Sweet-&-Spicy Pork Tenderloin

Coated in a tangy mix of brown sugar, cider vinegar, cumin, and chili powder, Sweet-&-Spicy Pork Tenderloin is loaded with fabulous flavor. This easy-to-make family favorite is simple enough for an everyday weeknight meal, yet tasty enough to serve for a weekend with company too. -- Especially when served with an optional mango salsa alongside.

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Sweet-&-Spicy Pork Tenderloin is one of our family's absolute, absolute favorites for dinner. In fact, we love it so much, it deserves about 50 "absolutes" before the word favorite. -- But I'll stop at just two since you probably get the point that we like it a whole lot.

To get its characteristic sweet-&-spicy flavor combination, pork tenderloin is marinated in a mixture of brown sugar, tomato paste, cider vinegar, ground cumin, and chili powder. This forms a fabulously tasty crust on the pork once it baked that's a bit tangy, a bit sweet, and a bit spicy all at the same time. -- And it's simply delicious.

In addition to its great flavor, we love that Sweet-&-Spicy Pork Tenderloin is easy enough to make for an everyday weeknight meal. But yet, it's also tasty enough to serve for a weekend with company too. -- With its fabulous flavor, it's always a big hit.

Coated in a tangy mix of brown sugar, cider vinegar, cumin, and chili powder, Sweet-&-Spicy Pork Tenderloin is loaded with fabulous flavor.

Now, I had been making the pork tenderloin part of this dish for years when my Mom came up with the brilliant idea of pairing it with a simple little homemade Mango Salsa. Which is simply brilliant, I say. Genius! Because the two are a wonderful combination. The sweetness of the mango salsa pairs beautifully with the tangy spiciness of the pork tenderloin.

If pairing the pork with the salsa, just place the tenderloin slices on a platter and spoon mango salsa on top. Then serve up the delicious melt-in-your mouth sweet-and-spicy goodness. It's so good, you might want to make a double batch.

Thanks to my Mom for taking a family favorite and making it even better!

What's to Love About This Recipe?

• Fabulous flavor - Coated in a tangy mix of brown sugar, cider vinegar, cumin, and chili powder, Sweet-&-Spicy Pork Tenderloin is simply loaded with fabulous flavor.
• Just 6 ingredients + a pork tenderloin - No long list of ingredients here. The pork's flavorful marinade is made with just 6 simple ingredients.
• Easy to make - There's not even any chopping involved in whipping up Sweet-&Spicy Pork Tenderloin's marinade! Just stir together the marinade ingredients, coat the pork, and bake. That's all it takes to whip up this tasty dinner dish.
• A family favorite - This is one family-friendly flavorful dish that's always a hit.
• Perfect for a family weeknight meal or to serve for company, too - Sweet-&-Spicy Pork Tenderloin is easy enough to make for an everyday weeknight meal, yet tasty enough to serve for a weekend with company, too.

Sweet-&-Spicy Pork Tenderloin Ingredients:

It takes just 6 simple ingredients + a pork tenderloin to make this flavorful Sweet-&-Spicy Pork Tenderloin dish. To whip up a batch, you'll need:

• Tomato paste - The base of the marinade. This recipe uses less than a full can of tomato paste. -- Measure out the remaining tomato paste in tablespoon measures, wrap each tablespoon in plastic wrap, and freeze to use later when making Sweet-&-Spicy Pork Tenderloin again.

• Cider vinegar - Brings the "tangy" element to the pork's marinade. Do not substitute other types of vinegar, as they will not bring the same sweetly-tangy flavor that cider vinegar has.

• Brown sugar - Brings the "sweet" element of the dish. The recipe calls for light brown sugar, however dark brown sugar could also be used just fine.

• Ground cumin + chili powder + black pepper - Seasoning combination that brings the "spicy" element to the pork. It's a mildly spicy flavor that's pleasantly delicious, and not too spicy.

• Pork tenderloin - Often referred to as the filet mignon of pork, pork tenderloin is a long, narrow boneless cut of pork that comes from the muscle that runs alongside the backbone. Pork tenderloin bakes up super tender with an almost melt-in-your-mouth texture. Do not confuse it with pork loin, which is a much wider and flatter cut that's not nearly as tender.

How to Make Sweet-&-Spicy Pork Tenderloin:

Sweet-&-Spicy Pork Tenderloin is really easy to make -- there's not even any chopping involved! (Well, unless you make the optional Mango Salsa to go with it, that is.)

To get the dish started, mix up the sweet-and-spicy marinade.

Place some tomato paste, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, ground cumin, chili powder, and black pepper in a shallow bowl or baking dish large enough to hold the pork tenderloin. Stir everything together with a fork or small whisk until well combined.

Season a pork tenderloin all over with a sprinkling of salt and pepper. Then add the seasoned pork to the marinade mixture and turn it to coat all sides.

Cover and place in the refrigerator to marinate the pork for 1 hour.

