Pork Tenderloin Dinner (4 recipes) (2024)

Pork Tenderloin Dinner (4 recipes) (1)

I had an extra day off from work thanks to the Thanksgiving long weekend and decided to make a bit of a fancier meal to celebrate.

I did most of the prep work in the morning so I could clean everything up and all I had to do was throw everything in the oven when it was supper time.

Pork tenderloin cooked in the slow cooker, some stuffing & sausage balls, Hasselback potatoes, and some spaghetti squash. So many flavors and textures and, you know what, they went soooo well together.

Next time I need to impress some guests, I am definitely making this combination again.

The stuffing balls are my new favorite.

I decided to share all 4 recipes with you today just in case you decide to give it a go too!

We'll start with the Pork Tenderloin...

Pork Tenderloin Dinner (4 recipes) (2)

PorkTenderloinIn The Slow Cooker

Ingredients

1/2 cup soy sauce

1/2 cup olive oil

2 Tbsp Italian seasonings

2 Tbsp brown sugar

2 Tbsp honey

2 Tbsp malt vinegar

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 to 1 1/2 lb pork tenderloin

Directions

Combine soy sauce, olive oil, seasonings, sugar, honey, vinegar, and garlic in a large Ziploc bag. Marinate meat in the fridge for at least 4 hours.

When ready to cook, place meat and marinade in the slow cooker on low and cook until meat is done, about 4 - 5 hours depending on your slow cooker. Check temp with a meat thermometer.

When the rest of the meal is ready to serve, remove tenderloin from slow cooker and slice.

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And now for the stuffing balls.

Pork Tenderloin Dinner (4 recipes) (4)

Sausage & Stuffing Balls

Ingredients

1 lb sausage meat

1 stalk celery, finely diced

1/2 medium onion, finely diced

1/4 cup dried cranberries, finely chopped

1/2 cup aged cheddar cheese, shredded

1 box Stove Top Stuffing mix

1 cup chicken broth

2 eggs

Directions

Preheat oven to 375. Line a cookie tray with parchment paper or Silpat baking mat, set aside.

In a medium frying pan, cook sausage meat until no longer pink. Add in the celery and onion and cook, stirring often, until vegetables have softened - about 4 - 5 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool a bit.

In a large bowl, combine cranberries, cheese, and Stove Top Stuffing. Stir in the cooked sausage mixture.

Add in the chicken broth and 2 eggs. Stir well to combine. (You may want to use your hands to make sure everything is really mixed!)

Using a cookie scoop (or pinch off a golf ball sized amount of the mixture), press mixture into a ball and set on prepared cookie sheet.

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Bake at 375 for about 15 minutes or so, until balls are cooked through and tops are browned. (**Note - you can also prep these in the morning and simply cover on the cookie sheet and refrigerate until ready to cook the rest of the meal.)

How about some Hasselback potatoes??

Pork Tenderloin Dinner (4 recipes) (6)

Hasselback Potatoes

Ingredients

Garlic Butter

1/2 cup butter, room temp

3 cloves garlic, minced

1/4 tsp garlic powder

Potatoes

4 medium/large potatoes, scrubbed but not peeled

aged cheddar, sliced into thin slices

1 recipe garlic butter (recipe above)

sea salt

Parmesan cheese, grated fine

Directions

Make garlic butter - stir together room temp butter, minced garlic, and garlic powder until well combined. Scoop onto a piece of plastic wrap and use the wrap to shape butter into a long cylinder. Chill butter until firm. When firm, slice into very thin slices. Set in fridge until ready to use.

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Preheat oven to 400. Line an oven safe baking dish with parchment paper, set aside.

Bring a large pot of water with 1 tsp of salt in it to a boil. Place the potatoes in the boiling, salted water and boil for 10 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool until you are able to pick them up.

When cool enough, Slice the potatoes into 1/4 inch slices, being careful to only go about 3/4 of the way through the potato. Don't cut all the way through!!

Carefully place the thinly sliced cheddar cheese and the thinly sliced garlic butter into the slices in the potato.

Once stuffed, place the potatoes in the prepared baking dish.

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Sprinkle with a little sea salt and finely grated Parmesan cheese.

Bake at 400 for about 40 minutes - until potatoes are cooked through.

And, last but not least, some spaghetti squash!

Pork Tenderloin Dinner (4 recipes) (9)

Spaghetti Squash Bake

Ingredients

1 large spaghetti squash

3 button mushrooms, chopped

1/4 red pepper, chopped

1/4 cup onion, diced

1 cup spaghetti sauce

1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, finely grated

Directions

Cut spaghetti squash in half and scoop out seeds. Discard the seeds or reserve for another use.

Cook the spaghetti squash by either microwaving, facing down, on a plate until fork tender OR by baking, face down, in the oven until for tender. (Microwaving can take between 10 - 15 minutes, baking takes about an hour or so)

In a small frying pan, cook mushrooms, red pepper, and onion until vegetables are soft. Stir in the spaghetti sauce. Remove from heat.

Preheat oven to 375.

Prepare an oven safe baking dish by spraying with cooking spray, set aside.

When cooked and then cooled enough to handle; scoop one half of the spaghetti squash into the prepared dish. Spread the spaghetti sauce and vegetables on top of the squash.

Scoop the other half of the spaghetti squash on top of the sauce. Top with the grated Parmesan cheese.

Bake at 375 for about 30 - 40 minutes. Until heated through and bubbling.

