Honey Sesame Pork Tenderloin

Honey Sesame Pork Tenderloin is an easy family dinner recipe that’s perfect for busy weeknights. The pork is fully cooked in only 8 minutes on the grill!

Grilling season is well underway and the options are endless. I love that we can cook outside without warming up the house.

My neighbor is in his nineties and he even cooks lunch for him and his wife on the grill.

This recipe for Honey Sesame Pork Tenderloin comes together fast and is sure to become a family favorite.

Disclaimer: This post contains links to products for making this recipe. If you use those links, I may earn a commission. Learn more here.

How To Make Honey Sesame Pork Tenderloin

Step One

Mix together kosher salt, coarse ground pepper, garlic powder, and ground cinnamon.

Rub the spice mixture over a one pound pork tenderloin.

Place the tenderloin in a pan, cover, and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

Step Two

Put the honey, soy sauce, olive oil, hoisin sauce, minced onion, minced garlic, sesame seed oil, and crushed red peppers in a sauce pan, whisk together, and bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring often.

In a small bowl, stir together cold water and cornstarch and then slowly whisk it into the sauce.

Continue cooking, stirring constantly until thickened.

Put 1/4 cup of the sauce in a small bowl and set the rest aside.

Bonus tip: If your sauce gets too thick, you can thin it by whisking in water, a little at a time until it reaches the desired thickness.

Step Three

Remove the pork tenderloin from the fridge and cut it into 1/2 thick slices.

Brush the grill grates with vegetable oil and then cook the pork tenderloin medallions over high heat for 3 minutes on each side.

Brush the pork tenderloin with the 1/4 cup of honey sesame sauce in the small bowl and grill an additional minute on each side to caramelize the sauce.

Step Four

The pork is fully cooked once it has reached an internal temperature of 145˚F.

Step Five

Serve the honey sesame pork tenderloin over rice with the reserved sauce, sprinkled with toasted sesame seeds and sliced green onions.

Honey Sesame Pork Tenderloin FAQs

1. Can this recipe be made in the oven? Bake them at 350˚F for 12-15 minutes or until they reach an internal temperature of 155˚F-160˚F.

2. Can this honey sesame pork tenderloin be made on the stovetop? To saute the medallions in a pan, heat one tablespoon of olive over medium-high heat. Cook pork medallions for 3-4 minutes per side or until the internal temperature reaches 155˚F-160˚F.

3. How long does it take to grill the WHOLE pork tenderloin, slicing it afterward? Grill the whole pork tenderloin over medium heat for 30 to 40 minutes or until it reaches an internal temperature of 155˚F-160˚F.

4. If I bake the WHOLE pork tenderloin and slice it afterward how long does it take? Bake the whole pork tenderloin at 425˚F for 30 minutes or until it reaches an internal temperature of 155˚F-160˚F.

5. Do you have instructions for a slow cooker honey sesame pork tenderloin? Yes, cook it on low for 4-5 hours or until the internal temperature reaches 155˚F-160˚F.

Obsessed with Honey Sesame? Try these recipes:

Slow Cooker Honey Sesame Chicken from The Gunny Sack: Slow Cooker Honey Sesame Chicken is a crockpot recipe that’s easy to make, cheaper than takeout and tastes better too! It’s a family-friendly recipe that will become a favorite.

Honey Sesame Salmon in Foil from Cafe Delights: Honey sesame salmon in foil is ready in under 20 minutes! Full of Asian flavors with ingredients you have in your kitchen, and so easy to pull together!

Honey Sesame Almonds from Beaming Baker: Sweet and smoky skillet-roasted almonds glazed with a coat of honey and satisfying sesame seeds. Honey Sesame Almonds are the new go-to snack.

Slow Cooker Honey Sesame Meatballs from The Gunny Sack: Slow Cooker Honey Sesame Meatballs is an easy crockpot recipe that can be served for dinner or as an appetizer. This slow cooker recipe is full of flavor.

Also, try this Garlic Rosemary Pork Tenderloin from The Gunny Sack: This garlic rosemary pork tenderloin recipe can be made on the grill during the summer and on the stovetop during the winter! It is a fast dinner recipe.

4.75 from 4 votes

Print

Honey Sesame Pork Tenderloin

Prep Time

35 mins

Cook Time

8 mins

Total Time

43 mins

 

Course: Dinner, Main

Cuisine: American

Servings: 6

Calories: 255 kcal

Author: The Gunny Sack

Ingredients

• 1 lb pork tenderloin
• 2 tbsp sliced green onions
• 1 tbsp toasted sesame seeds

Spice Rub:

• 1 tsp kosher salt
• 1/2 tsp coarse ground pepper
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon

Honey Sesame Sauce:

• 1/2 cup honey
• 1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp hoisin sauce
• 1 tbsp minced onion
• 1 tsp minced garlic
• 1/2 tsp sesame seed oil
• 1/4 tsp crushed red peppers optional
• 1/4 cup cold water
• 2 tbsp cornstarch

Instructions

Spice Rub:

1. Mix together kosher salt, coarse ground pepper, garlic powder, and ground cinnamon. Rub the spice mixture over the 1 pound pork tenderloin. Place the tenderloin in a pan, cover, and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

Honey Sesame Sauce:

1. Put honey, soy sauce, olive oil, hoisin sauce, minced onion, minced garlic, sesame seed oil, and crushed red peppers in a sauce pan, whisk together, and bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring often.
2. In a small bowl, stir together cold water and cornstarch and then slowly whisk into the sauce. Continue cooking, stirring constantly, until thickened.
3. Put 1/4 cup of the sauce in a small bowl to bring out to the grill and set the rest aside.

Grilling:

1. Remove the pork tenderloin from the fridge and cut it into 1/2 thick slices. Brush the grill grates with vegetable oil and then cook the pork tenderloin medallions over high heat for 3 minutes on each side. Brush the pork tenderloin with the 1/4 cup of honey sesame sauce in the small bowl and grill an additional minute on each side to caramelize the sauce.

2. The pork is fully cooked once it has reached an internal temperature of 155˚F-160˚F.

3. Before serving, top the pork tenderloin with the remaining sauce and sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds and sliced green onions.

Recipe Notes

Bonus tip: If your honey sesame sauce gets too thick, you can thin it by whisking in water, a little at a time until it reaches the desired thickness.

Nutrition Facts

Honey Sesame Pork Tenderloin

Amount Per Serving

Calories 255 Calories from Fat 72

% Daily Value*

Fat 8g12%

Saturated Fat 1g6%

Cholesterol 49mg16%

Sodium 826mg36%

Potassium 337mg10%

Carbohydrates 29g10%

Sugar 24g27%

Protein 16g32%

Vitamin A 20IU0%

Vitamin C 1mg1%

Calcium 23mg2%

Iron 1.3mg7%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.