This Grilled Pork Loin is slow cooked to tender perfection and then reverse seared creating a crispy exterior. A simple, delicious summer meal that won’t heat up the house.
Find out how to do a reverse sear on the grill so that the outside of the pork loin is crispy and the inside is soft. It’s got a great seasoning blend that you can customize and is ready in about an hour. Plus, grilling it means all that heat stays outside.
Pork loin makes for an incredibly tasty and satisfying meal when cooked on the grill. The heat from the BBQ caramelizes the outside of the meat while keeping the inside moist and tender With just a bit of prep and some simple grilling techniques, you can have restaurant-quality pork loin ready in under an hour
We’ll talk about everything you need to know to cook pork loin on the BBQ right here. You’ll find out how to prepare the meat, how to make sure it’s done just right, what tools to use, the best ways to season and glaze it, how to serve it, and more. Keep reading for tips, step-by-step instructions, and recipes for grilled pork loin that will make your mouth water!
Benefits of Cooking Pork Loin on the BBQ
Grilling pork loin has some excellent advantages over oven roasting and other cooking methods:
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Imparts delicious smoky, charred flavor from the grill.
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Allows you to cooktender, juicy pork with an irresistibly caramelized exterior
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Requires minimal preparation and quick cook time for weeknight convenience.
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Lets you take advantage of nice weather and cook outdoors.
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Gives you lots of flexibility to get creative with flavors and glazes.
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Allows you to feed a crowd by grilling multiple roasts at once.
How to Choose the Best Pork Loin
When selecting a pork loin to grill, keep these things in mind:
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Choose roasts around 2-3 lbs to feed 4-6 people. Calculate 1⁄2 lb per serving.
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Look for quality pork with nice marbling but minimal excess fat.
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Pick a roast with uniform shape for even cooking.
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Ensure the surface is dry so spices and glazes adhere.
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For ultimate flavor, opt for bone-in pork loin chops.
Grilling Tools Needed
Having the right grilling tools on hand will make cooking pork loin on the BBQ easy:
- Gas or charcoal grill
- Instant read digital meat thermometer
- Basting brush
- Grill tongs and spatula
- Bowl for glaze or sauce
- Aluminum foil
How to Prep Pork Loin for Grilling
Proper preparation is key for delicious grilled pork loin:
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Trim any excess fat and silver skin from the surface of the meat.
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Pat dry so seasonings stick and to prevent flare ups.
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Season all over with salt, pepper, herbs, spices, etc at least 30 minutes before grilling.
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Brush with oil like olive oil so seasoning adheres.
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Make glazes or sauces you want to brush on during cooking.
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Let meat sit at room temperature while grill heats up.
Grilling Instructions
Follow these simple steps for perfectly cooked pork loin off the BBQ:
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Preheat your grill to medium high heat, around 400°F. Use direct heat.
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Place pork loin directly on preheated grill grates. Close lid.
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Cook 10 minutes per pound, flipping every 5 minutes for grill marks.
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Brush with glaze during last 10 minutes of grilling.
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Check temperature periodically until it reaches 140-145°F internally.
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Remove from grill and rest 5-10 minutes before slicing to serve.
How to Tell When Pork Loin is Done
It’s important not to over or undercook pork loin. Check for these signs of doneness:
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Meat thermometer inserted in thickest part reads 140-145°F.
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Texture is firm but springy when pressed, not squishy.
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Meat has slightly pink interior when sliced into.
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Juices run clear rather than red when pierced.
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Exterior is nicely browned.
Flavoring Ideas
One of the best parts of grilling pork loin is experimenting with different seasonings and glazes. Consider these options:
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Dry rubs – Cajun seasoning, jerk seasoning, garlic herb, chili lime.
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Wet marinades – Teriyaki, mojo, pineapple juice, cola, citrus.
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Sauces and glazes – Sweet and spicy BBQ, hoisin, peach jalapeño, bourbon, maple dijon.
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Herbs – Rosemary, thyme, sage, oregano work wonderfully.
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Aromatics – Smashed garlic, sliced onions, ginger, chili peppers.
Serving Suggestions
Pork loin sings when paired with these sides and garnishes:
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Rice, couscous, quinoa, potatoes – Soak up delicious juices.
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Grilled vegetables like zucchini, eggplant, peppers.
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Fresh greens, slaws, or spinach salads.
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Corn on the cob, grilled peaches, or pineapple.
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Warm tortillas or pitas for tacos and gyros.
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Hot sauce, chimichurri, chutney, salsa.
Grilled Pork Loin Recipes
Here are two fantastic flavorful recipes for grilled pork loin:
maple dijon pork loin
Ingredients:
- 2 lb pork loin
- 2 tbsp maple syrup
- 2 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- Salt and pepper
Instructions:
- Combine maple syrup, mustard, garlic, thyme, salt, and pepper. Reserve 2 tbsp glaze and brush pork with the rest.
- Grill over medium high heat 10-12 minutes, flipping occasionally, until 145°F internally.
- In last 2 minutes, brush with reserved glaze. Rest 5 minutes before slicing.
