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    You are here: Home / Recipes / Pork

    Grilled BBQ Pork Tenderloin

    Published: Jun 13, 2023 · Modified: Aug 24, 2023 by Susie Weinrich · This post may contain affiliate links. 2 Comments

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    grilled bbq pork tenderloin on a cutting board with text overlay

    Grilled BBQ Pork Tenderloin is a delicious dinner, perfect for when you are ready to get the grill fired up! This recipe includes DOUBLE BBQ flavor. First the pork tenderloins are slathered in a barbecue wet rub and “marinated” for 4 hours, up to 48 hours. Then it is grilled and basted with a homemade BBQ sauce that is full of flavor! The recipe below will walk you through everything you need to know from ingredients to grilling and side dishes.

    grilled BBQ pork tenderloin on a cutting board with bbq sauce and a brush

    Pork tenderloin is a great option when you want to grill something other than a steak. It is super tender like a good steak, but won’t break the bank. It is an extremely affordable cut for the grill. ((you can also check out this Grilled Tri Tip, if you do want “steak”))

    RELATED: Rosemary Pork Tenderloin, Instant Pot Pork Roast

    Pork Tenderloin, Not Pork Loin

    We are making pork tenderloin, not pork loin. A pork tenderloin is much smaller in size (circumference) than a pork loin. A pork tenderloin is also SUPER tender when cooked and a pork loin can tend to be a drier cut of pork.

    two raw pork tenderloins on a cutting board

    A pork tenderloin will always be call “pork tenderloin” on packaging. You have to be careful not to accidentally buy a pork loin which can also be called a pork tender… tricky!! I have made this mistake before at Trader Joe’s, they had thin pork loin that they called pork tenders and once I took it out of the package I knew it was pork loin.

    This recipe calls for 2 pork tenderloins. Most times you find them 2 to a package in the grocery store.

    Ingredients

    All you need are 2 pork tenderloins and some spices from your spice cabinet and you can get this BBQ Pork Tenderloin ready for the grill:

    ingredients on a cutting board for making BBQ pork tenderloin
    Ingredients clockwise: garlic powder, onion powder, 2 pork tenderloins, olive oil, cumin, chili powder, smoked paprika, kosher salt, black pepper, and Worcestershire sauce.

    Grilling Tips

    You can grill your pork tenderloin on a charcoal or gas grill. Remember these things to help you get the perfect grill marks and cook to the right temperature.

    • Cook to Temp, Not Time: Since not all pork tenderloins are the same thickness it is more important to grill to the correct temperature, not a specific time. We use an instant read thermometer to make sure we are hitting a temp of 140 degrees Fahrenheit in a thick area before pulling the tenderloins.
    • Use Direct & Indirect Heat: Let the grill heat up (high heat if on gas) using direct and indirect heat. Cooking the pork tenderloins over indirect heat ensures that the outside doesn’t burn before the inside comes to temp.
    • Mind The Tail: Pork tenderloins usually taper off on one side and have a skinny end. When laying the pork on the grill place that tail end furthest away from the direct heat side of the grill. Some will even double that end over and tie it up, making it evenly thick all the way down, so it doesn’t over cook.
    • Add BBQ Sauce At The End: Do not start basting the pork tenderloins with BBQ sauce until you flip for the first time, only basting the side facing up. The sugars in the BBQ sauce will char if cooked on the grill grates, and not in a good way!
    • Resting: After grilling let your pork tenderloins rest for 5-10 minutes before cutting and serving. This allows the juices to redistribute and for the pork to relax and become nice and tender.

    Homemade BBQ Sauce

    For this Grilled Pork Tenderloin you can make this delicious BBQ sauce, or you can use a store bought BBQ sauce that you family will love.

    You just need a few simple ingredients to make Homemade BBQ Sauce:

    • butter
    • finely diced onion
    • ketchup
    • brown sugar
    • Worcestershire sauce and hot sauce
    • garlic clove – minced
    • chili powder and smoked paprika
    • black pepper

    Make sure you divide the BBQ sauce in half to avoid cross contamination. You will want to have some to baste the pork tenderloins with and some extra for serving and dipping at dinner time.

