• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
101 Cooking For Two
  • RECIPES
  • About
  • FAQs/Help
  • Shop
  • Chicken Recipes
menu icon
go to homepage
  • RECIPES
  • About
  • FAQs/Help
  • Shop
  • Chicken Recipes
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • RECIPES
    • About
    • FAQs/Help
    • Shop
    • Chicken Recipes
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    🏠Home » Recipes » Pork Tenderloin Recipes

    Honey Garlic Pork Tenderloin on a Grill (or Oven)

    Jul 20, 2019 · Modified: Jan 31, 2023 by Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan · 1 Comment

    Recipe Table of Contents    
    4.10 from 32 votes

    Honey garlic pork tenderloin is juicy, tender, and bursting with incredible flavor. Quick and easy on your grill but also simple in the oven. Get a company-worthy pork tenderloin with these easy step-by-step photo instructions.

    grilled pork tenderloin cut on white plate
    Jump To:
    • 😊Why you will love this recipe
    • 👨‍🍳How to cook honey garlic pork tenderloin
    • 👨‍🍳Oven instructions
    • ⏲️How long to grill
    • 🐖Pork Tenderloin
    • ♨️The Grill
    • ❓FAQs
    • 📖Pork Tenderloin Recipes
    • 🖼️Step-by-Step Photo Instructions
    • Recipe
    Blue ribbon divider used for visual effect

    😊Why you will love this recipe

    • Great honey garlic glaze that is easy to use with only three ingredients.
    • Simple on the grill but can easily be done in the oven.
    • The perfect size for "cooking for two" or smaller households but easy to scale up to a party.
    • The whole family will love the tasty dinner.
    • Super tender, but you can brine it if you want

    👨‍🍳How to cook honey garlic pork tenderloin

    • Preheat the grill to a surface temperature of about 450°, which is medium to medium-high on most grills. Clean and oil grates 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 exposed sides 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 is usually 25-30 minutes.
    • Allow to rest for 5 minutes before cutting.

    👨‍🍳Oven instructions

    • Preheat oven to 375° convection or 400° conventional.
    • Prepare an oven-safe pan (grill pan with ridges preferred) with a coat of PAM cooking spray.
    • Prepare the tenderloin and the glaze the same as the grill instructions.
    • Bake in the oven for about 20-25 minutes, brushing with the glaze twice during baking—at about the 8 and 16-minute marks.
    • Remove when the tenderloin reaches your desired internal temperature—about 25 minutes. The temp will rise a few degrees after removal.
    • Oven baked times will otherwise be similar to the grill times. Smaller tenderloins may cook faster, and thick tenderloins will take longer to cook.

    ⏲️How long to grill

    The recommended medium rare internal temp of 145° will take about 25 minutes. Approximate times are for a 1 ½ pound pork tenderloin and a 450° grill surface temperature. The grilling time for a 2-pound pork tenderloin will usually be about 30 minutes.

    Cooked Pork LevelInternal TemperatureApprox. Grilling Time
    Rareless than 145°Not recommended
    Medium-Rare145°-150°22-27 minutes
    Medium150°-155°27-30 minutes
    Medium-Well155°-160°29+ minutes
    Well Done160°+Not recommended
    For pork chops, loin, and tenderloin. Times are approximate for planning; you must use an instant-read thermometer and never cook by time.

    Times are provided to help with planning but never cook by time; always cook to a final internal temperature.

    🐖Pork Tenderloin

    The tenderloin refers to the psoas muscle along the lower back. The psoas is generally the most tender cut since it is not used for movement. The psoas is the chicken tenders in the chicken or beef tenderloin (filet mignon) in cattle.

    location of pork tenderloin-Image licensed from Fotolia. Copyright by foxysgraphic - Fotolia. Image modified in accordance with the license.
    Image licensed from Fotolia. Copyright by foxysgraphic - Fotolia. Image was modified under the license.

    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 ½ 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.

    ♨️The Grill

    The 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.

    ❓FAQs

    Can I use pork loin instead of pork tenderloin?

    No, a pork loin is much bigger and will cook differently. If you want to use the glaze on pork loin, pork chops, or country-style boneless ribs, that will be fine but use the cooking instructions for those cuts.

    What to serve with garlic honey pork tenderloin?

    The sweet taste will go well with rice or potato side dishes. Roasted or grilled vegetables will also be an excellent addition.

    How to store and reheat leftover pork tenderloin.

    Store refrigerated for 3 days in an airtight container. You can also freeze for 3 months.

