Instant Pot Honey Garlic Pork Tenderloin is the perfect 30 minute weeknight dinner! Tender pork tenderloin covered in a sweet and savory honey garlic sauce.
Instant Pot Honey Garlic Pork Tenderloin Recipe
There aren’t many things better than a 30 minute dinner. This Instant Pot Honey Garlic Pork Tenderloin is no exception. A sweet and savory honey garlic sauce makes this easy pork tenderloin recipe something special. It cooks quickly in the Instant Pot and the sauce adds the most amazing flavor when poured over the pork.
It’s quick enough for a weeknight and special enough for entertaining guests. Pork tenderloin is one of my favorite proteins. It cooks up perfectly tender and juicy. Since pork tenderloin is also one of the leanest cuts of meat, it’s a great protein option for healthy meals.
Pressure cooking the pork keeps it unbelievably moist. The pork is fork tender and flavorful on its own, but when it’s smothered in the sweet and savory garlicky sauce it becomes scrumptious!
30 Minute Instant Pot Honey Garlic Pork Tenderloin Recipe
The great thing about making pork tenderloin in an Instant Pot is that it cooks very quickly while keeping the meat juicy. The tenderloin is browned first, then cooked under pressure in this delicious sauce for a punch of flavor and a perfectly cooked, juicy texture.
Be sure to use a pork tenderloin in this recipe. A pork tenderloin is a long, round and thin cut of pork that is boneless, lean and tender. A pork loin (which is also sometimes called pork loin roast or pork roast) is larger and wider than a pork tenderloin and would require additional cook time. Pork loin does not turn out as tender as pork tenderloin.
What is in Honey Garlic Pork Tenderloin?
Pork Tenderloin Ingredients
- Pork Tenderloin – this recipe makes 2 pork tenderloins. They fit perfectly in an 8 quart or larger Instant Pot without having to bend them out of shape to fit. If you have a smaller instant pot you can slice the tenderloins in half so that they can cook straight (this just makes for better presentation)
- Garlic Powder, Salt, and Pepper – the tenderloins are seasoned with this quick seasoning mix before they are browned and pressure cooked. It enhances the flavor in the pork while it cooks.
- Oil – before pressure cooking the pork it is browned on all sides in the Instant Pot on sauté mode. A small amount of oil is added to the pot to brown the meat.
- Water – any time you are pressure cook you will need liquid for the pot to come to pressure. It could be water or broth. For this recipe it uses water as a broth would over power the honey garlic flavor of the sauce. Using water also makes this a great pantry recipe as you don’t need to worry about having broth on hand!
Sauce Ingredients
- Honey – we can’t make honey garlic sauce without honey. I would not recommend substituting sugar or a sugar substitute for the honey. They honey gives the sauce it’s glossy shine and color as well as adds an amazing rich flavor.
- Garlic – if you have been following my recipes you will know that garlic is my favorite ingredient. Growing up honey garlic sauce was my dad’s favorite sauce for just about everything. I recommend using fresh garlic for the sauce, it makes all the difference.
- Ginger – although the sauce is called honey garlic sauce, ginger is an important ingredient that brings out the amazing flavors of the garlic and honey and adds a delectable aroma. I again recommend using fresh ginger but in a pinch dried ginger can be used.
- Sesame Oil – an aromatic oil often used in Asian cooking. It has a deep sesame flavor that adds umami.
- Water and Cornstarch – for a velvety smooth and thick sauce a cornstarch slurry is added in just before serving to thicken the sauce.
How to Make Instant Pot Honey Garlic Pork Tenderloin
Full Printable Recipe at Bottom of Page
Brown the Tenderloin
1 Optional: depending on the size of your Instant Pot, slice the pork tenderloin in half so you have two shorter pieces that will fit in the Instant Pot (If using an 8 quart Instant Pot this will not be necessary).
2 Season the pork tenderloin on all sides with salt, pepper and garlic powder.
3 Heat the olive oil in the Instant Pot on sauté mode. Add the pork to the pot and brown for 2-3 minutes per side. Remove the pork from the pot and set aside. Turn sauté mode OFF.
4 Deglaze the pot by adding in the water. Use a spatula or wooden spoon to scrape any browned bits from the bottom of the pot. Do not discard. These brown bits add an amazing flavor to the dish!
Pressure Cook
1 Add the honey, garlic, sesame oil (optional) and ginger to the Instant Pot. Stir to combine.
2 Add the pork back to the Instant Pot in a single layer. Place the lid on the Instant Pot and lock in place. Turn the pressure valve to SEALING. Note: the pork will not be fully submerged in liquid but they should be placed in the pot in a single layer.
3 Cook on high pressure using the MANUAL/PRESSURE COOK button setting for 4 minutes.
4 When the cook time ends, allow the pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes by leaving the Instant Pot alone and not removing the lid. Do not skip the 10 minute natural release as the pork will continue to cook during this time.
5 Once the screen reads L00:10, indicating a 10 minute natural release has been completed, carefully turn the pressure release valve to the VENTING position to release any remaining pressure (there likely will be none). Make sure that the pressure valve has dropped down and then carefully remove the Instant Pot lid.
6 Check that the internal temperature of the thickest part of the pork has reached at least 145°F. If not, you can cook the pork for a few more minutes using the sauté function.
Thicken the Sauce
1 Transfer the pork to a clean plate or cutting board, cover with foil and let it rest while you thicken the sauce.
2 In a small bowl, mix together the cornstarch and water until evenly combined. Turn sauté mode on the Instant pot. Add in the cornstarch mixture. Stir continuously, until the sauce has thickened, about 2-3 minutes. Turn off the Instant Pot and remove the inner pot to stop the cooking process.
