Grilled Pork Tenderloin

Let’s keep this grilling train rollin‘, shall we?

Here at home we have the capability to grill year round, but the desire to stand outside freezing my buns off in the season that shall not be named is, shall we say, lacking. That said, I welcome grilling season and it’s sizzling suppers requiring nearly no clean up with open arms, and a cold drink in hand.

Last weekend, as I was cooking an unbelievably juicy grilled pork tenderloin, the urge for a frosty beverage kicked in. What can I say, burning your knuckle hairs over a hot flame when it’s 85 degrees outside does that to a girl. I opened the sliding door into the kitchen, popped my head in, and was about to ask Ben for something to drink when I saw that he already had a cold, hard cider in his outstretched hand. Does that man know me or does he know me?

The cider went perfectly with the grilled pork tenderloin I was cooking at the time. As the name implies, pork tenderloin becomes unbeliveably juicy and tender once seared over a hot and high flame. Like, giving steak a run for its money, juicy and tender! Plus it grills up in under 15 minutes.

I’ve tested the method for grilling pork tenderloin countless times over the past month and it works every single time. Without fail. Seared and sizzling outsides, juicy and tender insides. NO pans to clean, NO turning on the oven – just pure, easy, deliciousness.

When I was growing up pork had to be cooked to 160 degrees which, combined with my Dad’s fondness for well-done meat, meant each pork chop, pork tenderloin, and pork roast we ate felt like chewing on a mouthful of sawdust. Here in the present though, pork only needs to be cooked to a tender 140 degrees. Read: melt in your mouth.

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Grilled pork tenderloin is also a favorite of mine because it’s an extremely affordable cut of meat. In my area, it usually sells for $3.99/lb and a 1-1/2lb cut generously feeds Ben, Lincoln, and myself. Pair with grilled vegetables and a baked potato or rice, and you have an extremely wallet-friendly meal.

I hope you give this grilled pork tenderloin a try – I can almost guarantee it will become a new summer favorite!

Step 1: Prepare the Pork Tenderloin

Start by trimming a 1-1/2lb pork tenderloin. Note: this is NOT the same thing as a pork LOIN, which is typically used as a roast.

Rub the tenderloin all over with extra virgin olive oil then sprinkle with your desired seasonings – salt, pepper, garlic powder, a steak rub (which is what I used) etc. – really anything you like. I usually skip marinating pork tenderloin in anything containing sugars like honey, maple syrup or brown sugar, which easily burn during the searing process on the grill.

Step 2: How to Grill Pork Tenderloin

Time to fire up the grill! You’re going to create a double heat zone on the grill, which means one side is going to be hotter than the other. Here’s how to grill pork tenderloin:

1. Preheat the grill with all burners set to high heat until the internal temperature reaches at least 500 degrees.
2. Turn 1/2 or 1/3 of the burners (depending on how many burners your grill has) to low heat.
3. Place the tenderloin on the HIGH HEAT side of the grill then grill for 1-1/2 minutes on all four sides, for a total of 6 minutes, closing the lid between flipping.
4. Move the tenderloin over to the LOW HEAT side of the grill then grill for 4 minutes on each of the 2 larger sides (you will sear on 4 sides but 2 sides will end up being fatter/flatter,), for a total of 8 more minutes, or until an instant read thermometer inserted into the center of the tenderloin reads 140 degrees. Again, keep the lid closed between flipping.

Let the tenderloin rest for 10 minutes before slicing into thick slices, or thinly shave the pork tenderloin, which is great for sandwiches. I usually use that time to grill fresh vegetables – zucchini, sweet corn on the cob, summer squash, and/or asparagus are my favorites. Serve with the BBQ sauce of your choice, or a homemade chimichurri sauce (<< HIGHLY recommend,) and dig in. Enjoy!

What to Serve with Grilled Pork Tenderloin

• Napa Sweet Corn Salad
• Baked Potatoes
• Marinated Vegetable Salad
• Seasoned Broiled Potatoes
• Judy’s Baked Beans

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