Homemade spice blends are a cheap and easy way to add flavor and texture to your favorite grilled meats. Try this grilled pork tenderloin with its warm, spicy rub.
Serve it alongside Cheesy Potatoes or Curried Potatoes for a hearty meal. It’s also good topped with Apricot BBQ Sauce and served alongside Creamy Coleslaw and Milk and Honey Cornbread for more casual, “down home” fare.
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I’m not sure there’s an easier thing to do that grill pork tenderloin. I mean, seriously. Marinate or coat the meat in a rub, throw it on the grill until desired doneness, transfer to a cutting board, slice and serve. So easy and so delicious.
I call this the poor man’s steak. It’s super affordable, sometimes even lower than $3/lb, making it a great dish for entertaining on a budget. I use this cut of pork in Dijon Pork Tenderloin, Pork Medallions with Sherried Shallot Sauce, and even in stir-fry.
Why Make This
It’s super simple. Rubbing pork tenderloin with a custom seasoning blend and grilling it over the fire is a super-simple, healthy way to serve it. And now that the USDA has lowered the safe cooking temp on pork, you can enjoy tenderloin that really is tender and juicy.
It’s delicious! This seasoning blend which evokes a little Cajun flair goes great on any of grilled meats. The rub forms a flavorful crust that is mouth-wateringly good.
It’s affordable. Buying spices in bulk and mixing up spice mixes yourself is a great way to save money and add flavor. Pork tenderloin is almost always cheaper than its beef counterpart, making this a very, good cheap eat.
Ingredients
You don’t need much for this simple grilled pork tenderloin recipe:
pork tenderloin – usually sold in 2-packs, each tenderloin should weigh ¾ to 1 pound each, serving 6 to 8 people. Stock up when you see it on sale and stash it in the freezer.
spices – This spice rub contains onion powder, ground chile, salt, black pepper, thyme, paprika, and cayenne. It packs tons of flavor without being overly spicy.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Prepping grilled pork tenderloin is super simple!
1. Prepare the spice rub.
Measure the spices into a small mixing bowl or dish. Stir until well combined.
2. Apply the rub on the pork tenderloin.
Transfer the tenderloins to a tray. Spread the spice rub all over the surface of the meat.
I like to put a plastic bag on my hand or a glove to make for easy clean-up. (And I don’t like how it feels. lol)
3. Cook the meat on a hot grill.
Cook the tenderloins over a hot grill until it reaches an internal temperature of 145 ° for medium and 160 ° for well done, about 20 to 30 minutes.
Rest the meat for 10 minutes before slicing.
FAQs
In recent years, the USDA has adjusted their recommendations for cooking pork. Use a meat thermometer so that your final product has an internal temperature between 145 and 160°. See this chart for recommended cooking temps for pork.
Pork loin and pork tenderloin are two different cuts of meat that should be prepared differently. The loin is from the back of the pig, from shoulder to leg and cut into chops and roasts. The tenderloin is from the loin area, tucked under the backbone. It’s more tender. T-bone pork chops include the tenderloin in a similar way to T-bone beef steaks.
The loin is best braised like in this Slow Cooker Pork Loin with Sherried Mushroom Gravy, while you’ll get great results in grilling or stir frying tenderloin.
In comparison to other cuts of meat, pork tenderloin is incredibly affordable. I call it the poor man’s steak because it has that tender delicious flavor of a steak but at a fraction of the price.
Recipe Costs
Knowing how much it costs you to prepare a recipe can help you decide if it’s the type of recipe to make regularly or one you might want to save for special occasions. Let’s crunch some numbers and see how this recipe pencils out.
- pork tenderloin – $5.98 ($2.99/lb)
- spices – $0.25
Providing that you’re able to find pork tenderloin for less than $3/lb, you can expect to pay about $6.23 or 78 cent/serving for this tasty grilled pork tenderloin.
Save more
While pork tenderloin is already pretty economical, here are some of the strategies I use to make this recipe even moreso:
- Meal plan around what’s on sale. Stock up on pork tenderloin when you see a sale. You can easily find it for $2-3/pound. It freezes beautifully, so don’t be afraid to stash a few in the freezer.
- Buy spices in bulk. I purchase large containers of spices at Costco, Smart & Final and Amazon. I make loads of my own spice blends, refill my little spice jars in the cupboard, and then stash the reserve in the freezer where it retains its freshness.
More Great Pork Recipes
Spice-Rubbed Grilled Pork Tenderloin
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon chile powder or ground chile
- 1 teaspoon coarse salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
- 2 pork tenderloin about 1 pound each
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine the onion powder, chili powder, kosher salt, black pepper, thyme, paprika, and cayenne pepper. Sprinkle the seasonings generously on the tenderloins.
- Cook the tenderloins over a hot grill until it reaches an internal temperature of 145 ° for medium and 160 ° for well done, about 20 to 30 minutes. Rest the meat for 10 minutes before slicing.
Notes
Nutrition
This post was originally published on April 17, 2019. It has been updated for content and clarity.
Tj
How long should rub be on pork u til grilling
Jessica Fisher
I usually do right before we grill, but it could be on there an hour or two if you like.
Candace
Very nice, a big hit with my family.
Carol Moro
This was delicious! I did brush on some dijon mustard and a little honey and then the spice rub! Delicious and moist! Thank you!
Meredith
What if you wanted to cook this in the oven or slow cooker. What would be the temperature or settings and time frame for those, please. Thanks! It sound really good!
Jessica
Typically it’s only grilled or broiled.
Jen
How long would your broil it for and at a high or low setting?
Jessica Fisher
You can roast it at 375 for 30 to 40 minutes, or until 145 degrees (internal temp) for medium and 160 degrees for well done.
Rebecca
This pork looks delicious! My husband loves to try out different rubs for meats, so I’ll have to share this recipe with him. Thanks for sharing!
Jessica
@Rebecca, I make up my own rubs all the time. It’s so easy and cheap.