BBQ pork tenderloin is outstanding and is the best grill pork tenderloin—period. Moist, tender, and the most wonderful sweet-spicy taste of Memphis BBQ. This will become your top recipe for company grilling.
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Introduction and My Rating
This is the most common recipe people will claim as their all-time favorite from my site. It had a special spot on my site for years as "My One Must Try Recipe." And I called it the best meal I had ever grilled at the time and it probably still is. It really is that good.
I'm claiming a dream sequence for this one. I only had a few hours of sleep the night before; I lay down for a few minutes with dinner on my mind. I had a pork tenderloin in the refrigerator for dinner but no plans. I should do another one for my grilled pork tenderloin series, but I had done no research.
So, what to do with that tenderloin? I really would like more of my Memphis BBQ sauce, but on what? Just grill the thing and dump sauce on it?
But out of my drowsiness came the memory of wanting to try dry rub Memphis ribs sometime. I have seen them over and over on the various cooking show. Well, my half-awake self-decided to use the rib rub on the tenderloin. I obviously have my best ideas when I'm not really with it.
My Rating
At the time of the original, I rated it 9.7, which was the highest ever at that time—an absolute top-rated recipe.
🐖Pork Tenderloin
Start with well-trimmed pork tenderloin. You need to get th,e silverskin and any other membranes off so the brine and the dry rub can do their thing.
Image licensed from Fotolia. Copyright by foxysgraphic - Fotolia. Image modified in accordance with the license.
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. Please be sure you have a pork tenderloin and not a pork loin.
🧂The Brine
Brine for a few hours to make that already moist and tender meat cut with a fork. I'm suggesting a very simple brine of salt and some brown sugar. We will pick up most of the flavors in the rub.
The brine is optional but will increase the tenderness some and prevent drying on the grill. If you use the brine, make the rub without the salt.
🥣The Rub
Memphis BBQ is sweet and spicy. Very similar to Kansas City or St. Louis BBQ. But my favorite is Memphis.
I like to add the dry rub for a few hours and allow it to penetrate, and flavor the meat. Then I suggest adding a bit more just before cooking.
You can vary the rub for your taste if you want, but I highly recommend the rub as written. Also, I generally make up 2-3 times as much as I need for later use. It will last for up to 6 months sealed airtight and preferably in a dark place.
There is a range for the cayenne pepper. I suggest most people will prefer the lower end of the range. Skip if you want, but Memphis BBQ usually has a touch of mild heat in all that great spice.
♨️The Grill
Almost any gas grill will do. We want a grill surface temperature of 450° to a maximum of 500°. For most grills, that is a little over half power.
For help on grill surface temperature, please see my A Beginners Guide to Grill Temperature on a Gas Grill.
Let the tenderloin rest at room temp for 30 minutes before grilling. This allows you to get to the correct internal temperature easier without overcooking the spicy crust.
Charcoal should be fine. Just don't crank up the heat all the way and watch the temperature.
Of course, preheat, clean and brush with vegetable oil to prevent sticking due to the sugar in the rub.
🖊️ Tips
Pork tenderloin is not round, flat, nor even square — it is a triangle, so there are three sides. Whether cooking on a grill or in a pan, cook three sides and don't force it into a shape that is not natural.
There are some things you can skip in this technique, but each of them contributes to the outstanding final results. You will decrease results a tiny bit with each omission. The possible omissions are the brine, the rub waiting time, and the rest at room temperature before grilling.
📖Related Recipes
How to Grill a Pork Tenderloin on a Gas Grill
Grilled Pork Tenderloin Sandwiches - Memphis Style
Grilled Memphis Boneless Pork Ribs
How to Grill Baby Back Ribs on a Gas Grill
Rubs and Sauces
Memphis Barbecue Sauce – A Wonderful Thing
Marlowe's Black Magic Seasoning
🖼️Photo Instructions
Start with a simple brine. 4 cups cold water, 4 tablespoons table salt, 3 tablespoons brown sugar. Mix well in a one-gallon food storage bag.
Trim pork tenderloin of any silver skin, lose fat and membranes.
Add the tenderloin to the brine and refrigerate for 1 to 4 hours.
Mix the Memphis dry rub: 2 tablespoons paprika, 1 tablespoon brown sugar, 1 teaspoon black pepper, ½ teaspoon chili powder, ¼ to ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper, ½ teaspoon dry mustard, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon kosher salt - only add if not brining.
