Easy Instant Pot pork tenderloin recipe is a great dinner idea to make with just a sprinkle of salt and pepper, or with a thick french onion gravy thatโs fantastic! Get our your Smithfield Pork Tenderloin and get going.
Looking for how to cook a pork tenderloin in the Instant Pot? Itโs simple once you know the timing. Make it with just a few herbs and seasonings or with a gravy thatโs to die for. Try our easy Instant Pot pork tenderloin recipe yourself this week and let us know what you think! This and over 100 more Instant Pot recipes are on our site for you to try too. (affiliate links present)
Pressure Cooker Pork Tenderloin Recipe
I bet you make some sort of pressure cooker recipe daily right?? If youโre anything like me you do! This multi cooker has been a complete game changer for our family I tell you.
Prepping and cooking a complete meal in less than 30 minutes is now possible, and I will say it is better than in the oven. Pressure cooking meat changed the way I did things for sure a few years ago. Especially when it comes to pork.
I like tenderloin to be super moist with a bit of a sear on the outside. It was hard for me to gage whether it was done in the middle before and I tended to overcook it. NOT anymore! You can use your Crockpot Express, Mealthy or as an easy Ninja Foodi recipe too.
If you are new to pressure cooking we have a lot of easy one pot meal recipes for you here. To begin with letโs start with a few basic tips:
- Make sure to Bookmark our InstaPot recipes page. We add new ones each week!
- Then PRINT this โโ> Instant Pot cooking times cheat sheet that will help you understand how long meat, vegetables and beans take to cook in your pressure cooker.
- I HIGHLY recommend you buy this non stick pot.
- You should know how to deglaze a pressure cooker after sautรฉing but it wonโt have as many issues with this better liner.
For reference, this is the model I have (a 6 quart) and use for all recipe creations.
The first step to buy a piece of meat at the store. Typically theyโre packaged but occasionally you can get one from your local butcher counter. Choose one that isnโt already marinated.
What is the difference between pork loin and pork tenderloin?
Loin is wide and thick while if you want to make Pork Tenderloin in Slow Cooker, that is long and narrow. Both are cut from different areas of the loin muscle which runs along the back of the pig from the shoulder to the rear. Both are great.
Cooking Tips
Then to make pork tenderloin in Instant Pot pork weโre going to set our pressure cooker to saute. Essentially this part could be skipped but you wonโt have a sear on the outside unless you do this. I think the texture is a bit off if you donโt brown the outsides a bit.
Then DO NOT forget to deglaze Instant Pot. If you donโt you may get the dreaded burn notice because the little stuck on bits of meat are triggering that error.
Itโs better using this method with a very short cook time and a long natural release. Pork chops in pressure cooker are kindaโ the same way. For pork loin it is just a few minutes with a 15 minute natural release cycle. With beef it is a much longer time to break it down and have it fall off the bone tender, with usually a 10 minute release.
This is what youโre going to need in order to get started. There arenโt very many ingredients which is nice but the few you do use have a ton of flavor. When done youโll have a nice gravy at the bottom of the pot you can pour over the top of each slice. OR toss with the meat if you choose to shred it.
Ingredients
- Pork tenderloin โ 1-2 lbs. is good
- French onion soup mix if youโre going to make it with that
- the gravy using this is amazing
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Olive oil or butter to saute meat
- Onion is optional but good
- Broth, beef typically is best
- Minced garlic for flavor
Equipment Needed
You will want your electric pressure cooker and a wood spatula to scrape the bottom after sauteing meat. Have a meat thermometer handy because you always ensure thickest part of the internal meat temperature is at at least 142 degrees F before serving.
How to Cook Pork Tenderloin in a Pressure Cooker
- After you saute your meat on the outsides and deglaze your pot youโll want to put your meat back in.
- Whisk together your onion soup mix with remaining broth and add that too with a sprinkle of sliced onions on top.
- You can add more salt and pepper now if you like it well seasoned.
- Close lid and steam valve and set to high pressure for 4 minutes for a piece of meat that is 1.5 lbs. If closer to 1 lb. Iโd set for closer to 2 min.
- Allow to naturally release steam for 15 minutes when done.
- Remove meat and allow to rest and stay warm.
