An easy, divine recipe for the best pork tenderloin in the pressure cooker! Instant Pot Pork Tenderloin recipe uses fast, simple preparation, but tastes gourmet with tender, juicy pork smothered in a tangy balsamic gravy.
Pork Tenderloin recipes absolutely kills it for a weeknight dinner. Prep work is fast, easy, and everything is made in one pot.
Plus, cooking pork tenderloin can make ameutar cooks feel like culinary rock stars. It’s a forgiving cut of meat that is hard to mess up. (Especially when armed with a meat thermometer. More on that below!⬇️)
This easy pork tenderloin recipe is even more foolproof because it cooks in a pressure cooker. If you are an Instant Pot pork newbie, you may never go back to a traditional pork recipe again.
First, mix together a few pantry-staple spices, like ground sage, garlic powder, salt and pepper, for a dry rub. Use the Instant Pot SAUTE function to sear the sides in olive oil. Add chicken stock and seal the lid in place. Cook at HIGH pressure for only 5 minutes.
After the pressure has released, remove the pork to rest, and make the sweet, tangy balsamic glaze in the pressure cooker. The gravy also has simple ingredients, such as traditional balsamic vinegar, soy sauce, and pure maple syrup.
The flavors balance out perfectly because of the acidity of the vinegar, saltiness from soy sauce, and sweetness of maple syrup. The recipe yields plenty of gravy, so drizzle it on juicy slices of pork and flavor your mashed potatoes or rice.
Instant Pot Pork Tenderloin Recipes
A quick google search brings up many variations of pressure cooker pork tenderloin recipes. Interestingly, there doesn’t seem to be a standard for how low long to cook the pork.
Cooking pork tenderloin in an Instant Pot builds in extra insurance against dry, overcooked pork because of the sealed in moisture. However, I wanted to settle on that optimal time and flavor.
How Long to Cook Pork Tenderloin in the Instant Pot
Easy Instant Pot Pork Tenderloin recipe uses a shorter cooking time because the cooking process starts with the searing. Browning the pork first locks in the the spice rub flavor and creates and a nice golden crust.
The pork cooks in the Instant Pot for 5 minutes. Allow the pressure to release naturally for 5 minutes. Cooking still happens during this time, but at a slower, gentler pace.
Use a quick release to let off any remaining pressure. You will then have pork tenderloin with a rich flavorful crust and moist, juicy interior.
How to Take Internal Temperature of Pork
If you want to be sure the pork is adequately cooked use a meat thermometer(my preferred thermometer is this instant read one) to check the internal temperature is at least 145ºF (63ºC). This temperature is accurate for pork tenderloin, pork chops, or pork loin.
Take the temperature when the pork has been removed from the pressure cooker, before resting. As the pork rests the temperature will raise 10-15 degrees fahrenheit. After the internal temperature reaches 145ºF (63ºC), allow the pork to rest for 3 minutes, according to pork.org.
How to Cook Instant Pot Pork Tenderloin from Frozen
Although you can cook completely frozen pork in the pressure cooker, the spice rub won’t adhere to it. Allow the pork to thaw partially for a few hours in the refrigerator first before rubbing on the spices and searing.
If the pork is partially frozen, add 2 minutes to the cooking time. For completely frozen pork tenderloin, add 4 minutes to the cooking time.
Doubling Pork Recipe in Instant Pot
Two pounds of pork tenderloin feeds 4-6 people, depending on guest’s appetite and if you’d like leftovers.
The easy pork tenderloin Instant Pot recipe may be doubled without any adjustment to the cooking time. Since the pressure cooker will be more full, more time will be be needed for it to come to pressure. However, the time needed to cook at pressure will remain the same.
By increasing the amount of pork tenderloin, you may want to double amount of gravy. Instead of adding 1 cup chicken stock to the pot, use 2 cups. Also double the sauce ingredients of balsamic vinegar, soy sauce, and maple syrup.
The sauce thickener slurry needs to also increase from 2 tablespoons to 4 tablespoons cornstarch and water.
Pulled Pork Tenderloin in the Pressure Cooker
For fall apart, shredded pork Instant Pot Pork Tenderloin recipe can be easily adapted. Keep everything in the recipe the same, except increase the cooking time to 30 minutes. Allow pressure to fall naturally for 5 minutes, then quick release the remaining pressure.
For the ultimate pulled pork experience shred the pork and lay it on a foil-lined baking sheet. Pour the balsamic sauce over the shredded pork and broil for 2-3 minutes. The sauce will bubble and the top layer of pork will start to become crispy.
How To Cook Pork Tenderloin in Instant Pot
Mix together seasonings in a small bowl – ground sage, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Cut the pork tenderloins in half horizontally so pieces fit into Instant Pot.
Rub the seasonings all over the pork pieces.
Heat olive oil on SAUTE function in the pressure cooker. Brown and sear the outside of the pork, rotating to cook all sides. Remove pork and set aside.
Add chicken broth to pot and use a spoon to scrape up browned bits. Add pork back to the pot, lock, and seal lid. Cook at HIGH pressure for 5 minutes.
Allow pressure to decrease naturally for 5 minutes, then quick release any remaining pressure. Remove pork to a cutting board.
