Achieve Perfectly Juicy Air Fryer Pork Tenderloin Every Time: A Quick & Easy Recipe

Air Fryer Pork Tenderloin is the ultimate solution for achieving tender, juicy pork with a perfectly crisp, caramelized crust. Seasoned with an incredible blend of brown sugar, paprika, garlic, and a hint of chili powder, this pork tenderloin cooks to perfection in under 25 minutes, making it an ideal choice for a quick yet incredibly delicious dinner!

Welcome to a new year filled with exciting air fryer recipes! If you just unwrapped a brand-new air fryer this past holiday season, it’s time to put that kitchen marvel to good use. And trust me, I’ve got just the recipe for you: succulent Air Fryer Pork Tenderloin. Say goodbye to dry, overcooked meat. The air fryer is your secret weapon, ensuring that your pork comes out perfectly tender and incredibly juicy, every single time.

This Air Fryer Pork Tenderloin recipe cooks in less than half an hour and boasts an absolutely incredible flavor profile. Imagine a crispy, caramelized exterior from the brown sugar rub, giving way to a sweet and smoky interior. It’s a guaranteed hit, even with the pickiest eaters! My kids absolutely adore it served alongside my Instant Pot Applesauce, a comforting Copycat Rice a Roni, or my flavorful Parmesan Roasted Baby Potatoes. It’s truly a perfect meal that balances speed with deliciousness.

Why You Will Love This Recipe

This Air Fryer Pork Tenderloin isn’t just another dinner recipe; it’s a game-changer for busy weeknights and a crowd-pleaser for any occasion. Here’s why this dish will quickly become a staple in your kitchen:

• Perfectly Cooked Every Time: Gone are the days of dry, bland pork! The air fryer circulates hot air evenly, creating a tender and juicy interior while developing a beautiful crust on the outside. This method locks in moisture, ensuring your pork tenderloin is succulent and never overcooked.
• Explosion of Flavor: Thanks to our irresistible dry rub, this pork tenderloin is bursting with sweet, smoky, and savory notes. The brown sugar caramelizes beautifully, creating a delightfully crispy outer layer that adds a depth of flavor you won’t forget.
• Incredibly Fast: Need dinner on the table in a flash? This recipe is ready in under 25 minutes from start to finish! It’s faster than most oven methods and perfect for those evenings when time is of the essence but you still want a homemade, satisfying meal.
• Effortless Meal Pairing: While your pork cooks, you have ample time to whip up your favorite side dishes. It pairs wonderfully with light options like this Quinoa and Black Bean Salad, or hearty sides like my Air Fryer Zucchini. A complete, balanced meal is achievable with minimal effort.
• Family Favorite: This recipe has universal appeal! Its balanced flavors and tender texture make it a hit with adults and children alike. It’s a reliable dish that will satisfy everyone at your dinner table, making mealtime stress-free and enjoyable.

Ingredients + Best Pork Seasoning

Another fantastic reason to adore this air-fried pork recipe is its simplicity. It primarily uses pantry staples you likely already have on hand, and the homemade spice rub comes together in a snap. This sweet and savory seasoning blend is incredibly versatile, pairing perfectly not just with pork, but with any meat – you might recognize it from my Air Fryer Chicken Thighs recipe. We often triple this seasoning blend to keep it readily available for all our culinary adventures!

Here’s everything you’ll need for this flavorful dish:

