Easy Air Fryer Pork Tenderloin
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1 ¼ teaspoons coarse kosher salt
- ¾ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¾ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
- 1 to 2 tablespoons olive oil (see note)
- 1 medium (about 1.5 pounds) pork tenderloin (see note)
Instructions
- Mix the brown sugar and spices together in a small bowl.
- Drizzle the pork with olive oil to coat evenly.
- Sprinkle the spice mixture evenly over the pork rubbing it into all sides of the pork. It might seem like a lot of dry mix to use - but try to use all of it for maximum flavor.
- Preheat air fryer to 400 degrees F for at least 5 minutes. (See note for oven cooking method.)
- Place pork into the air fryer (use parchment to line the air fryer for easier cleanup, if desired) and cook for 18 to 22 minutes until an instant-read thermometer registers 145 degrees F at the thickest part.
- Remove pork from the air fryer to a cutting board. Tent lightly with foil and let rest for 5 to 10 minutes before slicing. Pour any extra juice from the air fryer or cutting board over the pork before serving.
Notes
Pork Tenderloin: the weight of the pork doesn't have to be exact. This recipe works for smaller or larger pork tenderloins. Just keep an eye on the cooking time and adjust as needed. This recipe can easily be doubled/tripled.
Olive Oil/Mustard: in place of the olive oil (or in addition to), a bit of yellow mustard can also be rubbed lightly over the pork before adding the seasoning mixture.
Oven Cooking Method: If you don't have an air fryer, the pork can be roasted on a lined and lightly greased baking pan in a 400 degree F oven (if you have a convection oven, roast at 375 degrees F). It may not develop the same delicious crust as the air fryer, but the oven method definitely works in a pinch.