This Air Fryer Pork Tenderloin recipe is the easiest way to make a perfectly juicy pork tenderloin. Just brush it with a simple marinade and air fry the pork tenderloin until just cooked.
Aldi’s pork tenderloin is an affordable, lean cut of meat that can make for a quick, easy, and delicious dinner when cooked right. With a few simple prep steps and cooking techniques, you can take basic Aldi pork tenderloin from blah to ta-dah!
In this guide, you’ll learn insider tips for selecting preparing, seasoning and roasting Aldi pork tenderloin to perfection every time. Let’s get cooking!
Picking the Best Aldi Pork Tenderloin
The first step is choosing the right package of pork tenderloin from Aldi’s selection. Here’s what to look for:
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Cut – Choose whole tenderloin over pre-sliced medallions for more versatility in cooking.
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Size – Pick tenderloins around 1-1. 5 lbs to serve 3-4 people. Larger cuts may be tougher.
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Color – Opt for cuts with vibrant reddish-pink color rather than pale or gray hues.
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Pack date: Look at the sell-by date and choose the newest package to get the freshest food.
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Fat cap: It’s okay to have some fat marbling, but stay away from big, hard fat caps that won’t render well.
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Feel – The meat should feel firm not mushy when gently pressed.
With the right cut of Aldi pork tenderloin, you’ll be on your way to an amazing home-cooked meal.
Preparing Aldi Pork Tenderloin for Roasting
Before seasoning and cooking, properly prepare the pork tenderloin:
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Trim silverskin – Use a sharp knife to remove the thin silvery membrane. This can cause meat to curl while cooking.
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Pat dry – Blot the tenderloin with paper towels to remove excess moisture for better browning.
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Coat with mustard – Brush with Dijon or spicy brown mustard to help the seasoning adhere.
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Season generously – Coat all over with your choice of herbs, spices, salt and pepper.
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Chill – Let the seasoned tenderloin rest uncovered in the fridge for 30 minutes up to overnight. The dry chill helps flavors permeate.
Best Aldi Pork Tenderloin Seasonings
Pork tenderloin has a mild flavor that benefits from bold, flavorful seasonings. Consider rubbing these combos onto the meat:
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Brown sugar, chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, paprika – sweet heat
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Lemon pepper, oregano, garlic powder, olive oil – Greek flavors
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Smoked paprika, cumin, thyme, mustard – smoky and herby
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Rosemary, sage, garlic powder, salt and pepper – roasted herb blend
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Five spice powder, ginger, brown sugar, sesame oil – Asian twist
Get creative and use your favorite spices to give Aldi pork tenderloin an extra flavor punch!
How to Cook Aldi Pork Tenderloin – 2 Easy Methods
Cooking brings out the best in nicely seasoned Aldi pork tenderloin. Try either oven roasting or pan searing:
Oven Roast
Roasting uses dry ambient heat to uniformly cook the meat.
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Preheat oven to 400°F.
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Place tenderloin on a baking sheet or in a roasting pan.
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Roast for 25-35 minutes until internal temperature reaches 145°F.
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Allow meat to rest for 10 minutes before slicing.
Pan Sear
Searing develops a delicious browned crust on the exterior.
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Heat oil in a skillet over medium-high heat.
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Add tenderloin and sear on all sides for 2-3 minutes until browned.
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Finish cooking in the oven at 400°F until internal temp reaches 145°F.
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Let rest 10 minutes then slice and serve.
Both methods result in tender, juicy pork tenderloin when cooked to proper internal doneness.
Serving Suggestions for Aldi Pork Tenderloin
The mild taste and tender texture of Aldi pork tenderloin pairs nicely with:
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Hearty roasted vegetables like potatoes, carrots, parsnips.
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Fresh green salads with vinaigrette dressing.
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Grains like roasted new potatoes, rice pilaf, or quinoa.
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Sauces like chimichurri, salsa verde, gravy, or pan juices.
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Sauted greens like spinach, kale, Swiss chard.
Slice and serve the rested pork tenderloin with your favorite sides for an easy, budget-friendly meal.
Common Aldi Pork Tenderloin Mistakes
Avoid these pitfalls for the best results:
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Not removing silverskin – can cause curling.
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Overcooking – aim for 145°F, not well done.
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Skipping resting – juices leak out without it.
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Charring seasoning – can create bitter taste.
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Saucing too early – prevents browning.
With the right prep and cooking methods, Aldi’s pork tenderloin can be just as juicy, flavorful and tender as premium brands at a fraction of the cost. Simply follow these helpful tips for five-star results.
Check out these other easy air fryer recipes!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Quick and easy: This recipe only needs a few simple ingredients to cook a pork tenderloin in the air fryer in no time. Just use a mustard marinade to coat the pork and air fry it.
