The best baked pork tenderloin recipe is here for you. Crispy on the outside, super juicy and moist on the inside with an amazing flavor from the spice rub. Incredibly delicious on its own but try pairing with a quick homemade apple compote… The sweet-tanginess of the apples brings the dish to the next level!

Tips for perfect pork tenderloin

Here are the tricks to make this tenderloin super delicious.

Tip 1: Poking the meat with a fork - This allows all the spices and flavors to sink into the meat while being cooked.

Tip2: Coating the meat with oil - This prevents the meat from drying up in the oven, and also helps it get a nice crispy texture on the outside.

Tip 3: Cooking at a high temperature - The tenderloin is the leanest cut of pork. It’s a great choice of lean protein (almost as lean as skinless chicken breasts!). However that means it could easily be overcooked and end up dry. The key is to get the meat cooked as quickly as possible before the moisture inside the meat starts to evaporate. Bonus: this shortens the cooking time as well.

So who is ready for baking?

Ingredients for pork tenderloin with apple compote

For the baked pork tenderloin

• Pork tenderloin - They look like a foot long cylinder about 3 inches wide with very little fat. Don't confuse it with pork 'loin' which is a fattier cut! 
• Avocado oil - or olive oil
• Smoked paprika powder - For those of you who have never used this... this is a super versatile spice with a nice smokey aroma that goes so well with any meat or fish. Bright red but not spicy at all.
• Onion powder
• Garlic powder
• Cumin powder
• Salt

For the apple compote

• Avocado oil - or olive oil
• Apples
• Coconut sugar
• Lemon juice
• Cinnamon
• Water

How to make this recipe

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F.
2. Place the pork tenderloin on a set of baking rack and a sheet pan. If you do not own a baking rack, you may also bake on a sheet pan directly, or a casserole works as well.
3. Pierce holes all over the tenderloin using a fork. Then rub oil on all sides of the meat.
4. In a small cup/bowl, combine the paprika powder, onion powder, garlic powder, cumin, and salt together. Rub the mix all over the meat.
5. Bake for about 25 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 145°F.
6. Make the applesauce while baking the tenderloin. Heat up the oil in a saucepan and cook the apples until tender - for about 3 minutes. Add in the coconut sugar, lemon juice, cinnamon and water and simmer over low heat for 5 minutes.
7. Rest the cooked meat for 5 minutes before cutting in. Cut into 1 inch pieces and serve with the applesauce.

Storing direction

Any leftover can be refrigerated in an airtight container for 3-4 days. Microwave (covered) or warm up on the stovetop over a gentle heat in a frying pan. If using the stove top, I highly recommend to cover with a lid to prevent the meat from drying.

More pork recipes...

Recipe

Baked Pork Tenderloin with Apple Compote

Crispy on the outside, super juicy and moist on the inside with an amazing flavor from the spice rub. Incredibly delicious on its own but pairing with a quick homemade apple compote brings the dish to the next level! This recipe is gluten-free and dairy-free.

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 40 minutes mins

Course Main

Cuisine American

Servings 4 servings

Calories 301 kcal

Ingredients

 

US CustomaryMetric

 

1x2x3x

For the baked pork tenderloin

• 1 pound 1 pork tenderloin 1 strip
• 1 tablespoon avocado oil or olive oil
• 2 teaspoons smoked paprika powder
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon cumin powder
• 1 teaspoon salt

For the apple compote

• 1 tablespoon avocado oil or olive oil
• 3 medium apples peeled, cored, chopped
• 2 tablespoons coconut sugar
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice fresh or bottled
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• ½ cup water

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Instructions

 

• Preheat the oven to 400°F /205°C.
• Place the pork tenderloin on a set of baking rack and a sheet pan. If you do not own a baking rack, you may also bake on a sheet pan directly, or a casserole works as well.
• Pierce holes all over the tenderloin using a fork. Then rub oil on all sides of the meat.
• In a small cup, combine the paprika powder, onion powder, garlic powder, cumin, and salt together. Rub the mix into the meat. 
• Bake for about 25 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 145°F.
• Make the apple compote while baking the tenderloin. Heat up 1 tablespoon avocado oil in a saucepan and cook the apples for about 3 minutes or until tender. Add in the coconut sugar, lemon juice, cinnamon and water and simmer over low heat for 5 minutes.
• Rest the cooked meat for 5 minutes before cutting in. Cut into 1 inch pieces and serve with the apple compote.

Notes

When doubling or tripling the recipe, multiple tenderloin strips can be baked in the oven at the same time, with the same baking time.

Nutrition

Serving: 1Calories: 301kcalCarbohydrates: 27gProtein: 24gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0.04gCholesterol: 74mgSodium: 658mgPotassium: 647mgFiber: 4gSugar: 19gVitamin A: 577IUVitamin C: 9mgCalcium: 31mgIron: 2mg

The nutritional information on this website is only an estimate and is provided for convenience and as a courtesy only. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.

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