easy roasted pork tenderloin and apple skillet

This Easy Roasted Pork Tenderloin and Apple Skillet is glazed in maple and whole mustard with thyme and a splash of cider vinegar. There are peeled and quartered shallots in it too! It is fancy enough for company but easy enough for a weeknight!

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I just got one of those “only you can see this” facebook pictures from this date four years ago. In it I had taken a picture of Christmas decorations in the check-out of the supermarket in October! Seeing it again, I was still in disbelief that people were thinking about the holidays in October.

But then when I sat down to write to you all about this Easy Roasted Pork Tenderloin and Apple Skillet recipe I was like, man-oh-man this recipe would be awesome for people to serve during the holidays. And I wanted to tell you all that, but I didn’t want to be like the supermarket that forgot about the whole month of November!

But here’s the thing. I don’t want you to wait until the holidays to try it, because two reasons, three actually. One, it’s made with apples and therefore in season right this very minute. Two, even though it is fancy enough to serve for the holidays, it’s also easy enough that you can make it any old day of the week between now and then. And three, it is just to good to wait! The maple mustard glaze and the soft roasty toasty apples and shallots are sublime! Do not delay!!

So I am forging ahead, just like the crazy supermarket that put up the holiday decorations in October.

How long to roast pork tenderloin

In this recipe, first sear the pork in the skillet. This will give the meat an appealing crust and browned exterior and will lend flavor to the skillet in the form of fond. Here are couple things to keep in mind:

• Make sure your skillet is blazing hot and make sure your pork is totally dry. That will give you the best color, and the meat will not stick to the skillet. Turn it after several minutes, then every minute or two for 6 to 8 minutes.
• Also, make sure that the oven is fully preheated before the skillet goes in. In this one I used a 400 degree oven.
• Roast the pork for 12 to 15 minutes.

What Internal Temperature to Cook Roasted Pork Tenderloin

• Here’s the problem: Pork tenderloin is not symmetrical. It is skinny on one end and fat on the other end. So poor little skinny end will be cooked though sooner. The National Pork Board recommends that you cook pork to 145 degreed F, then rest it for 3 minutes. But if you were to do that, the skinny end would be total sawdust.
• When I was testing this recipe, I had better luck pulling the pork out earlier than that, and letting it rest on a platter tented with foil for 10 minutes. That gave me a nice slightly rosy interior on the thicker end, and more well done pieces on the tail end. Keep in mind a couple things, I temped it at a couple different spots. At narrower spots it was indeed at 145. At the tip it was even hotter. But at the very thickest part it was 136. I pulled it, put it on a heavy platter to hold in the heat and tented it with foil. I let it rest for a full 10 minutes.
• Note: Make sure you know where the sensor is in your thermometer. Some of them are deceptive and the sensor is actually an inch up from the tip!
• My advice is this: If you are concerned, feel free to go by the guidelines set out by the FSIS, and cook it to 145. Consuming undercooked meat puts you at risk for food born illness. 

Why Do You Rest Roasted Pork Tenderloin and For How Long

• Because pork tenderloin is incredibly lean it is really important to let it rest after it is roasted. I think it is better to let it rest for a full 10 minutes on a nice heavy platter with foil over it. That will ensure that there will be carry-over heat that will continue to cook it through. See above about internal temps.
• When you cook meat the muscle fibers (yes that is what meat is, sorry to burst your bubble if you didn’t know that) denature and seize up. If you were to cut into the meat right when it came out of the pan and those fibers were still taught, then the juice held within would flow right out onto the carving board. Resting allows the muscle fibers to relax again and the juices stay inside when the meat is sliced.
• Rest smaller cuts of pork, such as pork chops that are 1-inch thick or less for 3 minutes. Thicker cuts, such as this Easy Roasted Pork Tenderloin and Apple Skillet should be rested for longer. Up to 10 minutes. Pork loin roasts can be rested for 15 to 20 minutes.

What to Serve with Easy Roasted Pork Tenderloin and Apple Skillet

The flavors in this easy roasted pork tenderloin and apple skillet are sweet and savory with a splash of acidity from apple cider vinegar- so it pairs well with simple earthy flavors.

I served it with my Herb Smashed Potatoes which are made with yogurt. The flavor of the herbs and raw scallions in the smashed potatoes layer well and taste awesome with the roasted shallots and thyme in the roasted pork recipe.

I also made simple steamed brussels sprouts with olive oil, salt and pepper. If you were serving this at a dinner party for the holidays, I would make my roasted brussels sprouts with balsamic vinegar and thyme or my simple skillet green beans.

Other ideas are to serve it with my Vegetarian Thanksgiving Pumpkin Pilaf and a spinach salad with Apple Cider Vinegar Salad Dressing. 

For dessert, try my Gingerbread Sheet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting or if you want something more simple these Vegan Hermit Cookies are so good. I just made some last weekend and they won me lots of brownie points!

QUESTIONS:

Do you have an instant read thermometer, and does yours have a sensor that is not on the tip?

Do you let your meat rest after it cooks?

Would you serve this as part of a menu for entertaining during the holidays, or would you make it for a weeknight?

Please let me know if you make this recipe by coming back and leaving a star rating and review. And tag me @healthyseasonal on instagram!

Thanks so much for reading!

Happy Cooking!

~Katie

easy roasted pork tenderloin and apple skillet

• Author: Katie
• Prep Time: 20
• Cook Time: 17
• Total Time: 37 minutes
• Yield: 4 servings 1x
• Category: main course
• Method: Roasting
• Cuisine: American

★★★★★

5 from 5 reviews

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Description

Easy Roasted Pork Tenderloin and Apple Skillet with Maple Mustard Glaze, Shallots and thyme. A simple paleo-friendly and grain-free one pan recipe for entertaining during the holidays or for a weeknight meal.

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Scale 1x2x3x

Ingredients

¼ cup pure maple syrup, preferably dark robust

2 tablespoons whole grain prepared mustard

2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar

1 tablespoon avocado oil or canola oil

1 pork tenderloin, about 1 ¼ pound

4 shallots, peeled and quartered

2 large apples, peeled, cored and cut into large wedges

1 teaspoon coarse kosher salt

1 teaspoon dry thyme

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Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Stir maple syrup, mustard and cider vinegar in a small bowl.
3. Heat oil in a large oven-proof skillet over high heat. Add pork and cook, turning after a few minutes, then every minute or two until browned on all sides, 6 to 8 minutes total. Add shallots and apples and sprinkle with salt and thyme.
4. Transfer the skillet to the oven, and let roast until the apples are browning on the bottom, about 5 minutes. Remove the skillet from the oven, stir shallot and apple mixture and drizzle the maple mixture all over the pork and apple mixture. Return the skillet to the oven and roast, stirring the apple mixture and turning the pork occasionally, until the pork registers 136 to 145 degrees F when tested with an instant read thermometer in the thickest part of the tenderloin, 12 to 15 minutes.
5. Remove the pork to a carving board or heavy platter and tent with foil. Let rest 10 minutes. Slice on a slight bias into ½-inch thick medallions. Serve the pork with the apples and shallots and any juices from the skillet.

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Notes

The USDA recommends that Americans cook pork to an internal temperature of 145 degrees F, followed by a rest of 3 minutes. Consuming undercooked meat puts you at risk for food born illness.

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Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4 ounces pork, 2/3 cup apples
• Calories: 256
• Sugar: 22
• Fat: 6 g
• Saturated Fat: 1 g
• Carbohydrates: 32 g
• Fiber: 3 g
• Protein: 24 g