- If making gravy turn pot to saute and in a small bowl whisk some hot liquid and a few tbsp of cornstarch until smooth.
- Pour this in and allow to bubble and thicken.
- Serve on top of Ninja Foodi white rice or pressure cooker mashed potatoes!
Yes, when youโre looking for lean protein to include in your diet, this cut of meat is a good choice. Itโs low in fat, high in protein, and a rich source of vitamin B and selenium. Itโs just as lean as skinless chicken breasts with more vitamins and minerals, and naturally gluten free.
NO! It actually does the opposite. Although pork tenderloin is one of the most tender pork cuts, overcooking can make it tough and unpleasant. This cut of meat is one you definitely do NOT want to cook over low heat all day long in a slow cooker or Dutch oven.
Red meat and pork can remain in the refrigerator for up to five days and can be frozen for four to 12 months. Leftover cooked meat will last three to four days in the refrigerator safely, and two to six months in the freezer. Make sure you store them in air tight containers or freezer bags with the air squeezed out for best results.
Since tenderloin is really lean reheating it without drying it out in the process can be hard. It can be quickly done on the stovetop over low heat in a simple frying pan. Just add it sliced in a single layer with a bit of liquid or butter and immediately cover with the lid. Do not overcook it to remain tender. It is best if topped with a bit of gravy in my opinion.
Can you cook frozen pork?
It make take a bit more time to come to pressure as frozen meat needs to defrost a bit. I prefer to defrost prior to cooking but there are some forgetful moments around here and these tips are helpful: For frozen Instant Pot pork tenderloin follow the steps in this link.
Will a pork tenderloin shred?
- Tenderloin is lean so it isnโt the best choice. If youโre looking for an Instant Pot pork shoulder recipe Iโd use this one.
- Instead I would choose one of these cuts:
- The best roast is the shoulder.
- High in fat and connective tissue the shoulder is also the most flavorful part of the hog.
- The Boston butt is one part when butchered
- Picnic roast is what the other portion is called
- High in fat and connective tissue the shoulder is also the most flavorful part of the hog.
- I would recommend following our Instant Pot Hawaiian pulled pork recipe if you want it shredded for sliders.
- We actually used a center cut pork loin for this one and it worked great.
- The best roast is the shoulder.
Instant Pot Pork Tenderloin
Equipment
- 1 pressure cooker
Ingredients
- 1 pork tenderloin, mine was 1.5 lbs.
- 1 packet french onion soup mix
- 1 onion, sliced
- 2 tbsp cornstarch, optional, to thicken at end
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 c broth, beef, vegetable or chicken
- 3 tbsp garlic, minced
- salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Set pressure cooker to saute and add 2 tbsp of olive oil inside. Pat dry your tenderloin and rub minced garlic on the outsides, then sprinkle with salt and pepper and lower into your pot. Brown outsides, then turn pot off and remove pork. Set on a plate.
- Pour 1/2 c of your broth into your pot to deglaze = scrape the bottom of your pot with a wooden spatula to get all the little bits loose. (helps avoid the burn notice) Put pork back in with broth.
- With the other 1/2 cup of broth add your packet of onion soup mix and whisk together. Pour this on top of your meat. Then sprinkle your sliced onions on top with a sprinkle of salt and pepper.
- Close your lid and steam valve and set to manual, pressure, high for 4 minutes. (for 1.5 lb. piece, if much longer I'd increase the time)
- Do a natural release for 15 minutes, then a quick release. Take tenderloin out to rest for at least 5-10 min. before slicing to maintain juiciness.
- If you want your sauce to be a bit thicker turn Instant Pot to saute again and in a small bowl add some of the hot liquid plus 2 tbsp of cornstarch and whisk together until smooth.
- Add back into your Instant Pot and whisk together. Allow to bubble and thicken.
- Do that again if you want it a bit thicker with 1 more tbsp. Will thicken a bit more as it sits as well.
- Slice pork loin, serve over rice, and spoon french onion sauce over the top of each serving.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Made the french onion pork recipe. Hubby loved it. I thought the gravy was a bit too salty, would hold back on the added salt or add a bit extra broth to tone it down, but still a keeper. Followed recipe exactly as written
So glad it was a hit
Thank you. Love the recipes.