Garlic Air Fryer Pork Tenderloin
This Air Fryer Pork Tenderloin turns out tender and juicy on the inside, and nice and crispy browned on the outside. It only takes about 20 minutes, total. If you are trying to eat healthier for the New Year, this recipe is for you!
Have you told yourself you want to eat better this year? If you’d like to lose a few pounds, air-frying is a great way to start.
Is Food Cooked in the Air Fryer Better for You?
As with all great human inventions, they are only effective if used as intended. (and the common sense of the user, of course). Air-fried dishes will not be any better, if they are slathered with butter or oil. The beauty of the air fryer is that you do not need the extra oil to make the food crispy, juicy and delicious. Here is an interesting article regarding air fried food.
Since the air fryer is basically a smaller, more efficient version of your oven, it’s perfect to cook this lean cut of meat.
Why Does This Recipe Work?
- Takes less than thirty minutes.
- Just three ingredients.
- Pork is juicy and succulent.
- Customizable with spices and flavoring.
What you need
- Pork roast- Either pork tenderloin, or a small pork loin roast
- Garlic scape pesto (or your favorite pesto and add garlic, you can also rub the outside with roasted garlic.)
- Salt and pepper
- No-stick spray, or a light brush of olive oil
How to make air fryer pork loin
Thoroughly dry pork loin with paper towels. Salt and pepper both sides.
Spread garlic pesto or roasted garlic on top side of roast.
If you can change the temperature of your air fryer, air fry for 8-10 minutes, set on 400°F.
Carefully remove from air fryer and flip over. Baste the other side with pesto or roasted garlic.
Return to air fryer. Continue cooking for 8-10 more minutes.
Remove the meat from the air fryer and check the internal temperature where the meat is thickest. It should be 135-140°F. Then, let the meat rest for 5-10 minutes, loosely covered with aluminum foil, to let the juices redistribute. NOTE: USDA suggests cooking all pork to 145°F.
Slice meat against the grain in slices with a sharp knife. Thin or thick will both work fine for different uses. Use thin slices for a sandwich or thick slices for a quick and easy dinner.
Spices that are great on pork
- Fresh or dried rosemary
- oregano
- Fresh or dried thyme
- Italian seasonings
- Tarragon
- Paprika
- Parsley
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Cumin
- Chili Powder
You could even put some BBQ Sauce on this delicious Garlic Air Fryer Pork Loin.
Favorite Side Dishes
- Casserole Marie Blanche
- Honey Roasted Beets
- Smoked Sweet Potatoes
- Maple Sweet Potatoes and Brussels Sprouts
- Air Fryer Roasted Vegetables
- Pea Salad
Suitable sauces for air fryer pork loin
- Peach Bourbon BBQ Sauce
- Peach BBQ Sauce
- Cherry BBQ Sauce
- Blueberry BBQ Sauce
- Garlic Scape Pesto
- Honey BBQ Sauce
What to do with leftovers
Leftover meat can be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container for about three days. It can also be frozen for up to three months for longer storage.
Use leftover pork for sandwiches, nachos, tacos, pork fried rice and casseroles.
That is how easy it is to make Air Fryer Pork Loin. We love that it takes less than 30 minutes, to complete and the incredible juiciness and flavor!
This is the best damn air fryer pork tenderloin that you will find. Hands down.
This Honey Glazed Pork Tenderloin is easy and delicious. Make it any night of the week for a great family dinner.
More air fried recipes
- Air fried Beet Chips
- Air fryer Shrimp – fresh or frozen
- Grilled Cheese
- Taquitos
- Healthy Tortilla Chips
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I hope you enjoyed the recipe today.
Enjoy. And have fun cooking!
Air Fryer Pork Loin
Ingredients
- 1.5 lb pork tenderloin, about 1.5 lbs. If using a boneless loin roast, use one that is about 2 pounds
- cooking spray
- 2 tablespoon garlic scape pesto (recipe link below) or 2 small heads roasted garlic
- kosher salt
- black pepper
Instructions
For pork tenderloin
- Pat tenderloin dry. lightly coat all sides with non stick cooking spray.1.5 lb pork tenderloin, about 1.5 lbs.
- Salt and pepper both sides. Rub with garlic scape pesto, or plain roasted garlic. Rub the roast with dijon mustard and additional spices, if desired.kosher salt, black pepper, 2 tablespoon garlic scape pesto (recipe link below) or 2 small heads roasted garlic
- Spray air fryer basket or rack and tray of air fryer with cooking spray. (NOTE: My air fryer specifies to use cooking spray or olive oil. A reader pointed out that a lot of air fryers suggest NOT using any oil, so check your manufacturer's instructions!!)cooking spray
- Cook on air fry setting, at 400°F for 8-10 minutes on first side. Carefully remove from air fryer. Flip.
