One of my favorite cuts of meat to feed my family is pork tenderloin. Not only is it inexpensive and versatile, but pork tenderloin truly rivals filet mignon in the fork-tender department, especially when grilled.
That said, Grilled Pork Tenderloin is a slam dunk, home run — what other sports analogies can I throw out there — touchdown (!!) in the unbelievably juicy and delicious department. Best of all, this pork tenderloin recipe is FOOL PROOF and cooks in less than 15 minutes!
Easy Grilled Pork Tenderloin
Grilled pork tenderloin — how do I love thee? Let me count the ways! It is…
- Fool proof. Whether you have a gas grill or charcoal grill, are an experienced griller or grilling newbie — this recipe just WORKS. Every time. Seared and sizzling outsides, juicy and tender insides.
- Fork tender. When I was growing up, pork roast had to be cooked to 160 degrees, aka shoe leather. The USDA has since updated their guidelines and pork tenderloin only needs to be cooked to an internal temperature of 145 degrees, ie juicy, tender, and mouthwatering.
- Affordable. My grocery store sells pork tenderloin for $3.99/lb and I can comfortably feed my family of 5 with ~1-1/2lbs. This makes for a relatively inexpensive dinner option when paired with grilled veggies like asparagus or zucchini.
- Easy! No need to marinate the pork tenderloin first, simply season with your favorite seasonings then slap it on the grill. I actually much prefer a dry rub seasoning vs marinade with brown sugar, honey, or maple syrup for example, because you don’t run into the risk of burning the marinade on the grill. If you want to add sweetness, add it in the form of a sauce when serving the grilled pork tenderloin.
Pork Tenderloin vs Pork Loin
I think it’s very important to note that pork TENDERLOIN is not the same thing as pork LOIN.
- Pork tenderloin: this lean cut of meat comes from the muscle that runs alongside the backbone of the animal.
- Pork loin: this cut is larger and from the back of the animal. It’s commonly slow cooked as a whole roast in the oven.
That said, while you can grill pork loin, it would need to be grilled at a lower temperature and for much longer than pork tenderloin due to the fact that it’s a much larger and thicker cut of meat.
The Secret to Perfect Grilled Pork Tenderloin
Are you ready for this?! The secret to achieving juicy, perfectly-grilled pork tenderloin is two zone grilling. That means that once your grill is nice and hot you’ll scoot the hot coals over to one side of the grill if using a charcoal grill, or turn half the burners to low if using a gas grill, to create a direct heat side and indirect heat side.
First, sear the outsides of the pork tenderloin on the direct heat side of the grill then move it to the indirect heat side of the grill to finish cooking through.
That’s it! I’ll show you how below. :)
Tips for Perfect Grilled Pork Tenderloin
- Prep the grill. Make sure your grill is screaming hot before cooking. I heat mine to between 450 and 500 degrees before creating the two heat zones.
- Keep the lid closed. This is soooo important! Keep the grill lid closed between flipping the pork tenderloin. The indirect heat side of the grill relies on the direct heat side to create an oven-like atmosphere inside the grill. If the lid stays open, you’ll lose all your heat.
- Use a digital thermometer. Although it’s on the spendy side, we love this digital thermometer and have used the same one for years. It’s really held up and is incredibly accurate.
- Let the meat rest. This is another Top Tip for perfect grilled pork tenderloin — let the meat rest for at least 10 minutes before slicing into it otherwise the juices will run out everywhere and you’ll have dry pork.
I like to slice the grilled pork into 1/2″ thick slices and truly they’re fork-tender. If we’re making pork sandwiches, I’ll slice the tenderloin into really thin slices then pile them onto buns. Either way, you can’t go wrong with this recipe — try it once, and you’ll make it again, and again, and again!
(Looking for more grilling recipes? Try my Perfect Grilled Steak, Grilled Chicken Salad, or Sweet Chili Coconut-Lime Grilled Chicken!)
Pair it with The Pasta Salad Ever
How to Grill Pork Tenderloin
Step 1: Prepare the Pork Tenderloin
Start by trimming a 1-1/2lb pork tenderloin of any silver skin or membranes then brush it all over with extra virgin olive oil or vegetable oil and sprinkle on your desired seasonings.
