How To Make PORK TENDERLOIN on Grill Recipe

how to make pork tenderloin on grill recipe

This is how to make pork tenderloin on grill recipe of any size that’s rich in flavor, very tender, and moist. Keep reading to see the superb optional rub and marinade. This is listed in our Grilling on Charcoal article and also, is a part of our Grilling, Pork, and Main Dishes categories.

pork tenderloin on grill recipe

Pork Tenderloin on Grill Recipe

This is the best way to cook a small or large pork tenderloin on a grill.
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Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 2 hours
Rest Time 10 minutes
Total: 2 hours 25 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 341kcal

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Ingredients 

  • lbs pork tenderloin
  • ½ tsp Ground Black Pepper optional & if no other rub
  • 1 pinch Garlic Powder optional & if no other rub
  • 1 Tbsp Rub for Pulled Pork optional

Instructions 

  • Unpackage and rinse roast. Optionally marinade for 1 hour or overnight.
    2½ lbs pork tenderloin
    unpackage and rinse pork tenderloin roast for grilling
  • Optionally, apply any chosen rub: black pepper and/or garlic powder OR just pork rub.
    ½ tsp Ground Black Pepper, 1 pinch Garlic Powder
    applied rub for grilling pork tenderloin
  • Place pork on preheated grill, fat side down, for indirect heating, and cover grill. Adjust vents to cook between 325℉-350℉.
    add pork tenderloin to grill fat side down
  • When internal temp reaches 175℉ to 185℉, remove from grill and let rest for 10 minutes minimum. Then, carve and serve.
    after rest period carve grilled pork tenderloin

Nutrition

Calories: 341kcal | Carbohydrates: 0.2g | Protein: 59g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 184mg | Sodium: 147mg | Potassium: 1118mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 0.003g | Vitamin A: 7IU | Calcium: 18mg | Iron: 3mg
Tried this recipe?Let us all know how it was!
SOURCE: DarnGoodRecipes.com™

Overview of How To Make Pork Tenderloin on Grill Recipe

Now, let’s begin to see how to make pork tenderloin on grill recipe. We’ll cover the easiest and fastest way to barbecue it in about 2 to 2-1/2 hours. However, before that, we’ll go over the entire preparation process, including the optional rub and marinade to use. Then, after cooking process is presented, we’ll finish with several sections on a variety of related topics like storing leftovers, recommended sides, and some tips.

4 Steps of How To Make Pork Tenderloin on Grill Recipe

This is absolutely the best way of how to make pork tenderloin on grill recipe. Also, even better, you have options along the way and can skip some things you don’t want. To begin with, here’s the summarized list of the steps to grilling a pork tenderloin.

  1. Marinade option
  2. Pork Rub option
  3. Grilling Process: time, temp, vents
  4. Carving and serving

1. Pork Tenderloin on Grill Marinade

You can optionally marinade the pork tenderloin. So, it’s good after an hour or overnight. Here’s how.

  1. Cut some deep slits in the meat about every 2 inches. To clarify, you cut down about 1/2 way and the slits are only about 1 inch long.
  2. Make this marinade and pour it into a food storage bag (or container that can be covered later). It’s enough for up to a 4 pound pork roast.
    • ⅓ cup soy sauce
    • ⅓ cup oil vegetable oil (corn, peanut, or olive oil).
    • 1 tsp Ground Black Pepper
    • ⅔ Tbsp. minced garlic (or half that amount as garlic powder)
  3. Then, put the meat in the food storage bag (or covered container) with the marinade. After that, keep it in the fridge about an hour minimum or overnight maximum.
  4. When ready to proceed, remove the meat from the bag or container and discard the marinade.

2. Pork Tenderloin on Grill Rub

When you’re ready to cook, apply this optional rub for pulled pork. You can apply it to a plain pork tenderloin or to a marinated one.

Just rub it all over the meat, except none is used on the fat side. It uses about 10 ingredients.

how to make pork tenderloin on grill recipe by applying rub
Applying pork tenderloin rub for grill

3a. Cooking Pork Tenderloin on Grill TEMP

You can now make the pork tenderloin on grill temp to be around 325⁰F to 350⁰F, max at 375⁰F. Then, cook the meat, fat side down, on indirect heat with the grill cover on. Also, you’ll need to manage your grill’s venting to stay around this temperature range.

displaying fat side of pork tenderloin
Displaying fat side of pork tenderloin
grilling pork tenderloin fat side down on charcoal grill
Grilling pork tenderloin fat side down on charcoal grill

It’s okay if it sometimes gets too high or low. It’s good to check the temp about every 15 minutes initially until you’re confident it’s fairly stable.

within temp range for pork tenderloin on charcoal grill
Within temp range for pork tenderloin on charcoal grill
temp drops after adding charcoal to pork tenderloin on grill
Temp drops after adding charcoal to pork tenderloin on grill

Char-broil shows a totally different approach. They show a high grilling temp of 500⁰F on their guide of how to grill pork tenderloin. Their focus is to emphasize a lot of searing throughout the entire grilling session to give a good outer crust. But, I’d be too worried about charring the meat too much. However, it does sound good.