- Return to air fryer and cook for 8-10 more minutes. Check internal temperature with meat thermometer. We cook ours to an internal temperature of 135°F. Then let it rest 5-10 minutes.
- If you would like to serve with roasted vegetables, while pork is resting, add cut up veggies, coated with no stick spray (and salt and pepper) to the rack of air fryer. Cook 5-8 minutes, depending on the size of your vegetable pieces, until tender and browned.
For boneless loin roast
- Prepare as above.
- Set air fryer to 400°F and preheat. Cook roast for 10-12 minutes on first side. Flip.
- Continue to air fry another 10-12 minutes, if the outside is getting too brown, drape a piece of foil over top. Let rest for 5-10 minutes.
- NOTE: USDA suggests all pork should be cooked to 145°F! Check temperature with a instant read meat thermometer.
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Notes
Air Fryers vary in wattage, and therefore in cooking times. This recipe is based using my Cuisinart TOA60. If your air fryer is different, carefully watch food the first time you make it, so that it doesn’t burn. Preheating your air fryer will give you the best, crispiest result. Check your brand of air fryer user manual to see if preheating is recommended. Air fryers preheat in about 3-4 minutes. Use cooking spray or a fine mist sprayer to spray food prior to cooking, with the exception of baked goods. Don’t overcrowd foods so air can circulate all around. Flip foods over half way through cooking.
Nutrition
Originally published January 21, 2019. Updated March 22, 2025.
The instructions were spot on. 145 degrees. Juicy and tasty. First time we used the air fryer on meat. Gonna try a ribeye and pot chops next. Thanks for a great supper.
We’re really glad you liked it James!
Excellent recipe. Im using a ribeye pork roast , more tender than loin roast less than tenderloin. and can be sliced before using, into a much more tender chop and a fork tender schnitzel my favorite most tender choice for many uses . thank you again , jarring up todays and yesterdays hot n sweet peppers all organic , all heirlooms like Fish , Garden Salsa , Sarit Gat ,Sport Corbachi , thanks for that recipe , will give some as Christmas gifts …..!!!
Thanks Joseph! We’re so glad you liked the recipes.
Mine turned out very good. I will be making this again. I just had to adjust the time a little as my air fryer doesn’t seem to cook as fast for most recipes. Thank you for sharing many great ideas and recipes.
I’m glad you liked it. Yes, as we suggested in the article, different air fryers will cook at different rates.
“Air fried dishes will not be any healthier, if they are slathered with butter or oil.”
Agreed that they’ll be way *un*healthier if slathered with seed oils.
But butter is a wonder food.
I’m a huge fan of butter… in moderation it can be a healthy part of the diet. Moderation of course is the key.
Can you reheat pork tenderloin? If so, what temp & time. Will the AF reheating dry the tenderloin out?
Thanks
Phil R
I would wrap it in aluminum foil and reheat on low temp, maybe 250 for 5 minutes or so. It’s really good cold on sandwiches too! Thanks for checking out the recipe Phil!
Thank You.
Thank you!
Hi Beth,
I love your recipes and have written many 5🌟reviews and you were always so king to answer any questions I might have.
So here’s another one: I definitely want to make this but my air fryer is in my new range. It says not to use aluminum foil when using the air fryer but I don’t want all the grease to drip down on the bottom of my new oven.
I even called customer support—no resolution. Have you heard how to adapt this recipe to an air fryer in an electric range? I know this might sound like a stupid question to many viewers, but want to start using it and especially to make this recipe.
Many thanks for any suggestions you might have.
Susan
Hi Susan. I so appreciate your loyalty! Can you use any metal? Like a baking sheet? Or even glass? You could spray it with non stick spray maybe or parchment paper. There isn’t a lot of grease if you use a tenderloin. But certainly if you use a loin, there is much more grease that would make a huge mess.
What the heck do they suggest? Many air fryer recipes are messy. So that is odd.
If the manufacturer says not to use it. Then certainly don’t.
I hope something like that will work. Let me know
Need to change title. This isn’t actually for a Pork Loin but rather a Tenderloin. VERY different cooking.
Both loin and tenderloin are explained in the article.
When you give a recipe please say what setting the machine should be on. I have just bought one and do not know – are you using the Roast or airfryer setting? Thanks. Be grateful for anyone’s help.
It’s the air fryer setting. It is specified in step #4 in the recipe card. Thanks for checking out the recipe.
Can you cook a pork tenderloin along with vegetables at the same time in the air fryer?
It depends how many vegetables. I don’t like to over crowd the pan. I cooked the veges just after the pork and the pork rested, tented while the veges cooked. It comes out very nicely! Thanks for checking out the recipe Dee!