Asian Marinade for Pork Tenderloin
This Asian marinade for pork tenderloin is flavorful, juicy, and the loin comes out oh so tender!
Even though I love a good grilled meal like salmon or kabobs, I think I mastered oven baked tenderloin using this Asian-inspired marinade!
You never have to worry about it being dry and it’s an easy 30 minute meal that goes great with pasta salad, mac and cheese, or honey roasted brussels sprouts!
If those simple side dishes don’t suit you, use this big list of sides that are great for warmer weather.
Ingredients
- pork tenderloin – ours was about 2 pounds.
Asian Marinade
- soy sauce – use low-sodium if you can.
- sesame oil – this gives the tenderloin a signature Asian flavor, but I also use tahini too.
- Honey – swap for maple syrup if needed.
- minced garlic – don’t want to mince fresh cloves? Use garlic powder instead.
- ginger paste – ½ tablespoon of ground ginger will have the same flavor.
- Ketchup – helps to balance out the sweetness.
How to Make Asian Marinade for Pork Tenderloin
Whisk together all of the marinade ingredients and pour over the tenderloin. Chill for 8-24 hours. Flip the meat halfway through.
Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Spray the baking sheet with cooking spray.
Bake for 20-25 minutes.
Garnish with sesame seeds and green onions, then serve!
Tips for Making
- Do not skip the step of greasing and lining the baking sheet. Baking at a high temperature and using these ingredients will cause the marinade to burn to the pan. This way it’s easier to clean. Use my tips if needed to get rid of burn marks on baking sheets.
- The key to tender, juicy pork loin is the marinating time. The longer it sits, the more flavor it has. After 24 hours it may become salty.
- You can marinate in a covered dish or in a ziplock bag.
- Use this same recipe to marinate chicken if desired.
- Do not pour any leftover raw marinade on the pork once it has finished cooking. This is cross-contamination.
- Pork is fully cooked at 145 degrees. Be sure to check the temperature using a meat thermometer at the thickest point before serving. You may notice that the inside is a little pink at 145 degrees, that’s okay! It’s totally done and is just different from cooking beef.
- Allow the meat to rest for a couple of minutes before slicing. This keeps all of the juices in.
Substitutions and Variations
- Use this same marinade recipe to grill pork tenderloin if desired.
- To make it gluten free, use coconut aminos instead of soy sauce.
- Follow the same recipe and cook for 18-20 minutes at 400 degrees in the air fryer.
- Whisk up a little extra marinade. Add to a saucepan and bring to a boil for 5 minutes. Reduce the heat and let it thicken. Serve with the tenderloin or as a glaze.
How to Store
Keep cooked pork tenderloin refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Reheat in the microwave or oven until warm.
More Healthy Asian Inspired Recipes:
- Asian Chicken Meatballs
- Sesame Ginger Vinaigrette & A Simple Asian Salad
- Sweet and Spicy Asian Chicken Sheet Pan Dinner (Instant Pot Option Included)
- Teriyaki Chicken Foil Packet Dinner (Oven Baked Or Grill)
Asian Marinade for Pork Tenderloin
Ingredients
Ingredients
- 1 2 lb pork tenderloin
Asian Marinade
- 1/3 cup low sodium soy sauce
- 1 tbsp sesame oil – i used tahini
- 2 tbsp honey
- 2 tbsp minced garlic
- 2 tbsp ginger paste or ½ tbsp ground ginger
- 3 tbsp ketchup – should be ⅓ cup
Instructions
- Combine marinade ingredients. Add pork to marinade and cover (or use a gallon plastic bag tightly sealed). Place in refrigerator for 8-24 hours, rotating halfway through.
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees fahrenheit. Place pork tenderloin on a foil lined baking sheet, sprayed with non stick spray. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until pork reaches at least 145 degrees fahrenheit internally.
- Pork is fully cooked once it reaches an internal temperature (at its thickest point) of 145-160 degrees fahrenheit. Let the pork tenderloin rest for 3 minutes before slicing and serving.
- Garnish with green onions and sesame seeds if desired. Serve & enjoy!
