Perfectly moist and tender Oven Baked BBQ Pork Tenderloin is incredibly simple to prepare yet delivers great flavor. Topped with a no cook apricot BBQ sauce that thickens and caramelizes while roasting. Delicious!
Pork tenderloin is one of the most tender cuts of pork. The average weight of one tenderloin is about 1 pound up to about 1 ½ pounds making them an ideal choice for a quick weeknight dinner. Better yet, they are wonderful for parties and gatherings as they can be seasoned ahead then put in an oven to roast for under 30 minutes.
There are so many different ways to serve pork tenderloins, but today I’m going to show you how to make a delicious Oven Baked BBQ Pork Tenderloin where the BBQ sauce is made simply by mixing a tablespoon of a simple rub and some apricot preserves. The rub is slightly sweetened and loaded with spices providing some heat which is mellowed coupled with the rub and apricot preserves. The taste buds are working overtime and happily so.
We start with a rub made simple of brown sugar, paprika, garlic and onion powder, salt, pepper, chili powder, cayenne pepper, ginger, and cumin. The combination tastes delicious. You should have some rub leftover after seasoning. One tablespoon will be mixed with the apricot preserves. Save the rest for seasoning whatever you want to make more delicious.
When I season meat, I line the top of my island or counter with plastic wrap, longer than what I am wrapping. I season liberally with whatever rub I am using that day. It could be my tgc Spice Rub or my Adobo Seasoning which are my go to rubs for beef, pork, or chicken.
After seasoning the top of the tenderloin, lift the two corners of the plastic wrap closest to you, and gently lift causing the tenderloin to turn to other side. This way, your hands don’t get dirty. Sprinkle more rub on other side of tenderloin. Grab the top two corners of the plastic wrap and lift to gently turn the tenderloin back on center. Use the wrap to press the rub into meat by lifting each end and pressing down. If not roasting right away, wrap the pork tightly. Repeat with second tenderloin. This can be done ahead and refrigerated until you are ready to roast. Otherwise, continue without wrapping tenderloins.
Set one rack on the top position of your oven because the last step requires broiling.
Set another rack on the bottom or lowest position of your oven. We want the bottom of the skillet to get super hot and the lowest rack is where that can happen. By doing this, I’m eliminating the step of searing on top of the stove. I didn’t think it needed that step and I have heard no complaints.
Place into an oiled ovenproof skillet…
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Place the seasoned tenderloins in an oiled ovenproof skillet – preferably cast iron. Don’t worry if you have to curve the tenderloins to fit.
Place skillet on lowest rack and set the timer for 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, mix 1 tablespoon of rub with ½ of apricot preserves in a small bowl.
After 10 minutes, remove skillet from oven and flip over tenderloins. Spread ½ of the BBQ sauce amongst both tenderloins then place skillet back on bottom rack for another 10 minutes.
Remove skillet from oven and check temperature by placing meat thermometer into thickest part of loin. It should read 137* – 140 degrees after roasting 20 -25 minutes.
The BBQ sauce caramelizes after broiling…
Spread remaining apricot sauce over tenderloins and turn the oven to broil. Place skillet on top rack and broil for 1 – 2 minutes until caramelized.
Remove skillet from oven, transfer pork to board and let rest 5 minutes before slicing.
Spoon sauce from pan over pork. Serve.
Note: About the temperature, I know everyone freaks out about getting sick from pink pork. If you scan the internet for proper cooking times, I’m sure you will find anything from 140 and up. What people fail to understand is there are new USDA guidelines for cooking pork. You can read it for yourself here.
In under 30 minutes of cooking time, you can enjoy a delicious Oven Baked BBQ Pork Tenderloin along with a no cook BBQ sauce. Amazing!
Be happy, eat well…
- ½ cup light brown sugar packed
- 2 tablespoons paprika
- 2 tablespoons granulated garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt
- 2 teaspoons black pepper
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon granulated onion powder
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- ¼ - ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 2 (1 - 1 ¼) pound pork tenderloins
- 1 - 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- ½ cup apricot preserves
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In a bowl, combine all the rub ingredients.
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Place 2 long pieces of plastic wrap - longer than the tenderloins - on the counter. Place tenderloin on the center of each piece. If your counter or island isn't big enough, do one at a time.
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Sprinkle rub on top of each tenderloin. Lift the two corners of the plastic wrap closest to you, and gently lift causing the tenderloin to turn to other side. This way, you don't have to get your hands dirty. Sprinkle more rub on other side of tenderloin. Grab the top two corners of the plastic wrap and lift to gently turn the tenderloin back on center. Use the wrap to press rub into meat by lifting each end and pressing down. If not roasting right away, wrap the pork tightly. Repeat with second tenderloin. This can be done ahead and refrigerated until you are ready to roast. Otherwise, continue without wrapping tenderloins.
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When ready to roast, set one oven rack on top position of oven and one rack on the bottom (lowest) position of oven.
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Preheat oven 425 degrees.
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In a small bowl, combine 1 tablespoon of rub and apricot jam. Set aside.
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Oil bottom of large cast iron skillet or other ovenproof skillet.
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Unwrap tenderloins. Using tongs, place in skillet.
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Roast on bottom rack for 10 minutes.
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Remove skillet from oven and flip over tenderloins. Spread half the the apricot sauce amongst both tenderloins.
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Place skillet back onto bottom rack for another 10 minutes.
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Remove skillet from oven and check temperature by placing meat thermometer into thickest part of loin. It should read 137* - 140 degrees after roasting 20 -25 minutes.
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Spread remaining apricot sauce over tenderloins and turn the oven to broil. Place skillet on top rack and broil for 1 - 2 minutes until caramelized.
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Remove skillet from oven, transfer pork to board and let rest 5 minutes before slicing.
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Spoon sauce from pan over pork. Serve.
*I have cooked pork until I reach 137 to 140 degrees. Some may feel this isn’t high enough, but after resting it results in a perfectly cooked, moist tenderloin. If you are still not convinced, cook it until it reaches 145 - 150.
Easy, delicious, perfect meal…
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