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Honey Balsamic Pork Tenderloin with Thyme Glaze_result

Honey-Balsamic Pork Tenderloin with Thyme Glaze

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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 4

Equipment

  • Oven-safe skillet or roasting pan A cast-iron skillet works great for searing and transferring directly to the oven. You can also use a roasting pan or any oven-safe dish.
  • Tongs For flipping the pork tenderloin while searing.
  • Small saucepan To simmer the glaze before applying it.
  • Basting brush or spoon For coating the tenderloin with glaze.
  • Meat Thermometer To check doneness—essential for pork.
  • Cutting board and knife For resting and slicing the cooked pork.

Ingredients
  

For the pork

  • 1 1.5 to 2 lb pork tenderloin (not to be confused with pork loin)
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder

For the honey-balsamic thyme glaze

  • ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
  • 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves or 1 tsp dried thyme
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter optional, for finishing

Instructions
 

Preheat and Prep

  1. Start by preheating your oven to 400°F (200°C). Pat the pork tenderloin dry with paper towels. Dry meat sears better and forms a more flavorful crust.

Season the Pork

  1. Rub the pork with olive oil, then season it all over with salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder. Let it sit at room temperature for 10–15 minutes while you prepare the glaze.

Make the Glaze

  1. In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine the balsamic vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard, thyme, brown sugar, and minced garlic. Simmer for about 4–5 minutes, or until the mixture thickens slightly. Stir frequently to prevent burning. Remove from heat and stir in the butter, if using, for added richness.

Sear the Pork

  1. Heat a drizzle of oil in your oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, sear the pork tenderloin on all sides—about 2 minutes per side—until a golden crust forms.

Apply the Glaze

  1. Once seared, brush or spoon about half of the glaze over the pork tenderloin. Transfer the skillet to the preheated oven.

Roast

  1. Roast in the oven for about 18–22 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 145°F. Halfway through cooking, spoon some of the remaining glaze over the pork.

Rest and Slice

  1. Remove the pork from the oven and let it rest for 10 minutes before slicing. This keeps the meat juicy and lets the flavors settle. Drizzle the remaining glaze over the sliced pork for maximum flavor.