• Brown Sugar: This is key to achieving that wonderful caramelized, crisp coating on the outside of the pork. As it cooks, the sugar melts and browns, creating a delicious crust that seals in moisture. You can also substitute with raw sugar, coconut sugar, or turbinado sugar for similar results.
• Paprika: While regular paprika works perfectly fine, a smoky paprika truly elevates the flavor profile of this rub, adding a subtle depth and warmth. Feel free to use what you have!
• Garlic Powder: A foundational aromatic that complements pork beautifully. For an extra layer of flavor, consider adding a dash of onion powder as well.
• Chili Powder: Don’t let the name intimidate you! This adds a touch of warm spice to the seasoning rub without making it overly hot. It’s more about enhancing the overall flavor rather than adding significant heat.
• Kosher Salt & Black Pepper: Essential for balancing and highlighting all the other flavors, particularly the sweetness from the brown sugar. Always use freshly ground black pepper for the best taste.
• Pork Tenderloin: For this recipe, aim for cuts of meat that are approximately 1-1 ½ pounds each. I personally love ordering mine from Butcher Box, as their quality is consistently excellent, and the cuts thaw quickly from the freezer. Regardless of where you source your pork, ensure you select a good quality cut for the best results.
• Olive Oil: A light coating of olive oil helps the spice rub adhere beautifully to the pork and contributes to a lovely browning during the air frying process. You can use either liquid olive oil or an olive oil cooking spray, depending on your preference.

Instructions

This air fryer pork tenderloin is undeniably one of the easiest Air Fryer recipes you’ll ever make. The process is straightforward, ensuring delicious results with minimal fuss.

Here’s how to do it:

1. In a small bowl, thoroughly mix all the dry seasoning ingredients to create your aromatic dry rub.
2. Carefully trim any excess fat or silver skin from the pork tenderloin using a sharp knife.
3. Lightly coat the trimmed pork tenderloin with olive oil, then generously rub it with the prepared spice blend, ensuring even coverage.
4. Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for 5 minutes. Once preheated, carefully place the seasoned pork tenderloin into the air fryer basket.
5. Air fry at 400°F (200°C) for 18-22 minutes, flipping the tenderloin halfway through cooking (around the 10-minute mark), until the internal temperature reaches 145°-160°F (63°-71°C).
6. Once cooked, remove the meat from the air fryer and let it rest on a cutting board for at least 5 minutes. This crucial step allows the juices to redistribute, ensuring maximum tenderness and flavor.
7. Finally, slice and serve your perfectly cooked air fryer pork tenderloin!

For a detailed breakdown and ingredient measurements, please refer to the comprehensive recipe card below.

Expert Tips for the Best Air Fryer Pork Tenderloin

Achieving perfectly cooked, juicy pork tenderloin in your air fryer is simple with a few key techniques. Follow these expert tips to ensure your meal is consistently delicious:

• Do Not Skip the Rest! This is perhaps the most critical step for juicy meat. After cooking, always let your pork tenderloin rest for a full 5-10 minutes on a cutting board before slicing. This allows the internal temperature to equalize and the juices to redistribute throughout the meat. If you slice it too soon, those precious juices will run out, leaving you with dry pork.
• Trim the Silver Skin: Before applying your rub, take a moment to trim the silvery membrane (often called silver skin) from the tenderloin using your sharpest knife. This thin connective tissue doesn’t render down during cooking and can become tough and chewy, affecting the texture of your final dish. Removing it ensures a more tender bite.
• Don’t Overcrowd the Air Fryer: For optimal results, ensure there’s enough space around your pork tenderloins in the air fryer basket. Air fryers work by circulating hot air, and overcrowding prevents this circulation, leading to uneven cooking and less crispy results. If you have multiple tenderloins, cook them in batches if necessary.
• Pat the Pork Dry: Before coating with olive oil and the spice rub, pat the pork tenderloin thoroughly dry with paper towels. A dry surface allows the oil and seasoning to adhere better and promotes a crispier, more caramelized exterior.
• Use a Meat Thermometer: The only way to guarantee perfectly cooked and safe pork (and to avoid overcooking!) is to use an inexpensive digital meat thermometer. This is your best friend in the kitchen! Insert it into the thickest part of the meat without touching bone to get an accurate reading.

Recipe FAQs

More Healthy Pork Recipes

If you’re looking for more delicious and healthy ways to enjoy pork, check out these fantastic recipes:

• Instant Pot Asian Pork Tenderloin
• Instant Pot Balsamic Pork Tenderloin
• Easy Salsa Verde Pork Tenderloin
• Pork Chops with Goat Cheese Butter
• Instant Pot Pork Tenderloin | Fit Foodie Finds

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