Air Fryer Pork Tenderloin Recipe - Kristine's Kitchen (2024)

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Updated on Mar 13, 2023

This is the best Air Fryer Pork Tenderloin! It’s flavorful, tender, juicy and so easy to make! This pork tenderloin is perfect for a quick, healthy weeknight meal.

Pork tenderloin is one of my go-to proteins for quick dinners, and this air fryer pork tenderloin is a new favorite. It has a flavorful spice rub that caramelizes on the outside of the meat, while the inside stays irresistibly tender and juicy. You’ll want to add this easy air fryer recipe to your regular dinner rotation. It’s always a hit with both the kids and adults at the table!

This recipe takes just 5 minutes to prep and then the pork tenderloin cooks up in just over 20 minutes in the air fryer. Serve it with a few tasty side dishes, such as Garlic Mashed Potatoes and sautéed broccoli, and enjoy!

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Looking for more pork tenderloin recipes? Try my Baked Pork Tenderloin Recipe or Instant Pot Pork Tenderloin next.

Air Fryer Pork Tenderloin Recipe Ingredients

• Pork Tenderloin: Be sure to buy a pork tenderloin, not a pork loin. A pork tenderloin is long and thin, while a pork loin is larger and would take much longer to cook through.
• Brown Sugar: I like adding a small amount of brown sugar to the spice rub because it helps to caramelize the seasonings on the outside of the pork as it cooks. The brown sugar adds just a touch of sweetness, but you can omit it if you prefer a sugar-free recipe.
• Spice Rub: I used a variation of my favorite Pork Rub to season this air fryer pork tenderloin. It’s a mixture of paprika, chili powder, dried thyme, garlic powder, salt, pepper and the brown sugar. It adds lots of delicious flavor! The chili powder adds a kick of flavor, but doesn’t make the pork really spicy.

Find the full printable recipe with ingredient amounts and instructions in the recipe card below.

How to Cook Pork Tenderloin in an Air Fryer

Making this recipe is so simple! If you are new to air fryer cooking, see my guide on How to Use an Air Fryer.

1. Start by combining the brown sugar and spices in a small bowl. Stir them together until they’re well mixed.
2. Then, preheat the air fryer to 380° F for 5 minutes.
3. Pat the pork tenderloin dry with paper towels. Trim off the silver skin (membrane) and then rub the spice mixture over all sides of the meat.
4. Air fry the pork tenderloin for 10 minutes. Then flip it over and continue cooking it for 8-16 more minutes, until the internal temperature registers 145° F in the center of the tenderloin.
5. Let the pork rest on a cutting board for 5 minutes before slicing it and serving. Then enjoy!

Recipe Tips

• Before seasoning the pork tenderloin, use a small sharp knife to remove the silver skin. The silver skin is a thin membrane on one side of the pork that becomes tough after cooking and is not pleasant to eat.
• Preheat the air fryer. This way, the pork will start cooking as soon as it hits the hot basket.
• Flip the pork tenderloin over half way through the cook time. This helps the meat to cook evenly and promotes even browning on all sides.
• The cook time will depend on the size and thickness of your pork tenderloin. Pork tenderloin will typically take between 18-26 minutes total to cook in the air fryer. The best way to tell when it is done is to check the internal temperature using a meat thermometer. According to the USDA, whole cuts of pork are safe to consume when cooked to 145° F and then allowed to rest for at least 3 minutes before serving.
• Try not to overcook the pork, as overcooking can dry out the meat.
• Be sure to let the pork rest for 5 minutes before serving. This rest time allows the internal temperature of the pork to rise a few more degrees. It also allows the juices to redistribute throughout the meat.

What to Serve with Air Fryer Pork Tenderloin

I like to serve pork tenderloin with a vegetable or salad and a starch. Here are some of our favorite side dishes for pork:

• Vegetables: These Roasted Vegetables always hit the spot! A Baked Sweet Potato or Roasted Brussels Sprouts are also perfect sides for air fryer pork.
• Salad: You can’t go wrong with aKale Salad or classic Green Salad.
• Potatoes: A comforting classic! Try Mashed Potatoes, Roasted Potatoes or Honey Roasted Sweet Potatoes.
• Bread: You’ll love these soft, fluffy Dinner Rolls or these quick and easy Drop Biscuits.
• Rice: Try this hands-off Instant Pot Rice or cook up a pot of Brown Rice on the stove.

More Easy Air Fryer Recipes

• Air Fryer Chicken Breast
• Air Fryer Pork Chops
• Air Fryer Bacon
• Air Fryer Salmon

This tasty tenderloin is sure to become a regular on your dinner table. Everyone will be asking for a second serving!

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posted by Kristine Rosenblatt on Feb 28, 2022 (last updated Mar 13, 2023)

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