Air Fryer Pork Tenderloin –What is your go-to meal for a weeknight dinner? Mine is always the same – pork tenderloin with mashed potatoes. I love this dish because it’s quick to make, low in fat, and really flavorful. The only problem with cooking pork tenderloin on the stovetop or oven is that it can be time-consuming and messy. So instead of doing all the work by hand, now you can cook them in an air fryer!
Do you love the taste of fried pork tenderloin but hate how much oil it takes to cook? If so, this recipe is for you! Air fryers are a healthy and delicious alternative to traditional frying. They use a few tablespoons of oil for each pound of meat and can be used with many different foods like chicken, vegetables, and even desserts.
Air Fryer Pork Tenderloin is one of the best-roasted meats I have had thus far in the air fryer. If you love pork chops, you will absolutely love pork tenderloin. Pork tenderloin is the most tender part of the pig meat, hence the name.
If you are looking for some other great Air Fryer Pork Recipes, some of my favorites are AIR FRYER TERIYAKI PORK TENDERLOIN, AIR FRYER GINGER PORK DUMPLINGS, AIR FRYER PORK RIB TIPS, and AIR FRYER PORK ROAST.
What Is Pork Tenderloin?
The pork tenderloin is a cut of meat that has grown in popularity over the past few years. The reason for its increased fame is because it’s an affordable, yet flavorful cut that can be prepared many different ways – from traditional BBQ to Asian-inspired dishes. It can also be made into any size you need and will always provide great taste!
The pork tenderloin is a cut of meat found in the pig’s hip to its shoulder. It contains little fat, which makes it ideal for grilling or frying. Since they are so lean and flavorful, many grocery stores sell them pre-seasoned right at their butcher counter!
Tips For Buying A Pork Tenderloin
Cooks often find themselves in a dilemma when it comes to buying a pork tenderloin. Do they buy the whole pork loin and cut up their own strips or should they just buy pre-cut, pre-packaged strips? In general, the answer is that you should buy the whole loin and cut up your own pieces of meat because this will provide you with more versatility for cooking purposes while also being cheaper than prepackaged meat.
When you are at the grocery store and looking for a great piece of pork tenderloin to purchase, always look for a pinkish, almost red piece of meat. The meat will last about 2-3 days in the refrigerator, if you don’t use it, just freeze the package of meat.
Ingredients Needed For Air Fryer Pork Tenderloin
- Pork Tenderloin
- Olive Oil
- Brown Sugar
- Paprika
- Salt
- Black Pepper
- Garlic Powder
- Onion Powder
- Ground Mustard
- Parsley
- Cayenne Pepper
How To Make Air Fryer Pork Tenderloin
Start by trimming your fat. Using a large, sharp knife, cut all of the excess fat off the pork tenderloin. Then, mix the brown sugar, paprika, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, ground mustard, parsley, and cayenne pepper in a small bowl.
Rub the pork tenderloin with olive oil, and then rub the seasoning mix over the tenderloin.
Place the seasoned tenderloin into the air fryer basket (if it doesn’t fit) cut it until it fits. Set the temperature to 400 degrees F, air fryer setting, for 20 to 30 minutes.
Check the internal temperature. Once it reaches: 145 degrees F, remove. Let rest for about 10 minutes before you cut into it. That will allow the juices to settle inside.
Tips for Cooking A Pork Tenderloin in the Air Fryer
- The best thing to do is to take the meat out at least 30 minutes, before air frying. This will bring the meat up to room temperature, which ensures that the meat more evenly cooks.
- If the meat does not fit into the Air Fryer Basket, cut the meat into equal sizes.
- The internal temperature should reach 145 degrees F. So, pull out your meat thermometer and check the temperature. As each air fryer is different and the thickness of the pork tenderloin will both determine the exact time for your pork tenderloin. The only accurate way to tell if your meat is done is to use a meat thermometer.
- This recipe will work in any Air Fryer Basket or Oven Model. It will also work with the speciality air fryers such as the Ninja Foodi, Instnat Pot Vortex, GoWise, Instant Pot Crisp Lid and Mealthy Lid.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PORK TENDERLOIN AND PORK LOIN?