    To serve, cut up refrigerated leftovers for a tossed salad. Or reheat in the oven or microwave. If frozen, thaw overnight in the refrigerator.

    📖Pork Tenderloin Recipes

    How to Grill a Pork Tenderloin on a Gas Grill

    Alton Browns Chipotle Lime Pork Tenderloin

    The Best BBQ Pork Tenderloin - Memphis Style

    This recipe is listed in these categories. See them for more similar recipes.

    Easy Dinner Recipes, Grill Recipes, Pork Recipes, Pork Tenderloin Recipes
    Blue ribbon divider used for visual effect

    🖼️Step-by-Step Photo Instructions

    pork tenderlioin with garlic and honey

    Preheat the grill to a surface temperature of about 450°. Clean and oil well.

    mixing honey garlic glaze

    Mix honey, soy sauce, and garlic powder.

    trimmed pork tenderloin on white board

    Trim pork tenderloin of any silverskin and membrane.

    brushing glaze on pork tenderloin

    Brush the honey glaze on the tenderloin.

    placing pork tenderloin on the grill

    Place over direct heat on the grill. Grill for five minutes, rotate one-third, then brush the exposed sides with more honey mixture. Repeat this twice more. Then continue to grill and rotate every 5 minutes until an internal temperature of 145° to 150°. A total cooking time of about 22-27 minutes. Be sure to cook to the final internal temperature and not by time.

    grilled pork tenderloin on white plate

    Allow to rest for 5 minutes before cutting.

    graphic Subscribe to 101 Cooking for Two

    Recipe

    grilled pork tenderloin cut on white plate

    Honey Garlic Pork Tenderloin on a Grill (or Oven)

    From Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan
    Honey garlic pork tenderloin is juicy, tender, and bursting with incredible flavor. Quick and easy on your grill but also simple in the oven. Get a company-worthy pork tenderloin with these easy step-by-step photo instructions.
    Tap to leave a Rating
    4.10 from 32 votes
    Print Email CollectionCollected
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 25 minutes
    Total Time: 35 minutes
    Servings #/Adjust if desired 4

    Ingredients

    US Customary - Convert to Metric
    • 1 pork tenderloin

    Honey Glaze

    • 2 tablespoons honey
    • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
    • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • Preheat the grill to a surface temperature of about 450°. Clean and oil well.
      Note: Additional instructions for oven baking are in the recipe notes below.
      pork tenderlioin with garlic and honey
    • Mix two tablespoons of honey, one tablespoon soy sauce, and ½ teaspoon garlic powder.
      mixing honey garlic glaze
    • Trim pork tenderloin of any silverskin and membrane.
      trimmed pork tenderloin on white board
    • Brush the honey glaze on the tenderloin.
      brushing glaze on pork tenderloin
    • Place over direct heat on the grill. Grill for five minutes, rotate one-third, then brush the exposed sides with more honey mixture. Repeat this twice more. Then continue to grill and rotate every 5 minutes until an internal temperature of 145° to 150°. A total cooking time of about 22-27 minutes. Be sure to cook to the final internal temperature and not by time.
      placing pork tenderloin on the grill
    • 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.
      grilled pork tenderloin on white plate
    • Allow to rest for 5 minutes before cutting.
    See the step-by-step photos in the post. Some recipes have an option to display the photos here with a switch above these instructions but the photos DO NOT print.

    Your Own Private Notes

    Click here to save your own private notes only you will see. These will print and be saved for your next visit.
    Blue ribbon divider used for visual effect

    Recipe Notes

    Pro Tips

    1. Brine if you want. If you decide to brine, I suggest 2 cups of water and 2 tablespoons of salt. Refrigerate for 1-2 hours. Rinse well and pat dry. Use low sodium soy sauce if you brine.
    2. Think of a pork tenderloin as having three sides since they are almost triangular in shape. So a "flip" is a ⅓ rotation.
    3. 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.
    4. 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.

    Additional Oven Baking Instructions

    1. Preheat oven to 375° convection or 400° conventional.
    2. Prepare an oven-safe pan (grill pan with ridges preferred) with a coat of PAM cooking spray.
    3. Prepare the tenderloin and the glaze the same as the grill instructions.
    4. Bake in the oven for about 20-25 minutes brushing with the glaze twice during baking—at about the 8 and the 16-minute marks.
    5. Remove when the tenderloin reaches your desired internal temperature—about 25 minutes. The temp will rise a few degrees after removal.
    6. Oven baked times will otherwise be similar to the grill times. Smaller tenderloins may cook faster, and thick tenderloins will take longer to cook.

