Dijon Pork Tenderloin Marinade

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Say goodbye to dry and tasteless pork! This Dijon Pork Tenderloin Marinade makes for ultra-succulent and flavorful roast pork!

This recipe was originally published May 23, 2019. It was updated with new photos, blog post information, and recipe refinements on March 22, 2021.

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Rich, juicy, savory, and herbal pork that is ready for a weeknight dinner as much as it is for a dressed up holiday meal? That's this Dijon Pork Tenderloin Marinade.

You may need to plan ahead on this recipe, but the active cooking time on this recipe is low: just whisk up the marinade, turn the pork in it, marinate for 2-24, and then give the pork a quick bake!

In our house, pork tenderloin is always adored but often forgotten. Every time we make it, it's cherished and disappears quickly. When it comes time to meal plan for the week, though, it almost never makes the list.

I don't know if this is because I think of it mainly as a holiday dish or somewhere along the line got the impression that it's an expensive cut of meat.

I do know, however, that this Citrus Pork Tenderloin recipe will be changing all of that for us. It's going to be showing up on our menu a lot more often now.

Save this pork tenderloin recipe for later on Pinterest:

Aside from the flavor and how delicate the meat is, I realized that -- contrary to my previous notions -- the meat is pretty well priced for how lean and healthy of a cut it is.

Also, though the recipe calls for a marinade, it only takes 5 minutes to whip it up. Toss the pork in it before leaving for work in the morning and after a quick 30-35 minute bake in the evening, it's ready to go: producing the accomplishment of a holiday-worthy weeknight meal, making any weekday better.

This Dijon Pork Tenderloin Marinade is...

• Healthy
• Easy
• Tender
• Flavorful
• Family-friendly
• Great for both holiday meals and weeknight dinners!

This simple pork tenderloin recipe is one you'll want to keep in your back pocket. It's perfect for almost any occasion!

Recipe ingredients:

• Pork tenderloin
• Dijon mustard
• Orange juice
• Orange zest
• Olive oil
• Maple syrup
• Dried rosemary
• Salt & black pepper
• White wine vinegar

Recipe substitutions:

• Mustard - stone-ground mustard can replace the Dijon mustard in a pinch
• Sweetener - you can easily substitute honey for the maple syrup
• Rosemary - fresh chopped rosemary can replace the dried herb, just triple the amount
• Vinegar - white balsamic vinegar can be substituted for the white wine vinegar

How do you make this recipe?

1. Combine and whisk together the pork marinade ingredients in a medium-size mixing bowl.
2. Add the pork to the bowl and turn to cover. Cover the bowl and refrigerate to marinate for 2-24 hours.
3. Preheat the oven and spray a baking dish with non-stick spray.
4. Place the pork in the baking dish. Pour the excess marinade over the pork.
5. Roast the pork until cooked through (or, for about 35 minutes).
6. Let the pork rest at room temperature for about 5 minutes.
7. Slice the pork and drizzle with extra sauce to serve.

Recipe pro-tips:

• Marinating time - marinate the pork for 2 hours up to 24 hours. The longer you marinate within that time frame, the better, though you don't want to exceed it as the pork will over marinate in the acidic solution.
• Other ways to marinate - marinate the pork in a large resealable bag, if you please. Just place it in the bag, pour the marinade over, and seal shut before marinating in the refrigerator.
• Increasing recipe size - this recipe is easy to double or triple. Just multiple all the ingredients by the desired amount and follow the recipe directions as listed, using more baking pans and adding on extra cooking time in 2-3 minute intervals, if needed.
• Roasting the pork uncovered - there's no need to cover the pork while roasting, as we want the moisture to escape so the top of the pork can caramelize.
• Tent the pork with foil while resting to maintain heat if you are concerned about the pork cooling off or if you want extra time to rest the pork while your other dinner dishes finish up!

What should I serve with pork tenderloin?

There are so many possibilities. If I make this on a regular weeknight, I love it with...

• Mashed sweet potatoes
• Blistered green beans
• Air fryer smashed potatoes
• Easy dinner rolls

For a holiday dinner, however, I'd serve it with...

• Healthy mashed potatoes
• Steamed Instant Pot Beets
• Orange Salad
• Carrot souffle
• Air fryer Brussels sprouts
• Corn souffle

How do you keep pork loin from drying out?

This is a common problem because pork tenderloin is so naturally lean! There are two main ways to keep pork tenderloin from drying out, however

• don't overcook the tenderloin
• marinate it in a marinade that will tenderize it and keep it juicy

The vinegar and orange juice in this marinade keep the tenderloin tender, so just keep an eye on the internal temperature of the meat to keep from overcooking it!

What temperature do you cook pork tenderloin to?

Cook the tenderloin to an internal temperature of 145 degrees at the thickest part of the cut. After this, let it rest for about 5 minutes at room temperature before carving. This helps all the juices in the meat re-distribute, staying in the pork, not ending up on your plate!

More Pork Recipes

• Maple Bacon Wrapped Pork Tenderloin
• Pork Chop Tacos with Pineapple Jalapeño Salsa
• Asian Pork Meatballs
• Colorado Pork Green Chili
• Pork Chop Marinade

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