Grilled pork tenderloin – tender, easy and healthy!

Grilled pork tenderloin cooks in just 15 minutes! This easy, healthy BBQ recipe is fork tender, packed with crispy flavor and foolproof.

One of my favorite cuts of meat for my family’s diet is pork tenderloin. Not only is it inexpensive and versatile, but also pork tenderloin really rivals filet mignon in the fork-tender department, especially when it’s grilled.

Still, grilled pork tenderloin is a hit, a home run—what other sports analogies can I cite—a touchdown (!!) in the incredibly juicy and delicious department. Best of all, this pork tenderloin recipe is foolproof and ready in under 15 minutes!

Easy grilled pork tenderloin

Grilled pork tenderloin – how do I love you? let me count the ways It is…

1. foolproof. Whether you have a gas grill or charcoal grill, are a seasoned griller or new to grilling, this recipe simply WORKS. every time Seared and sizzling on the outside, juicy and tender on the inside.
2. forked tender. Growing up, roast pork had to be cooked to 160 degrees, aka shoe leather. The USDA has since updated its guidelines and pork tenderloin only needs to be cooked to an internal temperature of 145 degrees, so it’s juicy, tender and delicious.
3. Affordable. My grocery store sells pork tenderloin for $3.99/lb and I can comfortably feed my family of five on about 1 1/2 pounds. Paired with grilled vegetables like asparagus or zucchini, this is a relatively inexpensive dinner option.
4. Simply! You don’t have to marinate the pork tenderloin first, just season it with your favorite spices and then put it on the grill. I actually prefer a dry seasoning over a marinade with things like brown sugar, honey, or maple syrup because you don’t run the risk of burning the marinade on the grill. If you want to add sweetness, add it in the form of a gravy when serving the grilled pork tenderloin.

Pork tenderloin vs. pork loin

I think it’s very important to note that pork tenderloin is not the same as pork tenderloin.

• Pork tenderloin: This lean cut of meat comes from the muscle that runs along the animal’s backbone.
• pork loin: This cut is larger and is from the back of the animal. It is usually slow cooked in the oven as a whole roast.

That is, while you may If you want to grill pork tenderloin, it would need to be grilled at a lower temperature and for much longer than pork tenderloin because it is a much larger and thicker cut of meat.

The secret to perfect grilled pork tenderloin

Are you ready for this?! The secret to juicy, perfectly grilled pork tenderloin is Two-zone grilling. This means that once your grill is nice and hot, you push the hot coals to one side of the grill if you’re using a charcoal grill, or turn half the burners on low if you’re using a gas grill to create a grill direct heat side And indirect heat side.

First sear the outsides of the pork tenderloin on the direct-heat side of the grill, then place on the indirect-heat side of the grill to finish cooking.

That’s it! I’ll show you how to do it below. 🙂 🙂

Tips for perfect grilled pork tenderloin

1. Prepare the grill. Before grilling, make sure your grill is piping hot. I heat mine to 450-500 degrees before creating the two heat zones.
2. Keep the lid closed. This is sooo important! Keep the grill lid closed while turning the pork tenderloin. The indirect heat side of the grill uses the direct heat side to create an oven-like atmosphere inside the grill. If the lid is left open, all heat is lost.
3. Use a digital thermometer. Although a bit pricey, we love this digital thermometer and have been using the same for years. It really holds up and is incredibly accurate.
4. Let the meat rest. This is another top tip for perfectly grilled pork tenderloin: let the meat rest for at least 10 minutes before slicing it up or else the juice will spill all over and the pork will be dry.

I like to cut the grilled pork into 1/2 inch thick slices and they’re really fork tender. When we make pork sandwiches, I slice the fillet very thinly and then stack them on buns. Either way, you can’t go wrong with this recipe – try it once and you’ll make it again and again!

(Looking for more BBQ recipes? Try my Perfect Grilled Steak, Grilled Chicken Salad, or Grilled Chicken with Sweet Chili and Coconut Lime!)

How to grill pork tenderloin

Step 1: Prepare the pork tenderloin

Start trimming a 1-1/2 pounds of pork tenderloin Remove any silver skins or membranes that may be present and then brush them all over with it Extra virgin olive oil or vegetable oil and sprinkle on top if you like Spices.

I usually go with mine homemade seasoning salt which contains garlic and onion powder, salt and paprika pepperHowever, you can use any spices.

Step 2: Prepare the grill

Heat your grill until it reaches between 450 and 500 degrees. When you use a gas grill, all the burners are burning! This can take up to 10 minutes.

This is an XL Big Green Egg and we use its natural hardwood charcoal.

Step 3: Prepare the two zones

Once the grill is hot, shift the charcoal to one side of the grill if using a charcoal grill.

If using a gas grill, turn half or one-third of the burners (depending on how many burners you have) on low.

Step 4: Grill the pork tenderloin

1. Place the pork tenderloin on the direct heat side of the grill and grill 1 1/2 minutes on all four sides (Think of the pork tenderloin as rectangular rather than circular.) Keep the lid closed between turning.
2. Place the fillet on the indirect heat side of the grill and grill it there 4 minutes on each of the two larger sides (You will sear 4 sides in step 1 above, but 2 sides will end up getting fatter/flatter) or until an instant read thermometer or meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the fillet reads 145 degrees. Again, keep the lid closed between flipping.

How long does it take to grill the pork tenderloin?

Between searing, which takes 6 minutes total (1 1/2 minutes on each of the four sides), and the indirect cooking step, which takes 8 minutes (4 minutes on each of the two larger sides), you should have perfectly grilled pork tenderloin in 14 minutes!

Step 5: Let the pork fillet rest

Remove the pork tenderloin from the grill, place it on a platter or cutting board (something with a lip to catch any juice that may spill out), and let sit for at least 10 minutes before slicing.

I usually use this time to grill sliced ​​zucchini, asparagus or corn on the cob. Thanks to the BBQ – dinner is ready! I call washing up!

Serve the grilled pork tenderloin with BBQ sauce, Bachan’s Japanese BBQ sauce, chimichurri sauce, or… ketchup if you’re my 6-year-old. 😉

storage tips

Store leftover pork tenderloin in an airtight container or wrapped in foil in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. It’s really delicious cold, so I usually eat the slices right out of the fridge. Otherwise, you can reheat it in the air fryer or in the microwave.

Chop up leftover grilled pork tenderloin then add to Easy Fried Rice, Thai Crunch Salad, Cauliflower Fried Rice, BBQ Cheddar Quesadillas or even Enchiladas. It can actually replace chicken for protein in most meals.

However you serve it, I hope you LOVE this easy, delicious, inexpensive, and foolproof Grilled Pork Tenderloin Recipe! Enjoy!

What to serve with grilled pork tenderloin

Photos by Ashley McLaughlin