I typically go with my homemade seasoned salt which contains garlic and onion powders, salt, and paprika, plus pepper, though you can use whatever seasonings you like.
Step 2: Prepare the Grill
Heat your grill until it reaches between 450 and 500 degrees. If you’re using a gas grill, that’s all burners blazing! This could take up to 10 minutes.
This is an XL Big Green Egg and we use their natural hardwood charcoal.
Step 3: Prepare the Two Zones
Once the grill is hot, scoot the charcoal over to one side of the grill if using a charcoal grill.
If using a gas grill, turn half or one third of the burners (depending on how many burners you’ve got) to low.
Step 4: Grill the Pork Tenderloin
- Place the pork tenderloin on the direct heat side of the grill then grill for 1-1/2 minutes on all four sides (envision the pork tenderloin as being rectangular and not circular) keeping the lid closed between turning.
- Move the tenderloin to the indirect heat side of the grill then grill for 4 minutes on each of the 2 larger sides (you will sear on 4 sides in step 1 above, but 2 sides will end up being fatter/flatter) or until an instant read thermometer or meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the tenderloin reads 145 degrees. Again, keep the lid closed between flipping.
How Long Does it Take to Grill the Pork Tenderloin?
Between the searing step which takes 6 minutes total (1-1/2 minutes on each of the four sides), and the indirect cooking step which takes 8 minutes (4 minutes on each of the larger two sides), you should have perfectly grilled pork tenderloin in 14 minutes!
Step 5: Let the Pork Tenderloin Rest
Remove the pork tenderloin from the grill then place it on a platter or cutting board (something with a lip to catch any juices that naturally seep out) and let it rest for at least 10 minutes before slicing.
I usually use that time to grill sliced zucchini, asparagus, or corn on the cob. Thanks to the grill — dinner’s done! I call dish duty!
Serve the grilled pork tenderloin with BBQ sauce, Bachan’s Japanese BBQ Sauce, chimichurri sauce, or…ketchup if you’re my 6 year old. ;)
Storage Tips
Store any leftover pork tenderloin in an airtight container or wrapped in foil in the fridge for 3-4 days. It is truly delicious cold, and so I usually eat the slices right out of the refrigerator. Otherwise you can reheat in the Air Fryer or microwave.
Chop leftover grilled pork tenderloin then add to Easy Fried Rice, Thai Crunch Salad, Cauliflower Fried Rice, BBQ Cheddar Quesadillas, or even enchiladas. It can really replace chicken as a protein in most any meal.
However you serve it, I hope you LOVE this easy, delicious, economical, fool-proof grilled pork tenderloin recipe! Enjoy!
What to Serve with Grilled Pork Tenderloin
- Napa Sweet Corn Salad
- Cucumber Tomato Salad
- Marinated Vegetable Salad
- The BEST Pasta Salad
- Judy’s Baked Beans
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Grilled Pork Tenderloin
Description
Grilled pork tenderloin cooks in just 15 minutes! This easy, healthy grilling recipe is fork-tender, full of sizzling flavor, and fool proof.
Ingredients
- 1-1/2lb pork tenderloin (NOT pork loin), trimmed
- extra virgin olive oil or vegetable oil
- seasonings: salt, pepper, garlic powder, steak rub, etc.
Directions
- Heat grill on high until it reaches between 450-500 degrees then create two heat zones — a direct heat side, and an indirect heat side. If using a charcoal grill, scoot the charcoal over to one side of the grill. If using a gas grill, turn half or 1/3 of the burners to low. Read post above in its entirety for tips on two zone grilling.
- Rub or brush the pork tenderloin all over with oil then season with desired seasonings. Add pork to the direct heat side of the grill then grill for 1-1/2 minutes on all four sides (envision the pork tenderloin as being rectangular vs circular) for a total of 6 minutes. Keep the lid closed between flipping.
- Move the pork tenderloin to the indirect heat side of the grill then grill for 4 minutes on each of the two larger sides, for a total of 8 more minutes, or until an instant read thermometer or meat thermometer reads 145 degrees. Keep the lid closed between flipping.
- Let pork rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.
- Leave a comment and star rating if you loved the recipe! Thank you for considering!
