Juicy Instant Pot Pork Tenderloin with Honey Balsamic Sauce Recipe

My latest culinary adventure involves an incredible Instant Pot pork tenderloin that promises mouthwatering flavors in record time.

Quick kitchen magic happens when tender meat meets sweet and tangy balsamic notes.

Juicy proteins deserve special treatment, and this recipe delivers exceptional results without complicated techniques.

Home cooks seeking simple yet impressive dishes will adore how effortlessly this meal comes together.

Salt and pepper become transformative allies in creating deeply satisfying layers of taste.

Succulent slices dripping with rich honey balsamic sauce make weeknight dinners feel like gourmet experiences.

You won’t believe how professional this dish looks and tastes with minimal cooking skills required.

Grab your Instant Pot and prepare to become the dinner hero everyone admires.

Pork Tenderloin With Honey Balsamic Sauce That Balances Sweet and Tang

• Speedy Weeknight Winner: Whip up this mouthwatering pork tenderloin in under 30 minutes, perfect for busy families craving a delicious dinner without spending hours in the kitchen.
• Quick Cooking Magic: Instant Pot transforms tough meat into tender, juicy perfection in just 4 minutes of pressure cooking, saving time and delivering restaurant-quality results at home.
• Flavor Explosion: The honey balsamic sauce creates a stunning sweet-tangy glaze that elevates simple pork into a gourmet-style meal everyone will rave about, making ordinary dinners feel special.
• Easy Cleanup Hero: One-pot cooking means minimal dishes, with the Instant Pot handling searing, cooking, and sauce-making, letting you enjoy your meal without dreading kitchen cleanup afterward.

Pork Tenderloin with Balsamic Sauce (Instant Pot) Ingredients

• Pork Tenderloin: Lean and tender cut perfect for quick cooking, best when fresh and trimmed of excess fat.

• Salt, Black Pepper, Italian Seasoning: Provide depth of flavor and enhance the natural taste of the pork, choose fresh and high-quality seasonings.

• Chicken Broth: Adds moisture and helps deglaze the pot, provides extra flavor base for the dish.
• Olive Oil: Helps with searing the meat and prevents sticking, select extra virgin for best taste.

• Balsamic Vinegar: Adds tangy complexity to the sauce, choose aged balsamic for richer flavor.
• Honey: Provides natural sweetness and helps create glossy sauce, use raw or local honey for best results.
• Soy Sauce: Brings umami and depth to the sauce, low-sodium versions work well.
• Garlic: Adds aromatic intensity and depth, fresh garlic cloves are most flavorful.

• Cornstarch: Creates smooth and glossy sauce texture, helps bind sauce ingredients together.
• Water: Used to create cornstarch slurry for sauce thickening.

Pork Tenderloin Instant Pot Directions

Step 1: Prepare Pork Tenderloin

Clean the pork tenderloin and pat it completely dry using paper towels.

Sprinkle generously with salt, black pepper, and Italian seasoning, ensuring even coverage across the entire surface.

Step 2: Sear and Brown Tenderloin

Activate the Instant Pot’s “Sauté” function.

Pour olive oil into the pot and let it heat up.

Carefully place the seasoned pork tenderloin into the hot oil.

Brown each side for 2-3 minutes, creating a beautiful golden crust.

Once seared, transfer the pork to a clean plate.

Step 3: Create Flavorful Base

Pour chicken broth into the Instant Pot.

Use a wooden spoon to scrape up all the delicious browned bits stuck to the bottom of the pot.

These caramelized pieces will add incredible depth to the sauce.

Step 4: Combine Sauce Ingredients

• Balsamic vinegar
• Honey
• Soy sauce
• Minced garlic

Return the seared pork to the Instant Pot and pour the sauce mixture evenly over the meat.

Close the lid and secure the seal.

Step 5: Pressure Cook Tenderloin

Set the Instant Pot to high pressure and cook for 4 minutes.

Allow natural pressure release for 10 minutes, then carefully perform a quick release for any remaining pressure.

Step 6: Perfect the Sauce

Remove the pork tenderloin and let it rest on a cutting board.

Switch the Instant Pot back to “Sauté” mode.

Simmer the remaining sauce, allowing it to reduce and concentrate flavors.

For a thicker consistency, create a cornstarch slurry by mixing cornstarch with cold water, then stir into the sauce.

Step 7: Slice and Serve

Let the pork rest for 5-7 minutes to retain its juices.

Slice against the grain into medallions.

Drizzle the reduced honey balsamic sauce over the meat before serving.

Instant Pot Advice for Honey Balsamic Pork Tenderloin

• Use paper towels to pat the pork tenderloin completely dry before seasoning, ensuring a crispy sear and better flavor absorption.
• Brown the meat on all sides quickly to lock in juices and create a delicious caramelized exterior that enhances the overall taste.
• Allow the Instant Pot to naturally release pressure for 10 minutes before manually releasing to keep the meat tender and prevent drying out.
• Add cornstarch slurry to thicken the sauce if you prefer a more robust, clingy texture that coats the pork beautifully.
• Replace honey with a sugar-free alternative like monk fruit sweetener for a diabetic-friendly or keto-friendly version of this recipe.

Pork Tenderloin Storage Advice

• Store leftover pork in an airtight container within 2 hours of cooking. Keep refrigerated for 3-4 days, ensuring it stays fresh and moist.
• Wrap the cooled pork tightly in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer-safe bag. Frozen pork maintains quality for up to 3 months when properly sealed.
• Preheat to 325°F. Place pork in a baking dish, add a splash of broth to prevent drying, cover with foil, and warm for 10-15 minutes until heated through.
• Slice pork before reheating. Sprinkle with a little broth, cover with a damp paper towel, and microwave in 30-second intervals until warm, checking to avoid overcooking.

