Air fryer pork loin comes out tender on the inside and flavored to perfection outside. It’s a quick way to cook this or a Smithfield pork tenderloin in your Ninja Foodi or other brand too.
Have you cooked pork loin in air fryer yet?? It’s actually quite simple and quick! Get out your favorite seasonings to rub on the outside and give air fryer pork loin a try! An easy air fryer recipes we love. (affiliate links present)
Pork Loin in Air Fryer
We have used this recipe time and time again because it comes out just as good as our best baked pork chops recipe in the oven. So moist and juicy. Use our seasonings below or buy already marinated, either way it’s amazing. Better yet this doesn’t have a bone in it though which makes it easier to slice and serve with kids.
The biggest difference between making this and our slow cooker Amazing pork loin is that you get an incredible crisp on the outside. If you add a dry rub that gets baked on and a bit caramelized too which makes it beyond delicious.
If you love extra crispy food and quick recipes, here are some resources to start with:
- My Favorite models are this Cosori or for a dual machine, the Foodi.
- You can find more Ninja Foodi recipes here as well; bookmark them both!
- It is best practice to put food into a hot basket. this is how to preheat air fryer first.
- Here’s a printable free air fryer cooking time chart here for your fridge.
Boneless Pork Loin Air Fryer
Need a keto friendly meal, this hits that mark too! Of course we usually pair this with a bed of mashed potatoes or rice, but the side dishes are up to you. Tenderloin isn’t a hard cut of meat to find at your local grocery store. Sometimes I will find a great sale and buy a few. I freeze most of them and leave out one to cook this way.
I have cooked frozen pork loin before but that needs a high pressure cooker to make it tender. I wouldn’t attempt it rock hard in this machine. By the time it took to get the middle thawed and cooked in the center the outsides would be way to brown, almost burned.
SO make note of that and give it a good day to defrost in your fridge before you start this one. Now these can come in all shapes and sizes. Some are really large and others smaller. I share how big ours was below so if yours is significantly bigger you’d need to add a few minutes, check, and add a few more until it reaches a safe temp.
How Long to Cook Smithfield Pork Loin in Air Fryer
You can cook either a tenderloin or loin in your hot air machine. The only real difference is one is typically smaller and more tender (tenderloin). Timing is accurate for 3 lbs. no matter which one you use. It is faster than cooking pork tenderloin in the oven for sure. That isn’t the only brand out there though.
We chose a Hormel marinated loin fillet once and that turned out exceptionally well. Already soaked in a lot of seasonings and a sauce I didn’t have to add anything myself. As with any recipe if you use a larger thicker piece it will take longer to cook. I recommend this size because it isn’t massively thick and cooks more evenly.
You don’t want the outside overdone in order to get the middle to a safe eating temperature. You can see what it turned out looking like below. Since it was less than 2 lbs. I just took off 1 minute and it was perfectly tender inside when done. Be sure to allow it to sit in the basket, closed for a good 5-10 minutes once it’s done. Resting allows the meat to stay tender once you slice it.
Can you cook frozen pork loin in an air fryer?
I have done this just once and it did work however I prefer pressure cooking it. I’m including a link to those directions below. Preheat the air fryer to 360 degrees F and place loin into the basket. Cook for 50 minutes. You can cook frozen pork loin in an Instant Pot too! Yes, I have been known to be forgetful a time or two.
Ingredients
- Pork tenderloin is smaller than a loin but that works too for longer time
- Garlic powder is nice
- Salt and pepper if desired
- Olive oil
- Basil we usually add unless previously marinated
- Brown sugar for sweetness but may brown faster
- Add any other seasonings to the mix really
Here are a few questions you might have before you get started cooking this:
Ours was 2 pounds. If yours is much larger the timing will vary from what is in the recipe card below. 18 minutes worked well to maintain the juiciness of the meat, but still get a nice color.
I think it’s best to be flipped once almost halfway through the cooking process to get an even color. As with any other protein you will want to let it rest 5 minutes before slicing. This allows the juices to stay inside and not immediately flow out once sliced. Always ensure middle reaches internal temperature of 145 degrees after you remove the pork, and before eating.
Spraying with olive oil is debatable depending on who you ask. I use it all the time without any issues. It has been noted that non stick sprays might compromise the non stick coating of the air fryer basket. I say use conservatively but have had no issues with it myself and think it lends to an easier clean up.
Should you preheat air fryer before cooking meat?
Preheating an air fryer takes about 4-5 minutes. With the Philips brand the timer button lets you preheat the device by adjusting the timer to five minutes until the warm up light goes out. Fill the basket after that and turn the timer knob to the required cooking time.
For the Ninja Foodi you just turn the pot on and close the attached lid. Hit the air crisp button, set the temperature, choose 4 minutes for the timing. Once it beeps and turns the pot off you know it’s done.
Now when smoking a boneless pork loin I add different spices. You could opt to use this mixture for a more intense flavor. Everyone is different, this one here is very basic. Another debate out there is whether you need to preheat your air fryer. I say it depends on the recipe.
