Pineapple Baked Pork Tenderloin (Print Version)
Juicy pork tenderloin with caramelized pineapple slices, bathed in a sweet-spiced glaze of honey, brown sugar and warm spices.
# Ingredients:
→ Main Ingredients
01 -
3 lb pork tenderloin, trimmed
02 -
1 cup pineapple juice
03 -
1/4 cup brown sugar
04 -
1/4 cup honey, local preferred
05 -
2 tbsp yellow mustard
06 -
2 cinnamon sticks
07 -
6 cloves
08 -
1/4 tsp fresh ground nutmeg
09 -
1 can pineapple slices, drained (8 oz can)
10 -
salt & pepper to season the meat
# Steps to Follow:
01 -
Preheat the oven to 375° F.
02 -
In a medium saucepan, combine the pineapple juice, brown sugar, honey, mustard, cinnamon sticks, cloves, and ground nutmeg. Bring to a heavy simmer, then reduce the heat to medium-low, and allow the glaze to simmer until thickened, approximately 15-20 minutes.
03 -
Place the tenderloin in a 9” x 13” baking dish. Season with salt and pepper. Make incisions 3/4-inch apart, taking care not to cut through the bottom, leaving 1/2-inch space under the tenderloin.
04 -
Brush one-half of the glaze all over the tenderloin and inside each incision.
05 -
Slice the pineapple slices in half and place into the incisions.
06 -
Bake until the internal temperature of the pork reaches 145° F, approximately 25-30 minutes. Remove from the oven and increase the heat to 400° F.
07 -
Brush the remaining glaze all over the tenderloin and the pineapple slices and return the tenderloin into the oven to bake for another 10 minutes or until slightly caramelized.
08 -
Remove from the oven and allow to rest for at least 10 minutes before serving.
# Additional Notes:
01 -
Always cook meat to temperature, not by time. Actual cooking time may vary based on factors such as internal starting temperature, oven variations, and thickness of the meat. The minimum safe cooking temperature for fresh pork is 145° F.