Tabetha's Table

  • Recipes
  • Tips & Tricks
  • Secret Ingredients
  • About
  • Contact
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Tips & Tricks
  • Secret Ingredients
  • About
  • Contact
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipes
  • Tips & Tricks
  • Secret Ingredients
  • About
  • Contact
×
Home » Recipes » Recipes

Smoked Pork Tenderloin

Published: Dec 19, 2022 · Modified: Nov 22, 2024 by Tabetha Klein · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

Smoked pork tenderloin is a delicious, melt-in-your-mouth main dish that is so often overlooked. Covered in the perfect spice blend, and smoked to perfection, this is not one to be missed! Smoking your pork tenderloin is a great way to add even more delicious flavor to this versatile cut of meat. With its tender texture and mild flavor, pork tenderloin is a favorite among home cooks and professional chefs alike. 

Pork Tenderloin Covered in a Spice Blend
Jump to:
  • 🛒 Ingredients
  • 📖 Instructions
  • 👩🏼‍🍳 Chef Tip
  • 💭 Fun Facts
  • 🥗 Sides
  • 📖 Recipe
  • 💬 Comments

🛒 Ingredients

  • Pork Tenderloins
  • Olive Oil
  • Chili Powder
  • Chipotle Powder
  • Garlic Powder
  • Paprika
  • Oregano
  • Onion Powder
  • Fresh Ground Pepper
  • Kosher Salt

📖 Instructions

🌶 The Rub

Raw Pork Tenderloin surrounded by spices

Using pantry ingredients, we made a spice rub that pairs perfectly with our pork. The chili powder gives this rub a little kick without being spicy, and the cocoa powder adds a deep flavor you can't quite put your finger on but makes a big difference! 

When making your rub, keep in mind you won't add any salt directly into the blend. This is intentional so you can control the amount of rub you add, without losing the ability to season your pork tenderloin with salt appropriately. Different cuts of meat will require more or less salt, so I like to leave the salting to me. 

Pork Spice Rub in a Bowl

🔥 Pan Searing & Then Smoking

For the optimal amount of flavor, you will want to pan-sear your pork tenderloins first. Using a cast iron skillet, sear your pork in olive oil on very high heat. This will only take a few minutes on each side but will give you a crust that is absolutely exploding with flavor.

Pork Tenderloin Searing in a Pan

Keep in mind that at an internal temperature of 145 degrees, the pork will still be slightly pink in the middle which is just fine! Note: This recipe is 100% adaptable to being finished in a standard oven as well. 

Pork Tenderloin Seared in a Pan

Due to the thickness of pork tenderloins, they will need to finish cooking until they reach an internal temperature of 145. This is where the smoker comes in! We recommend setting your smoker to 350 and using a Hickory blend of pellets for the most tender & flavorful outcome. 

We personally use our Camp Chef pellet grill which we highly recommend. It's easy to set the temperature and walk away without fiddling with it. Any smoker will do though!

Letting Your Tenderloin Rest

Once you remove your pork from the smoker, don't forget to let it sit and rest for a few minutes. There is heated debate about the juicy redistributing throughout the meat, but I have personally found it helps. 

Searing Pork Tenderloin Resting on a Cutting Board before Slicing

Keep in mind, you will still see juice while slicing. Just make sure to save as much of that as possible to drizzle back onto the meat after slicing. It's absolutely full of flavor! 

👩🏼‍🍳 Chef Tip

#1 A while back the USDA changed the recommended internal temperature for pork from 160 degrees to 145 degrees. That means a little pink in the middle is okay! If you are still a little nervous, get yourself an instant-read thermometer to calm those nerves!

#2 This recipe can also be made in a standard oven and still taste amazing!

#3 We love our pellet smoker! We started with a Traeger and recently moved to Camp Chef. It's like having an outdoor oven that adds flavor as you cook. Highly recommend having one around at Thanksgiving!

💭 Fun Facts

Pork Tenderloin is a very lean cut of meat and contains less fat than a lot of other cuts of pork. It's also super tender and has a mild flavor that is not overpowering.

Whether you decide to smoke, grill, roast, or sautée, the cooking time remains relatively low. Making it a great option for busy home cooks. It's also a relatively inexpensive cut of meat, especially when compared to other large cuts of beef or even seafood. This makes it a budget-friendly option for sure! 

🥗 Sides

We recommend serving your smoked pork tenderloin alongside smoked vegetables, mac & cheese, grilled corn, or a fresh salad. Regardless, it's sure to be a favorite with your family and friends and will become a regular addition to your meal planning.