When the tenderloin is done brining, rinse under running water and pat dry with a paper towel. This will remove the brine salt from the surface.
Place on a piece of plastic wrap about 6 inches longer than the tenderloin. Rub all sides of the tenderloin well with the rub reserving about ¼ of the rub for later.
Roll the tenderloin tightly in the plastic wrap, seal the ends and refrigerate for 1 -2 hours. Longer is OK.
Remove from refrigerator, unwrap and rub with the remainder of the rub on all sides and allow to rest at room temperature for 20-30 minutes. Preheat grill. You want a surface temp 450°- 500°. That is medium-high on most grills. Clean and oil the grill well. This last step is important, or it will stick.
Grill for 5-6 minutes per side and then decrease the heat a little and continue to flip about every 5-6 minutes until internal temp of 150°. About 25 minutes in total. Remember that a pork tenderloin has three sides.
Let rest for 5-10 minutes before cutting. Serve with Memphis BBQ sauce.
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📖 Recipe
The Best BBQ Pork Tenderloin – Memphis Style
Ingredients
- 1 ½ pound pork tenderloin
Brine
- 4 cups water
- 4 tablespoons table salt
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar
Dry Rub
- 2 tablespoons paprika
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- ¼ to ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ½ teaspoon dry mustard
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt - only add if not brining
Instructions
Start with a simple brine. 4 cups cold water, 4 tablespoons table salt, 3 tablespoons brown sugar. Mix well in an one-gallon food storage bag.- Trim a pork tenderloin of any silver skin, loose fat and membranes. Add the tenderloin to the brine and refrigerate for 1 to 4 hours.
- Mix the Memphis dry rub: 2 tablespoon paprika, 1 tablespoon brown sugar, 1 teaspoon black pepper, ½ teaspoon chili powder, ¼ to ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper, ½ teaspoon dry mustard, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon kosher salt - only add if not brining.
- When the tenderloin is done brining, rinse under running water and pat dry with a paper towel. This will remove the brine salt from the surface.
- Place on a piece of plastic wrap about 6 inches longer than the tenderloin. Rub all sides of the tenderloin well with the rub reserving about ¼ of the rub for later.
- Roll the tenderloin tightly in the plastic wrap, seal the ends and refrigerate for 1 -2 hours. Longer is OK.
- Remove from refrigerator, unwrap and rub with the remainder of the rub on all sides and allow to rest at room temp for 20-30 minutes.
- Preheat grill. You want a surface temp of 450°-500°. That is medium high on most grills. Clean and oil the grill well. This last step is important or it will stick.
Grill for 5-6 minutes per side and then decrease heat a little and continue to flip about every 5-6 minutes until internal temp of 145°-150°. About 25 minutes total. Let
Let rest for 5-10 minutes before cutting.
Recipe Notes
Pro Tips
- Be sure you have a pork tenderloin and not a pork loin.
- 1 teaspoon table salt = 1 ¼ teaspoon Morton kosher salt = 2 teaspoons Diamond Crystal kosher salt
- I like to make more rub and save for later. Store airtight in a dark area for up to 6 months.
- You can skip the brine, the time with the rub, and the rest to room temperature but all these things add something to the final results.
- Dry rubs and the sauce you use should complement each other. I suggest my Memphis sauce or another sweeter sauce like a Kansas City or St. Louis sauce. Not a Carolina vinegar-based sauce.
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
Editor note: This is a republishing of one of the best recipes on this site. It is a bit more work but not hard and so worth the extra work. Originally published May 2, 2010, and then redone with new pictures May 2, 2013. It was in need of a rewrite and re-editing of pictures. Now updated again with expanded options, refreshed photos, and a table of contents to help navigation.
Cindy D.
This was amazing. Prepared last night. It was raining so I cooked on top of the stove in my grill pan. Made the recipe just as it was written. Except, did not add any BBQ sauce at the table. Served with a tossed salad and the Crispy Parmesan Baked Potatoes from this site. A match made in heaven!!!
Bobby
I have tried this recipe with Two tenderloins and it was phenomenal. I now am doing ten for family gathering. Can you brine the night before and take them out and do the rub the next morning?
Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan
Hi Bobby,
Welcome to the blog. Glad you are enjoying on of my favorites.
