Honey Garlic Pork Tenderloin on the Grill
On March 20, 2024
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My Honey Garlic Pork Tenderloin is the juiciest, most savory pork tenderloin you can imagine, slowly grilled to perfection, then coated with a sweet and sticky glaze for a slight crust that can’t be topped. Oh, and this killer dish is ready in 30 minutes.
Honey Garlic Pork Tenderloin
Pork tenderloin is a misunderstood but delicious cut of meat. It’s often confused with it’s more common relative, the pork loin. However, the pork tenderloin is much more rare and delectable than most cuts of pork. It’s similar to filet mignon in that it’s less fatty, and more mild in flavor. I’ll show you how to prepare your pork tenderloins to bring the absolute most savory flavor while maintaining all the juicy tenderness inside as you grill them to perfection.
While your pork tenderloins are grilling, I’m going to show you how to make a honey garlic glaze that’s not only going to add some herby and sweet flavors your guests will love, it’s going to give you a slightly caramelized and crunchy crust they’ll rave about. Now that we’re all hungry, let’s get going.
Pork Tenderloin vs Pork Loin
Pork tenderloin is often confused for pork loin, but these cuts are not one and the same. Not only do these cuts cook quite differently, but also come from completely different parts of the pig. Pork loin is a center cut loin chop cut from tissue along the upper side of the rib cage. This large cut of meat is sometimes cut into smaller slices, or pork chops. If you’re looking for recipes for these ready-to-cook cuts, check out my Smoked Pork Chops.
Pork tenderloin, on the other hand, comes from the muscle that runs through the central spine of the pig. It is the most tender portion of the pig, and the pork flavor is more mild. The tenderloin is long and thin, and this cut makes for an extremely delicious meal. My recipe for Grilled Pork Tenderloin with Beer and Mustard Glaze is one of my favorite ways to cook pork tenderloin.
Honey Garlic Glaze for Pork
Pork tenderloin is a delicacy when it comes to cuts of meat from the pig. As the name would suggest, tenderloin is known for its bite-through tenderness, but not so much its flavor. Because it’s more meaty and less marbled than other cuts of pork, it has a relatively mild pork flavor. That’s where this honey garlic glaze comes in. It brings out the natural savory and sweet notes of the pork while adding a little extra something. Here’s everything you need to make it:
- 1/2 cup honey
- 6 cloves minced garlic
- 1 Tablespoon soy sauce
- 2 teaspoons dijon mustard
How Long to Grill Pork Tenderloin
Pork tenderloin is a meat that grills to temp pretty quickly. You want your pork tenderloin to reach an internal temperature of 145 degrees F, which you’ll do in 2 stages. First, you’ll grill the tenderloins for 4-6 minutes per side on all 4 sides. This gives your pork those gorgeous grill marks all the way around, making your pork look as mouth-watering as it’ll taste. After that, you’ll add your honey garlic glaze and give it another 5-10 minutes to reach 145 degrees F.
When grilling meats like pork tenderloin, temperature is just as important as time. Because of this, having a reliable meat thermometer is crucial. I love my Thermapen ONE, but an accurate instant-read thermometer will work just fine.
How to Make Honey Garlic Pork Tenderloins on the Grill
- Prep pork. Preheat your grill to 350 degrees F. I love my Weber 22” Original Kettle Charcoal Grill for these juicy tenderloins, but you can make great pork on any charcoal or gas grill. While your grill is heating up, get your meat ready. Drizzle your pork tenderloins on all sides with some avocado oil, and then sprinkle with Kosher salt and black pepper. If you want to up the sweet factor even more, substitute the salt and pepper for some of my Sweet Rub.
- Grill tenderloins. You’ll want to grill your pork tenderloins directly on the grill grates with the lid closed for 4-6 minutes per side. This will allow you to get those coveted grill marks all over your tenderloins as you bring them up to an internal temperature of 135 degrees F. The whole thing will take about 20 minutes.
- Make glaze. As your tenderloins grill, prepare your honey garlic glaze. In a small saucepan, combine your honey, garlic, soy sauce, and dijon mustard and whisk them over medium heat until the mixture comes to a boil. Once your mustard is fully incorporated, remove your glaze from the heat and set aside.
- Glaze pork and grill. Using a basting brush, paint this sweet and sticky glaze on all sides of your juicy pork tenderloin. Next, close your grill lid and continue to grill your pork until it reaches 145 degrees F, and the sweet and savory glaze is caramelized and sticky.
- Rest and serve. Remove your tenderloins from the grill to a serving platter and allow them to cool for 5-7 minutes. This gives all that juicy goodness time to settle before you slice savory pork medallions your guests will love.
Storing Leftover Pork
Plan on disappointment if you’re expecting any of this tender, herby pork tenderloin left after your guests get to it. However, it will stay good up to 5 days in your fridge if you make too much. Allow your pork to cool to room temperature and then seal it in a gallon zip top bag or airtight container. You can store it in your refrigerator this way and enjoy it for another 3-5 days. After that, the USDA recommends discarding it.
More Pork Tenderloin Recipes
If you love making pork then check out our pitmaster classes on ribs and pulled pork over at The Grill Squad. And for that tenderloin fix, here are a few more of my favorite ways to enjoy this delectable cut of pork:
- Smoked Pork Tenderloin
- Grilled Pork Tenderloin with Beer and Mustard Glaze
- Stuffed Pork Tenderloin
- Grilled Bacon Wrapped Pork Tenderloin Stuffed with Apples
Grilled Honey Garlic Pork Tenderloin Recipe
Enjoy all the sweet, garlicky, tender pork goodness, and then give it a rating if you feel like sharing. If you’re not already in on the secret, be sure to check out the Hey Grill Hey app. We’ve got over 600 easy-to-follow recipes just like this one. Plus, you can make meal plans and shopping lists on the go, all in one place. Feeding the people you love has never been so simple.
And be sure to follow Hey Grill Hey on our social channels, like YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook. You never know when you’re going to find one of your next favorite ways to grill or smoke your meats.
Honey Garlic Pork Tenderloin
Ingredients
- 2 pounds pork tenderloin typically 2 tenderloins
- avocado oil
- 1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Honey Garlic Glaze
- 1/2 cup honey
- 6 cloves garlic minced
- 1 Tablespoon soy sauce
- 2 teaspoons dijon mustard
Instructions
- Prep pork. Preheat your grill to 350 degrees F. Drizzle pork tenderloins on all sides with avocado oil, and then sprinkle with Kosher salt and black pepper.2 pounds pork tenderloin, avocado oil, 1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- Grill tenderloins. Place tenderloins directly on grill grates and grill with lid closed 4-6 minutes per side. Grill until tenderloins reach an internal temperature of 135 degrees F.
- Make glaze. In a small saucepan, combine your glaze ingredients over medium heat. Whisk until combined and mustard is fully incorporated.1/2 cup honey, 6 cloves garlic, 1 Tablespoon soy sauce, 2 teaspoons dijon mustard
- Glaze and grill. Baste glaze onto all sides of pork with basting brush. Close lid, and continue to grill until a slightly crunchy bark forms, and your pork reaches an internal temperature of 145 degrees F.
- Rest and serve. Remove pork tenderloins to serving platter. Allow to cool for 5-7 minutes, before slicing into medallions and serving.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Absolutely delicious!!