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Here are my notes on how I prepared everything so it was ready all at the same time:

In the Morning

1. Place tenderloin in the marinade.

2. Prepare stuffing & sausage balls and place them on the cookie sheet. Cover and chill.

3. Make garlic butter for the potatoes. Cover and chill.

In the Afternoon

1. Cook squash.

2. Place tenderloin in the slow cooker on low.

1 hour before dinner time

1. Bring salt water to boil & boil potatoes for 10 minutes. Remove and let cool until able to handle.

2. Prepare potatoes and place in 400 oven.

3. Prepare squash bake in baking dish.

4. Remove stuffing balls from fridge.

When potatoes have cooked for 30 minutes - turn down the oven to 375. Place potatoes and squash dishes on the center rack, place stuffing balls on lower rack.

Cook 20 minutes.

Switch the stuffing balls to the middle rack and the squash and potatoes to the bottom rack.

Cook another 10 - 20 minutes, until everything is done.

Following these instructions the tenderloin, potatoes, stuffing, and squash were all ready at the same time. **Keep in mind it really helps to know how your slow cooker cooks!**

Hopefully my instructions are helpful and not too confusing!

Looking for tons of tasty & crafty links? Visit these great blogs - Dizzy Busy & Hungry, Anyonita Nibbles, My Sweet Mission, Carole's Chatter

Pork Tenderloin Dinner (4 recipes) (2024)

FAQs

How much pork tenderloin do you need for 4 people? ›

How much pork should I buy to feed (x) people? Although this depends on how much each person eats, a 2lb boneless pork loin will generally serve 2-4 people. A 4lb loin will feed about 6-8 people.

What is the best method of cooking pork tenderloin? ›

Sear pork, turning occasionally, until browned on all sides, 6–8 minutes. Transfer skillet to oven (if you don't have an oven-safe skillet, transfer pork to a baking dish) and roast, flipping pork halfway through, until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part registers 140°, 14–18 minutes.

How long do you cook pork tenderloin in the oven at 350 degrees? ›

From oven oven-roasting to grilling, here's a quick guide to cooking times: How long to cook pork tenderloin in oven at 350°F: Placed in a baking dish and cooked uncovered, a pork tenderloin will take around 20-27 minutes at 350°F.

How many will a 2 lb pork tenderloin feed? ›

One tenderloin usually weighs about 1 pound and serves 2 to 3 people. Pork loin is typically less expensive than pork tenderloin, but pricier than marbled cuts like pork shoulder.

How much pork for a family of 4? ›

Use calculator to help determine how much meat to buy.

A question we often get is “How much meat do I need?” The starting rule of thumb is: Boneless Meat: 1/2 lb. per person for adults and 1/4 lb. per person for children.

Is it better to sear pork tenderloin before baking? ›

This cooking method is a surefire way to make moist and juicy pork tenderloin without much fuss. Searing the meat first gives it that golden-brown crust before a quick roast in the oven finishes it off. It's an easy, crowd-pleasing meal for any night of the week.

Is it better to cook pork tenderloin fast or slow? ›

The size and structure of a tenderloin make it perfect for cooking quickly on high heat. You want to be able to brown the outside while still keeping it a little pink on the inside.

Should you rinse pork tenderloin before cooking? ›

Washing beef, pork, lamb, or veal before cooking it is not recommended. Bacteria in raw meat and poultry juices can be spread to other foods, utensils, and surfaces. We call this cross-contamination. Some consumers think they are removing bacteria and making their meat or poultry safe.

Is pork tenderloin healthy or unhealthy? ›

Pork tenderloin, for example, can be lower in calories and saturated fat than chicken breast. In fact, pork tenderloin and sirloin now carry the American Heart Association's Heart Check stamp that designates a food is not only a good source of beneficial nutrients but is also low in sodium and saturated fats.

Is it better to cook a pork tenderloin at 350 or 400? ›

2021• Tips & Tricks. First, you will want to preheat your oven to 400° F. You will end up lowering the heat later on but it is important to start at a high temp to trap the moisture inside the pork loin.

Should you poke holes in pork tenderloin? ›

Marinating the pork tenderloin is very important which is why you must let the meat sit in the marinade for at least 30 minutes. If you're crunched on time, you can also speed up the process by poking a few holes in it with a fork.

Can pork tenderloin be pink? ›

If fresh pork has reached 145°F (62.8 °C) throughout, even though it may still be pink in the center, it should be safe. The pink color can be due to the cooking method or added ingredients.

How big of a pork joint do I need for 4 people? ›

Approx. weight 1kg (for 4 people) or 2kg (for 8 people). Try this little twist on a classic roast with Delia Smith's Roast Loin of Pork with Herbs and Spiced Apricots recipe. Use the BBC Food's Roast Calculator to find your perfect meat cooking time based on weight and cut.

How much pork loin do I need per person? ›

Pork loin – grilled on a charcoal or gas grill – is a classic favorite. It's lean, tender, and flavorful, plus it can easily feed the whole family. A typical roast is anywhere from two to five pounds and can be cut to order. For serving sizes, it's good to plan on about eight ounces of meat per person.

How much pork do I need for 5 people? ›

For boneless meat, allow 225g meat per person, so if you're looking for a boneless loin, leg or shoulder joint to serve 6 people, choose one around 1.5 – 2kg.

How many ounces of pork tenderloin is a serving? ›

The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice. Which meat has the least calories?

References

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