    To adjust the recipe size:

    You may adjust the number of servings in this recipe card under servings. This does the math for the ingredients for you. BUT it does NOT adjust the text of the instructions. So you need to do that yourself.

    Nutrition Estimate

    Nutrition Facts
    Honey Garlic Pork Tenderloin on a Grill (or Oven)
    Amount Per Serving
    Calories 236 Calories from Fat 54
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 6g9%
    Saturated Fat 2g10%
    Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
    Monounsaturated Fat 3g
    Cholesterol 111mg37%
    Sodium 227mg9%
    Potassium 622mg18%
    Carbohydrates 9g3%
    Sugar 8g9%
    Protein 36g72%
    Vitamin A 20IU0%
    Vitamin C 2.5mg3%
    Calcium 10mg1%
    Iron 2.2mg12%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    Serving size is my estimate of a normal size unless stated otherwise. The number of servings per recipe is stated above. This is home cooking, and there are many variables. All nutritional information are estimates and may vary from your actual results. To taste ingredients such as salt will be my estimate of the average used.
    Course : Main Course
    Cuisine : American

    © 101 Cooking for Two, LLC. All content and photographs are copyright protected by us or our vendors. While we appreciate your sharing our recipes, please realize copying, pasting, or duplicating full recipes to any social media, website, or electronic/printed media is strictly prohibited and a violation of our copyrights.

    Editor's note: Originally published June 20, 2015. Updated with expanded options, refreshed photos, and a table of contents to help navigation.

    Molly and Lilly with pink puppy

    More Pork Tenderloin Recipes

    • Pork Tenderloin with Potatoes and Carrots on a blue plate
      Pork Tenderloin with Potatoes and Carrots
    • park carnitas taco on a white plate-2
      Pork Tenderloin Carnitas
    • Pork Tenderloin Sandwich on white plate
      Oven Fried Pork Tenderloin Sandwiches
    • grilled tenderloin cut to show done interior
      How to Grill a Pork Tenderloin

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a Comment (Policy Link in Footer) Cancel reply

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

      Recipe Rating




      This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    1. Eric Tivers

      December 25, 2020 at 6:51 pm

      5 stars
      I’ve never made a pork tenderloin before this, and this has literally become one of my favorite things to make. I’ve made it 4 times now in the last 2 months. It’s so good. I usually make more of the sauce.

      Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    DrDan image Hi, I’m DrDan, and welcome to 101 Cooking for Two, the home of great everyday recipes with easy-to-follow step-by-step photo instructions. About DrDan

    Join the club
    SUBSCRIBE TODAY

    Steak, Steak, and More Steak

    • cut ribeye steak on a gray plate
      How to Grill a Ribeye Steak on the Grill
    • filtet mignon with potatoes on a white plate
      Pan Seared Oven Roasted Filet Mignon
    • Grilled filet mignon on a white plate
      How to Grill Filet Mignon
    • NY strip steak cut on an orange plate
      Pan Seared Oven Roasted Strip Steak
    • a strip steak with grill marks on a gray plate
      How to Grill Strip Steak on a Gas Grill
    • porterhouse steak with fries on blue plate
      Grilled T-bone Steak and Porterhouse Steak

    Chicken, Chicken, and More Chicken

    • pile of chicken legs on a white plate
      Baked Chicken Legs - Quick and Easy
    • Large plage of chicken thighs
      Oven Baked Chicken Thighs
    • cut baked chicken on white plate
      How to Bake Chicken Breasts in a Convection Oven
    • Grilled Chicken Breasts on a blue plate
      How to Grill Chicken Breasts on a Gas Grill
    • grilled chicken drumsticks on a grill
      Grilled Chicken Drumsticks - Quick and Easy
    • grilled chicken thigh with some char
      Grilled Chicken Thighs on a Grill
    graphic of sites that I work with or have had recipes featured or referenced.
    SITES THAT I WORK WITH OR HAVE HAD RECIPES FEATURED OR REFERENCED.

    Footer

    ↑ back to top ↑

    About

    • About DrDan and the Blog
    • Business Questions
    • Comment Policy

    Content

    • Food FAQ
    • Kitchen Reference Sheets
    • Recipes Featured in the Videos
    • Guide To Cooking for Two
    • Saved Recipes Collections

    dogs by the pond

    Privacy Policy | Terms | Contact

    COPYRIGHT © 2010-2023 101 COOKING FOR TWO. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | BASED ON FOODIE PRO THEME