This juicy and delicious air fryer pork tenderloin has a crispy exterior and is seasoned with a buttery marinade made with garlic, paprika, and rosemary. Best of all, it’s ready in with 15 minutes of cooking time!
If you’re looking for more air fryer recipes, I have a few more you may love to try. These air fryer salmon bites gets made weekly in our house, these homemade air fryer chicken nuggets are SO good and my all time favorite air fryer potatoes are a must make!
Best Juicy Air Fryer Pork Tenderloin
I’ve fallen in love with my air fryer! It’s the easiest way to cook almost anything. After learning to air fry many recipes, I decided I wanted to cook pork tenderloin in it too. I am so happy with how wonderful it turned out.
This recipe is a beginner-friendly recipe that never fails. It has a simple ingredient list – just the pork tenderloins, butter, and spices. This pork is a lean cut of meat so it’s important to cook it properly to achieve the tenderness pork tenderloin is known for. It’s perfect for your weekly meal prep or to get dinner on the table on a busy weeknight.
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What to serve with Pork Tenderloin?
Pork is a wonderful protein that we have often in our house. This stuffed pork tenderloin, pork tenderloin with apples, and herb crusted pork tenderloin are just a few of my favorites.
You can serve it with many side dishes. Mashed potatoes are always perfect, or easy roasted potatoes, or something low-carb like garlic mashed cauliflower. Add a yummy vegetable like parmesan roased broccoli, sautéed spinach or crunchy baked asparagus are a couple of our favorites. This crockpot creamed corn or maple glazed carrots are perfect sides to add for holiday dinners too.
Can I slice the tenderloins into medallions before I cook them in the air fryer?
Yes, you can. If you’re not interested in cooking the whole fillet at once, you can speed up the cooking process by slicing them first. I suggest to cook them for just 7-8 minutes before checking the internal temperature with a meat thermometer.
Ingredients needed
Below is a list of the ingredients you’ll need to gather to make this delicious recipe. Scroll down to the full recipe card with amounts.
- Pork tenderloins – Tenderloins are long thin cuts of meat that eventually get sliced into smaller medallions. You’ll need about 2 tenderloins, 12 ounces each for this recipe. Do not confuse them with bigger pork loin or pork roast!
- Melted butter – The fat that coats the meat so the seasoning sticks but it also helps to form a golden brown crust on the surface.
- Seasoning – Garlic cloves, paprika, rosemary, salt, and black pepper. A very simple combination of bold flavors.
Variations/ Substitutions
1. You can make this with boneless pork chops, too. Reduce the cook time to 10 minutes, flipping halfway through.
2. Switch up the spice mixture for a different flavor variation. Use smoked paprika instead of regular paprika. Chili powder, onion powder, and garlic powder are also great additions to your spice rub.
3. If you want a bit of heat in each bite, sprinkle in some cayenne pepper.
4. When I want to use different herbs, thyme and basil are a great alternative.
5. If you love the contrast of a sweet crust to the most tender pork tenderloin, use some brown sugar in your seasoning blend.
6. For extra flavor, honey and Dijon mustard make a great sweet and savory combination.
7. Add ¼ up of parmesan cheese to the spice mixture.
How to Cook Pork Tenderloin in the Air Fryer
Step 1: Mix the butter and seasoning in a small bowl, then use it to brush the outside of the pork. Allow that to marinate for about 15 minutes.
Step 2: Preheat the air fryer at 400 ° F for at least 5 minutes. Then, place pork into the air fryer basket, leaving enough room between each one for the air to circulate. You may need to work in batches, depending on the size of your air fryer.
Step 3: Cook for 15 minutes, flipping halfway. For best results, use a meat thermometer to test for doneness. The internal temperature should read 145º F when it’s done. You may find that if you’re cooking more than one at a time, you’ll need to continue cooking them for another 5 minutes.
Step 4: Remove the pork from the air fryer and let it rest for 5 minutes on a plate or cutting board before slicing it with a sharp knife. This allows the juices to settle.
Tips
- If your tenderloins aren’t already trimmed for you, make sure to remove any silver skin before cooking.
- Pat the pork dry with paper towels before marinating. This is especially important if using a dry rub.
- Remember to preheat the air fryer. When you cook the pork in a hot air fryer, it seals in the juices.
Storing Leftovers?
Refrigerate: Store leftover pork tenderloins in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Freeze: Pork tenderloin freezes well, too. Let them cool down first. Then, wrap the tenderloins in aluminum foil and place them in a freezer-safe container. They will stay fresh in the freezer for up to three months.
Best Way to Reheat Leftovers
Stovetop: Slice leftovers into smaller tenderloins and heat them in a skillet over low heat. Use a little butter or olive oil to prevent sticking.
Oven: Preheated to the lowest temperature, reheat the cuts of pork in an oven-safe dish covered with foil. Heat until just heated through.
Microwave: Reheat leftovers on a microwave-safe plate covered with a damp paper towel. Heat for 15-second intervals until just barely heated through. It can overcook quickly so be careful.
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Juicy Air Fryer Pork Tenderloin
Ingredients
- 2 pork tenderloins approximately 12 ounces each
- 2 tablespoons butter melted
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 2 teaspoons paprika
- 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- In a small bowl, add the melted butter, minced garlic, paprika, rosemary, salt, and black pepper and whisk together well.2 tablespoons butter, 2 garlic cloves, 2 teaspoons paprika, 1 teaspoon dried rosemary, 1 teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon black pepper
- Brush the raw pork with the butter mixture and set aside to marinade for 15 minutes.2 pork tenderloins
- Preheat the air fryer to 400° F for a minimum of 5 minutes.
- Place the tenderloins in the air fryer basket. If your basket is too small for both, cook them separately.
- Cook for 13-15 minutes, flipping it halfway through, until an instant meat thermometer inserted into the center registers 145º F. If cooking two in one basket, you may need to increase the cooking time to 20 minutes.
- Remove the pork from the air fryer and place it on a plate and let it rest for at least 5 minutes before slicing.
- Serve with mashed or roasted potatoes and a favorite veggie like asparagus or broccoli
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclosure
Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should only be used as an approximation.
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