Notes
- I don't recommend marinating the pork in anything containing sugars (honey, brown sugar, maple syrup, etc) as it will burn while searing the outside of the pork.
This recipe is courtesy of Iowa Girl Eats, http://iowagirleats.com.
Photos by Ashley McLaughlin
Second time using this and both were very delicious. The tenderloin was is two pieces so I used skewers to tie them together. Thanks for the recipe.
Great hack, Todd – love that! So glad you enjoyed the recipe. :)
Followed the recipe to the tea last night and the pork tenderloin came out exactly as you indicated it would. Tender and cooked perfectly.
Fantastic!! I’m so glad you gave it a try, and loved this recipe, Murray!
5 sirst off it took me forever to get through this recipe and somebodys life story + ads.
I was very busy but once I got the actual recipe I slapped my favorite spices on the pork tenderloin and put it on the grill.
I turned it now and then but I spent the whole time looking for my thermometer which I took camping.
Finally giving up I checked it and it was perfect it is wonderfully delicious. There was so much talk blah blah through the recipe about how you had to do everything perfect. I did none of that just follow the basics that were in the recipe thank you for being easy LOL
You’re welcome, Diann! I’m so glad it worked out for you (and glad you found your thermometer! ;) )
This has been a staple for us! Where did the glaze recipe go? I’m so sad ???? to not see it.
Me too!!!
No worries – you can still find the sauce recipe here: https://iowagirleats.com/honey-balsamic-bbq-meatballs-gluten-free/#recipe-card
You can still find it here, Rachel! :) I’m so glad you love it!! https://iowagirleats.com/honey-balsamic-bbq-meatballs-gluten-free/#recipe-card
This is my favourite bbq pork tenderloin recipe. Turns out perfect and juicy every single time! I’ve shared it with so many friends and family who have said they don’t like bbq pork anything but have loved mine from this recipe.
I’m thrilled you love this recipe so much, Amy, and thank you so much for sharing the recipe – I really appreciate that!!
This is going to be a heavier comment than I assume you typically get on your recipes, but my wife passed away earlier this year. One of her specialties was pork tenderloin, done so many ways. And I have so many pork tenderloins in the freezer from Costco from before she passed and no clue what to do with them. I just knew I didn’t want to try to replicate one of her meals. And she did hers in the oven, so I thought maybe I’d grill one and see. But dang, I checked so many sites and recipes and they were either confusing or convoluted and it got really frustrating. And then I found yours! Perfect! Especially the explanation of even thought it’s round, think of it as having four sides. But I love that you have a base recipe here and I can add whatever rub or spice as I like to fit a meal. Anyway, it was delicious. I don’t normally comment on sites, but you did some good today, thank you! :)
This is so touching, Mike, and I’m so very sorry for your loss. I’m glad you found a recipe that could pay homage to your wife and one of her (I’m sure!) many specialties, done in a little bit of a different way. Thank you so much for sharing. Wishing you all the best!
So very good thank you for a fantastic recipe!
I’m so glad you enjoyed, Kristy! Thank you so much for your feedback and recipe rating!
Excellent recipe, it turned out terrific. I used a Thai style sriracha rub.
That sounds amazing, Larry! I’m so glad you loved this recipe!
This was simple, fast tender and great tasting. My new recipe for go-to for pork tenderloin.
I’m thrilled to hear it, Jeanett! Thank you so much for your feedback and recipe rating!
The Grilled Pork Tenderloin recipe certainly seems like a must-try! It comes across as a simple yet flavorful dish that requires minimal ingredients, making it perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or a casual summer barbecue.The technique of grilling the tenderloin on high heat initially and then moving it to a lower heat should give it a nice sear on the outside while keeping the inside juicy and tender. The choice of seasonings is flexible, allowing you to experiment with different flavors each time you prepare it.The use of extra virgin olive oil would not only help in grilling but also contribute a subtle flavor to the pork. The recommendation to let the pork rest for about 10 minutes before slicing is essential to allow the juices to redistribute, ensuring a moist and flavorful tenderloin.Although I have not tried this particular recipe, the method and ingredients seem well thought out, promising a delicious result. The short preparation and cook time add to its appeal, making it a recipe I look forward to trying soon.
I hope you enjoy it! :)