Add balsamic vinegar, soy sauce, and maple syrup to liquid in the pot. Bring to a boil and whisk in cornstarch / water mixture. Boil and stir constantly for 1 minute, or until gravy is thickened.
How To Cook Pork Tenderloin in the Slow Cooker
Don’t have a pressure cooker or want dinner to be waiting for you? This balsamic pork tenderloin recipe is easily adaptable for the slow cooker!
Rub seasonings all over pork tenderloin. In a large skillet heat olive oil and brown pork on all sides.
Transfer seared pork to slow cooker. Add 1/2 CUP chicken broth. Cook on LOW for 4-5 hours.
Remove pork and set aside to rest.
Use a mesh strainer to pour slow cooker liquid into a small saucepan.
Add balsamic vinegar, pure maple syrup, and soy sauce to saucepan. Heat to simmering.
Mix together 2 tablespoons cornstarch with 2 tablespoons water. Whisk into simmering liquid. Cook, stirring constantly, until sauce has thickened, about 1 minute.
Sauteed apples – What goes together better than pork and apples?
Rice – Perfect to soak up all that extra sauce.
Sweet Potato Salad – Roasted sweet potatoes, pecans, apples, and dried cranberries with maple mustard dressing
Mashed potatoes – The ultimate comfort food meal – meat and potatoes! Plus, pork tenderloin in the Instant Pot makes plenty of balsamic gravy to flavor the potatoes.
An easy, divine recipe for the best pork tenderloin in the pressure cooker! Instant Pot Pork Tenderloin involves fast, simple prep, but tastes like a gourmet meal with tender, juicy pork smothered in a tangy balsamic gravy.
Cut pork tenderloin into 2 shorter pieces so they will fit in pressure cooker. Mix together sage, garlic powder, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. Rub seasonings all over pork tenderloin pieces. Set aside.
Turn on SAUTE function in pressure cooker and heat 1 tablespoon olive oil. Sear and brown 2 pieces of pork at a time on all sides. Let sit, undisturbed, in hot oil for 1-2 minutes then turn to brown another side. Once all sides have been browned remove to plate. Add additional 1 tablespoon olive oil, and repeat with remaining pork pieces. Hit CANCEL after pork has browned and been removed.
Add chicken broth to the pot and use wooden spoon to scrape up browned bits on bottom of the pot. Return all pork back to the pressure cooker and lock lid in place with valve sealed. Cook on HIGH pressure for 5 minutes. Allow pressure to release naturally for 5 minutes, then quick release to let out any remaining pressure. Remove pork to a cutting board to rest.
To the chicken broth add balsamic vinegar, maple syrup, and soy sauce. Use SAUTE function to heat liquids until simmering. In a small bowl whisk together 2 tablespoons cornstarch with 2 tablespoons water. Whisk into simmering sauce. Cook and stir constantly until thickened, about 1 minute.
Slice pork tenderloin and serve with balsamic sauce.
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Recipe Notes
Cooking Frozen Pork Tenderloin in the Instant Pot
Although you can cook completely frozen pork in the pressure cooker, the spice rub won't adhere to it. Allow the pork to thaw partially for a few hours in the refrigerator first before rubbing on the spices and searing.
If the pork is partially frozen, add 2 minutes to the cooking time. For completely frozen pork tenderloin, add 4 minutes to the cooking time.
How To Cook in the Slow Cooker
Rub seasonings all over pork tenderloin. In a large skillet heat olive oil and brown pork on all sides.
Transfer seared pork to slow cooker. Reduce chicken broth to 1/2 CUP and add to slow cooker. Cook on LOW for 4-5 hours.
Remove pork and set aside to rest.
Use a mesh strainer to pour slow cooker liquid into a small saucepan.
Add balsamic vinegar, pure maple syrup, and soy sauce to saucepan. Heat to simmering.
Mix together 2 tablespoons cornstarch with 2 tablespoons water. Whisk into simmering liquid. Cook, stirring constantly, until sauce has thickened, about 1 minute.
Doubling Pork Recipe in Instant Pot
Two pounds of pork tenderloin feeds 4-6 people, depending on guest's appetite and if you'd like leftovers.
The easy pork tenderloin Instant Pot recipe may be doubled without any adjustment to the cooking time. Since the pressure cooker will be more full, more time will be be needed for it to come to pressure. However, the time needed to cook at pressure will remain the same.
By increasing the amount of pork tenderloin, you may want to double amount of gravy. Instead of adding 1 cup chicken stock to the pot, use 2 cups. Also double the sauce ingredients of balsamic vinegar, soy sauce, and maple syrup.
The sauce thickener slurry needs to also increase from 2 tablespoons to 4 tablespoons cornstarch and water.
Nutrition Facts
Instant Pot Pork Tenderloin
Amount Per Serving
Calories 276Calories from Fat 90
% Daily Value*
Fat 10g15%
Saturated Fat 2g13%
Cholesterol 98mg33%
Sodium 755mg33%
Potassium 673mg19%
Carbohydrates 12g4%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 8g9%
Protein 32g64%
Vitamin C 3mg4%
Calcium 25mg3%
Iron 2mg11%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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