This easy air fryer pork tenderloin recipe produces perfect, juicy tenderloin with minimal effort. Perfect for special occasions, or a weeknight dinner.
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I've always associated pork tenderloin with a fancy, special occasion dinner, but this recipe is actually easy enough to make for a quick and easy weeknight meal. If you like this recipe, you might also love my air fryer steak, air fryer pork chops, air fryer meatballs or air fryer breaded chicken recipes.
Discover more air fryer pork recipes!
Pork tenderloin
Pork tenderloin, also called pork fillet, is a long cut of pork, and often referred to as the most tender cut of pork.
Pork tenderloin can be bought either raw, or pre-marinated. In this recipe I share with you my favorite easy spice rub that you can use with plain pork tenderloin, but the air fryer instructions will also work for marinated meat.
This dish can be enjoyed as an entree for dinner, or you can eat it in a sandwich for breakfast or lunch.
Instructions
Remove any excess fat or silverskin from the tenderloin. Rub it thorouhly with olive oil and the seasoning.
Preheat the air fryer to 400 °F / 200 °C. Spray the inside with an olive oil spray to prevent the pork tenderloin from sticking to the air fryer basket.
Air fry the meat for about 20 minutes, or until it reaches an internal temperature of 145 °F / 63 °C. Use a meat thermometer. Remove the pork from the air fryer, and leave it to rest for 3 minutes before you slice and serve it.
Top tips
Here is all of my best advice to help you succeed with this easy, but fantastic recipe:
- Use a meat thermometer to avoid overcooking the meat.
- The tenderloin will be much juicier if you allow it to rest for a few minutes before you slice it. This helps the juices soak back into the meat.
- Slice the meat against the grain, not with it. This trick helps to make any meat tender.
Serving suggestions
Serve air fryer pork tenderloin as a roast dinner with all the fixings; honey roasted potatoes, roasted broccoli and carrots, sauteed spinach, honey sriracha brussels sprouts and a delicious sauce.
You can also serve it with a variety of other sides, such as dill rice, air fryer potato wedges, a lovely strawberry pineapple salsa or a light pear and walnut salad.
Seasoning alternatives
Although the paprika + garlic combo is absolutely amazing, you can also use a variety of other seasoning options to suit your preferences. I like to choose seasoning based on which side dishes I want to enjoy the tenderloin with. Here are some of my favorites:
- BBQ spice rub
- Smoked paprika, garlic, cayenne pepper
- Lemon juice, olive oil, rosemary and garlic
- Sea salt and coarse ground black pepper
Leftovers
Store leftover pork tenderloin in a refrigerator for up to 2 days. You can dice up the meat and use it in sandwiches, salads, casseroles or other dishes, or simply reheat it in a microwave and serve for lunch or dinner.
Keep in mind that reheated meat tends to be slightly drier than the first time cooking it. I therefore recommend serving the leftovers with a nice sauce, to prevent it from tasting dry.
Frequently asked questions
Tenderloin is a muscle that is rarely used, which makes it one of the most tender cuts of pork you can buy.
A pork tenderloin is typically about 12 inches or 30 cm long. They typically weigh about one pound, or 450 g.
Recipe
Air Fryer Pork Tenderloin
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pork tenderloin
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Remove any excess fat or silverskin from the tenderloin. Rub it thorouhly with olive oil and the seasoning.
- Preheat the air fryer to 400 °F / 200 °C. Spray the inside with an olive oil spray to prevent the pork tenderloin from sticking to the air fryer basket.
- Air fry the meat for about 20 minutes, or until it reaches an internal temperature of 145 °F / 63 °C. Use a meat thermometer. Remove the pork from the air fryer, and leave it to rest for 3 minutes before you slice and serve it.
Notes
- Use a meat thermometer to avoid overcooking the meat.
- The tenderloin will be much juicier if you allow it to rest for a few minutes before you slice it. This helps the juices soak back into the meat.
- Slice the meat against the grain, not with it. This trick helps to make any meat tender.
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