    Step By Step

    1. Marinate the Pork Tenderloin
    2. Make the BBQ wet rub for the pork tenderloin. Slather it on all sides of both tenderloins. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and then place in a zip lock baggie or rimmed baking dish.

      Refrigerate for 4 hours, up to 48 hours.

    3. Get Grill Ready
    4. Pull the pork tenderloins out of the fridge to rest for about 20 minutes, this is called tempering and helps the meat cook evenly on the grill.

      Set the grill up for direct and indirect heat grilling.

    5. Make BBQ Sauce
    6. Make the BBQ sauce while the pork tenderloins are resting at room temp and the grill is heating up.

    7. Grill
    8. Grill the pork tenderloins over indirect heat for about 12 minutes, flip the tenderloin and baste the cooked side generously with BBQ sauce. Then cook for an additional 12 minutes.

      bbq pork tenderloin on a grill, basted with bbq sauce

      The internal temp should reach between 140-145 degrees Fahrenheit before removing from the grill.

      Pro Tip: Pork can safely be grilled to a Medium (140F). This will be slightly pink in the center and will be juicy and tender! It’s best not to cook pork tenderloin to well done (165F)

      When it has reached the correct temp, remove the pork from the grill and baste the other side with BBQ sauce.

    9. Slice and Serve
    10. Let the pork rest for about 5-10 minutes before slicing.

      Slice into 1.5 inch slices and serve 2-3 slices per person with additional BBQ sauce on the side.

      a grilled pork tenderloin cut into slices with a bowl of mac and cheese to the side

    Storing and Reheating

    Store any leftover BBQ Pork Tenderloin and BBQ sauce in an airtight container for up to 4 days.

    This reheats really well in the microwave for 30 seconds. I have found that it doesn’t get overcooked!

    Side Dishes

    Our very favorite dinner with this BBQ Pork Tenderloin is to add some Cast Iron Skillet Potatoes and Roasted Broccoli or Roasted Asparagus! A big glass of homemade lemonade or an Arnold Palmer are great too!

    Here are some other veggie side dishes to consider:

    • broccoli bacon salad in a white bowl
      Easy Broccoli Bacon Salad
    • cooked haricot verts on a plate with a pat of butter
      Four Great Ways to Cook Haricot Verts
    • fennel that has been roasted on a baking sheet
      Easy Oven Roasted Fennel
    • Cucumbers and Onions Salad in a bowl with a fork
      Classic Cucumber and Onion Salad

    Here are some other starches to consider:

    • mashed potatoes in a bowl
      Creamy & Flavorful Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes
    • cheesy potatoes being served out of a casserole dish
      Ultimate Cheesy Potato Casserole
    • a large bowl of potato salad
      The Best Potato Salad with Egg

    More Pork Recipes To Try

    • grilled pork burger with lettuce, onion, tomato on a bun
      Grilled Pork Burgers with Garlic Cream Sauce
    • sliced pork tenderloin on a plate with herbs
      Marinated Rosemary Pork Tenderloin
    • Instant Pot Boneless Pork Ribs on a white plate with an electric pressure cooker in the background
      Instant Pot Boneless Pork Ribs
    • a slice of Instant Pot Pork Roast on a plate with gravy and veggies
      Instant Pot Pork Roast with Vegetables & Gravy

    Susie Weinrich washing produce

    Did you make this recipe?!

    If you make this recipe I would love to hear your review. Pop down to the comment section and connect with me.

    Then sign up for our Weekly Newsletter so you never miss a new recipe!

    Rate This Recipe
    bbq rubbed pork tenderloin on a cutting board

    Grilled BBQ Pork Tenderloin Recipe

    Pork Tenderloin is rubbed with spices and herbs to marinate for 4-48 hours, then grilled to perfection and slathered with a homemade BBQ sauce.
    LISTEN TO THE AUDIO RECIPE, OR COOK ALONG, USING THE PLAYER BELOW!
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Pin Rate SaveSaved to Grow
    Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 25 minutes minutes
    marinating: 1 day day
    Servings: 6 people
    Author: Susie Weinrich

    Equipment

    • Grill
    • plastic wrap

    Ingredients

    • 2 Pork Tenderloins – see note #1 & 2 medium-large sized
    • 2 Tbsp. Extra virgin olive oil
    • 2 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
    • 2 tsp. Coarse ground black pepper
    • 2 tsp. Chili powder
    • 2 tsp. Garlic powder
    • 1 tsp. Onion powder
    • 2 tsp. Kosher salt
    • 1 tsp. Ground cumin
    • ½ tsp. Smoked paprika

    Serving & Grilling

    • 1 cup BBQ sauce, divided – see note #3 or try Moms Dinner Homemade BBQ Sauce
    Prevent your screen from going dark while you are cooking!