Best Matches for Honey Balsamic Pork

• Pair with Robust Red Wine: Select a medium-bodied red like Pinot Noir or Zinfandel that complements the rich honey balsamic flavors and cuts through the pork's tender texture.
• Serve with Roasted Vegetable Medley: Create a colorful side of caramelized Brussels sprouts, sweet potatoes, and carrots that echo the dish's sweet and tangy profile and provide nutritional balance.
• Match with Creamy Herb Polenta: Prepare smooth, garlic-infused polenta that absorbs the luxurious sauce, offering a silky counterpoint to the succulent pork and creating a harmonious plate.
• Enhance with Apple Slaw: Craft a crisp, refreshing coleslaw with julienned green apples, which adds bright acidity and crunch to balance the meat's richness and sauce's sweetness.

Pork Tenderloin with Balsamic Sauce Instant Pot Versions

• Keto-Friendly Version: Replace honey with sugar-free honey alternative or monk fruit sweetener. Use coconut aminos instead of soy sauce to reduce carbs. Serve with low-carb vegetable sides like roasted cauliflower or zucchini noodles.
• Gluten-Free Adaptation: Swap soy sauce for tamari or gluten-free soy sauce. Ensure all other ingredients are certified gluten-free. Use cornstarch from a dedicated gluten-free facility for thickening the sauce.
• Herb-Infused Variation: Substitute Italian seasoning with fresh rosemary, thyme, and sage. Add chopped fresh herbs directly into the balsamic sauce for enhanced aromatic flavor. Consider using herb-infused olive oil during searing for deeper herb notes.
• Spicy Southwest Remix: Incorporate chili powder, smoked paprika, and a dash of cayenne into the seasoning blend. Replace honey with agave nectar for a different sweet-heat profile. Garnish with chopped cilantro and serve with jalapeño-spiked sauce.

FAQs

• What type of meat works best for this recipe?

Pork tenderloin is the ideal cut because it’s lean, tender, and cooks quickly in the Instant Pot. It absorbs the honey balsamic sauce beautifully and remains juicy throughout the cooking process.

• Can I use dried garlic instead of fresh garlic?

Yes, you can substitute fresh garlic with 1/2 teaspoon of dried garlic powder. Just add it directly into the sauce mixture for similar flavor intensity. Fresh garlic provides slightly more robust taste, but dried works perfectly fine.

• Is there a substitute for balsamic vinegar?

Apple cider vinegar or red wine vinegar can replace balsamic vinegar. They’ll provide similar tangy notes, though the flavor profile will be slightly different. Just use the same amount called for in the original recipe.

• How do I know the pork is fully cooked?

Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature. Pork is safe to eat when it reaches 145°F (63°C). After cooking, let the meat rest for a few minutes, which allows the temperature to stabilize and juices to redistribute.

Instant Pot Pork Tenderloin with Honey Balsamic Sauce Recipe

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4.8 from 36 reviews

• Total Time: 25 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Succulent Instant Pot Pork Tenderloin with Honey Balsamic Sauce delivers a symphony of sweet and tangy flavors that dance across your palate. Quick preparation and tender meat make this dish a weeknight dinner champion you’ll crave again and again.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Proteins:

• 2 lbs (907 grams) pork tenderloin

Seasonings and Herbs:

• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 3 cloves garlic, minced

Liquid and Sauce Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/2 cup (120 milliliters) chicken broth
• 1/4 cup (60 milliliters) balsamic vinegar
• 3 tablespoons honey
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce (or tamari for gluten-free)
• 1 teaspoon cornstarch (optional, for thickening)
• 1 tablespoon water (if using cornstarch)

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Instructions

1. Thoroughly cleanse and season the pork tenderloin with a harmonious blend of salt, pepper, and Italian herbs, ensuring complete coverage for maximum flavor absorption.
2. Activate the Instant Pot’s sauté function and introduce a drizzle of olive oil, creating a sizzling surface to caramelize the meat’s exterior. Rotate the tenderloin methodically, achieving a golden-brown crust on all sides, approximately 2-3 minutes per surface.
3. Deglaze the pot’s interior by pouring chicken broth, using a wooden utensil to liberate the concentrated flavor fragments adhering to the bottom.
4. Craft a luxurious sauce by whisking together balsamic vinegar, honey, soy sauce, and minced garlic in a separate vessel. Reintroduce the seared tenderloin to the pot and cascade the fragrant mixture over the meat.
5. Secure the lid and program the Instant Pot to high-pressure cooking for precisely 4 minutes. Allow a natural pressure descent for 10 minutes, followed by a swift manual release to complete the cooking process.
6. Transfer the tenderloin to a resting surface, permitting internal juices to redistribute and ensure optimal tenderness.
7. Reactivate the sauté mode and reduce the remaining liquid, concentrating its flavors. For enhanced thickness, prepare a cornstarch slurry and integrate it smoothly into the bubbling sauce.

Notes

• Moisture Matters: Pat the pork tenderloin completely dry before seasoning to ensure a perfect sear and help spices adhere better.
• Searing Secrets: Let the Instant Pot get really hot before adding oil and meat to create a beautiful golden-brown crust that locks in flavors.
• Flexible Flavor Boost: Swap Italian seasoning with fresh herbs like rosemary or thyme for a more vibrant taste profile and added aromatic complexity.
• Dietary Adaptations: Use tamari instead of soy sauce for a gluten-free version, and choose low-sodium broth to control salt content for health-conscious diners.

• Prep Time: 5 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Category: Dinner
• Method: Pressure Cooking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 350
• Sugar: 8 g
• Sodium: 500 mg
• Fat: 12 g
• Saturated Fat: 2 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 30 g
• Fiber: 0 g
• Protein: 35 g
• Cholesterol: 100 mg