From summer cookouts to holiday feasts, this Smoked Pork Tenderloin recipe is a tasty year-round pick!
I have a confession to make. I’ve been holding it in for a while, trying to play cool, but I can’t keep it to myself any longer…
I am so ready for the holidays.
It’s July, and I’m already thinking about decorating my house, wrapping presents, and, of course, the FOOD. Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Cranberries, Stuffing, Brown Sugar Sweet Potatoes…all which pair so nicely with this Smoked Pork Tenderloin! Is your mouth watering yet? Mine is. My love for the holidays coupled with my lack of patience have thrust me into full crazy mode. Also, it doesn’t help that my boyfriend recently invested in a smoker. Ya’ll, if you could smell this Smoked Pork Tenderloin right now. Mmm mmm.
Call me crazy for associating pork with the holidays instead of a turkey or ham, but my family has a unique tradition when it comes to Christmas dinner. My father is Italian, my stepmother is Mexican, and my sisters would rather eat pizza than be stuck in the kitchen all day. So, as our family has grown over the years, we’ve devised a plan to ensure that everyone has a say in what gets served.
Each Christmas, we set a theme for dinner. We started with Italian—my grandmother’s lasagna and homemade cannoli. Then, we did a Mexican fiesta with a full day of tamale-making. One year, we even had a Hawaiian theme inspired by my dad’s favorite Christmas movie, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, where we ate surf and turf and wore matching Hawaiian shirts! We’ve had years when we ordered pizza, while other years, we’ve whipped up pancakes. And yes, even some years, we’ve indulged in a more traditional holiday feast.
Still, one of my favorite Christmas dinners to this day has to be the year my stepmother roasted a pork tenderloin. It was sweet, smoky, juicy…everything you could imagine. And now, I’m on a mission to recreate my favorite meal with this Smoked Pork Tenderloin recipe.
Is Smoked Pork Tenderloin Healthy?
Pork is a great choice of meat because it’s lean, like white meat, and low in fat, calories, and cholesterol. The BBQ sauce does add a fair amount of sugar to this recipe, but you can always adjust it to fit your dietary needs.
A Total Smoke Show
The thing that really makes this recipe is using a smoker instead of roasting your pork. Smokers cook meat on a very low heat in a controlled environment, enriching the meat with unique flavors and creating a tender and juicy cut. Okay, my mouth is watering again. Anyway, when you’re done, you’ll have a tenderloin that rivals your favorite restaurants and my stepmother’s Christmas cooking.
INGREDIENTS
- 2 1-pound pork tenderloins
- 3 tablespoons homemade sweet rub (brown sugar, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper)
- 1/2 cup barbecue sauce (your choice of flavor)
INSTRUCTIONS
Trim
Prepare pork tenderloins.
Smoke
Season and smoke until partially cooked.
Glaze
Apply BBQ sauce and finish smoking.
Devour!
FAQs & Tips
You can keep your Smoked Pork Tenderloin in the fridge for 3-4 days, and you can also freeze it. Just keep the tenderloin in a freezer-safe, tightly sealed bag until you’re ready to enjoy it.
This recipe includes a phenomenal rub to marinate your pork in, but instead of doing this step right before cooking it, I like to allow time for my marinade to soak into the meat. Marinate your pork ahead of time to enhance the flavor.
Smoke your pork with the fat side facing up. The fat will render, keeping your pork from drying out. Smoking the meat should help with this anyway, as the low heat keeps it moist throughout the cooking process.
Serving Suggestions
If you’re not making this Smoked Pork Tenderloin for the holidays and want more versatile side options, I’ve got you covered. Tenderloin goes great with grilled veggies like Grilled Corn On The Cob, and a good potato dish like these Rosemary Roasted Potatoes.
Ingredients
- 2 1- pound pork tenderloins
- 3 tablespoons homemade sweet rub brown sugar, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper
- 1/2 cup barbecue sauce your choice of flavor
Instructions
- Prepare the pork tenderloins by removing them from the packaging and trimming off any excess fat and silver skin using a sharp knife.
- Preheat your smoker to 225 degrees Fahrenheit, ensuring it’s ready for the pork.
- Generously season the pork tenderloins on all sides with the sweet rub, then place them in the smoker. Close the lid and smoke until the internal temperature reaches 135 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Glaze the tenderloins with barbecue sauce on all sides, then continue to cook until the internal temperature hits 145 degrees Fahrenheit and the sauce has set.
- Take the pork tenderloin off the grill and let it rest for a few minutes. Then, slice it against the grain into 1/2 inch thick medallions and serve hot.
Nutrition Info:
Recipes written and produced on Food Faith Fitness are for informational purposes only.
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