Oven roasted pork tenderloin gets all dressed up with an easy maple balsamic glaze. Lean, delicious, quick to make and impressive enough to serve to guests!
Oven roasted pork tenderloin is a favorite any time of the year, but autumn always seems to re-spark our love for this lean, quick-cooking cut of meat. It pairs well with fall sides dishes, such as mashed sweet potatoes and Brussels sprouts slaw and can works just as well for entertaining as it does for weeknight meals.
The beauty of an easy pork tenderloin recipe like this one (or our family favorite maple Dijon recipe) is that it can be roasted while you’re prepping the side dishes. Give the herb-crusted pork a quick sear in an oven-proof skillet, then pop the whole thing into the oven, brushing it with a luscious balsamic-maple glaze.
Easy, lean and rich in flavor!
What you need for this oven roasted pork tenderloin recipe:
These are the main components of this recipe (affiliate links included):
- Pork tenderloin: This recipe calls for a 1 1/4 pound pork tenderloin. If using one that is smaller or larger, adjust the cooking time and the amounts used for the rub ingredients.
- Rosemary: Use dried rosemary. If using whole rosemary needles, crush them before adding to the rub mixture. Alternatively, you can purchase crushed rosemary (I always have this on hand for roasted potatoes).
- Garlic powder: Find garlic powder in the spice aisle of any grocery store.
- Olive oil: You don’t need a fancy olive oil for the wet spice rub mixture.
- Maple syrup: Pure maple syrup (not the corn syrup, fake stuff) makes all the difference!
- Balsamic vinegar: Use a good quality balsamic vinegar for the best flavor.
- Soy sauce: If gluten free, substitute soy sauce with tamari.
- Cornstarch: Cornstarch is used to thicken the glaze. Flour can be used in place of cornstarch.
See recipe card below for full ingredients list & recipe directions.
How to make oven roasted pork tenderloin:
Start by trimming the any fat from the pork. Then, using a sharp knife, remove the silver skin, which is the shiny, white connective tissue usually found on one section of the tenderloin. It becomes tough and chewy when cooked, so it’s best to remove it.
In a small bowl, stir together the seasoning – salt, pepper, rosemary and garlic powder – with olive oil. Using your hands, rub the mixture all over the surface of the tenderloin.
Next, prepare the glaze in a small saucepan. Whisk together maple syrup, water, balsamic vinegar, soy sauce and cornstarch. Simmer it over medium-high heat, whisking frequently, until the glaze starts to thicken. That should take about 3 to 4 minutes.
Seared pork tenderloin produces the juiciest meat by locking in the juices before roasting the meat. Use a large nonstick, oven proof skillet. If you don’t have a nonstick skillet, not to worry. Just be sure to use some extra olive oil in the pan so that the pork doesn’t stick.
Heat the skillet to medium-high and sear the pork tenderloin on all sides, about 5 minutes total.
Transfer the skillet (with the pork, of course!) to the oven and roast until done. About halfway through the cooking time, brush the tenderloin using about 2 tablespoons of the glaze.
Let the pork rest for about 10 minutes before slicing so that the juices don’t run out all over the board when slicing. You want as many of those juices as possible absorbing into the meat!
Serve it up with the remaining luscious glaze!
How long to cook pork tenderloin in oven at 400:
The cooking time will vary slightly depending on the size and thickness of the pork tenderloin and your oven. The USDA recommends cooking pork tenderloin until it reaches an internal temperature of 145 degrees F. Insert an instant read thermometer into the thickest part of the pork to take the reading.
At 400 degrees F, the pork takes approximately 15 minutes to cook (plus 5 minutes of searing time on the stovetop ahead of roasting). Remember to let the pork rest for 5 to 10 minutes before slicing for the juiciest meat.
What to serve with baked tenderloin:
Baked tenderloin is a fall favorite around here, so we tend to pair it with sweet potatoes, Brussels sprouts and other fall veggies. That being said, it’s a dish that’s flexible enough to be served any time of the year. Here are some of my favorite sides to serve with it:
Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Maple Pear Salad with Goat Cheese
Spaghetti Squash Salad
Air Fryer Potato Roses
What to do with leftover pork tenderloin:
So many options! Here are a few of our “go to” ideas for using up the leftovers:
Cut up the pork and toss it into a spinach salad. If you have leftover glaze, thin it with some olive oil or water for an easy dressing. Alternatively, use a homemade balsamic vinaigrette.
Use the pork in soft tacos with some queso fresco and a jicama slaw.
Make a batch of my vegan Instant Pot vegetarian chili or butternut squash stew and offer the diced pork to the die-hard meat lovers in the family to stir into the soup/stew.
Make this chicken naan pizza, subbing the pork for the chicken.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Can pork loin be substituted for pork tenderloin?
Pork loin is a roast, while pork tenderloin is a much smaller, skinnier cut of meat. Therefore, the cooking time and preparation varies drastically and one is not easily substituted for the other in a recipe. Pork tenderloin is typically cooked quickly at a higher heat, while pork loin is cooked low and slow.
Oven Roasted Pork Tenderloin with Balsamic Glaze
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 pound pork tenderloin
- 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoons minced flat-leaf parsley
The glaze:
- 1/4 cup pure maple syrup
- 3 tablespoons water
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Set the oven rack in the middle position.
- Trim the extra fat from the pork tenderloin and cut off the silver skin.
- In a small bowl, stir together the rosemary, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Add the olive oil and stir to form a liquidy paste.
- Rub the paste all over the pork tenderloin.
- Heat a large ovenproof nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the pork on all sides, about 5 minutes total.
- Transfer the skillet (with the pork) to the oven. Cook for about 7 minutes, then brush the tenderloin with 2 tablespoons of the glaze. Cook until the pork reaches an internal temperature of 145 degrees F, an additional 7 to 8 minutes. Cooking time will vary dependent on size and thickness of the tenderloin.
- Serve with the remaining glaze and garnish with minced parsley.
The glaze:
- In a small saucepan, whisk together the maple syrup, water, balsamic vinegar, soy sauce and cornstarch.
- Set over medium heat. Bring the mixture to a simmer, whisking frequently. Continue to simmer until the glaze thickens slightly, 3 to 4 minutes.
- Set aside 2 tablespoons of the glaze for basting the tenderloin parway through cooking.
Notes
Nutrition
Disclosure: I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
Sabrina
always looking for pork tenderloin recipes, mine seem to be hit or miss, and on the miss side, too dry, so this glaze is great for some juicy flavor, so thank you!
Dara
Thanks, Sabrina. I hope you enjoy it. The trick with pork tenderloin is not to overcook it. It can be as finicky as chicken breasts that way. 🙂