Pork tenderloin is one of the most versatile cuts of meat. It’s great as slow cooker pork tenderloin, stuffed pork tenderloin, or simply cooked in a flavorful marinade. This marinade is also great on chicken and in other pork recipes. I am all about using marinade recipes to infuse flavor into my meats, and this pork tenderloin marinade is one of my all time favorites. It produces tender and juicy results every time!
Pork Tenderloin Marinade Ingredients
To make this recipe, you will need pork tenderloin, olive oil, brown sugar, Dijon mustard, soy sauce, lemon zest, parsley, thyme, salt, black pepper and garlic.
How Do You Make Pork Tenderloin Marinade?
Place all the ingredients in a bowl or resealable bag and mix to combine. Add the pork to the marinade and let it sit for at least one hour, or up to eight hours. Cook the pork as desired in a skillet or on the grill, then serve and enjoy.
Tips For The Perfect Marinade
You can prepare this marinade up to 3 days before you plan to use it. Simply store the marinade in the refrigerator until you’re ready to add your pork. This marinade contains a little bit of brown sugar which adds great flavor, but can easily burn. Make sure your grill or pan is not overly hot before you add your meat! No brown sugar on hand? Try honey instead! Sometimes I like to do a mixed grill and add other types of meat such as shrimp, chicken or beef. My favorite is to put some beef into skirt steak marinade or London broil marinade and serve it alongside the pork. If you don’t have fresh herbs on hand, use 1/3 of the amount of dried herbs instead. Serve your pork with a variety of side dishes including favorites such as hasselback potatoes, three bean salad, crispy brussels sprouts, stuffed tomatoes, cowboy beans, tzimmes, grilled sweet potatoes, or even grilled peaches!
Pork Tenderloin Marinade Variations
While this recipe is delicious as-is, you can add other ingredients to customize it to your tastes.
Spicy: Add crushed red pepper flakes or hot sauce to the marinade to taste. Asian: Use a blend of olive oil, toasted sesame oil, lime juice, soy sauce, brown sugar, ginger and fresh garlic or garlic powder. Omit the parsley, thyme, lemon zest and Dijon mustard. Mexican: Use a blend of olive oil, lime juice, garlic, chili powder and onion powder. Omit the thyme, lemon zest and Dijon mustard.
This is some of the best pork I’ve ever had – it’s the perfect blend of sweet and savory flavors and the meat pairs well with almost any side dish.
