Roasted Pork Tenderloin with Balsamic Reduction
This juicy Roasted Pork Tenderloin is the perfect mish-mash of savory-sweet flavors. It’s topped with a rich, tangy balsamic glaze that you’ll want to pour on basically anything! With just a handful of basic ingredients and about 30 minutes, it’s an easy yet elegant dish that sure adds something special to the table!
A Quick Look At The Recipe
- Recipe Name: Roasted Pork Tenderloin with Balsamic Reduction (SUPER easy!)
- Serves: 4
- Main Ingredients: pork tenderloin, coarse ground black pepper, kosher salt, dried herb of your choice, +1/4 cup Balsamic Vinegar, sugar
- Why You'll Love It: Roasted Pork Tenderloin is juicy and tender and an EASY PEASY meal to throw together but sure won't taste like you took any shortcuts!.
The Easiest Fancy Dinner You’ll Ever Make
Roasted Pork Tenderloin is an EASY PEASY meal to throw together but sure won’t taste like you took any shortcuts. If you love playing with bold flavors like my Grilled Peach & Jalapeño Glazed Pork Tenderloin, you’ll love this one too. This pork tenderloin with balsamic reduction is a little more classic but just as impressive, and definitely one to add to the rotation.
I know “balsamic reduction” sounds fancy, but it’s not. All it means is we’re going to cook balsamic vinegar until it boils down to about half. This process concentrates the flavors and creates a rich, slightly sweet, and tangy glaze that contrasts so well with the savory pork.
Oh and by the way, if you like, you can adapt this recipe for another meat. It’ll also go great with butter-roasted chicken, grilled steak, and lamb.
Reader Review
“Been using this simple recipe for years – thanks!! I found a great brand of balsamic glaze (that never expires – a win!) that I use now. It is so versatile.” – Chrissy
Ingredients
- Boneless pork tenderloin (about 1 pound)
- Coarse ground peppercorns
- Kosher salt
- A dried herb of your choice (I’m using basil – because I love basil!)
- Balsamic vinegar
- Sugar
Tips From My Kitchen to Yours
- To decide which herb I want to use in a dish, I usually just open the lids and smell them to see what I’m in the mood for. I’m sure there are more complicated ways to do this, but my smell method has always served me well, so I’ll just stick with that.
- I always let my pork tenderloin sit at room temperature for about 20-30 minutes before cooking. It helps the meat cook more evenly, and you’ll get a much better result.
- If you have a meat thermometer handy, use it. You’re looking for an internal temperature of 145°F. It takes all the guesswork out of knowing when it’s done.
- The balsamic reduction thickens up even more as it cools, so don’t worry if it looks a little thin right off the stove. Give it some time, and it’ll be perfect as a glaze for the pork tenderloin.
How to Make Roasted Pork Tenderloin with Balsamic Reduction
1. Preheat the Oven
To start, preheat your oven to 475°F and grease a baking sheet with cooking spray.
2. Make the Balsamic Reduction
Next, pour balsamic vinegar into a saucepan and place over medium heat, stirring often.
Once it comes to a boil, reduce heat and simmer until it’s cooked down to about half as much as you started out with, still stirring often. This will take about 10 minutes.
3. Add Sugar & Cool
Remove it from the heat and stir in the sugar until dissolved. Set aside and let cool.
Pro tip: I like to refrigerate mine to get it even thicker. You can even make this the day before if you want!
4. Roast Your Pork
Now place your pork tenderloin on the greased baking sheet and sprinkle both sides with cracked pepper, dried herb of your choice, and kosher salt.
Note: You can just eyeball this, but if I had to guess how much I used, I’d say about 1/2 tsp coarse pepper, 1/2 tsp kosher salt, and 1 teaspoon dried herbs per side.
Bake at 475°F for 10 minutes.
Flip and bake 10-15 minutes more, or until no longer pink in the center. I stick a sharp knife down in the middle and open it up a little bit to have a peek.
5. Let Rest & Serve
Remove the tenderloin from the oven and let it rest for 5-10 minutes before slicing.
Drizzle roasted pork tenderloin slices with your balsamic reduction just before serving.
Enjoy!
Serving Suggestions
Serve the roasted pork tenderloin with your sides of choice and enjoy! As for me, I love enjoying it with a side of homemade mashed potatoes and some simple stovetop zucchini and summer squash, or a nice warm bowl of potato corn chowder.
Roasted Pork Tenderloin with Balsamic Reduction FAQs
Nope, they’re not the same! Balsamic vinegar is the thin, tangy stuff you’d drizzle over a salad or use in a marinade like for these Beef Kabobs. Balsamic reduction, on the other hand, is what you get when you simmer that same vinegar until most of the water evaporates, leaving a thick, rich, slightly sweet syrup. Think of it like the fancier, more indulgent cousin of regular balsamic vinegar.