Yes, you can pre brine most meats. Go ahead and brine as normal and rinse off the extra salt when done. Then you either wrap in plastic and refrigerate. Or you could go ahead and apply the rub before sealing and let it go overnight. I have not done that with pork tenderloin but we do it all the time with pork butt.
Hope that helps.
Dan
Carol
Hi Dr. Dan,
I’ve made this recipe numerous times: always a hit, both for Chicken and pork tenderloin. I’m totally converted to brining. So darned easy. Question regarding the brine: would it matter what type of brown sugar should we use, light, dark, or either? Thanks again Dr. Dan.
DrDan
Hi Carol,
Welcome to the blog... or at least commenting.
I do still love this recipe.
About the brown sugar, brown sugar is regular sugar with molasses added. More for the dark. So there is a bit more taste with the dark. I tend to like dark for meat recipes and light for baking projects but there is not much difference and I frequently just use what I happen to have on hand at the time.
Thanks for the note.
Dan
Carol H.
Hi Dr. Dan,
First and most important - this brine recipe is one of my very best "saves" on my Pinterest boards. I have used it several times since discovering, and it's a real keeper. Kudos and many thanks. Now a question, that relates to the recipe rub and that I've wondered many times in other recipes. Paprika - when your (plus another recipes) call for Paprika - should I use Hungarian Sweet or Spanish Smoked. It's rarely specified. I have both and am not certain which to use when. Any thoughts on this?
Thanks for your expertise and passion.
Carol H.
DrDan
Hi Carol,
Welcome to the blog.
This is one of my personal favorites and for several years it had a special place in the sidebar with the title of "My One Must Try Recipe".
On to the Paprika. It is really a personal taste thing. I think I may have one or two recipes that I specify Spanish Smoked but I personally like Hungarian Sweet better almost everywhere including this recipe. I only buy Sweet and although I have some Smoked in the pantry, I believe it is now so old, I wouldn't use it.
But if you like that smoked taste then use it.
Thanks for the note.
Dan
Andrew B
Fantastic Pork Recipe! 5/5 and make sure you make the MEMPHIS BBQ SAUCE!
Connie Ingold
I live in NY City and don't have a barbeque. Can I cook this in the oven? And at what temperature? Thank you.
DrDan
Yes, but not sure it would be nearly as good.
So if I had to do this in an oven, follow all instructions up to the grilling including resting at room temperature. I would preheat an oven at 450 conventional with a grill pan in the oven preheating also. A light coat of vegetable oil on the grill pan. Then start "grilling" on that like an outside grill with the rotation of the tenderloin and when it calls for decreased temp, go to 375 until desired internal temperature.
I would not even try without a grill pan.
That should work but I never do grill pans, my grill is 3 feet from my back door and grill pans on glass stovetops can break the glass which is what I use. I gave my grill pan away so nobody would use it,
Let me know if you try and the results.
Dan
Eshika Roy
I literally started having hunger pangs halfway through the post. It looks amazing and I bet it also tastes delicious too. It is the perfect dish to cook up in this season. I can’t wait to try it . Looking forward to reading more delectable recipes in the upcoming posts.
JimboHD2005
Over the years you see a lot of "the best ever" but I can honestly say this IS the best pork tenderloin recipe I've ever tried. Amazing flavor and turned out very juicy. That BBQ sauce was a perfect complement to the pork. Sweet, little spice and savory I could eat the sauce without anything! Thanks for sharing! Can't wait to try this again camping this summer or tailgating. Nice to have something other than burgers, hot dogs and sausage and this is just what I needed in my recipe rotation!
DrDan
Thanks Jim,
I try not to use the term "best" lightly unless I can defend it. This is a worthy pork tenderloin. This recipe is frequently brought up by experienced grillers as their personal favorite recipe and used for special meals.
I love the sauce also. I usually say it could make cardboard taste good.
Thanks for the note.
Dan
Stephen Romero
Thus is one of the best pork tenderloin recipes. Great crust with great flavor and very moist. 10 out if 10!
Brian
This was great! I've always brined turkeys for Thanksgiving before going on the grill, never once thought of brining the Pork Tenderloin. Instead of water, I used Apple Cider (after all, nothing like pork chops and apple sauce!).....and it turned out great. They key was the grilling tips you provided....you were spot on with the med-high heat, and then I reduced it down to medium after 10 minutes total (5 on each side). Additionally I added a Pineapple salsa and it is definitely going to be back in our family dinner rotation! So glad I found this one.