3b. Cooking HOW LONG Pork Tenderloin on Grill

The pork tenderloin grill time varies but it tends to be about 2 full hours for 2 to 3 pounds. With anything larger, consider to add about 1/2 hour per pound. However, if you cook it at a higher 400⁰F, it may be done around 45 minutes or less. Regardless, the emphasis is to cook it on indirect heat. For more on this subject, read our article “Charcoal Grill Indirect Heat: Set Up & Cooking”.

Also, know that the higher temp and shorter time won’t have the permeated flavors, the tenderness, and the moistness. To be sure, you’ll want to focus on the internal temp for confirmation of doneness.

3c. Pork Tenderloin Internal Temp

The safe internal temp for a pork tenderloin is going to be 160⁰F for well done or 145⁰F for medium rare. However, to ensure it’s tender, you want to get it higher to about 175⁰F to 180⁰F.

To this end, it’s a huge difference letting it cook an extra 1/2 hour to reach this higher temp. Also, when combined with the subsequent resting period, it will ensure your roast is very tender.

Finally, let’s confirm some food safety from the pork meat experts. Pork.org reports a pork cooking temperature in ranges.

4. Carving and Serving Grill Pork Tenderloin

When it’s done remove it from the grill. Then, you’ll need to let it rest before carving and serving this fantastic grilled pork tenderloin. It’s still cooking and tenderizing so, give it a good 10-15 minutes resting time. This also helps it retain some of its moistness.

pork tenderloin on grill fully cooked
Pork tenderloin on grill fully cooked
how to make pork tenderloin on grill and then slice it
Slicing grilled pork tenderloin after rest period

So, after the resting period is over, you can carve it deli thin or about 1/4-inch thick or more. Then, it’s ready to serve.

Grilling A Pork Tenderloin On A Charcoal Grill

When grilling a pork tenderloin on a charcoal grill, the cover lid should be in place. You’ll be adding charcoal at least once for a 2 to 4 pound roast. So, this might occur about 45-minutes to 1 hour after placing the meat on it.

placing cover on charcoal grill for starting to grill pork tenderloin
Placing cover on charcoal grill for starting to grill pork tenderloin

With attention to the vents, consider to open them wide again after refilling the charcoal. Then, check it in about 15-20 minutes and consider changing the vents back.

checking charcoal grill vent for grilling pork tenderloin
Checking charcoal grill vent for grilling pork tenderloin

Good Sides for Pork Tenderloin

Here’s a list of some good sides for pork tenderloin.

Leftover Pork Tenderloin

You can store leftover pork tenderloin for lots of future meal ideas. Here are some of them:

  • Slice it thin enough for sandwiches.
  • Cube it for making an Asian pork fried rice.
  • Cube it and reheat it with barbecue sauce and serve on top of egg noodles.
  • Reheat it and have it as pork tenderloin again!

Storing Pork Tenderloin

Storing pork tenderloin for future meals is a great idea. Usually you don’t want to go past 2-3 days in the fridge for reusing. Although, some places are suggesting up to 5 days, I haven’t experienced it being that healthy past 3 days.

getting ready to store grilled pork tenderloin for leftovers
Getting ready to store grilled pork tenderloin for leftovers

Waiting 3 days in the fridge before freezing is not recommended since that’s my recommended last usage duration. With this in mind, it’s good to think about freezing any or all of it the night you originally cooked it. With attention to food safety, it’s a good practice. Also, freezing cooked pork will be fine for about 3 months.

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Conclusion of How To Make Pork Tenderloin on Grill Recipe

Now you’ve seen how to make pork tenderloin on grill recipe. You’ve been shown an optional marinade you can use as well as an optional rub. And, you’ve see all the tips on how to ensure it’s extra tender and still be moist. Also, you’ve seen a long list of sides that go extremely well with this grilled pork. Plan on making it and share your experience here.

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