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4.8 from 171 votes

Smoky Grilled Pork Tenderloin

Perfect for any time of day, this recipe delivers great flavor effortlessly.

Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
30 mins
Servings: 6 Servings (2 pork tenderloins)
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

  • 2 pork tenderloins 3-5 pounds total, trimmed of excess fat or silver skin
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1-2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
  • ¼ cup light brown sugar
  • 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon coarse kosher salt
  • Pinch of coarsely ground black pepper

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. In a small bowl, stir together the olive oil, lime juice, brown sugar, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, salt and pepper. The mixture will be thick and pasty.
  2. Rub the mixture over the pork and place the meat in a shallow dish. You can grill right away, but for more flavor, cover the dish and refrigerate up to 24 hours.
  3. Preheat an outdoor grill (see note for alternate cooking methods) to medium-high heat (I use 375 degrees F on my pellet grill).
  4. Grill the pork tenderloin for 10 minutes, flip and continue to cook until an internal temperature at the thickest part of the meat registers 145 degrees F on an instant read thermometer, about 8-10 minutes.
  5. Remove the pork from the grill and tent with aluminum foil for 10-15 minutes before slicing and serving.

Notes

  • Paprika: smoked paprika is pretty key to the flavor for this pork, so if you don't have it, I think it is worth buying some for this recipe (plus, I have several other recipes that use it, too!). 
  • Cooking Method: if you don't have an outdoor grill, you can try roasting the pork in the oven at 400 degrees F for about 20-30 minutes, placing the pork on a lightly greased, foil-lined pan before cooking.
  • Cooking Time: this recipe is assuming the pork tenderloin is about 2-inches at the thickest part. If the pork you are using is much thinner or thicker, adjust cooking times accordingly. 

Nutrition Information

Serving 1 Serving Calories 424kcal (21%) Carbohydrates 10g (3%) Protein 63g (126%) Fat 13g (20%) Saturated Fat 4g (20%) Cholesterol 197mg (66%) Sodium 548mg (23%) Fiber 1g (4%) Sugar 9g (18%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 6Servings (2 pork tenderloins)

Amount Per Serving

Calories

% Daily Value*

Serving 1 Serving
Calories 424kcal 21%
Carbohydrates 10g 3%
Protein 63g 126%
Fat 13g 20%
Saturated Fat 4g 20%
Cholesterol 197mg 66%
Sodium 548mg 23%
Fiber 1g 4%
Sugar 9g 18%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.