Hazel
Made this today for family bbq. Absolutely delicious and everyone agreed the best bbq pork tenderloin ever. I followed your recipe exactly and served with the Memphis bbq sauce on the side. The sauce was a bit too spicy for the young grandchildren.
Many thanks for a great recipe - will be making this again!
DrDan
Thanks so much for the note and rating.
DrDan
S-Dub
Trying this recipe today. Never brined before so I'm excited to see the results. That crust on it looks amazing! Will report back with results.
S-Dub
Awesome recipe! The rub is fantastic! I made the BBQ sauce and it's good but not even necessary. I could not believe the tenderness of the meat. I chose to cook on indirect heat at 325 on my Weber charcoal grill with applewood chips then sear at the end on direct heat.
Carmen Jimenez
Thanks for the AWESOME recipe-- this was fantastic!
DrDan
Thanks for the note and rating.
Dan
Ben Schafer
I just made this for my family and they absolutely loved it. Best tenderloin I have ever made or had.
I did however cook two loins over indirect heat for about 1 hour and 15 minutes and the last 10 minutes over direct heat until a little crispy On the outside. 10 out of 10.
David McLane
I quadrupled your brine and rub ingredients and did the entire loin in one piece, and the finished product off the grill was the best pork I have ever done. Moist and OMG delicious! Everyone who tried it gave rave reviews! Thanks again :-)
DrDan
Hi Dave, Thanks for the report. The brine helps a lot and I do love this spicing.
DrDan
David McLane
I have a beautiful pork loin that I want to try this on, but after seeing the pictures of the pork loin on your site, and the brine and rub quantities, I need to modify the quantities for my loin, as it is 11 1/2 lbs and 2 feet long. Any suggestions?
DrDan
Hi David, thanks for the question.
I would not do a pork lion like this. It would be dry and tough. I use loin for pork chops and usually brine (I have a couple of posts with that) or I braise in liquid and shred for BBQ or Mexican. I believe you can also do a pork roast with it but I have not... it's on the to do list.
If you really want to try something like this recipe with the loin, I would cut into 1 1/2 inch slices, brine then rub. But I think the tenderloin is a better idea.
DrDan
mari
I love this recipe and my husband loves it !!! I for sure like to brine and its more tender and juicy.
Will this recipe work on pork loin chops?
DrDan
Thanks for the comment.
The loin chop would have good taste but I wouldn't think the tenderness would be there. Loin is just not tenderloin...
DrDan
karen
So I started to make this recipe and put on the grill and I ran out of propane. I had people coming over for supper what was I to do.? i called on my George Foreman grill and he came to the rescue. This recipe turns out so fricken awesome . Thanks for the great recipe!!!!!
Debbie
Hi there,
I'm looking forward to trying this and your Memphis BBQ sauce for a group of family and friends next weekend. Just wonder if the dry rub could be put together in advance or if that leads to weird reactions between the spices?
Thanks!
DrDan
I make up a large batch for the summer. Sorry for the delayed answer... Dead computer.
Dan
Kim
I don't usually review recipes; however, this is the absolute best pork loin I have ever had or fixed!!!!! My husband & children couldn't stop eating. My daughter has asked I fix it for her birthday dinner. I was planning to have leftover for lunch the following day......... but there isn't enough!!!!!! You must try this one!!!!! My hat is off to you for sharing such a great recipe!!!!
DrDan
Thanks. It is one of my favorites. A little more work but worth it for a special meal.
DrDan
Ryan
Excellent! Best tenderloin recipe to date, definitely a keeper!
DrDan
Thanks Ryan, you can tell it is my favorite tenderloin recipe
DrDan
Brannon
Veey good recipe. Excellent.
DrDan
Thanks it remains in my top five.
DrDan
Chris
That is a good sounding recipe for tenderloin. I like to brine mine when I have the chance but I don't always have the time.
Susan Ferguson
How many pounds is this? Is this a small fillet?
DrDan
Hi Susan,
It is a pork tenderloin which usually run about 1 1/2 pounds. They are frequently sold as a two pack. Many people get confused with a pork loin which are much bigger (5 pound range if I remember right) and a totally different cut of pork. Do this with a loin and it would be terrible.
DrDan
CD
I"m actually doing this with a loin as we speak! But for the smoker. Its my usual way of making it and it turns out wonderful.
I've done the tenderloin on the bbq and love it too.