Air Fryer Pork Tenderloin
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This Air Fryer Pork Tenderloin with a flavorful dry rub turns out perfectly crispy on the outside and tender on the inside in less than 30 minutes. Just 6 pantry seasonings completely transform this humble cut into a meal that’s one of our family’s top favorites.
You may enjoy our similar Oven Roasted Pork Tenderloin with a Rub or Grilled Pork Tenderloin instead.
Why We Love This Recipe
As one of the most popular freezer meals on Thriving Home, this pork tenderloin recipe is requested over and over by my family. I’ve been testing and making pork tenderloin recipes for well over a decade now, and here’s why this one is so great:
- Fast and easy: Mix up the pork tenderloin rub, season the meat with it, and pop it in the air fyer. Done in 30 minutes or less.
- Unbelievably delicious: Even though the pork tenderloin seasoning and cooking method are simple, it packs a big flavor punch and turns out moist. You may want to serve it with our Homemade BBQ Sauce for dipping but this pork easily stands on its own.
- Kid-friendly: Most kids will go for this main dish. My children like it dipped in ketchup. 🤷🏻♀️ For more recipes your kids will like, check out our list of top kid-friendly freezer meals.
- Healthy: This is a lean cut of meat and a good source of protein.
- Versatile: While this recipe is written for the air fryer, you can also make Oven Roasted Pork Tenderloin or Grilled Pork Tenderloin with the same ingredients. Plus, you can use leftovers in a variety of ways (see below).
Ingredients for Pork Tenderloin Rub
Here are the 6 pantry ingredients that will transform this Air Fryer Pork Tenderloin…
Beyond those, you will need pork tenderloin and oil (I prefer avocado oil). Read on for some important things to know before buying pork tenderloin.
Important Notes about Pork Tenderloin
- Do Not Confuse It with Pork Loin: Pork tenderloin is a long, narrow, boneless cut of meat. Pork loin is wider and flatter and can be purchased boneless or bone-in. They are two different cuts of meat that cannot be used interchangeably because they won’t cook at the same rate.
- What to Look For When Buying: Always read the ingredients on any pork tenderloin package. You’re looking for one that has no additives, preservatives, or marinade included.
- Where to Buy Pork Tenderloin: It’s hard to find truly all-natural pork tenderloin in my local grocery stores. So, I get my pork tenderloins from ButcherBox, but you may also find good ones at your local farmer’s market or health food store.
- Seasoning is Key: Whether you make marinated pork tenderloin or use a pork tenderloin dry rub like this recipe, seasoning this cut of meat is essential because it’s fairly bland on its own. Even a good coating of Kosher salt and cracked black pepper will go a long way.
How to Cook a Pork Tenderloin in an Air Fryer
- In a small bowl, stir together the seasoning until thoroughly combined.
- Pat dry the pork tenderloin(s) and rub in oil on all sides. Sprinkle the seasoning mixture generously on all sides and rub in (save any extra for pork or chicken in the future).
- Preheat air fryer to 400°F (mine takes 3 minutes).
- Place pork tenderloin in the basket. Air fry for 17-19 minutes or until done, flipping over and rotating halfway through. (Remove when the pork registers 140°F internally in the thickest part. It will still be slightly pink inside.) The timing depends on the model of air fryer and thickness of the pork tenderloin.
- Cover with foil and rest for 10 minutes before slicing.
Variations for Serving This Pork Tenderloin
While you can certainly enjoy the pork slices “as is”, here are a few ideas to dress it up.
- Offer BBQ sauce on the side for dipping the pork tenderloin in. (We prefer our Homemade BBQ sauce!)
- Spread some chimichurri sauce on top of the pork; you can find recipes online or in either of our cookbooks.
- Use leftover sliced pork for BBQ pork sandwiches. Serve warm on toasted buns or bread with BBQ sauce.
- Chop up the leftover pork and use in quesadillas, tacos, or on top of your favorite salad. Use it in place of chicken in our Southwest Chicken Salad.
