• Home
  • Beef
  • Chicken
  • Pork
  • Sauces and Dips
  • Seafood
  • Sides
↑

Grilling, Smoking, Living

Living the Barbecue Life

  • Beef
  • Chicken
  • Pork
  • Seafood
  • Sauces & Rubs
  • Sides
  • Misc
    • Dessert
  • Home
    • About Me
    • Privacy Policy
  • Tips & Tricks

Smoked Pork Tenderloin

July 14, 2023 by Lyuba Leave a Comment

Pin
Share
Post
Share
Pin
Share
Post
Share
Jump to Recipe

Low and slow smoked pork tenderloin might just be the juiciest cut of meat you can pull out of a smoker. Soft and tender in the inside, wrapped in a coat of smokey goodness and perfectly paired seasonings, this will be the highlight of your BBQ!

cooked smoked tenderloin on a fork

Smoked Pork Tenderloin

The only thing that might be better than roasted pork tenderloin in smoked pork tenderloin. We’re not only talking about that soft tender cut of pork, but we’re adding some smokey goodness to an already amazing dish. It just doesn’t get much better than that! So simple to make, this one takes the prize for BBQ entrees.

Whether you quickly mix the seasoning right before cooking or have it prepared ahead of time, the whole dish will take only about an hour and 30 minutes once in the smoker. Pork tenderloin is a thin, long cut of meat that comes from the muscle running along the backbone. While it’s typically best to cook this very tender cut of meat quickly at high temperature, there is one exception to that rule, smoking!

You may think roasting this tender cut of pork is your favorite way of preparation, but once you smoke it, you’ll never go back. Try serving it with some Grilled Corn Salad or Grilled Zucchini.

If you have leftovers, try to heat it up as quickly as possible because it’s easy to overcook and dry it out. Leftovers will make amazing smokey sandwiches when paired up with some nice cheese and maybe even a little sauce. The options are endless here!

How to Make Smoked Pork Tenderloin

Ingredients for smoked pork tenderloin

WHAT IS IN PORK RUB

Each seasoning mix has a little something different to complement the meats for which it’s used. I always start with the basics of salt, pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder. Then, I like to add a little sweetness with brown sugar. Adding a touch of sweetness is perfect for dry rubs meant to go on meats without sauce.

To elevate sweet and savory, you need some smoky flavor of paprika and a touch of spice with cayenne pepper. And of course, you can’t have pork without adding some mustard. To finish it off, I add some dried parsley for an herb flavor addition that is not overpowering. 

All you have to do is combine salt, pepper, brown sugar, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, ground mustard, and dried parsley in a mixing bowl and give it a good stir. Once all ingredients are evenly incorporated, transfer it into a glass jar with an air-tight lid or use it right away. 

Trimming the silver off the pork tenderloin still raw
Trimming the silver off the pork tenderloin still raw

PREPARING THE PORK TENDERLOIN

Remove the pork tenderloins from the package and pat them dry with a paper towel. Place the tenderloins on a large cutting board. Remove as much silver skin as you can, if there is some still attached.

HOW TO MAKE ROASTED PORK TENDERLOIN

Prepare your smoker as needed and preheat it to the temperature of 225°. For this dish we will be using maple wood. Everyone leans towards apple when thinking about what wood to use for smoking pork but as long as you use a nice sweet wood that compliments the pork, you can mix things up a bit.

In a small bowl, combine all ingredients for pork seasoning and mix them well. 

raw pork tenderloin on sheet tray before covering in dry rub
2 raw pork tenderloins on sheet tray covered in dry rub

Place the tenderloins into a rimmed baking dish or on a large cutting board and generously coat with the seasoning, pressing it into the meat.

raw pork tenderloin with thermo probe in it
Smoked tenderloin pulled from smoker with thermo prob still in it

Insert a meat thermometer into the center of the thickest part of meat and place the skillet into the oven. 

With your smoker now maintaining a temperature of 225°, place your tenderloins into the center of the smoker. Allow the pork to cook undisturbed for about 1 and a half hours. One of the magical properties of smoking meats is how tender the end product is. This allows us to cook past most internal temperatures and cook to taste. However, as with most other meats, pork does have a minimum cooked temperature. You don’t want to remove the pork tenderloin before it hits the all important 145°.

