Best Christmas Pork Tenderloin Recipes

PERFECT PORK TENDERLOIN

Steps:

• For the pork tenderloin: Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Place the peppercorns in a resealable bag and crush them coarsely with a meat mallet or rolling pin.
• Mix together the salt, peppercorns, thyme, rosemary and crushed red pepper, if using, in a bowl. Season the pork with the seasoning mix.
• Heat a large heavy-bottomed skillet over medium-high heat and add the olive oil. Add the pork and cook, turning as needed to brown the pork all over, about 5 minutes. Transfer the skillet to the oven and bake until cooked through (145 degrees F on a meat thermometer), 15 to 20 minutes. Transfer the pork to a cutting board and tent with foil to rest.
• For the herby mustard cream sauce: Return the skillet to the stovetop over medium heat. Melt the butter, then add the garlic, thyme and rosemary and cook for a minute or two Sprinkle over the flour and cook, stirring, for an additional minute. Add the cream and bring to a simmer. Simmer until the cream thickens slightly, about 2 minutes. Stir in the whole-grain mustard and parsley. Taste and adjust the seasoning as needed.
• Slice the pork and shingle it onto a platter. Spoon some of the sauce over the top and sprinkle over some chopped parsley. Transfer the remaining sauce to a sauceboat or serving bowl and serve alongside the pork.

MUSTARD-GLAZED PORK TENDERLOIN

Steps:

• Pat the tenderloins dry with paper towels.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, mustard, sherry, and rosemary.
• Place the tenderloins in a baking dish or bowl. Season all over with 1¼ teaspoons salt and pour about one-third of the marinade over top. Turn the tenderloins a few times to coat evenly with the marinade. Marinate for at least 1 hour or as long as overnight (the longer, the better). Cover the remaining marinade and refrigerate until ready to use (it will form the base of the sauce).
• Preheat the oven to 350°F and set an oven rack in the middle position.
• Heat the oil in a large cast iron or oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat (see note below if you don't have one of these pans). Add both tenderloins and sear on all sides until nicely browned, 6 to 8 minutes (don't move the tenderloins around between turns; they will brown better if left alone). Transfer the skillet to the oven and cook until the pork registers about 140°F on an instant-read thermometer, 12 to 15 minutes. (To check for doneness without a thermometer, make a slit in the thickest part of the loin; the meat should be mostly white with a slight hint of pale pink, and the juices should run mostly clear.)
• Remove the skillet from the oven and immediately place an oven mitt or dishtowel over the handle to remind yourself that it is hot (it is easy to forget and burn yourself!). Transfer the tenderloins to a cutting board. Tent with foil and let rest for about 10 minutes, then cut into ¼- to ½-inch slices.
• Meanwhile, pour the remaining marinade into a small skillet and bring to a gentle boil over medium-high heat. Remove the pan from the heat and, stirring constantly, incorporate the butter one piece at a time. Add ⅛ teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary. Arrange the sliced tenderloin on a platter and drizzle with a bit of the sauce; pass the remaining sauce at the table.
• Note: If you don't have an oven-proof skillet, transfer the pork to a foil-lined sheet pan after searing. (The foil is just for easy cleanup.) You may need to add a few minutes to the baking time.

CHRISTMAS PORK ROAST

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Place pork roast into a roasting pan; push whole cloves into the meat. Cover the roast with apple slices.
• Mash cranberry sauce in a bowl with a potato masher; stir chicken broth, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger into cranberries. Pour about half the cranberry mixture over the pork roast. Cover with a lid or a sheet of aluminum foil.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes. Pour remaining cranberry mixture over roast. Sprinkle orange zest over the cranberry sauce.
• Return to oven and roast until cranberry mixture forms a glaze and an instant-read meat thermometer inserted into the center of the meat reads at least 145 degrees F (65 degrees C), about 30 more minutes.

HOLIDAY PORK LOIN ROAST

Steps:

• In a bowl, combine the soy sauce, sherry or broth, mustard, ginger, thyme and garlic; mix well. Pour 1 cup marinade into a large resealable plastic bag; add the roast. Seal bag and turn to coat. Refrigerate for 3 hours or overnight, turning occasionally. Cover and refrigerate the remaining marinade for basting., Drain and discard marinade. Place the roast on a rack in a roasting pan. Bake at 325° for 1-3/4 to 2-1/4 hours or until a thermometer reads 160°, pouring the reserved marinade over meat during the last hour of baking. Baste occasionally. Let stand for 10 minutes before slicing. , Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, combine the sauce ingredients. Cook and stir for 4-5 minutes or until the jelly is melted. Serve with pork.

MUSTARD-GLAZED PORK TENDERLOIN

Steps:

• Pat the tenderloins dry with paper towels.
• Combine the remaining ingredients in a bowl and stir. Add pork tenderloins and turn to coat well with marinade. Marinate for 15 minutes or as long as overnight.
• Heat a large cast iron skillet or grill pan over medium-high heat until smoking. (Alternately, heat a charcoal or gas grill to high; bank coals or turn off burner on one side.) Season tenderloins with salt and pepper. Brush pan with olive oil and add tenderloins; reduce heat to medium-low. Cook, turning tenderloins every 3 to 4 minutes, until deeply caramelized on all sides and until desired internal temperature, about 20 to 25 minutes. (You can also broil the tenderloins in the oven - about 10 minutes on one side, then turn and cook about 5 minutes on the other.)
• Remove and lightly tent with foil; let rest about 10 minutes before cutting into 1/4- to 1/2-inch slices.