Recipe FAQs
If you cover the tenderloin, it will keep the herb crust from forming. So for maximum flavor, leave your tenderloin uncovered when air frying.
Oven Roasted Pork Tenderloin should roast at a high temp like 450°F for a short time, only about 20 minutes, depending on the size of your cut. It’s essential to use an internal meat thermometer to remove it at the exact right temp, which is 140-145°F.
Oh yes! When prepped correctly, pork tenderloin freezes and thaws well.
The key is good results is freezing before cooking the pork tenderloin. Wrap it tightly in a freezer storage bag or in a few layers of plastic wrap or foil, squeezing out all the excess air. You can freeze pork tenderloin with a rub on the outside or in a marinade. Thaw the frozen pork using one of these safe thawing methods and cook right away.
Our tests showed that freezing cooked pork tenderloin doesn’t work well. It tends to become dry and chewy when rewarmed.
Frozen pork tenderloin recipes can make wonderful freezer meal for new moms or easy vacation meals to prep ahead. In fact, this particular recipe comes together so fast, we included it in our 1 Hour Freezer Prep Sessions!
More Delicious Pork Recipes to Try
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Air Fryer Pork Tenderloin
This Air Fryer Pork Tenderloin with a flavorful dry rub turns out perfectly crispy on the outside and tender on the inside in less than 30 minutes. Just 6 pantry seasonings completely transform this humble cut into one of our family’s top favorite meals!
Ingredients
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1/4 teaspoon ground thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 (approximately 1 1/4 pounds) pork tenderloin
- 1 teaspoon avocado oil or olive oil
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Instructions
Make it Now:
- In a small bowl, stir together the garlic powder, dried oregano, ground cumin, ground coriander, ground thyme, and salt until thoroughly combined.
- Pat dry the pork tenderloin and rub in oil on all sides. Sprinkle the seasoning mixture on all sides and rub in. Tip: Save any extra seasoning in an air-tight container in the pantry for more pork or chicken recipes.
- Preheat air fryer to 400°F (mine takes 3 minutes).
- Place pork tenderloin in the basket. Air fry for 17-19 minutes or until done, flipping over and rotating halfway through. (Remove when the pork registers 140°F internally in the thickest part. It will still be slightly pink inside.) The timing depends on the model of air fryer and thickness of the pork tenderloin.
- Cover with foil and rest for 10 minutes before slicing.
Freeze For Later: Follow Steps 1-2. Place the seasoned pork tenderloin in a gallon-sized freezer bag, squeeze out the air and seal tightly, and freeze for up to 3 months.
Prepare From Frozen: Thaw the meal using one of the safe thawing methods. Follow Steps 3-5.
Notes/Tips
- For a smaller pork tenderloin (less than 1 lb), plan on 15-17 minutes.
- When you flip the pork halfway through, also rotate it around 180 degrees to help with even cooking.
- When cooking two at a time, it may take a few minutes longer. Be sure to flip and rotate their positions halfway through.
- Oven Instructions: Use our popular Oven Roasted Pork Tenderloin recipe.
- Grilling Instructions: Use our popular Grilled Pork Tenderloin recipe.
- What to Look For When Buying: Always read the ingredients on any pork tenderloin package. You’re looking for one that has no additives, preservatives, or marinade included.
- Where We Buy Our Pork: We get our pork from ButcherBox. The chicken is organic and curated from trusted farms. We highly recommend this service to source healthy meat–like uncured bacon, grass-fed beef, and wild salmon–and have used it for years ourselves.
- Do Not Confuse Pork Tenderloin and Pork Loin: Pork tenderloin is a long, narrow, boneless cut of meat. Pork loin is wider and flatter and can be purchased boneless or bone-in. They are two different cuts of meat that cannot be used interchangeably because they won’t cook at the same rate.
Love how easy and flavorful this recipe is. Perfectly cooked pork tenderloin every time. My family loves it!