Air Fryer Pork Tenderloin

Name: Air Fryer Pork Tenderloin
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 3 serving
Ingredients: 1.25 pound pork tenderloin; 2 Tablespoons sweet spice rub *see note

User Reviews

4.6

237 reviews

Excellent

Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
5 mins
Resting Time
5 mins
Total Time
30 mins
Servings
3
Calories
295 kcal
Course
Main Course
Cuisine
American

Air Fryer Pork Tenderloin

Iris Warren

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Air fryer pork tenderloin is a tasty dinner that is crispy and brown outside and juicy on the inside. This two ingredient recipe is simple to make and perfect for a busy weeknight meal!

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Ingredients

Servings

1.25 pound pork tenderloin
2 Tablespoons sweet spice rub *see note

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Instructions

Watch the video below to see this recipe in action!
Remove the silver skin from the bottom of the pork tenderloin. This is a tough thin membrane that can be peeled off the bottom of the pork. It should just pull off with a bit of tugging.
Pat the pork tenderloin dry with a paper towel. This helps ensures the spice rub will stick to the meat.
Coat it in the spice mixture. Be generous with the rub and use your hands to rub it into the meat.
Put the pork tenderloin in the air fryer basket. Bend it to fit inside the basket. If absolutely necessary you can cut the meat in half to make it fit better.
Set the air fryer on 400 degrees F for 20 minutes. After 10 minutes use tongs to flip the pork tenderloin over. This ensures even browning.
Check the pork tenderloin after 20 minutes with an instant read meat thermometer. The temperature should be between 145 degrees F and 150 degrees F. If the meat needs extra time put it back in the air fryer, still at 400 degrees F, for 2 to 3 minutes. Continue to cook the meat until it reaches at least 145 degrees F internally.
Let the pork tenderloin rest on a cutting board for at least 5 minutes before slicing and serving. Slice it into medallions that are 1/2 inch to 3/4 inch thick.

Notes

Make sure you use pork tenderloin. Pork loin is not the same cut of meat and will need different cooking instructions. Pork tenderloin weighs about 1.5-2 pounds and is longer and skinnier. Pork loin is wider and is also called pork loin filet. If you have a pork loin use my air fryer pork loin recipe instead.
Always measure the internal temperature of the pork to ensure it is thoroughly cooked. The FDA says the minimum internal temperature for pork is 145 degrees F.
You can vary the spice rub used in this air fryer recipe. Use my homemade pork dry rub recipe or use your own favorite BBQ spice mixture. Steak seasoning, like Montreal steak seasoning also tastes great on pork. You can also just season the tenderloin with garlic powder, salt and pepper.
You can double this recipe to cook two pork tenderloin if you need to feed more people. Just make sure there is enough room in the air fryer basket for the air to circulate. If necessary cut the tenderloin in half to make it fit better.
A brine or marinade can add extra flavor to pork and keep it moist and juicy. I don't think they are necessary in this recipe because the meat cooks so quickly in the air fryer that is stays juicy. But it won't hurt if you want to brine or marinade the meat.
This recipe doesn't work great with a frozen tenderloin. You can't bend the meat to make it fit easily in the air fryer. Additionally the spice rub doesn't stick well to frozen meat. I suggest either thawing the meat overnight in the refrigerator or roasting it the oven.

Nutrition Information

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Serving 1g Calories 295kcal (15%) Carbohydrates 2g (1%) Protein 51g (102%) Fat 8g (12%) Saturated Fat 3g (15%) Polyunsaturated Fat 4g Cholesterol 142mg (47%) Sodium 177mg (7%) Sugar 2g (4%)