Best Damn Grilled Pork Tenderloin

One of the best recipes i’ve ever made or enjoyed, this grilled pork tenderloin is remarkably tender, juicy and mouthwateringly divine.  With the perfect combination of simple ingredients to make a dry rub, it cooks to perfection in only about 10-12 minutes. It will have everyone in awe at your grilling skills.

Pork tenderloin is one of the most delicious cuts of meat available. It’s lean, tender, and can be prepared with any number of delicious flavor combinations. For this recipe, we’ll use a simple BBQ rub that’s both sweet and savory, which accentuates the natural flavors of the pork. You won’t be disappointed!

Make Sure it’s Pork Tenderloin, not Pork Loin

Pork tenderloin and pork loin are two different cuts of meat. Pork tenderloin is very lean, long and narrow – usually about 1.25 – 1.75lbs each. Pork loin is shorter, has a larger diameter and is from a different part of the pig, it also requires different cooking times. So for this recipe, make sure the package clearls says pork tenderloin.

Simple BBQ Seasoning Rub

Don’t you just love recipes where you have the ingredients already on hand? For this recipe, you likely already have the ingredients in your pantry and spice rack. They are:

• Brown Sugar
• Smoked Paprika
• Ground Mustard
• Onion Powder
• Garlic Powder
• Salt and Pepper
• Cayenne (optional, but highly suggested!)
• Vegetable Oil

The preparation is as simple as mixing all the dry ingredients, coating the pork with vegetable oil, the rubbing in all the seasoning mix.

Prep Your Grill

A seasoned grill is a happy grill. Before you light the coals or burners, scrape the grates clean and apply a generous coating of vegetable oil. Wipe away any excess with a paper towel. This is called seasoning the grill. It will make for a much better grill experience and prevent a recipe such as this from sticking to the grill. With the grill cleaned and seasoned, fire it up to high heat with the lid closed for 5 minutes. You want those grate to be good and hot so we get a nice sear on the meat.

Grill Times and Grill Marks

When grilling, nothing is quite as satisfying as getting those classic crosshatch grill marks on the meat. To achieve this, place the pork tenderloins on the hot grill and leave them alone for about minutes. After 5 minutes, the meat will begin to release from the grill. This is exactly what we want. Then use tongs and give the meat a ¼ turn and continue grilling another 3-4 minutes. Then it’s time to flip the meat and grill an additional 3 minutes. We’re real close to being done, but since the meat is round, give the sides a quick sear by holding it with the tongs on the remaining sides for about 1 minute each. Check the internal temperature with an instant read thermometer. We want to an internal temp of 145°(F).

Let Rest Before Serving

After removing the meat from the grill, let it rest for 3-5 minutes before cutting in. This allows the natural juices to redistribute and keep the meat tender and juicy. When it’s ready to be served, use a sharp knife and slice away. You can do thin slices or thick medallions – both are awesome.

How to Serve Grilled Pork Tenderloin

Quite honestly, this grilled pork tenderloin is so amazingly good, you’ll want to just pick up the slices and eat them like candy. They will be loaded with juices, and the outside with the brown sugar and seasonings will be nicely caramelized, creating a BBQ crust that is to die for. This is the caveman approach and is perfectly acceptable. You can, however, plate the slices and serve with your favorite side-dish. You can also add some of your favorite BBQ sauce if desired.

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