Nothing beats a 30 minute dinner and this Instant Pot Honey Garlic Pork Tenderloin is no exception. It's a tender, sweet Asian flavored pork dish with incredible flavor. It cooks quickly in the instant pot and develops a sweet, gingery sauce that adds the most amazing flavor. It's quick enough for a weeknight and special enough for company.
Dinner these days is all about easy and quick. If you're like me, cooking three meals a day for a household can be a bit trying and is certainly getting old quickly. However, this instant pot Honey Garlic Pork Tenderloin meal was just begging me to make it.
With just 5 minutes or so of prep, I was out of the kitchen and ready to relax with my glass of wine until dinner was ready. And it really hit the spot!
Isn't the Instant Pot a great invention?! I used to cook pork tenderloin in the pressure cooker years ago but this set the time and go method is so much easier. My favorite meals so far have been my Instant Pot Chicken Cacciatore and Greek Beef Stew. Now I've added this one to my list of Instant Pot pork tenderloin recipes.
It's just a matter of browning the pork then throwing everything else in the pot, seal, and let it go. It can't get much easier than that! Plus the resulting sauce is absolutely amazing. Instant Pot Asian Pork Tenderloin is definitely a healthy and flavorful meal you don't want to miss!
Don't have an Instant Pot? This meal can be made on the grill too. Directions are in the note section of the recipe card below.
This Instant Pot Honey Garlic Pork Tenderloin recipe is quick enough for a weeknight and yet special enough for company. It's tender, moist, and sweet with an edge of savory from the gingery Asian- flavored sauce. I like to serve mine over riced cauliflower with a side of steamed broccoli. Of course, rice will work too. Believe me, this is one delicious gluten-free, low carb dinner that the whole family will devour. Enjoy!
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Frequently asked questions
I don't have an instant pot. Can I cook it another way?
Yes, this pork tenderloin is also great grilled. Check out the instructions in the recipe notes below.
Can I cook more than one tenderloin at a time?
Absolutely! You can add another tenderloin as long as it fits nicely into the bottom of your pressure cooker in a single layer. I would also double the sauce to keep them moist.
Is pork loin and a tenderloin the same?
No, they are two entirely different cuts of pork. The tenderloin is thinner, longer, and smaller, weighing about 1 to 1-½ pounds each. The pork loin is a larger, heavier, rounder piece of pork and takes considerably longer to cook.
Do I have to let my instant pot depressurize naturally for 10 minutes?
Yes, this is absolutely essential to complete the cooking of the pork loin!
How to grate ginger
Freeze it! Yep, that's right! Wrap your knob of ginger in plastic wrap and place it in the freezer. When you need it, remove it from the freezer, scrape away the skin with vegetable peeler or spoon, then grate with zester or grater.
Ingredients
This one dish offers a low calorie, high protein meal with anti-inflammatory, immune-boosting, and cholesterol-lowering properties.
Pork tenderloin, "the other white meat", is actually lower in calories and fat than chicken breasts and has more protein per 4-oz. serving.
Garlic is full of phytonutrients, vitamins, and minerals that are known to reduce cholesterol and decrease the risk of coronary artery disease, stroke, and stomach cancer.
Ginger, proven to be an anti-inflammatory, is known to boost metabolism and enhance fat digestion and absorption.
Honey, a natural sweetener. It is free of fat & cholesterol, high in antioxidants, and full of other beneficial vitamins and minerals.
Soy Sauce (tamari), the Asian equivalent of salt, is very low in saturated fat and cholesterol and a good source of vitamins and minerals as well as protein and iron.
Sesame Oil, on a par with olive oil, lowers blood pressure and cholesterol, boosts heart health, and has anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
Directions
- Season the pork tenderloin with salt and pepper.
- Sear pork on all sides.
- While pork is searing, make the soy-ginger sauce and pour it over the pork loin.
- Cover and seal then cook on high for 5 minutes. When cooking is complete, release pressure naturally for 10 minutes then vent the remaining pressure.
- To thicken the sauce, remove pork from the instant pot and turn the pot to sauté mode, and add a mixture of cornstarch and water.
- Let simmer for a few minutes until the sauce has thickened. Drizzle some sauce over the cooked Honey Garlic Pork Tenderloin and serve the remainder on the side.
Favorite sides
Tropical Fried Rice with pineapple and fresh vegetables.
Vegetable Egg Rolls are easy to make with packaged broccoli carrot slaw, homemade ginger-soy sauce, and egg roll wrappers.
Thai Cucumber Salad with a wonderful citrus-chile dressing.
For another quick pork recipe, try my pork tenderloin in the air fryer.
Find more healthy pork recipes and easy Instant Pot recipes here on 2CM!
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Recipe
Instant Pot Honey Garlic Pork Tenderloin
Ingredients
- 1 ¼ lb. pork loin
- Salt & pepper
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- ⅓ cup soy sauce
- ⅓ cup water
- ¼ cup honey
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger or 1 Tablespoon grated fresh ginger
- 1 ½ teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 Tablespoon sesame oil
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
- 2 Tablespoons cold water
Instructions
- Turn Instant Pot to saute mode. Add olive oil.
- Season pork loin with salt and pepper. Sear pork on all sides.
- In a small bowl, mix together soy sauce water, honey and spices and oil.
- Turn Instant Pot off and pour sauce over pork loin.
- Cover and seal. Turn pressure to high and cook 5 minutes.
- Release pressure naturally for 10 minutes then vent remaining pressure.
- Remove pork to a plate and cover to keep warm.
- Turn Instant Pot back to saute mode and thicken sauce with a mixture of cornstarch and water.
- Let simmer for a few minutes until the sauce has thickened.
- Drizzle over pork and serve remainder on side.
