This easy Garlic Honey Glazed Pork Tenderloin recipe shows you how to make a deliciously tender and sweet pork dish right in your skillet. Add all ingredients to a skillet and cook until flavorful for an easy dinner that is ready in just 20 minutes!
Pork tenderloin remains to be one of the best proteins to cook when you’re busy.
Not only is it high in protein, but it also cooks very quickly especially when sliced up into pieces.
This cut of meat is also much less expensive than beef or chicken making it a budget-friendly option for a weeknight dinner.
Cooking pork with a sweet marinade is common as the flavors pair very well together. The sweetness cuts through the pork flavor to help balance it perfectly.
In this recipe, pork tenderloin is cut into slices and pan-seared with a marinade made of sweet honey, garlic, and red wine vinegar to help keep it tender.
The result is an easy protein that is great to serve at dinner with any side or for a holiday dinner such as Easter or Christmas!
Try it served with Air Fryer Baby Potatoes and a side of Roasted Beets and Buttered Cabbage.
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Why Make This Recipe
Honey glaze pairs perfectly with pork and helps keep it tender and sweet.
This lean meat is high in protein and pairs well with any side dish.
This dish takes under 30 minutes to make from start to finish making it a great weeknight protein.
Each portion has just 188 calories. Serve with salad for a low-cal low-carb meal.
Pork tenderloin is easy-to-cook meat that is great for anyone new to cooking pork.
Ingredients
- Pork Tenderloin - This lean cut of pork is sliced into 1-inch slices to make them easy to eat and helps to absorb the flavors of the marinade.
- Honey - Adds a natural sweetness to the marinade which pairs well with the flavor of pork.
- Red Wine Vinegar - Gives the marinade an acidic note that also helps tenderize the pork. Substitute apple cider vinegar if necessary.
- Garlic - Infuses the pork tenderloin with garlic flavor.
- Butter - Makes up the base of the marinade offering a rich buttery flavor.
- Salt & Pepper - Gives a balance of flavor to the finished pork.
Please scroll down to the recipe card below for the full quantities.
How to Make Honey Glazed Pork
Wondering how to make this recipe? It's easy!
Just follow this step-by-step photo tutorial. Then, scroll down for the recipe card for the full ingredients list and recipe method.
Mix the marinade ingredients: In a small bowl, mix the honey, red wine vinegar, garlic, and black pepper with a whisk until evenly combined.
Prepare the pork tenderloin: Slice the pork tenderloin into 1-inch pieces. Season with a sprinkling of salt.
Cook the pork tenderloin: Heat up a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the melted butter and wait for it to get hot. Add the salted pork pieces to the hot skillet, then brush with the honey sauce glaze. Cook for 8 minutes or until the pork is cooked through and no longer opaque. Make sure you are brushing with the glaze often.
Thicken the marinade: Add any leftover marinade to the skillet and let it bubble and thicken. Remove the pork and pour the marinade over top. Serve with your favorite sides.
Cook's Tips
When choosing a pork tenderloin, choose one with little fat as that could impair the texture. If there is a lot of fat on your pork tenderloin, feel free to trim any excess using a sharp knife.
Before cooking the pork tenderloin, let it sit at room temperature for 10-15 minutes. This will allow the chill to remove making it easier to transition to the hot skillet keeping it tender.
Slice the pork tenderloin into even slices to ensure they all cook at the same time.
For a rich garlic flavor, you can use freshly minced garlic. Add it in with the butter mixture right before adding the pork to prevent it from burning.
Don’t let the marinade cook over high heat or the sugar in the honey could caramelize too fast and burn adding a bitter taste to the pork.
Pork tenderloin is also known as pork fillet, pork steak, or Gentleman's Cut. It is a long thin cut of pork.
Variations & Substitutions
If you don’t have any butter, you can use any high smoke point oil such as canola, vegetable, or avocado oil. Just make sure it does not have any strong taste.
Honey is a great way to sweeten the marinade, but if you don’t have any you can also use maple syrup, agave, or try using brown sugar with a bit of water.
Add soy sauce and sesame oil to the marinade for an Asian-inspired flavor.
Citrus flavors pair well with pork. Try adding the juice and/or zest of an orange, lemon, or lime to the marinade for a bright flavor.
You can also make this recipe using pork loin or lean pork chops cut into thin slices. Just make sure the internal temperature of the meat is 145F-165F for it to be safe to eat.
Don’t like pork? Try making this recipe with your favorite cut of chicken or steak!
Serving Suggestions
Serve this sweet and savory glazed pork tenderloin over a bed of Instant Pot Rice for a quick weeknight meal with minimal dishes.
Cooked pork makes a great filling for sandwiches or lettuce wraps if you’re following a low-carb lifestyle.
Toss with some Stir-Fried Vegetables to add fiber and healthy nutrients.
Any leftover honey-glazed pork tenderloin can be chopped up and used in a green salad for a healthy lunch.
Storage & Freezing
Storing: Any leftover cooked pork tenderloin can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. Reheat on the skillet over medium heat.
Freezing: To freeze cooked pork tenderloin. Add individual servings to a freezer-safe bag with as much marinade as possible to keep it from drying out. Remove air from the bags and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating and serving.
FAQs
Because of how lean it is, pork tenderloin can dry out fast. It’s best to cook this meat fast and at a high temperature to retain its tenderness.
You can, but I would cook the pork tenderloin separately in the oven and cook the marinade in the skillet. You’ll need to cook the pork tenderloin whole wrapped in foil at 350F for 25-30 minutes. Then, slice and coat in the marinade.
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📖 Recipe
Garlic Honey Glazed Pork Tenderloin
Equipment
- Skillet
Ingredients
For the glaze
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 1 clove garlic minced
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
To cook
- 2 teaspoons butter
- 1 lbs pork tenderloin cut into 1″ slices
- ½ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Mix the honey glaze ingredients together in a small bowl, then set aside.
- Melt the butter in a large skillet over a medium-high heat.
- Sprinkle the salt over the pork, then place into the skillet and brush with the honey glaze.
- Cook the pork for approximately 8 minutes, or until cooked through, brushing often with the glaze and flipping at least once.
- Pour any remaining sauce into the pan and let it bubble around the pork at the end of the cooking time.
- Serve and enjoy.
Notes
- When choosing a pork tenderloin, choose one with little fat as that could impair the texture. If there is a lot of fat on your pork tenderloin, feel free to trim any excess using a sharp knife.
- Before cooking the pork tenderloin, let it sit at room temperature for 10-15 minutes. This will allow the chill to remove making it easier to transition to the hot skillet keeping it tender.
- Slice the pork tenderloin into even slices to ensure they all cook at the same time.
- Don’t let the marinade cook over high heat or the sugar in the honey could caramelize too fast and burn adding a bitter taste to the pork.
Nutrition
The nutritional information provided is approximate and can vary depending on several factors, so is not guaranteed to be accurate. Please see a registered dietician for special diet advice.
Marsha
These were absolutely delicious! Perfectly sweet and tender - YUM!
Natalie
Lovely dinner idea. I had pork medallions in my fridge so I gave your recipe a try tonight. Really easy and tasty. Thanks!
RW
This was a great fast recipe. It was perfect for two people and a small tenderloin.