Pork Tenderloin Plated with Mac & Cheese, and Smoked Veggies

Smoking pork tenderloin is a simple and delicious way to add a new dimension of flavor to this versatile & inexpensive cut of meat. Give it a try and see for yourself how easy and tasty it can be!

📖 Recipe

Pork Tenderloin being Sliced.

Smoked Pork Tenderloin

Smoked pork tenderloin is a delicious, melt-in-your-mouth dish that is so often overlooked. Covered in the perfect spice blend, and smoked to perfection, this dish is not one to be missed!
3 ratings (Click stars to rate)
Recipe by - Tabetha Klein
Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Saved!
Prep Time 5 minutes mins
Cook Time 40 minutes mins
Total Time 45 minutes mins
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 6 people
Calories 804 kcal

Equipment

  • Smoker
  • Sheet Tray
  • Large Saute Pan
  • Tongs
  • Cutting Board
  • Knife
  • Paper Towels

Ingredients
  

  • 2 Pork Tenderloins
  • 3 tablespoon Olive Oil

Spice Blend

  • 1 tablespoon Chili Powder
  • 1 tablespoon Chipotle Powder
  • 1 tablespoon Garlic Powder
  • 1 tablespoon Paprika
  • 1 tablespoon Oregano
  • 1 teaspoon Onion Powder
  • 1 teaspoon Fresh Ground Pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon Kosher Salt

Instructions
 

  • Create your spice blend by mixing together all the spices EXCLUDING your kosher salt & fresh ground pepper.
  • Pat down your pork tenderloins with a paper towel until dry.
  • Season liberally with kosher salt & fresh ground pepper.
  • Next add your seasoning, making sure to flip your tenderloin and cover all sides.
  • Set a large saute pan or cast iron skillet on high heat, letting it get very hot.
  • Add enough olive oil to coat the bottom of the pan and then add your tenderloin.
  • Don't move it around, rather, let is sit and sear for 2-3 minutes or until it has a nice brown crust.
  • Flip and repeat the same process on the other side.
  • Once browned on all sides, move to a sheet tray lined with foil and move out to your smoker.
  • Smoke at 350 degrees for 10-20 minutes or until the center has reached 145 (it will still be slightly pink in the center which is just fine!).
  • Remove, slice, and enjoy!

Nutrition

Calories: 804kcalCarbohydrates: 3gProtein: 126gFat: 29gSaturated Fat: 8gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 13gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 393mgSodium: 457mgPotassium: 2468mgFiber: 2gSugar: 0.4gVitamin A: 896IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 63mgIron: 7mg
Keyword bbq, pork, smoked
Tried this recipe?Mention @tabethas.table!

More Recipes

  • smoker asparagus on parchment paper with garlic slices
    Easy Smoked Asparagus with Garlic & Hot Honey
  • plater of smoked baked potatoes piled with butter, sour cream, green onions and bacon
    Smoked Baked Potatoes with Chipotle & Garlic Oil
  • smoked garlic cooking in a cast iron pot on a smoker with fresh thyme and red peper flakes
    Easy Smoked Garlic Recipe Using Peeled Cloves
  • Pomegranate Margarita garnished with lime wedge and a cinnamon stick
    Pomegranate Margarita with Cinnamon Sugar Rim

Comments

No Comments

5 from 3 votes (3 ratings without comment)

Did you make this recipe? Let me know! Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Want to up your cooking game?

Sign up for our monthly newsletter and you'll also get a list of my Top Secret Ingredients that I use to level up my food!

GET THE LIST NOW!
Tabetha with Tabetha's Table

My journey began at Le Cordon Bleu, where my love of cooking and subsequently teaching really baked in. This is me pouring out what I've learned over the years and sharing it with the world. We are so glad you're here and hope you find something delicious while you're at it.

More about me →

Game Day Favorites

  • Chip being dipped into a pan of queso
    Smoked Queso Dip Recipes: Three Easy Variations to Make
  • Shrimp and guacamole on top of a spicy pita chip garnished with cojita cheese
    Jalapeno Shrimp Appetizer
  • Smoked Jalapeno Poppers on parchment paper with lime and dip
    Smoked Jalapeno Poppers: Bacon-Wrapped Goodness
  • Spicy Shrimp Queso in a bowl
    Spicy Jalapeno Shrimp Queso
See all of our Appetizers

Footer

↑ back to top

About

  • Privacy Policy

Subscribe

  • Subscribe for our Secret Ingredients

Contact

  • Contact

Copyright © 2024 Tabetha's Table

Rate This Recipe

Your vote:




A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required

Recipe Ratings without Comment

Something went wrong. Please try again.