3 Slice the pork and serve with the sauce poured on top. Optional, garnish with sliced green onions. Enjoy!
Tips for the Best Instant Pot Pork Tenderloin
- Brown the Pork – browning the pork before cooking not only adds an extra layer of flavor to the pork, but it also leaves caramelized browned bits in the pot! Once the meat is browned the pot is deglazed with water and all those delicious brown bits are released and added into the sauce. It adds an amazing flavor that you don’t want to miss out on!
- Fresh Aromatics – I love this recipe as it only needs 10 ingredients (11 if you count water as an ingredient). It’s great for weeknights and I can’t stress enough how fresh garlic and ginger add an even better flavor than powdered.
- Ginger Tip! If you don’t cook with ginger often use my tip… keep fresh ginger wrapped in plastic wrap or a Ziploc bag in the freezer. When you need to add ginger to a recipe simply remove from the freezer and use a fine mesh grater to grate it in. Or you can let it thaw for a few minutes at room temperature and slice a piece off then return it to the freezer! This is how I keep fresh ginger on hand at all times. It lasts for months in the freezer.
- Natural Release – after pressure cooking do NOT skip the 10 minute natural release! Pork tenderloin only requires 4 minutes of cooking under pressure plus 10 minutes of cooking in the steam in the pressure cooker. The 10 minutes natural release finishes cooking the pork without it getting overcooked. For perfectly tender and moist pork cook for 4 minutes on high pressure with a 10 minutes natural release.
What to Serve with Pork Tenderloin
- My favorite way to serve this honey garlic pork tenderloin is with a side of fresh vegetables and fresh cooked rice! The rice soaks up all the honey garlic sauce.
- A side garlic bread is perfect for this dinner as you can dip the bread in the sweet and savory honey garlic sauce, try my Crazy Bread Copycat (recipe linked here)
- If you are trying to sneak some extra veggies into your diet try a twice baked potato. Broccoli Cheddar (recipe linked here) is my favorite flavor!
Looking for More Easy Instant Pot Recipes?
Try some of my most popular recipes:
- Beef with Broccoli – one of my favorite quick weeknight dinners! Tender beef in an irresistible sauce packed with garlic and ginger. A sweet and savory dinner the whole family will love.
- Chicken Enchiladas – are absolutely the BEST and easier than you think to make. Flour tortillas filled with juicy chicken in the most delicious homemade enchilada sauce, loaded with cheese!
- Pork Carnitas Tacos – did you know you can use your Instant Pot as a slow cooker too? I love this set it and forget it taco recipe slow cooked in the instant pot!
Enjoy!
– Sab
Disclosure: I only recommend products I would use myself and all opinions expressed here are my own. This post may contain affiliate links that at no additional cost to you, may earn me a small commission.
Instant Pot Honey Garlic Pork Tenderloin
Equipment
- Instant Pot Instant Pot or other
Ingredients
- 1 or 2 pork tenderloins, approximately 1.5 – 2 lbs total, depending on the size of your Instant Pot 1 or 2 pork tenderloins will fit
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 2 tsp olive oil
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 cup honey
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp sesame oil, optional
- 2 tsp minced fresh ginger
- 2 tsp cornstarch
- 2 tsp water
Instructions
- Optional: depending on the size of your Instant Pot, cut the pork tenderloin in half so you have two shorter pieces that will fit in the Instant Pot (If using an 8 quart Instant Pot this will not be necessary).
- Season the pork tenderloin on all sides with salt, pepper and garlic powder.
- Heat the olive oil in the Instant Pot on sauté mode. Add the pork to the pot and brown for 2-3 minutes per side. Remove the pork from the pot and set aside. Turn sauté mode OFF.
- Deglaze the pot by adding in the water. Use a spatula or wooden spoon to scrape any browned bits from the bottom of the pot. Do not discard. These brown bits add an amazing flavor to the dish!
- Add the honey, garlic, sesame oil (optional) and ginger to the Instant Pot. Stir to combine.
- Add the pork back to the Instant Pot in a single layer. Place the lid on the Instant Pot and lock in place. Turn the pressure valve to SEALING. Note: the pork will not be fully submerged in liquid but they should be placed in the pot in a single layer.
- Cook on high pressure using the MANUAL/PRESSURE COOK button setting for 4 minutes.
- When the cook time ends, allow the pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes by leaving the Instant Pot alone and not removing the lid. Do not skip the 10 minute natural release as the pork will continue to cook during this time.
- Once the screen reads L00:10, indicating a 10 minute natural release has been completed, carefully turn the pressure release valve to the VENTING position to release any remaining pressure (there likely will be none). Make sure that the pressure valve has dropped down and then carefully remove the Instant Pot lid.
- Check that the internal temperature of the thickest part of the pork has reached at least 145°F. If not, you can cook the pork for a few more minutes using the sauté function.
- Transfer the pork to a clean plate or cutting board, cover with foil and let it rest while you thicken the sauce.
- In a small bowl, mix together the cornstarch and water until evenly combined. Turn sauté mode on the Instant pot. Add in the cornstarch mixture. Stir continuously, until the sauce has thickened, about 2-3 minutes. Turn off the Instant Pot and remove the inner pot to stop the cooking process.
- Slice the pork and serve with the sauce poured on top. Optional, garnish with sliced green onions. Enjoy!