Pork tenderloin is cut from the center of the loin, which includes both lean and fat. Pork loin comes from the back section of the pig and is typically used for roasts or chops. The meat on a pork tenderloin has less marbling than that found in a pork loin roast. However, this does not mean it’s less flavorful! Pork tenderloins are often more expensive because they are smaller cuts with more flavor per pound.
IS TENDERLOIN A GOOD CUT OF MEAT?
WHAT CAN I SERVE WITH THIS?
This is a great meal, and you can easily serve it with a plate of Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes, Air Fryer Green Beans, Air Fryer Cauliflower, Air Fryer Grilled Zucchini, or even with Air Fryer Stuffing!
This protein works so well with most side dishes!
HOW DO I STORE LEFTOVERS?
Leftovers are something that many people love to have on hand. This makes for a great make-ahead meal. Cool to room temperature, and then place the leftover Air Fryer Pork Tenderloin into an airtight container for best results. Place the container into the refrigerator, where it will last for 2 to 3 dasy.
To reheat, you can either place the leftover Air Fryer Pork Tenderloin into the air fryer or the microwave. Heat until warmed through.
CAN PORK TENDERLOIN BE SLIGHTLY PINK?
Yes, the most important thing is that the meat thermometer reaches 145 degrees F, in the thickest part of the meat.
For best results always use a meat thermometer, when checking for meat or seafood doneness. When you overcook pork it will become a tough and dried out meat.
DO I NEED TO PREHEAT AIR FRYER?
I did not preheat the air fryer. But since all air fryers are slightly different, check your owner’s manual, to see what they recommend.
More Air Fryer Recipes:
- AIR FRYER PORK ROAST
- AIR FRYER BUTTERNUT SQUASH
- EASY AIR FRYER KETO CHEESY PICKLES
- AIR FRYER JALAPENO CORN MUFFINS
- AIR FRYER CHILE RELLENO
- EASY AIR FRYER FROZEN MOZZARELLA CHEESE STICKS
Air Fryer Pork Tenderloin
Air Fryer Pork Tenderloin --What is your go-to meal for a weeknight dinner? Mine is always the same - pork tenderloin with mashed potatoes. I love this dish because it's quick to make, low in fat, and really flavorful. The only problem with cooking pork tenderloin on the stovetop or oven is that it can be time-consuming and messy. So instead of doing all the work by hand, now you can cook them in an air fryer!
Ingredients
- 1 pound pork tenderloin
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/4 cup dark brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 2 teaspoon onion powder
- 2 teaspoons ground mustard
- 2 teaspoons dried parsley
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Instructions
- Start by trimming your fat. Using a large, sharp knife, cut all of the excess fat off the pork tenderloin.
- Then, mix the brown sugar, paprika, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, ground mustard, parsley, and cayenne pepper in a small bowl.
- Rub the pork tenderloin with olive oil, and then rub the seasoning mix over the tenderloin
- Place the seasoned tenderloin into the air fryer basket (if it doesn't fit) cut it until it fits. Set the temperature to 400 degrees F, air fryer setting, for 20 to 30 minutes.
- Check the internal temperature. Once it reaches: 145 degrees F, remove. Let rest for about 5 to 10 minutes before you cut into it. That will allow the juices to settle inside.
Notes
The best thing to do is to take the meat out at least 30 minutes before air frying. This will bring the meat up to room temperature, which ensures that the meat more evenly cooks.
The internal temperature should reach 145 degrees F. So, pull out your meat thermometer and check the temperature. As each air fryer is different and the thickness of the pork tenderloin will both determine the exact time for your pork tenderloin. The only accurate way to tell if your meat is done is to use a meat thermometer.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
4Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 291Total Fat: 12gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 83mgSodium: 1130mgCarbohydrates: 15gFiber: 1gSugar: 11gProtein: 31g
ForkToSpoon.com occasionally offers nutritional information for recipes contained on this site. This information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. This information comes from online calculators. Although we try to attempt to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures are only estimates.
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