- Always tender—It can be hard to make lean meat tender. There is nothing worse than dry pork, and this recipe cooks it quickly without cooking it too much.
- Flavorful and flexible: The mustard marinade gives the pork a great flavor without being too strong. This protein-packed dish is great for making ahead of time or for a quick dinner. For a well-balanced meal, serve it with your favorite sides.
- You can also use a convection oven to cook this pork, but I like to air fry it better.
- Measuring spoons and measuring cups for measuring ingredients
- Basting brush for applying the marinade
- Electronic thermometer for measuring pork tenderloin temperature
- Sharp knife and cutting board for slicing the pork
It’s crazy easy to make this pork tenderloin in an air fryer with just a marinade.
- Pork tenderloin: Since pork tenderloin usually comes in pairs, I make twice as much of this recipe and freeze one. Please let the pork thaw all the way before continuing with the recipe if you want to use frozen pork.
- Dijon mustard—the sharp mustard makes the pork taste even better. If you don’t have Dijon mustard, you can use whole grain mustard or yellow mustard instead.
- This is brown sugar. A little sugar makes the outside of the pork sweet and caramelized.
- Sea salt that is coarse and fresh black pepper that has been cracked. I like to keep the seasonings for this roast pork recipe simple, but you can easily change the mix of spices. To make it taste better, add garlic powder and onion powder. Adding smoked paprika or cayenne pepper to the marinade will make it a little spicier.
- Cooking spray—To grease the air fryer basket, I like to use a cooking spray with olive oil or avocado oil.
Do you want to make something with pork chops? Try these shake and bake pork chops or honey garlic pork chops.
Amy and I couldn’t stop eating the juicy sliced pork directly off of the cutting board. That said, there are actually many ways to enjoy this pork.
The pork would taste great on a sandwich with honey mustard sauce you make yourself or on a fall harvest salad. Any way you enjoy it, I recommend making a double batch so that you have some for leftovers.
To begin, mix dijon mustard, brown sugar, sea salt, and black pepper in a small bowl ( 1). Then, pat the pork tenderloin dry.
Brush the marinade over the top using a basting brush ( 2). You will want a thick even layer of the marinade ( 3).
Then, preheat your air fryer to 350F. Spray the air fryer basket with a spray oil and place the pork tenderloin in it.
Next, cook the pork at 350F for 22-25 minutes ( 4). Check the internal temperature with a meat thermometer and when it reaches 145F-150F the pork is done.
Take the pork out of the air fryer and let it rest on a cutting board for 5 to 10 minutes. Then, cut it into rounds.
Let the pork rest on the cutting board for at least 5 minutes after it’s done cooking before you cut it. This allows the juices to get evenly distributed inside the pork loin.
There will be less juice in the pork if you cut it too soon after cooking. This will make it dry and tough when you serve it.
Let the pork tenderloin cool down completely in the air fryer, then put it in a container that won’t let air in and put it in the fridge. Store in the fridge for up to 4 days.
I like my leftover pork tenderloin cold, but you can heat it up on the stove or in the air fryer until it’s just warm.
Aldi Shopping Pork Tenderloin Cook and Eat
FAQ
What cooking method is best for pork tenderloin?
Should I sear a pork tenderloin before baking?
Is it better to cook pork tenderloin fast or slow?
Do you cut pork tenderloin before or after cooking?
How to cook Aldi pork tenderloin?
When the oil is hot, carefully sear the meat on all sides for 2-3 minutes. Then transfer the skillet to the hot oven and roast it for 15-20 minutes. Use an internal meat thermometer to measure the temperature of the pork tenderloin. You’ll want it to be at least 145° to 150°. What can I serve with Aldi Pork Tenderloin?
How to cook pork tenderloin in oven?
Before you start anything else, make sure your oven is preheating to 450°F degrees. Since the pork tenderloin only roasts for about 10 minutes, the temperature is high and hot! Once the oven is on, mix together the garlic powder, onion powder, dried sage, salt, and paprika in a small bowl.
How do you rub a pork tenderloin?
Once the oven is on, mix together the garlic powder, onion powder, dried sage, salt, and paprika in a small bowl. Sprinkle the rub on all sides of the pork tenderloin, turning and pressing the mixture into the meat so it adheres well. I recommend applying the rub in a 9×13 casserole dish for easier clean-up.
What is the best pork tenderloin recipe?
The best pork tenderloin recipe you will ever make! Oven-roasted pork tenderloin is infused with sage, garlic, and rosemary. Seared for a savory crust, then roasted in the oven for a tender, juicy bite that melts in your mouth. Drizzle with a decadent, buttery pan sauce to elevate your weeknight meal!