Grilling pork tenderloin is a delicious and easy way to enjoy this lean cut of meat. Follow our step-by-step instructions to ensure perfectly juicy and flavorful pork every time.
The pork is tender and flavorful on both a gas grill and a charcoal grill. Roasted asparagus, roasted corn on the cob, garden salad, and Southern green beans are perfect vegetables to serve with this recipe.
Ingredient Notes and Substitution
See the complete list of ingredients on the recipe card below.
- Pork Tenderloin: Look for a 1½ lb pork tenderloin. Make sure the silver skin is removed, or remove it yourself.
- Brown Sugar: If preferred, you can use all honey.
- Seasonings: Cumin, chili powder, kosher salt, black pepper, and ground cayenne pepper.
- BBQ Sauce: Use your favorite brand.
- Mustard: Dijon or prepared yellow mustard.
How to Make Grilled Pork Tenderloin
This is a summary version; for the complete list of ingredients and instructions, please refer to the recipe card below.
- Trim the silver skin off the pork tenderloin. Combine the paprika, brown sugar, cumin, chili powder, salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper in a large Ziploc bag.
- Rub the mixture all over the pork tenderloin. Place in the bag and store in the refrigerator for several hours or overnight.
- Preheat half the grill to medium-high heat. Add the pork tenderloin to the grill and cover. Cook for 5-6 minutes. Roll the tenderloin over and cook for 4-5 minutes.
- Move the tenderloin to the nonlit side and baste with the sauce mixture every couple of minutes.
- Remove from the grill, plate it, and cover loosely with an aluminum foil tent. Let rest for 10-15 minutes before slicing.
Preparation Tips
- Prepare the dry rub in advance and rub it into the pork tenderloin. Cover and refrigerate for several hours up to overnight.
- Pork tenderloin is a lean cut of meat, so don’t overcook it. Make sure you purchase pork tenderloin, not pork loin. The National Pork Board recommends cooking pork tenderloin to an internal temperature between 145° F (medium rare) and 160° F (medium). An instant-read thermometer is inexpensive and a valuable asset in the kitchen.
- After grilling the pork tenderloin, cover it loosely with an aluminum foil tent and let it rest for 10-15 minutes. This allows the meat to redistribute the juices driven to the center by the grill’s heat.
What to Serve with It
- Scalloped Potatoes
- Baked Mac and Cheese
- Glazed Carrots
- Twice-Baked Potatoes
- Asparagus Pasta
- Cauliflower Casserole
More Pork Tenderloin Recipes
Grilled Pork Tenderloin Recipe
This is a quick and easy recipe for dry-rubbed grilled pork tenderloin with helpful grilling tips for making it flavorful and juicy.
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Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 248kcal
Ingredients
- 1¼-1½ lb pork tenderloin trimmed
Rub
- 1½ teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon cumin
- 1½ teaspoons chili powder
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
Sauce
- 1 tablespoon honey
- ⅔ cup of your favorite bbq sauce
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
Instructions
- In a Ziploc bag, combine paprika, brown sugar, cumin, chili powder, kosher salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper. Dry the pork tenderloin with a paper towel. Rub the mixture over the pork tenderloin and refrigerate for 2 hours to overnight.
- In a small bowl, combine honey, barbecue sauce, and Dijon mustard.
- Preheat the grill to 425-450 degrees, lighting only half the burners. Add the pork tenderloin to the side of the grill that is lit and cover. Cook for about 5-6 minutes. Roll the tenderloin over and cook for an additional 4-5 minutes.
- Move the tenderloin to the side that is not lit. Baste with barbecue sauce mixture every 2-3 minutes. Continue cooking until the pork tenderloin reaches an internal temperature of 145 degrees.
- Remove the meat from the grill, plate it, and cover it loosely with an aluminum foil tent. Let rest for 10-15 minutes before slicing.
Notes
- Store leftover pork in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in a skillet on the stovetop over low heat, frequently turning, in the oven on low heat, or in the microwave at reduced power.
- To freeze, first cool completely. Then, freeze in a heavy-duty freezer bag for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight. Reheat in a skillet on the stovetop over low heat, frequently turning, in the oven on low heat, or in the microwave at reduced power.
Nutrition
Calories: 248kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 20g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 54mg | Sodium: 872mg | Potassium: 487mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 23g | Vitamin A: 773IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 58mg | Iron: 3mg
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Melanie Bauer
Looks super delicious! This is my kind of dinner, need to make this immediately!
Shannon Graham
I needed a good dry rub recipe! Just in time for grilling season!
Jade Manning
This looks like perfection on a plate!
Katerina @ diethood .com
YUM!! This looks SO juicy and delicious!! A must try!
Catalina
My family will thank you for this recipe! It looks so inviting!
Demeter
Wow this looks so full of flavor! Love that it’s so easy to make too.
Mary
Just wanted to thank you for the pork tenderloin and German potato salad recipes. You were so right about the flavors being fantastic together. Looking forward to making them again.
Beth Pierce
Thanks so much Mary! I am so glad that you enjoyed them.
Jan
Have you tried roasting it? What temp and how long for a 2# loin would you recomend?
Beth Pierce
Sorry about the delay. I had to get my taxes filed this weekend. Yes you can roast the pork tenderloin for about 20-25 minutes at 400 degrees or an internal temperature of 145 degrees. I would let rest for 15 minutes. Double the cooking time for a 2 pound loin but the same internal temp and resting time.
Bo Walker
As a Chef I cook a lot of pork tenderloin in many different ways so I’m always looking for something new. Because I have to prepare dinner ahead of time and leave it for my clients, I use a sous vide quite a bit to keep it from overcooking. I made the rub as written but added a tiny bit of cinnamon to it…1 tsp or so. I vacuum sealed the tenderloins and “rub” then set my sous vide circulator for 130 degrees and let it go for a couple of hours. I preheated my grill for a good 20 minutes on high before searing them quickly on each side being sure not to raise the internal temp above 140. (The Thermoworks Thermapen is the best I’ve ever used for instant an instant read thermometer) I let them rest for a few minutes before slicing and resealing them in the same vacuum bag (with the rub still in it). I put the bag back in the 130 degree water and left it for the staff to serve an hour or so later at dinner time. It never over cooks this way. This rub is fantastic! I will definitely make this again and maybe try it on a different protein. Great job!
Beth Pierce
Thanks Bo! I am glad that you liked it! Thanks for all the great details on how you prepare the tenderloin. Sounds like you have it down to a fine science!
Niki
I’d love to try this recipe for my baby shower this weekend. I’ve got 2 (7.5 lb) pork loins! Can you help with grill times? Anything else you’d change or suggest? Thank you!!
Beth Pierce
I am right in the middle of a recipe so I will try to respond more later but I wanted you to read this article as a pork loin and pork tenderloin are two different cuts. https://www.pegshomecooking.com/pork-loin-vs-pork-tenderloin-differences/
I have always baked my pork loin which makes it nice and tender.