Sweet, savory, and subtly spiced, this oven roasted Honey Mustard Roasted Pork Loin is easy to prepare and perfect for cozy dinners or impressive gatherings.
There's something so satisfying about making a roasted pork loin at home.
This honey mustard pork loin is one of those dishes that looks and tastes like it took hours of effort, yet it’s surprisingly simple to pull together.
The honey and mustard give the pork a sweet, tangy glaze that balances the rich flavor of the meat. The cloves, nestled into the scoring marks, release a subtle spice as they roast, creating a warm aroma that fills the kitchen.
When I make this, I usually prep the pork with a quick marinade and then pop it in the oven.
While it roasts, you’re free to prep sides, relax, or get the table ready for a full and tasty meal. Whip up some 10 minute Cheesy Brussels Sprouts, Truffle Mashed Potatoes and a batch of Arkansas Green Beans with Bacon for a great dinner.
Plus, this pork loin is versatile enough to be the main attraction at a holiday gathering or a weeknight family meal.
And for anyone who loves leftovers, this roast doesn’t disappoint—sliced cold or reheated, it’s just as flavorful the next day or in sandwiches.
If you’re new to roasting, don’t worry! This recipe is very forgiving and doesn’t require any complex techniques. Once you get the pork into the oven, it’s mostly hands-off, aside from a quick check toward the end.
It's also great with some homemade applesauce.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
This honey mustard roasted pork loin brings together sweet, tangy, and savory flavors with minimal effort. The cloves and nutmeg give the dish a warm, subtle spice that makes it feel comforting and elevated. I hope this recipe brings a little bit of that cozy, warm feel to your table. Whether for a special event or a simple dinner, I think you’ll love this one.
- Easy Preparation – Requires only a few ingredients and simple techniques.
- Balanced Flavor – Sweet honey, tangy mustard, and savory pork are a great combination.
- Impressive Appearance – The cross-hatched, golden-brown top makes it a visually striking centerpiece.
- Minimal Clean-Up – Using foil keeps the pan tidy and simplifies cleanup.
- Versatile Serving – Perfect for dinners, sandwiches, and leftovers.
Ingredients
You only need simple ingredients to make this dish! Make sure you use the right type of pork or cooking times will be affected.
You can also adapt the seasonings and marinade to your liking!
- Pork Loin: Ensure you use pork loin roast, not pork tenderloin, which is narrower and cooks faster.
- Oil: Use olive oil or your favorite mild cooking oil, such as vegetable or canola.
- Honey: Adds sweetness and helps it to caramelize slightly.
- Mustard: A rich counterbalance flavor for the sweet honey. Dijon or wholegrain work well.
- Brown sugar: Adds more sweetness and also helps to caramelize into the pork.
- Ground nutmeg: This spice adds a warm depth of flavor.
- Whole cloves: To add between the scores of the pork skin.
- Salt and pepper: To season the loin.
See the recipe card for the full method and quantities.
Instructions
If you're wondering how to make this honey mustard roast pork loin recipe, don't worry, it's easy!
Just follow this step-by-step photo tutorial. Then scroll down to the recipe card for the full ingredients list and recipe method.
Prep: Preheat the oven to 375F. Wash the pork loin and pat it dry with paper towels. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
Use a small sharp knife to score the skin in a cross pattern.
In a bowl, mix the oil, mustard, honey, sugar, and spices. Rub the honey mustard marinade over the pork loin roast.
Add cloves into the cuts of the pork.
Wrap the pork in two layers of foil, then place it into a dutch oven or a casserole dish with a lid.
Place the dish into the oven and roast it for 2 hours. Then, remove the lid, open the foil to expose the pork loin, and roast it for a further 20 minutes to get it golden.
Variations
- Try swapping the honey for maple syrup for a different flavor.
- Replace the spices with a pork spice rub.
- Add a little cayenne for a spicy kick.
- Don't wrap the pork in the foil, and instead place it onto a bed of chopped onions in the Dutch Oven.
Recipe Tips
- Pork Loin is larger and wider than Pork Tenderloin (which is long, thin and often cut into round medallions). They are different cuts of pork and cook at different times, so aren't interchangeable.
- Score the Pork Deeply – Make sure your cuts in the skin are deep enough for the cloves to sit securely.
- Use Heavy-Duty Foil – Wrapping the pork tightly helps lock in moisture.
- Check for Doneness – The internal temperature should reach about 145°F for medium doneness.
- Finish with High Heat – The final 20 minutes of roasting without foil gives the pork a beautiful golden crust.
Storage
You can store cooked roast pork loin, covered, in the fridge for up to 4 days. We love using the leftovers cold in sandwiches!
To reheat, you can briefly microwave slices of pork, or we love to pan-fry it in a little butter. Delicious!
Once cooked, this recipe isn't suitable for freezing as it will affect the texture of the roasted pork.
Make ahead: You can prep the pork and leave it in the marinade overnight, wrapped or in a lidded container in the refrigerator.
📖 Recipe
Honey Mustard Roasted Pork Loin
Equipment
- Dutch Oven
Ingredients
- 3 pounds pork loin skin-on
- ½ teaspoons each salt and pepper
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 ½ tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 ½ tablespoons mustard
- ⅓ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 15 whole cloves
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F.
- Wash the pork loin and pat it dry with paper towels. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
- Use a small sharp knife to score the skin in a cross pattern.
- In a bowl, mix the oil, honey, sugar, mustard, and nutmeg.
- Add cloves into the cuts of the pork, then spread it with the marinade.
- Wrap the pork in two layers of foil, then place it into a dutch oven or a casserole dish with a lid.
- Place the dish into the oven and roast it for 2 hours.
- Remove the lid, open the foil to expose the pork loin, and roast it for a further 20 minutes to get it golden.
Notes
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.
Dannii
I love the honey and mustard glaze on this. Total comfort food.
v
Delicious Spice and Honey Mustard flavor took this dish to the next level. Turned out moist and juicy.
Amanda Wren-Grimwood
I love roast pork but had never cooked a joint like this. Looks so moist and tasty.
Gloria
I love a good pork roast. This was easy to prepare. Perfect Sunday dinner.
Traci
It was so easy and perfect for our date night! Another winner!