Yes! A little pink in the middle is totally fine. As long as the internal temperature hits 145°F, your pork is safe to eat, even if it still looks a bit rosy.
Overcooked it! That’s almost always the culprit. Pork tenderloin has barely any fat on it, so it dries out really fast if you leave it in the oven too long. I always make sure to pull mine out right when it hits 145°F and let it rest for a few minutes before slicing. That little rest makes a huge difference.
If this recipe made it to your dinner table, let us know! Leave a star rating and share your experience in the comments.
Ingredients
For the 3/4 cup of Balsamic Reduction
- 1 ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
- 2 Tablespoons sugar
For the Pork Tenderloin
- 1 pound pork tenderloin not whole pork loin but tenderloin
- 1 teaspoon coarse ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 teaspoons dried herb of your choice I used basil
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 475°F and spray a baking sheet with cooking spray
- In a small saucepan, pour balsamic vinegar. Bring just to a boil over medium heat, while stirring constantly. Reduce heat to medium and continue cooking, stirring often, until reduced by about half.1 ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
- Remove from heat and stir in sugar until dissolved. Set aside and allow to cool while you prepare the roast.2 Tablespoons sugar
- Place your tenderloin on your greased baking sheet. Sprinkle each side with salt, pepper, and herb of your choice.1 pound pork tenderloin, 1 teaspoon coarse ground black pepper, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, 2 teaspoons dried herb of your choice
- Bake for 10 minutes, flip over, and bake 10-15 minutes more, or until no longer pink in the center.
- Allow to rest 5-10 minutes before slicing. Drizzle slices with Balsamic reduction when serving, if desired.
Notes
- To decide which herb I want to use in a dish, I usually just open the lids and smell them to see what I’m in the mood for. I’m sure there are more complicated ways to do this, but my smell method has always served me well, so I’ll just stick with that.
- I always let my pork tenderloin sit at room temperature for about 20-30 minutes before cooking. It helps the meat cook more evenly, and you’ll get a much better result.
- If you have a meat thermometer handy, use it. You’re looking for an internal temperature of 145°F. It takes all the guesswork out of knowing when it’s done.
- The balsamic reduction thickens as it cools, so don’t worry if it looks a little thin right off the stove. Give it some time, and it’ll be perfect as a glaze for the pork tenderloin.
I made your whole meal tonight and it was delish! I cooked the pork loin on the grill and also cooked the squash on the grill (sliced longways). I didn’t care for the balsamic reduction (I was surprised I didn’t – I think it was just too sweet for me), but my hubby really liked it. And both of my boys, one of whom is EXTREMELY picky, loved the mashed potatoes!
I am glad to hear that over-all everyone enjoyed it Lisa!!!
I have a package of pork tenderloins in the freezer, I know what we are going to have for next Sunday’s dinner! Thanks!
Enjoy some for me Cassie!!
Hey, Christy, one of my best memories from my growing up years was the pork roast, rice and gravy, black eye peas, cole slaw, and cornbread meal my mom used to make. It became our traditional New Year’s dinner, although we enjoyed it throughout the year, as well. Growing up in southern Louisiana provided a wonderful opportunity to learn to prepare good ole Southern food, compliments of my mom’s patient tutoring. : o ). Whenever I stir up a roux, the mouthwatering smell and the deep, rich brown color sweep me back to my childhood.
Thanks for sharing the obituary. What a lovely tribute to an ordinary man’s life. It is a true testimony that, in the end, all that matters is how we are remembered.
Blessings,
Stacy
What wonderful memories Stacy!! And you are right, that is all that matters at the end of things.
thank you for all the inspiration that you provide. Your love of others really shows… and your meals looks delicious!
thank you for all the inspiration that you provide to others, your love of others really shows… and your meals looks delicious!
Thank you Cynde!!!
My herbed pork loin is even easier. I use salt, pepper, maybe a little garlic powder, then roll it in a whole cup of chopped fresh rosemary. Throw it in the slow cooker and let it cook for around 6 hours. You don’t have to add any liquid. Maybe the last couple of hours I’ll throw in some new potatoes and baby carrots. It’s hard to get it out of the pot because its falling apart in chunks. It’s sooo good! Even better the next day….take an onion roll, heat some of the pork and add that with a slice of swiss cheese. Yum!!!
Thank you for sharing the obituary of Mr Edmund C Upton. What an inspiring obituary. I could tell he was truly loved by his community. His positive actions made a big impact to the lives of those he touched. This really has me thinking about how I can touch the lives around me. Sometimes the simple gestures are the ones that touch people the most. Thanks for sharing, Christy. This has made me realized that I am needed by others. : )
I like the way you think Darrelyn!!! We are ALL needed and loved and we should all strive to make a difference somehow or another.