Instant Pot Pork Tenderloin
Published 7/28/2023
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This Instant Pot pork tenderloin is a game-changer, offering a moist, flavor-packed meal in under an hour.
It’s not your typical dry, stringy pork tenderloin; instead, it’s tender, juicy, and served with an incredible gravy that sets it apart from all other recipes.
This Instant Pot Pork Tenderloin is one of my family’s favorite dinner recipes. It’s a complete meal thanks to the potatoes and gravy cooked right there with the pork. Plus, I love that it’s a leaner cut of meat, yet doesn’t come out super dry.
PS: The secret to this recipe is the gravy. It’s savory, slightly sweet, and has just the right amount of salt.
Featured Comment
“Amazing recipe, one of my favorites. I did sweet potatoes and also added carrots. Will make again.” -Kern
What is in this Instant Pot pork tenderloin recipe?
This recipe includes a 3 lb. pork tenderloin, a savory pork dry rub made from brown sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. It’s cooked with olive oil, chicken broth, white onion, garlic, and potatoes. The gravy is made from the cooking juices, Worcestershire sauce, and cornstarch.
How long to cook pork tenderloin in Instant Pot?
A 3 lb. pork tenderloin will take around 15 minutes in the Instant Pot with a quick release.
Cuts of Pork
Not sure where all the different cuts of pork come from on the pig? We made it easy. Check out more details on everything pork in our favorite pork recipes round up!
FAQ
Your pork is tough because you cooked it for too long.
Cook pork tenderloin in the Instant Pot on high for around 15 minutes.
Yes, you can cook your pork for too long. If it’s a fattier cut of pork, the meat will start to disintegrate and become gritty.
Don’t Forget the Vegetables
We paired this Instant Pot pork tenderloin with potatoes because you just can’t go wrong with potatoes. All you have to do is chop the potatoes and toss them in a little chili powder and garlic powder. We tested both russet potatoes and sweet potatoes and here’s what we found:
- sweet potatoes cook faster and only need about 2 minutes.
- russet potatoes don’t soften as fast and will need to cook for around 4 minutes.
potato timing
Sweet Potatoes
If you use sweet potatoes, cook the pork tenderloin for 17 minutes and then add the sweet potatoes and cook for an additional 2 minutes.
Russet Potatoes
If you’re using russet potatoes, cook the pork tenderloin for 15 minutes and then add russet potatoes and cook for an additional 4 minutes.
If you decide to use no potatoes at all, simply cook the pork tenderloin for a full 19 minutes!
The Gravy is OUT OF THIS WORLD
What makes this the best pork tenderloin Instant Pot recipe? THE GRAVY.
After your pork and potatoes are cooked to perfection remove them from your pressure cooker and prepare the gravy! It’s similar to our Slow Cooker Pork Roast gravy and I know you’ll love it.
You guys, this gravy is AMAZING. It’s savory and slightly sweet and has just the right amount of salt. To prepare it, turn the sauté function on the Instant Pot and whisk in the Worcestershire sauce and then continue whisking in the cornstarch.
The heat is from the saute feature is what activates the cornstarch to thicken, so keep un whisking until it bubbles!
Remove gravy from the heat and serve it over the pork and potatoes!
Storage
Store pork tenderloin in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-5 days.
Serving Suggestions
This Instant Pot Pork Tenderloin is perfect served with the gravy and potatoes it cooked with. I’ve eaten it next to a simple side salad such as our garden salad. For dessert, try our chocolate protein ice cream!
Leftover Ideas
Make a pork sandwich. Slice the pork tenderloin up and have it on a sandwich with your favorite cheese, mayo, and other sandwich fixings. Check out our Instant Pot pulled pork for more inspo.
Add it to a salad. Chop the leftover pork tenderloin up into chunks and serve it over greens or lettuce like romaine.
Make it into a stir fry. Heat up a pan and sauté carrots, snow peas, fresh ginger, and onion. Add a teaspoon or 2 of soy sauce to taste and then add chopped-up pork tenderloin. Cook until warm and then serve over rice.
Instant Pot Pork Tenderloin
Ingredients
- 3 lb. pork tenderloin, will likely come in a package of 2 1.5-lb. tenderloins
- 1.5 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 cup chicken broth, any kind
- 1 medium white onion, chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, peeled and smashed
- 2 large potatoes, we used 1 russet and 1 sweet*
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
Instructions
- First, place pork tenderloins on a large baking sheet. Your 3 lb. package should come with 2 pork tenderloins and this is perfect!
- Prepare dry rub by combining brown sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, ground cinnamon, dried thyme, and pepper. Sprinkle dry rub on top of pork tenderloin, making sure all sides are generously covered. Use your hands to rub it in.
- Next, add two tablespoons of olive oil to your Instant Pot and turn on the saute feature. When the olive oil is fragrant, sear pork tenderloins on both sides for around 3 minutes per side, giving the outsides a nice brown color.