Once your pork tenderloin has reach an internal temperature of 145°, remove it from the smoker. Let it rest for about 10 minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can pork tenderloin be slightly pink?

Yes, it is perfectly safe and even desired to be slightly pink in the middle. When the pork is slightly pink in the middle, the meat is done to safe temperature (145°) but not so done to be dry. Overcooking pork will result in tough, dry meat.

cooked smoked tenderloin on a cutting board

How to serve Smoked Pork Tenderloin

Once your pork tenderloin has rested for about 10 minutes, slice and enjoy.

Like chicken, pork can be paired with almost anything for a side dish. Looking for something light? Try the pork tenderloin with Our Favorite Potato Salad. Want something a little more hearty? Our Smoked Scalloped Potatoes are always a winner!

cooked smoked tenderloin on a fork

CLICK TO PIN THIS SMOKED PORK TENDERLOIN FOR LATER

cooked smoked tenderloin on a fork

Smoked Pork Tenderloin

No ratings yet
Low and slow smoked pork tenderloin might just be the juiciest cut of meat you can pull out of a smoker.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
CourseMain Course
CuisineAmerican
Prep Time15 minutes minutes
Cook Time1 hour hour 30 minutes minutes
Total Time1 hour hour 45 minutes minutes
Servings6 people
Calories277kcal
AuthorLyuba

Ingredients

Pork

  • 2.5 lbs pork tenderloin

Pork Dry Rub

  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1 tbsp paprika
  • 2 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp black pepper
  • 2 tsp garlic powder
  • 2 tsp onion powder
  • 3 tsp ground mustard
  • 1 tbsp dried parsley
  • 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

Instructions

  • Prepare your smoker as needed and preheat it to the temperature of 225°. For this dish we will be using maple wood.
  • In a small bowl, combine all ingredients for pork seasoning and mix them well. 
  • Take tenderloins out of the package and pat dry with a paper towel. Place them into a rimmed baking dish or on a large cutting board and generously coat with the seasoning, pressing it into the meat.
  • Insert a meat thermometer into the center of the thickest part of meat and place in the smoker.
  • Smoke for about 1 and a half hours, until internal temperature reaches 145°. (Exact time will depend on the size of the meat.) 
  • Take it out of the oven and onto a cutting board. Let it rest for about 10 minutes before cutting into it.

Nutrition

Calories: 277kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 40g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 123mg | Sodium: 879mg | Potassium: 821mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 620IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 33mg | Iron: 2mg
smoked tenderloin pin
Pin
Share
Post
Share
Pin
Share
Post
Share

Thank you!

You have successfully joined our subscriber list.

.

Filed Under: Pork, Uncategorized

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Let's get grilling!

Welcome, everyone! I’m Lyuba Brooke, come in, grab a beer, and head to the backyard. Here, I love to grill, barbecue, and share everything I make. You will find a ton of recipes for grilling, smoking, and the sauces to dip it in.

Our Popular Recipes

  • Smoked Spatchcock Chicken

  • Grilled chicken legs marinaded and cooked stacked on a plate. Grilled Chicken Legs (With Chicken Marinade)

  • Smoking Sausage

  • top view of spices of the beef rub on baking sheet Beef Rub Recipe

  • adding BBQ sauce to pulled chicken Smoked Pulled Chicken

  • starting to scoop the smoked baked beans with a spoon in a skillet Smoked Baked Beans

  • holding a smoked turkey leg Smoked Turkey Legs

  • cooked smoked tenderloin on a cutting board Smoked Pork Tenderloin

Categories

Thank you!

You have successfully joined our subscriber list.

.
Privacy Policy
Copyright ©2025, Grilling, Smoking, Living. All Rights Reserved.
Design by Pixel Me Designs

 

Subscribe to the

Grilling, Smoking, Living Recipe Newsletter

 

Thank you!

You have successfully joined our subscriber list.


.

Rate This Recipe

Your vote:




A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required