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Home Recipe Index Air Fryer

Air Fryer Pork Tenderloin

5 /5
Jump to Recipe Rate Recipe
By: Rachel TiemeyerPosted: 5/20/24Updated: 8/23/24

This post may contain affiliate or sponsored links. Please read our disclosure policy.

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.

Green beans and air fryer pork tenderloin slices on a white platter. this …


 
Table of Contents
  • Why We Love This Recipe
  • Ingredients for Pork Tenderloin Rub
  • Important Notes about Pork Tenderloin
  • How to Cook a Pork Tenderloin in an Air Fryer
  • Variations for Serving This Pork Tenderloin
  • Side Dish Ideas
  • Recipe FAQs
  • More Delicious Pork Recipes to Try
  • Air Fryer Pork Tenderloin

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:

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. Healthy: This is a lean cut of meat and a good source of protein.
  5. 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…

Seasoning rub for air fryer pork tenderloin recipe, including oregano, coriander, salt, cumin, garlic powder, and ground thyme.

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

  1. In a small bowl, stir together the seasoning until thoroughly combined.
  2. 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).
  3. Preheat air fryer to 400°F (mine takes 3 minutes). 
  4. 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.
  5. Cover with foil and rest for 10 minutes before slicing.
A pork tenderloin with a dry rub sprinkled over top ready to be rubbed in.
Pork tenderloin on a white platter covered with an herb rub ready to be cooked.
Pork tenderloin with seasoning rub in an air fryer basket ready to be cooked.

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.

Side Dish Ideas

Maple roasted carrots in a white bowl.

Maple Glazed Carrots

Four ears of corn on the cob on a plate with a pat of butter on top.

Microwave Corn on the Cob

Garlic Green Beans on a white serving platter with bacon crumbled on top.

Garlicky Green Beans

Boiled baby potatoes in a white bowl.

The BEST Boiled Baby Potatoes

See all sides

Recipe FAQs

Do you wrap a pork tenderloin in foil when using an air fryer?

If you cover the tenderloin, it will keep the herb crust from forming. So for maximum flavor, leave your tenderloin uncovered when air frying.

How long do you cook pork tenderloin in the oven?

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.

Can you freeze pork tenderloin?

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!

seasoned pork tenderloin in freezer bags.

More Delicious Pork Recipes to Try

Slices of grilled pork tenderloin on a white platter surrounding a bowl of pineapple salsa.

Hawaiian Pork Tenderloin

Pork Loin slices with maple glaze on a plate with green beans and baby potatoes.

Slow Cooker Pork Loin with Maple Glaze

pan seared pork chop on a white plate with mashed potatoes and broccoli

5-Ingredient Pan Seared Pork Chops

Savory baked pork chop on a gray plate with rice and green beans.

Sweet and Savory Baked Boneless Pork Chops

Did you make this? Snap a photo and tag us on Instagram at @thrivinghome so we can see your creations and cheer you on!

Air fryer pork tenderloin served in slices with green beans.
5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 1 review

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!

Yield: 3–4 servings 1x
Prep: 10 minutesCook: 17 minutesTotal: 27 minutes
Print Recipe Rate Pin for Later [socialpug_share networks=”email” networks_labels=”Email” show_labels=”yes” overwrite=”yes”]
Scale:

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

Before You Begin! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.

Instructions

Make it Now:

  1. In a small bowl, stir together the garlic powder, dried oregano, ground cumin, ground coriander, ground thyme, and salt until thoroughly combined.
  2. 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.
  3. Preheat air fryer to 400°F (mine takes 3 minutes).
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
© Author: Rachel Tiemeyer
Cuisine: American Method: Air Fryer

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Pork tenderloin in the air fryer and some sliced on a platter with green beans.
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Rachel Tiemeyer

As co-founder of Thriving Home, Rachel dreams about creating recipes (literally) and uses her husband, her 3 kids, and even the neighbors as guinea pigs several nights a week. She believes that good food has the power to bring families and friends closer together and continues to wake up excited about her job each day, even after 10+ years!

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  1. Claire C. says

    Posted on 5/20/24 at 1:37 pm

    Love how easy and flavorful this recipe is. Perfectly cooked pork tenderloin every time. My family loves it!

    Reply

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air fryer pork tenderloin slices with green beans.