Oven Baked Marinated Pork Tenderloin

Oven Baked Marinated Pork Tenderloin is a simple and flavorful dinner that comes together with very little effort. The pork is soaked in a savory pork tenderloin marinade made with soy sauce, garlic, ginger, brown sugar, and sweet chili sauce, then quickly seared in a hot skillet before finishing in the oven until tender and juicy.

I especially like this recipe because the pork can marinate for as little as 45 minutes, but the flavor deepens if you have time to let it sit longer. And the reserved marinade simmers into a rich and savory sauce which is perfect to drizzle over the meat.

Pork tenderloin is one of my favorite cuts because it cooks quickly and adapts well to different cooking methods. For a simple stovetop dinner, try my Pan Fried Pork Tenderloin, which has a great flavor with a quick sear. If you're in the mood for something fast and flavorful, Stir Fried Pork Tenderloin comes together quickly with vegetables. Another popular option is Mongolian Pork, which features tender pork slices coated in a very tasty sauce, which is always my favorite part of the recipe!

Recipe Highlights

• Sweet and savory pork tenderloin marinade with soy sauce, garlic, ginger, and sweet chili sauce
• Pork can marinate in as little as 45 minutes
• Quick skillet sear adds extra flavor before baking
• Oven roasting keeps pork tender and juicy
• Reserved marinade becomes a simple sauce for serving

Ingredients

Ingredient Notes & Substitutions

• This recipe uses two pork tenderloins totaling about 2 pounds. Be sure to remove any tough silver skin before marinating so the pork stays tender when cooked.
• Rice wine vinegar adds a mild acidity that balances the sweetness of the marinade. White wine vinegar works well as a substitute if rice vinegar is not available.
• Sweet chili sauce adds sweetness and mild heat. If you do not have sweet chili sauce, you can combine 2 tablespoons honey or sugar with 1-2 teaspoons chili garlic sauce or sriracha as a substitute.
• Garlic paste and ginger paste make the marinade quick to prepare, but freshly minced garlic and grated ginger or dried ground can also be used.
• Umami seasoning enhances the savory flavor of the marinade. If you do not have it, try some steak seasoning. If not, the recipe will still work well without it.

How to make Oven Baked Marinated Pork Tenderloin

Step 1: Use a knife and carefully slide along the top of tenderloin and remove the silver skin.

Step 2: Stir together ingredients for the sauce.

Step 3: Place pork in storage bag and pour half of marinade over meat. Store in refrigerator and let marinate at least 45 minutes. Save remaining marinade for later.

Step 4: Preheat oven to 400°F. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the oil and sear both side of tenderloin until browned.

Step 5: Cook pork until an internal meat thermometer reaches 145°F. Let rest while you make the sauce.

Step 6: Heat leftover marinade to a simmer and cook for 1-2 minutes until thickened.

Step 7: Drizzle sauce over pork tenderloin before serving.

Recipe Testing Tips

• Don't marinate longer than 8 hours, as the soy sauce and vinegar can begin to soften the meat too much.
• Turn the pork once or twice while marinating so the flavor distributes more evenly.
• There is no need to pierce the pork before marinating. Pork tenderloin is naturally tender and piercing it can allow juices to escape during cooking.
• Pat the pork lightly dry before searing if the surface is very wet. This helps the pork brown instead of steaming.
• Sear quickly over medium-high heat. The goal is to brown the outside of the pork for flavor, not cook it through.
• Use an instant-read thermometer to check doneness. Pork tenderloin is fully cooked when the internal temperature reaches 145°F, even if the pork is slightly pink.
• Allow the pork to rest before slicing so the juices stay inside the meat.
• Slice the pork across the grain into medallions for the most tender texture.

Frequently Asked Questions

Serving Suggestions

Marinated Pork Tenderloin pairs well with a variety of simple side dishes. For this meal I served it with some Jasmine rice and an Asian slaw.

Some other great side dishes to serve with this pork tenderloin include:

• Roasted Carrots and Green Beans. These cook at the same temperature as the pork. Just start them about 10-15 minutes before the pork.
• A simple green salad such as Butter Lettuce Salad is perfect for a light side.
• Charred Broccoli and Blackened Green Beans cook on the stovetop very quickly.