Hawaiian Pork Loin
Ingredients:
- 2 lb pork loin
- 1 cup pineapple juice
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp fresh ginger, grated
- 1 tsp black pepper
Instructions:
- Whisk all ingredients except pork. Reserve 1/2 cup marinade to brush on later.
- Marinate pork in remaining marinade 1 hour (or overnight for more flavor).
- Grill pork over medium high heat for 12-15 minutes flipping occasionally until cooked through.
- In last 2 minutes, brush with reserved marinade glaze. Rest 5 minutes then serve.
Get Creative with Your Own Recipes
The possibilities are endless when grilling up juicy, flavorful pork loin on the barbecue. Try out spice rubs with different flavor profiles, make your own signature glaze, or experiment with creative marinades.
Proper preparation and monitoring temperature are the keys to pork loin success. With a little practice, you’ll be able to whip up incredible grilled pork entrees that your family and friends will request again and again. Fire up the grill and get ready for your new go-to dinner!
How To Cook A Whole Pork Loin On The Grill
We now know the difference between a pork loin and a pork tenderloin. Let’s talk about how to prepare and cook this cut of meat so that it doesn’t turn out dry and flavorless.
The first thing I like to do is season the pork loin. This not only makes it taste better, but it also makes the outside crispy and delicious. My favorite seasoning is my Homemade Pork Rub and Seasoning Blend which has been developed specifically for pork. I have included the base recipe for the rub in the recipe below. If you want to make it your own, click on the recipe to make a deeper, richer blend or a spicier blend. If you brined your pork loin like this recipe says to (it will make it taste better and be more juicy), leave out the salt in this recipe.
Before I season the pork loin, I pat it dry so that the moisture from the package doesn’t make a space where the pork will steam.
Once the pork loin has been seasoned, I get my grill ready. As I mentioned above, I use a two-zone grilling method for the pork loin. Basically, it’s grilled over low heat (300–350˚F) for an hour and then seared on the other side to make a crunchy crust. This method ensures that the pork stays tender and the seasoning caramelizes and doesn’t burn.
Place the pork loin on the cooking grate over the non-lit burner(s) or where there is no charcoal. Grill for about 1 hour, checking at the 30 minute mark. We’re looking for an internal temperature of 130˚F on an instant read thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the pork loin.
Move the pork loin to the cooking grate that is directly above the lit burners on a gas grill or the charcoal on a charcoal grill. Place the pork loin on the grate with the fat side down. Sear the meat until it reaches 145˺F on the inside. Take it out, cover it with tin foil, and let it rest for 15 minutes.
Note that 145˚F is the minimum safe temperature for pork. In other words, you could take it off the grill before it gets there and let it rest until it reaches 145˺F. Having said that, I know that a lot of people don’t like pork that is a bit pink. You might want to wait for it to get closer to 150˚F before taking it off the grill if that’s the case. Either way, I love to serve this with my Apple Potato Salad. It’s the perfect accompaniment.
Preparing The Grill For Grilled Pork Loin – Two-Zone Method
If you have a Three Burner Gas Grill, turn the left burner to medium-high and ignite. For a Four Burner Gas Grill, turn the two left burners to medium and ignite. Leave the two right burners off.
With a Charcoal Grill – fill a chimney starter with charcoal and light according the manufacture’s instructions. (Please don’t use starter fluid. This will leave a nasty chemical taste on your food. ) You’ll know the coals are ready when the edges turn grey and ashy.
Pour the charcoal out of the chimney and push over to one side of the grill. Leave the other side free of coals.
Preheat the grill for 5 minutes and then clean and oil the cooking grates. The temperature of the grill should be between 300 – 350˚F.
Grilled Pork Loin on the BBQ | How to Grill Pork Tenderloin
FAQ
How long does it take to grill a pork loin?
How do you keep a pork loin from drying out on the grill?
How long do you cook pork on the BBQ?
Is pork tenderloin better in the oven or on the grill?
How long should you cook a pork loin on a grill?
Place the seasoned pork loin directly on the grill grates over indirect heat and cook for 1 hour to 1 hour 30 minutes, or until the pork reaches an internal temperature of 145 degrees F. Remove the pork from the grill and allow to rest for 15 minutes before slicing into 1/4 inch slices and serving.
How do you cook a pork loin on a gas grill?
Once that temperature is reached, transfer the pork loin to the cooking grate that is directly above the lit burners on the gas grill or the charcoal on the charcoal grill top side down. Sear until the internal temperature reaches 145˚F and remove and cover with tin foil and allow to rest for 15 minutes.
How do you slow cook a pork loin on a grill?
Indirect heat is when there is no flame under the meat. The key to slow-roasting on the grill is to heat up the grill using only half the burners and cook the pork loin on the indirect heat side. Turn on half your burners on your grill. For me, that was two out of the four burners. Close the lid, let it preheat to about 300-350°F.
How long does it take to cook a pork loin?
Cook the roast for 1 to 1 ½ hours, or until the pork reaches an internal temperature of 145°F. The rule of thumb is 20 minutes of cooking time per pound. Aim for a mahogany color on the outside and a rosy pink inside. Rest the meat and serve. The pork loin will be hot once it comes off the grill. Let the meat rest for about 15 minutes.