Also, it comes down to whether I remember to or not. I definitely do recommend it in general though. If your machine doesn’t have a preheat button I would recommend 5 minutes at the temperature you’ll be cooking at.
- For most electric air fryer recipes I do not. For bone in pork chops I do.
What should I serve with pork tenderloin?
There are TONS of great ideas depending on your taste buds and what method of cooking you want to do. Here are a few of our favorite side dishes.
- Air fryer mashed potatoes with russet or sweet potatoes in air fryer.
- We have a bunch of Instant Pot side dishes on our site you can search for
- Easy Air fryer zucchini fries are my girls’ favorites.
- Make some simple air fryer cauliflower
Looking for other pork recipes? Try our air fryer pork chop recipe wrapped in bacon!
This one requires 400 degrees because there are bones present, but still only takes about 10 minutes. I wouldn’t skip the bacon because it makes them incredible! Preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees F for 5 minutes.
- Rinse and pat dry with paper towels your loin. Slice in half so it will fit inside your basket. Mix seasonings listed and coat outside.
- Place meat in air fryer basket and set to 8 minutes at 400 degrees, then flip each piece over to the other side and cook an additional 10 minutes.
- When done let it sit in the closed drawer for at least 5 minutes to rest.
- Take internal meat temperature and ensure it is at 145 degrees F. before slicing.
How long can you keep leftover cooked pork?
Leftover cooked meat will last three to four days in the refrigerator. If frozen, it will last 2-6 months. For another quick idea, this is how to cook frozen pork chops in Instant Pot too.
Air Fryer Pork Loin
Equipment
- 1 air fryer
Ingredients
- 2 lb pork loin
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp basil
- 3 tbsp brown sugar
Instructions
- Rinse meat and pat dry with paper towels. Mix seasoning together and then press it on all sides of loin. Cutting it in half first will be necessary so it will fit into your basket.
- Preheat air fryer to 400 degrees F for 5 minutes. Put coated meat into preheated air fryer basket, close. Set to 400 degrees for 8 minutes.
- Open and flip loins and cook for 10 more minutes or until internal temperature reaches 145 degrees. Allow to rest for 10 minutes before slicing to maintain juiciness.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I just tried this tonight. It turned out very good and your time is on spot 18 minutes. I have the ninja foodi grill and worked perfectly. Thank you for sharing.
OH good, glad you loved it
my family loved it and I love it because it was so easy
Will the 18 minutes be enough for a pork loin that is frozen?
What size is your foodi and what size was your loin fillet?
Size is in recipe card, I have the 6 qt. foodi.
I read and reread this a few times — now I am going to try it…I tend to like meat DONE so I am worried. I’ve only made a pork tenderloin in the oven a few times. There is no reason to get the Foodi if you are not going to try new things though, right?
Her first instructions showed to cook it for 18 minutes on 165.
I think that was your issue and why it wasnโt cooked at all.
The recipe cards says to cook on 400 for 18 minutes.
I also was thinking 164 temp was way to low.
Internal temp 164?
I think she means cook till the meat reaches an internal temperature of 165โ
Have you ever used anything like raspberry chipotle sauce and air fried? Thatโs what Iโm wanting to do.
This is so wrong Iโve cooked it 20 minutes in the ninja foodi air fryer still not even registering on the meat thermometer. ๐
What do you mean not even registering. It would be some temperature or your thermometer is broken first off. This has been made time and time again with success by me and many others so you might want to check the seal on your machine as well and make sure your piece isn’t any larger than the one I used.
If she has a 5+ lb loin, it will take considerably longer…
I think the temperature was wrong. That may be why. It should be 400 F and not 165 F as she stated in the directions.
165 is the INTERNAL temp of the meat AFTER cooking, not the temperature to cook at.
trying the port tenderloin now for lunch, it looks so good in the Ninja Foodi
Hubby and I loved this recipe! Thanks!
I have the ninja foodie toaster oven SP101 and want to put the pork roast in it. What temperature do i put it on the air fryer and how long. Having trouble finding recipes for the toaster oven.
The recipe says 400. My pork tenderloin package said to cook to internal temp of 160. To get there I had to cook much longer. But it was still moist and delicious.
Itโs 400 degrees to set your air fryer to, not what the internal temp should be. Two different things.
First time user of Ninja Foodi Air Fryer. Are you using pressure cooker, steam, slow cooker or what setting is everyone using? Iโve read everyoneโs responses and comments and no one has mentioned it.
I’m always hesitant about cooking pork as I’m not the most experienced cook. I love the foodi because you really cant go wrong! This was a delicious meal that my family really enjoyed! Thanks for sharing your recipe!
Yay!! Glad it was a hit!!
Yay for a great dinner together!
Thank you for posting this! I am using my Ninja Foodi tomorrow for the first time. I was just going to use it for fries while the pork loin roasted in the ovenโbut now I think Iโll air fry the loin (I hate how dry it can turn out in the oven)!
Please unsubscribe me from your blog.
Thank you.