a fancy meal, and do not forget the unbelievable self-basting herb butter.
INGREDIENTS
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3 tbsp butter, sliced into 6 pads
1 pkg. pork tenderloins, trimmed (comes with 2 pieces, 2–2 ½ pounds total)
4 c. warm water
2 tbsp brown sugar
2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
1 c. ice cubes
1/4 c. kosher salt
2 tbsp lemon juice
SPICE MIX:
1 teaspoon EACH salt, onion powder
1 tablespoon EACH chili powder, garlic powder
1/4 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp smoked paprika
HERBS TO ADD LATER:
1/2 teaspoon EACH dried parsley, dried basil, dried oregano, dried thyme
HOW TO MAKE THE BEST BAKED PORK TENDERLOIN
Step 1: Prepare the oven. Preheat it to 400 degrees F. On a baking sheet, lay two long pieces of foil.
Step 2: Combine the salt with warm water in a gallon-size freezer bag until the salt is completely dissolved. Stir in the apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, and ice. Then, add the pork. Brine the pork for 20 minutes. Exactly 20 minutes, take the pork from the brine, rinse, and pat them very dry.
Step 3: In a small bowl, place the Spice Mix ingredients. Mix well, then evenly rub this to the entire pork.
Step 4: In a large skillet, heat 2 tbsp vegetable oil over medium-high heat. Add the pork tenderloins to the skillet once the oil is very hot and just smoking. Sear the pork until all sides are golden. You may need to sear the pork in batches. To a foil, transfer the pork when done.
Step 5: Evenly sprinkle the rest of the herbs (parsley, basil, oregano, thyme) over the pork tenderloins. Rub them into the pork, then drizzle each pork evenly with 1 tbsp lemon juice (total of 2 tbsp). Lastly, top each tenderloin with 3 pads of butter. Completely enclose each tenderloin with the foil.
Step 6: Place in the preheated oven and bake for about 12 to 25 minutes until the internal temperature of the pork reaches between 145 and 150 degrees F or 63 and 65 degrees C. Note that the cooking time of the pork varies depending on the thickness of the meat. The meat with being a little pink in the middle and juicy. Unwrap the pork and check the temperature. And if need to continue baking, wrap the pork again.
Step 7: Loosen the foil when the pork is done. This way the steam can escape. Allow the pork to stand for about 5 to 10 minutes, then slice. To taste, season with extra salt and pepper.
Step 8: Serve the baked pork tenderloin with the butter sauce accumulated. Enjoy!
Ingredients
- 3 tbsp butter, sliced into 6 pads
- 1 pkg. pork tenderloins, trimmed (comes with 2 pieces, 2–2 ½ pounds total)
- 4 c. warm water
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 c. ice cubes
- 1/4 c. kosher salt
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- SPICE MIX:
- 1 teaspoon EACH salt, onion powder
- 1 tablespoon EACH chili powder, garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp pepper
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- HERBS TO ADD LATER:
- 1/2 teaspoon EACH dried parsley, dried basil, dried oregano, dried thyme
Instructions
Step 1: Prepare the oven. Preheat it to 400 degrees F. On a baking sheet, lay two long pieces of foil.
Step 2: Combine the salt with warm water in a gallon-size freezer bag until the salt is completely dissolved. Stir in the apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, and ice. Then, add the pork. Brine the pork for 20 minutes. Exactly 20 minutes, take the pork from the brine, rinse, and pat them very dry.
Step 3: In a small bowl, place the Spice Mix ingredients. Mix well, then evenly rub this to the entire pork.
Step 4: In a large skillet, heat 2 tbsp vegetable oil over medium-high heat. Add the pork tenderloins to the skillet once the oil is very hot and just smoking. Sear the pork until all sides are golden. You may need to sear the pork in batches. To a foil, transfer the pork when done.
Step 5: Evenly sprinkle the rest of the herbs (parsley, basil, oregano, thyme) over the pork tenderloins. Rub them into the pork, then drizzle each pork evenly with 1 tbsp lemon juice (total of 2 tbsp). Lastly, top each tenderloin with 3 pads of butter. Completely enclose each tenderloin with the foil.
Step 6: Place in the preheated oven and bake for about 12 to 25 minutes until the internal temperature of the pork reaches between 145 and 150 degrees F or 63 and 65 degrees C. Note that the cooking time of the pork varies depending on the thickness of the meat. The meat with being a little pink in the middle and juicy. Unwrap the pork and check the temperature. And if need to continue baking, wrap the pork again.
Step 7: Loosen the foil when the pork is done. This way the steam can escape. Allow the pork to stand for about 5 to 10 minutes, then slice. To taste, season with extra salt and pepper.
Step 8: Serve the baked pork tenderloin with the butter sauce accumulated. Enjoy!
