Elevate a humble pork tenderloin with this utterly delicious Grapefruit-and-Sugar-Rubbed Pork Tenderloin recipe. As it roasts, a marinade of grapefruit, brown sugar, and spices caramelizes to create a delectable crust that will elevate your dining experience to a whole new level. Ready in about an hour, this roasted pork tenderloin is simple enough for a weeknight dinner yet elegant enough for a special occasion.
Start by making the marinade in a food processor. Adjust the salt and black pepper to your taste. Transfer the marinade to a large bowl. Then, add the pork to the bowl with the prepared marinade and toss until well coated. Cover and set aside to marinate for 15 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat your oven to 450 °F. Set the marinated pork on a rack in an aluminum foil-lined baking sheet or a shallow roasting pan. Finally, roast the pork in the oven until slightly caramelized on the outside. Take the roast out as soon as an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center reads 140 °F and let the pork sit to reach its final doneness. Slice and serve!
To make the Grapefruit-and-Sugar-Rubbed Pork Tenderloin, you will need the following ingredients:
In a food processor, purée 1 cup packed dark brown sugar, 1 tablespoon smoked sweet paprika, 1⁄2 teaspoon ground cumin, 1⁄2 teaspoon ground fennel, 1⁄4 teaspoon cayenne pepper, 5 garlic cloves, grapefruit zest and segments, and kosher salt and black pepper to taste until very smooth. Transfer the marinade to a large bowl.
Add the pork to the bowl with the prepared marinade and toss to coat well. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let sit for 15 minutes at room temperature to marinate.
Preheat the oven to 450 °F.
Set a wire rack on top of an aluminum foil-lined baking sheet, then add the pork. Roast until slightly caramelized on the outside and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center reads 140 °F, about 45 minutes.
Remove the pork from the oven and let rest for 10 minutes before slicing. Serve and enjoy!
This recipe for Grapefruit-and-Sugar-Rubbed Pork Tenderloin is flavorful and easy-to-follow. It is special enough to serve for a holiday table but so easy that you can also make it for dinner on a weeknight. If you make this easy recipe, share a photo with us @cookmerecipes on Instagram — and don't forget to leave a comment below!
Superb!
Delizioso! I made this for my husband for our anniversary and he couldn't stop raving! The grapefruit adds such a unique twist that we felt like we were dining at a fancy restaurant. Highly recommeded!
Man, this Grapefruit-and-Sugar-Rubbed Pork Tenderloin was a game changer for my fam dinner! My wife was blown away, she thought I spent hours in the kitchen. It's got a sweet n' savory vibe that just hits right. Def gonna make this again for special occasions! Can't believe how easy it was.
Deliciously simple dish!
Great dinner success!
Wow, so delicious! Made it for friends and they loved it. Can't wait to make again!
OMG! This pork tenderloin is da bomb! Made it for dinner last night, and my fam went wild over it! So easy and fancy. I'm deff makin' it again!
Amazing! I made this for my friends on a Friday night, and they couldn't stop raving about it. The flavors are super fresh and every bite just burst with delight. Simply loved it!
Yo, this Grapefruit-and-Sugar-Rubbed Pork Tenderloin is legit! I made it for our anniversary dinner and my wife loved it! The marinade gave it such a sweet crust, it felt fancy but was super easy to whip up. Gonna be a regular at our table for sure. Thanks for this awesome recipe!
Superb. I made this for our anniversary dinner, and it was a hit. My husband loved the sweet and tangy glaze. I never thought pork could taste this good. So easy to prepare, will definitely make again.
Superb taste combo!
Superb and simple. I made this for my friends last week, and they all loved it. The flavor was amazing and it looked great on the table. Definitely a winner for any dinner party!
This is the best pork tenderloin I'll ever make. Thanks!
Dairy-Free Recipes
Gluten Free Recipes
Spicy Recipes
