Smoked Pork Tenderloin

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I haven’t outgrown my love of smoking all the things just yet. Chicken, veggies, and yes, even cheese, are all tasty, but my newest obsession is smoked tenderloin. Folks, this smoked tenderloin recipe is going to give you the juiciest, most flavorful pork tenderloin you have ever sunk your teeth into. 

In my local grocery store, pork loin is sold in a two-pack and they are often on sale. I like to stock up on these and store them in my freezer until I need them. Then when I’m ready, I simply pull out a pack, defrost them, and go through the simple smoking process. 

The best thing about this smoked pork tenderloin is that it is so versatile. Eat it as a main dish, serve it to guests or shred the meat to use in appetizers and party snacks. 

Ingredients Notes

• Pork Tenderloin – look for a package with two tenderloins that are close in size.
• Apple (Juice and Slices) – perfectly complements the flavor of the pork.
• Honey – gives the marinade a nice, earthy sweetness.
• Sugar (Cane and Brown)- use more or less to suit your taste.
• Seasonings – pepper, dried minced onion, onion powder, paprika and thyme give the marinade great depth of flavor.

Ready to learn this simple and flavorful process to smoke pork tenderloin? Then read on to get all of the steps, along with great tips and tricks so you can successfully make it over and over again.

Smoked Pork Tenderloin Marinade

Sometimes you can purchase pre-marinated pork tenderloins and they offer a great shortcut that eliminates the need to marinate the meat beforehand.  I prefer to make the marinade myself because I can include my favorite flavors and control the spice and salt levels.

If you decide to make your own marinade, don’t forget to take into account the extra time needed for marinating the meat. It should marinate for at least 2 hours.

• Make the marinade => Heat honey for 15 seconds in the microwave. Add to a bowl with apple juice, paprika, salt, sugar, onion powder, peppercorn, minced onion, thyme, and brown sugar. Whisk well to combine.
• Marinate the pork => Pour the marinade into a casserole dish and add the pork tenderloin. Top with thinly sliced apples, cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. 

How To Smoke Pork Tenderloin

Get the complete ingredients list and instructions in recipe card below.

1. Preheat your smoker. Preheat your smoker (use this awesome smoker if you don’t already have one) to 225F / 107C for 15 minutes and add the wood of your choice (see suggestions below). 
2. Remove the pork from the fridge. 
3. Smoke the pork. Place the marinated pork directly onto the grate of the smoker, close and cook for about 3 hours or until the internal temperature of the thickest part (using a digital thermometer) reaches 145F / 63C.
4. Add extra flavor if you want. When the meat is fully cooked, you can brush BBQ sauce or some reserved marinade on the pork and smoke for a further 10 minutes.
5. Rest and slice. Remove the meat from the smoker and place it on a cutting board. You can cover lightly with foil. Let the pork rest for about 10 minutes before slicing.

Pit Boss Pork Tenderloin

1. Preheat your Pit Boss pellet grill to 250 degrees F / 120 degrees C. 
2. Transfer the marinated pork directly onto the grates. 
3. Smoke for 1 ½ to 2 hours or until the internal temperature reaches 145 degrees F / 62 degrees C.
4. Remove the pork loin from the grill. Tent with foil and rest for 15 minutes before serving.

FAQs

Pro Tips 

• If you are not using pre-marinated pork you will need to allow 2 hours for the meat to marinate in the fridge. 
• There are usually two tenderloins in a package. You will be cooking both of them. 
• You can double or triple this recipe as long as your smoker has room for additional tenderloins. 
• Serve the pork as is or brush with BBQ sauce or reserved marinade that didn’t touch the raw meat. 

Make Ahead And Storage

More Recipes You May Like

• Crispy Air Fryer Pork Chops.
• Easy Smothered Pork Chops.
• Hawaiian Instant Pot Pulled Pork.
• Smoked Chicken Breast Recipe

Serving Suggestions

• Garlic Smashed Potatoes.
• Green Beans.
• Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries.

Weight Watchers Points

There are 6 Blue Plan SmartPoints in one serving of this.

Tools and Equipment Needed

• A super awesome smoker. Try this smoker which I love, or this other smoker too.
• A charcoal chimney for lighting coal or briquettes easily. Makes life easier.
• Wood pellets or wood chips depending on which smoker you use. For flavor, you can use these apple wood or cherry wood.
• An instant-read digital thermometer. This really awesome one gives you an instant-read so you avoid overcooking your food.
• Leather gloves – These are really useful for moving stuff about on your smoker so you don’t burn your hands.
• Aluminum foil – for tenting food, keeping it warm and more.
• Nice long grilling tongs for adding, removing or turning your food on the smoker.
• Your favorite seasoning or dry rubs.
• A mixing bowl if you are brining your food.
• Sea salt for flavoring or brining.

Thank you for reading my smoked pork tenderloin recipe post. And please come visit again as I continue to slice, dice, and dream up affordable Air Fryer recipes, Instant Pot Recipes, Southern Recipes, and more. Thanks for supporting Recipes from a Pantry, food blog.

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