Line a broiler pan or baking sheet with aluminum foil and spray the foil with non-stick cooking spray. -- The foil will make clean-up much easier than baking the pork directly on the pan itself. Place the marinated pork tenderloin on the prepared pan and spoon some of the marinade left in the dish onto the pork.

Pop the pan in the oven and bake the pork tenderloin for 20-35 minutes until the meat registers 160℉ on a meat thermometer. (If you prefer your pork tenderloin slightly pink in the center, bake the pork until it registers 155℉.) Using a meat thermometer is important here -- because it's difficult to tell when pork tenderloin is done by simply looking at it.

When the tenderloin comes out of the oven, let it rest for 10 minutes (or a few more) before slicing to allow the juices to distribute throughout the meat. Resting the meat is also very important. -- As resting ensures moist morsels of meat, rather than the tenderloin's juices just running out all over your cutting board when you slice the meat. You don't want that. You want juicy tenderness in the meat.

Once rested, slice the pork tenderloin to the thickness of your liking, place on a platter, and serve.

If you're serving Sweet-&-Spicy Pork Tenderloin with the optional Mango Salsa, spoon the salsa over the center of the slices.

Coated in its tangy mix of brown sugar, cider vinegar, cumin, and chili powder, Sweet-&-Spicy Pork Tenderloin is loaded with fabulous flavor. It's one easy-to-make family favorite dinner that's sure to please.

And whether you enjoy it with Mango Salsa, or straight-up on its own, it's absolutely delicious either way.

Check out these other super tasty pork recipes:

• Stovetop Pork Roast
• Skillet Sweet BBQ Pork Chops
• Pan Fried Pork Chops
• Homemade Shake & Bake Pork Chops
• Baked Pork Chops & Sweet Potatoes Sheet Pan Dinner
• Slow Cooker Apple Pork Loin
• Pork Tenderloin & Pimento Cheese Crostini Melts
• More main dish recipes

Thank you for stopping by The Kitchen is My Playground. We'd love to have you back soon!

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Dinner

American

Yield: About 4

Author: Tracey | The Kitchen is My Playground

Sweet-&-Spicy Pork Tenderloin

Coated in a tangy mix of brown sugar, cider vinegar, cumin, and chili powder, Sweet-&-Spicy Pork Tenderloin is loaded with fabulous flavor. This easy-to-make family favorite is simple enough for an everyday weeknight meal, yet tasty enough to serve for a weekend with company too. - Especially when served with an optional mango salsa alongside.

Prep time: 15 MinCook time: 30 MinInactive time: 1 H & 10 MTotal time: 1 H & 55 M

Ingredients

Sweet-&-Spicy Pork Tenderloin:

• 1/4 c. packed brown sugar
• 2 T. apple cider vinegar
• 1 T. tomato paste
• 1 tsp. ground cumin
• 1 1/2 tsp. chili powder
• 1/4 tsp. ground black pepper
• 1 (1 lb.) pork tenderloin
• Salt & pepper

Mango Salsa (optional):

• 3 c. cubed peeled ripe mango (about 2-3 mangoes)
• 1 c. chopped green onions
• 1/2 c. chopped fresh cilantro
• 3 T. finely chopped seeded jalapeno
• 1 tsp. sugar
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/3 c. fresh lime juice

Instructions

Prepare the Sweet-&-Spicy Pork Tenderloin:

1. Combine brown sugar, cider vinegar, tomato paste, cumin, chili powder, and black pepper in a shallow dish; mix well. Season pork with a sprinkling of salt and pepper. Add seasoned pork to marinade mixture and turn to coat all sides.
2. Cover and marinate in the refrigerator for 1 hour.
3. Line a broiler pan or baking sheet with aluminum foil and spray with non-stick cooking spray. Place pork on the prepared pan and spoon some of the marinade left in the dish onto the pork.
4. Bake at 450℉ for 20-35 minutes until the meat registers 160℉ on a meat thermometer. (If you prefer your pork tenderloin slightly pink, bake until it registers 155℉.)
5. Remove pork tenderloin from the oven and let rest for 10 minutes before slicing. Slice to the thickness of your liking, place on a platter, and serve.

Prepare the (optional) Mango Salsa:

1. Combine all mango salsa ingredients in a bowl and toss well. Cover and chill for about 30 minutes before serving.
2. At serving time, spoon mango salsa over sliced Sweet-&-Spicy Pork Tenderloin.

TRACEY'S NOTES:

1. The sweetness of the mango salsa pairs beautifully with the tangy spiciness of the pork tenderloin. However, the salsa is completely optional. -- Sweet-&-Spicy Pork Tenderloin is also perfectly flavorful without it.
2. This recipe can easily be doubled to marinate and bake 2 pork tenderloins at the same time. Simply double the marinade and place it in a larger container to accommodate 2 pounds of pork tenderloin.

Similar Recipes

Homemade Shake & Bake Pork Chops

Skillet Sweet BBQ Pork Chops

Pan Fried Pork Chops

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