There’s nothing better than a filling, family-friendly meal made with minimal effort and this recipe for Instant Pot Honey Garlic Pork Tenderloin and Potatoes hits all the right flavor notes. Don’t let the generous quantity of garlic called for in the recipe deter you — the addition of honey and apple cider vinegar balances out the punch from the garlic. You might even find this sauce making a regular appearance whenever pork or chicken are on the menu. Need some inspiration? My recipes for Juicy Instant Pot Chicken Breast or Slow Cooker Chicken Breast are natural pairings for this versatile honey garlic sauce. The best part about this super-simple Instant Pot recipe for Honey Garlic Pork Tenderloin and Potatoes? It’s a one-pot meal! The potatoes are cooked alongside the tenderloin so clean-up is minimal — and who doesn’t love that? Looking for more easy dinner ideas? Check out my ongoing Six Ingredient Supper series for more recipes and inspiration! I share a new Six Ingredient Supper every Monday (like this one!) and we have an ongoing monthly giveaway and cooking challenge in my Facebook group. If you’re already a fan of my Instant Pot Pork Tenderloin with Garlic Herb Rub or Crock Pot Pork Tenderloin with Cranberry Sauce you’re definitely going to want to give this incredibly tasty pork tenderloin recipe a try. I love to make this for my family on busy weeknights, it’s also wonderful when served with a green salad and wild rice if you’re entertaining on the weekend!
What’s the difference between pork tenderloin and pork loin?
When it comes to pork tenderloin and pork loin the only thing that links them is a similar-sounding name and the fact that they come from the same animal. Understandingly, this can be confusing for home cooks when they’re grocery shopping. Luckily, I’m here to set the record straight! Pork tenderloin is sometimes labelled as a pork filet or a pork tender and, contrary to its name, it’s a muscle that is located beside the backbone of a pig. Pork tenderloins are boneless and on the small side, typically weighing between ¾ and 1 ½ pounds. Pork tenderloin is well-known for its lean white meat, tender texture and relatively quick cooking time. Pork loin, also known as a center cut pork loin roast, is a large piece of meat taken from the animal’s back. If you’ve ever had a Frenched rack or crown roast of pork it would have been cut from a pork loin. This recipe is written only for pork tenderloin. Because of the similarity in name, double-check that you’ve purchased a pork tenderloin and not a pork loin. A pork loin can weigh anywhere from 2 to 5 pounds and will take significantly longer to pressure cook because of its size.
How to cook pork tenderloin in the Instant Pot:
Cooking pork tenderloin in the Instant Pot practically guarantees amazing results. The following tips will ensure tender, juicy pork every time.
Sear the pork tenderloin first: Searing the pork tenderloin involves browning the tenderloin using the saute function of your Instant Pot. Rub the halved tenderloin with oil, salt, and pepper before adding it to the pot. Give the pork tenderloin lots of room for the best result, you might have to work in two batches if cooking more than one tenderloin at a time. Don’t overcook the pork tenderloin: Using the pressure cooker function of your Instant Pot will help prevent your pork tenderloin from accidentally overcooking. If in doubt, use a meat thermometer — pork tenderloin should be cooked to at least 145° F. Make sure you have enough liquid in your Instant Pot: A 6-quart Instant Pot should have a minimum of 1 cup of liquid while an 8-quart Instant pot should have a minimum of 2 cups.
What kind of potatoes can I use in this recipe?
Small Creamer potatoes, baby potatoes and new potatoes (which have a sweeter flavour) are all excellent potatoes to cook in your pressure cooker Larger potatoes should be cut into smaller pieces — but not too small! You might be surprised how quickly they cook in the Instant Pot. The main concern is uniformity — similar-sized potatoes will cook at the same speed while randomly-sized potatoes can vary in terms of doneness. If you can’t get enough Instant Pot Potatoes try my recipe for Garlic Herb Instant Pot Potatoes!
How to store leftover Instant Pot pork tenderloin:
Leftover Instant Pot Honey Garlic Pork Tenderloin and Potatoes can be stored for up to 3-4 days in the fridge. Keep the leftover tenderloin in a sealed container or in foil. You can freeze leftover pork tenderloin for up to six months by tightly wrapping it in plastic or foil. Store in a freezer bag or sealed freezer-safe container for best results. Potatoes do not freeze well and I don’t recommend storing them this way. Allow frozen cooked pork tenderloin to thaw in the fridge for at least five hours before using.
How to use leftover Instant Pot pork tenderloin:
If you have leftover honey garlic pork tenderloin don’t worry, there are plenty of creative ways to repurpose this versatile recipe!
Add thinly sliced pork tenderloin to sandwiches and grilled cheese sandwiches (it’s especially tasty paired with a smoked aged cheddar). Cube the pork tenderloin and add it to a crunchy apple, broccoli, and walnut salad with greens. Make pork tenderloin tacos! Add shredded or sliced pork to warm soft tacos and top with all your favorite taco fixings. Make a clean-out-the-fridge stir fry on a hectic weeknight. Stir fry the veggies and warm the leftover pork tenderloin with the sauce.
Check out more meal-in-one Instant Pot recipes:
Instant Pot Swedish Meatballs and Noodles Instant Pot Potato Corn Chowder Instant Pot Italian Chicken Pasta Honey Balsamic Instant Pot Beef Stew
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