- Turn off the saute feature and deglaze the bottom of your Instant Pot by pouring chicken broth on top of pork and using a wooden spoon to remove the brown bits from the bottom of the pot. Add chopped white onion and garlic cloves to the pot and put the cover on.
- Turn the valve to seal and turn you Instant Pot to manual > high > and turn the timer to 15 minutes if you're using russet potatoes and 17 minutes if you're using sweet potatoes. It will take your Instant Pot 10-15 minutes to build up enough pressure before it starts to count down.
- While your pork is cooking in the Instant Pot, prepare potatoes. Dice 2 large potatoes into 1.5-inch chunks and lightly season with garlic powder and chili powder. Set aside.
- Once the timer goes off, quick-release your Instant Pot by opening the vent to let the steam pour out. Remove the lid from your Instant Pot and add the seasoned potatoes right on top of your pork tenderloins.
- Close the Instant Pot and turn the valve to seal. Set the Instant Pot to manual > high > and turn the timer to 2 minutes for sweet potatoes and 4 minutes for russet potatoes. Or, you can start with 2 minutes and go from there. Again, the Instant Pot will take some time to build pressure, but eventually it will count down from 2 minutes.
- Once the timer goes off a second time, quick release again by opening the vent to let the steam pour out. Open the Instant Pot and test the potatoes. Make sure they are easy to pierce with a fork, and if they are not, put them back in for 1-2 more minutes. Remove potatoes and pork tenderloins from the Instant Pot, leaving the gravy and onions.
- Turn the saute feature back on and then add Worcestershire sauce and cornstarch to the Instant Pot. Whisk for a few minutes or until the cornstarch activates and the gravy thickens.
- Slice pork tenderloin and serve with gravy and potatoes.
Tips & Notes
- Pork rub: option to use 2-3 tablespoons of our homemade pork dry rub if you have it in your cabinet!
- Potatoes: if you are skipping the potato part of this recipe, cook your pork tenderloin on high for 19 minutes with a quick-release. Then follow step 10 to make the gravy.
Watch It
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Photography: photos taken in this post are by Erin from The Wooden Skillet.
Made this for my family last week and the directions were so easy to follow! Best instant pot pork tenderloin I’ve tried!
Great recipe! There’s only two of us so I did one tenderloin for 5 minutes, then added only sweet potatoes and did 4 more minutes. We loved it. Thanks.
This was soooo good. I followed the directions entirely including leaving the rub on for about 20 minutes before searing the tenderloin. The roast was so tender and moist, potatoes cooked perfectly I added carrots and the cooked perfectly too. The only thing I would change is to make a slurry with the cornstarch before combining, as I had a few lumps, but it was perfect. Thank you for the recipe. For sure a keeper.
So glad you loved this Instant Pot Pork Tenderloin recipe!
I’m not getting 15-19 minutes. I just seared and (manual) pressure cooked 3 lbs of pork tenderloin for 3 minutes on high setting in an InstantPot Duo Evo 6 and got internal temp of 180F.
Hey Jack! We found the longer cook time is much more tender and juicy. How long did you natural release after the 3 minutes? Ours was a quick release after the cooking time.
Hi My instant pot doesn’t have the manual option only presssure cook, stew, soup and sautée and slow cook… it’s the duo DV, for how many minutes should I cook it?
I am assuming that your “pressure cook” is the same thing as manual high pressure, so follow the directions as written!
Use manual to go up for minutes.Does not have a button for That
Favorite pork tenderloin recipe!!
YAY!
Love this recipe! It’s easy, incredibly flavorful, and very popular with my family. I’m definitely adding it to my regular rotation!
So glad you loved this one!
Oh my GOODNESS this was so good!! The pork was so tender and the gravy was amazing!! And I’m not a gravy person at all but I found myself spooning more and more gravy on the pork and potatoes it was that good! Also an extremely easy recipe! I’m not an instant pot expert and I won’t lie, I was super nervous making this. But it came out perfect! Can’t wait to make again!
YESSS!!! The gravy is so good!
Hey there!
Trying your recipe right now! So excited! Smells wonderful!
I am wondering if you have any luck cooking carrots and potatoes in this recipe. If you have how long did you cook for?
It’s written in the recipe!
This pork dinner is unbelievably delicious! I don’t have an Instant Pot, so I modified the recipe for the crockpot. I tossed the potatoes (and some carrots!) with the spices and some olive oil and roasted them for 30 minutes in the oven. The gravy is to die for! My husband was in a video conference call when I served dinner, and he turned off his camera and enthusiastically mouthed “Oh my gosh this is good!” My kids loved it! No leftovers.
YAY!! The gravy is amazing, isn’t it?!
Can you tell me how you did crockpot? My mom doesn’t have an IP but we made this for her and she loved it and wants to try it!
Just add potatoes to pot,Season and brown pork,put on top.add rest of ingredients the slow cook on low 3 to 4 hours for crock pot.
I only have 1 pork tenderloin, I assume I cut all ingredients in half. Can you tell me how to adjust the time? Thanks!
You can still keep the time the same!
Keep the timing the same <3