    Instructions

    Marinate

    • In a small bowl mix together the olive oil, Worcestershire sauce, pepper, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and cumin.
      2 Tbsp. Extra virgin olive oil, 2 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce, 2 tsp. Coarse ground black pepper, 2 tsp. Chili powder, 2 tsp. Garlic powder, 1 tsp. Onion powder, 2 tsp. Kosher salt, 1 tsp. Ground cumin, ½ tsp. Smoked paprika
    • Place the pork tenderloins on large pieces of plastic wrap. Then coat all sides of the pork tenderloins generously with the wet rub.
      2 Pork Tenderloins – see note #1 & 2
    • Wrap each tenderloin tightly in the plastic wrap and put in a Ziplock bag or in a rimmed baking dish.
    • Refrigerate for as little as 4 hours and up to 48 hours. (I generally aim for around 24 hours)

    Grill

    • Set the grill up for direct (high heat) and indirect heat. Remove the tenderloins from the refrigerator and let stand at room temperature for at least 30 minutes while the grill heats up.
      (If you are making Homemade BBQ Sauce, this is a great time to whip it up!!)
    • Grill the pork tenderloins over indirect heat, on a covered grill, for 12 minutes. Flip over, and baste the cooked side with BBQ sauce. (See note #2)
      Continue cooking for another 12-13 minutes, on a covered grill, until the tenderloins reach 140℉ internal temp.
      Pro Tip: Use the cooking time only as a guideline, grill your pork tenderloin to temperature not time. You will want to make sure they reach 140-145℉ before pulling from the grill.
      1 cup BBQ sauce, divided – see note #3
    • When the tenderloins reach the right temp., remove them from the grill and baste the other cooked side with BBQ sauce.

    Serve

    • Let the grilled pork tenderloin rest for 5-10 minutes. Cut into 1.5" slices and serve with additional BBQ sauce on the side.

    Notes:

    1. Make sure you get pork tenderloin and not a pork loin!! 
    2. Pork tenderloins usually taper off on one side and have a skinny end. When laying the pork on the grill place that tail end furthest away from the direct heat side of the grill. Some will even double that end over and tie it up, making it evenly thick all the way down, so it doesn’t over cook.
    3. Divide the BBQ sauce into ½ cup portions. Use ½ cup to baste and the grill and the other ½ cup for serving.
    EXCELLENT SERVED WITH: 
    a large cast iron skillet full of cooked crispy little potatoes
    Roasted Broccoli in a bowl
    Did you try this recipe? Connect with me & let me know how it turned out by commenting below!
    Jump to Comments

    If nutrition facts are provided they are calculated as an estimate to the best of our knowledge.

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    About Susie Weinrich

    Susie Weinrich is the recipe developer, food photographer, and content creator behind Mom's Dinner. She has over 20 years experience in the food industry. Currently, Susie shares all her recipes and food knowledge on Mom's Dinner. You will find her recipes are easy to follow and full of tips and tricks to make sure the recipe you are making turns out perfect!

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    1. Sarah Lauck

      August 08, 2023 at 12:31 pm

      5 stars
      This exceeded my expectations! Pork t can be difficult to keep tender. This was tender and extremely flavorful. We loved it and will make again. I did keep in the marinade for almost 24 hours wrapped in Saran as described.

      Reply
      • Susie Weinrich

        August 08, 2023 at 1:05 pm

        I’m so glad you loved it! Pork tenderloin (when cooked right) is so tender, great stand in for steak and way less expensive. If you like football this is a great tailgating recipe or football watch party dinner.

        Reply

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