Honey garlic glazed grilled pork tenderloin is bursting with great flavor. Get a company-worthy pork tenderloin with these easy step by step photo instructions.
Editor's note: Originally published June 20, 2015. Updated with expanded instructions and update photos.
I love grilled pork tenderloin, and I have lots of variations. It's a great "cooking for two" meal and is always a step up from a pork chop. I started with a nice honey garlic glaze coating and carefully grilled to get this great variation.
My Rating
A nice strong four heading to a five. My wife, who was not hungry, had two servings.
Pro Tips: Recipe Notes for Honey Garlic Grilled Pork Tenderloin
About Pork Tenderloins
The tenderloin refers to the psoas muscle along the lower back. It is chicken tenders in the chicken or beef tenderloin (filet mignon) in cattle. The psoas is generally most tender cut since it is not used for movement.
I always think of a pork tenderloin as having three sides since they are almost triangular in shape. So a "flip" is just a third of a turn, not 180 degrees.
But please note that pork lion is different and must be cooked differently. Pork loins will weigh 5 pounds or so. Most pork tenderloins are about 1 1/2 pounds. Please do not confuse the two.
Should You Brine?
You can if you want, but tenderloin is not nearly as needly of brine as pork chops or pork loin.
If you decide to brine, I suggest 2 cups of water with 2 tablespoons salt for 1-2 hours in the refrigerator. Be sure to rinse well when done and pat dry. Also, be sure to use low sodium soy sauce if you brine.
About the Grill
Grill surface temperature needs to be about 450. You can not cook this on high heat. It doesn't work well for thicker meat, and especially with the honey, you will burn the outside before the inside is cooked.
Please see A Beginners Guide to Grill Temperature on a Gas Grill for details about grill surface temperatures.
Can I use charcoal? Yep, but you need to create a cooler zone for the tenderloin. And remember you are cooking to a final internal temperature.
When is the Tenderloin Done?
I like a touch of pink, which is about 145 and takes about 25 minutes. Do not cook by time alone. Use a thermometer. Time to get to your final temperature varies by weight of the tenderloin, exact surface temperature of the grill, and the tenderloin at the start.
Your cooking time will vary so cook to final temperature NOT BY TIME ALONE.
Other Pork Tenderloin Variations
How to Grill a Pork Tenderloin on a Gas Grill
Alton Browns Chipotle Lime Pork Tenderloin
Cinnamon Honey Grilled Pork Tenderloin
Preheat grill to a surface temperature of about 450 degrees. Clean and oil well.
Mix honey, soy sauce, and garlic powder.
Trim pork tenderloin of any silverskin and membrane.
Brush the honey glaze on the tenderloin.
Place over direct heat on the grill. Grill for five minutes, rotate one-third then brush the grilled side with more honey mixture. Repeat this twice more. Then continue to grill and rotating every 5 minutes until an internal temperature of 145 to 150. A total cooking time of 25-30 minutes. Be sure to cook to the final internal temperature and not by time.
Allow to rest for 5 minutes before cutting.
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Honey Garlic Glazed Grilled Pork Tenderloin
Ingredients
- 1 pork tenderloin
Honey Glaze
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- Preheat grill to a surface temperature of about 450 degrees which is medium to medium high on most grills. Clean and oil well.
- Mix two tablespoons of honey, one tablespoon soy sauce, and 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder.
- Trim pork tenderloin of any silverskin and membrane.
- Brush the honey glaze on the tenderloin.
- Place over direct heat on the grill. Grill for five minutes, rotate one-third then brush the grilled side with more honey mixture. Repeat this twice more.
- Continue to grill and rotate every 5 minutes until an internal temperature of about 145 or your taste. A total cooking time of 25-30 minutes usually. Be sure to cook to the final internal temperature and not by time.
- Allow to rest for 5 minutes before cutting.
Recipe Notes
Pro Tips
- Brine if you want. I suggest 2 cups of water and 12 tablespoons salt. Refrigerate for 1-2 hours. Rinse well and pat dry. Use low sodium soy sauce if you brine.
- Think of a pork tenderloin as having three sides since they are almost triangular in shape. So a "flip" is a 1/3 rotation.
- Be sure you understand grill surface temperature, or you will burn the outside of the pork before the middle is done. A grill surface thermometer is highly recommended.
- NOT BY TIME ALONE. You are cooking to a final internal temperature. There are variables of the weight and thickness of the tenderloin, the tenderloin starting temperature, and your grill.
Nutrition
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