Sweet & Spicy BBQ Grilled Pork Tenderloin

This BBQ grilled pork tenderloin recipe is equally perfect for an easy weeknight dinner or weekend cookout! A simple combination of olive oil, pork rub, and your favorite barbecue sauce results in a sweet and spicy grilled tenderloin that’s amazingly succulent and juicy…

This recipe was created in partnership with the Ohio Pork Council; all opinions and text are my own. Thanks for supporting me and the brands I love!

Grilled Pork Tenderloin

Let’s just put it out there… How amazing does this grilled pork tenderloin look?! And it tastes even better, if I do say so myself.

Grilling pork tenderloin is shockingly easy. So simple, in fact, you can even make it on a weeknight! No joke… Even if you’ve never grilled anything larger than a cheeseburger, DON’T WORRY. I know the first time I tried it, I was certain I would end up with an inedible, charred brick that was somehow still raw in the center. But pork tenderloin is virtually impossible to overcook when you use a digital meat thermometer.

I’ve been using this inexpensive model for over three years, and my grilled meats always turn out perfectly cooked through and juicy. It’s not a stretch to call it life changing, and I HIGHLY recommend picking one up for the upcoming summer grilling season! You can thank me later… :)

How To Grill Pork Tenderloin

Before we talk about the “how”, let’s spend just a moment on the “why” — namely WHY you should try this grilled pork tenderloin recipe. We’ve already established that it’s easy to prepare and is mind-blowingly delicious, but what you may not know is that pork tenderloin is an extremely budget-friendly protein. I routinely find it priced at under $2.49 per pound, which makes feeding my hungry boys a little easier on the ole wallet. Because man, can they EAT! This affordable pricing also makes it ideal for feeding a crowd.

Typically pork tenderloins come packaged in twos, with each tenderloin weighing between 1 to 1.5 pounds. This should be plenty as a main dish for a family of 4-5. For reference, I usually prepare 4 tenderloins for my family of seven, which includes two pork-loving teenage boys. If you’re making this grilled pork tenderloin recipe for a large gathering, plan on about 1/2 pound per person. And if you end up with leftovers? Rejoice, because pork tenderloin reheats like a dream!

How Long To Grill Pork Tenderloin

Are you ready to try your hand at grilling pork tenderloin? Get your ingredients in order first. You’ll need some olive oil, a good dry rub (try this amazing sweet and spicy pork tenderloin rub), and your favorite BBQ sauce — plus, of course, your pork tenderloins. Seriously, that’s it!

Give your pork tenderloins a drizzle of olive oil, rubbing it on all sides. Sprinkle each with about two tablespoons of the pork rub, and work it in all over. I’ve heard others say that, at this point, you should let your tenderloins sit for about 30 minutes before grilling, but honestly, I’ve tried it both ways and haven’t found it to make a difference. So why wait? Just go ahead and plop them on your grill over medium-high heat for about 7 minutes per side.

Now is the time to whip out your digital meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the tenderloins. This is the key to a perfectly grilled pork tenderloin — internal temperature trumps cook time. Our goal is to cook them to as close to 145 degrees as possible, which keeps the tenderloin super tender and juicy, with just a blush of pink inside.

Whoa, don’t panic — it’s absolutely OKAY for your pork to be a little pink after cooking! The guidelines for cooking pork were revised several years ago, and my friends at OhioPork.org have assured me that 145 degrees is more than sufficient for safe consumption. Now more dry, overcooked pork sounds good to me!

When the internal temperature reaches about 140 degrees, brush the top and sides of each tenderloin with your favorite BBQ sauce, and then monitor the temperature closely until it reaches 145 degrees. Your total cook time will be right around 18-20 minutes.

Finally, and this is ultra important, let your tenderloins rest for about 3 minutes after removing them from the grill before slicing and serving. This will be tough, because they will smell simply incredible, but I have faith that you can resist. Slice and serve warm with your favorite side!

Continue to Content

Sweet & Spicy BBQ Grilled Pork Tenderloin

Yield: 6 servings

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 18 minutes

Total Time: 23 minutes

This BBQ grilled pork tenderloin recipe is equally perfect for an easy weeknight dinner or weekend cookout! A simple combination of olive oil, pork rub, and your favorite barbecue sauce results in a sweet and spicy grilled tenderloin that's amazingly succulent and juicy...

Print

Ingredients

• 2 (1.5-lb.) pork tenderloins
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1/4 cup pork rub
• 1/4 cup of your favorite barbecue sauce

Instructions

1. Pat pork tenderloins dry. Rub each with about 1 tablespoon of olive oil, plus 2 tablespoons of pork rub.
2. Grill over medium-high heat for 7 minutes per side. Check the internal temperature of each pork tenderloin with a digital meat thermometer. When it reaches 140 degrees, brush the tops and sides of each tenderloin with your favorite BBQ sauce. Continue to cook until the internal reaches 145 degrees.
3. Remove the tenderloins to a platter and allow them to rest for 3 minutes before slicing.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1 serving
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 167Total Fat: 8gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 12mgSodium: 492mgCarbohydrates: 19gFiber: 0gSugar: 16gProtein: 4g

Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary with brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes and more.

Have you tried this recipe?

Leave a comment below and share a photo on Instagram. Tag it @unsophisticook and hashtag it #unsophisticook!

I’d love to see how your grilled pork tenderloins turn out… Tag me @Unsophisticook and @OhioPork on Instagram or use the hashtags #ohpork and #Unsophisticook so I can check it out. Enjoy!