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.
This is the easiest to make and it tastes great.
Thanks for letting me know Jennifer! So glad you liked it!
I’m actually making it today, I’ll let you know how it turns out, I’m loving my air fryer, I made a 4lb prime rib in mine a few weeks ago and I’ve never tasted a better one, let you know how the tenderloin turns out.
oooohhh! I haven’t tried a prime rib! Can’t wait to give it a try!
I haven’t tried the pork yet, but I cook steaks, chicken and burgers.
I also use it to cook french fries, Schwan’s frozen breaded blue hake fish and chicken tenders.
Curious if there is a good way to do a meatloaf?
I haven’t done a meatloaf yet, but I plan to do so soon. Keep posted! Thanks for checking out the recipe Lisa!
This looks delicious! The potatoes & carrots look delicious too, but you don’t mention how they are cooked. Were they cooked with the roast? In the oven? In the air fryer when the roast was resting? I’m new to using an air fryer and I’m not sure what’s the best route! Thanks!
Hi Michelle! I just tossed them with a little olive oil, salt and pepper and air fried them. I have to do them a few more times before I can publish that recipe to make sure it is consistent. In my air fryer, at 350°F, they took at about 5 minutes on the first side, then I flipped them and did them about 5 more more minutes, until tender and nicely browned. Thanks for checking out the recipe!
Well I got my Air fryer for Christmas and have used it every day trying different recipes. Today being New Years we have to have pork so I am going to do this recipe in mine today…would it be okay to use those already seasoned from the store?
Sure you could Suzette!
Looking forward to trying it but did want to mention the USDA changed their pork temperature recommendations to 145F.
Thanks Steph. I did change that recommendation in the post, just forgot the recipe card. I’ll change it now. Let me know how you like it!
This is the perfect way to cook Port Tenderloin. I brined my tenderloins for a couple of hours in the fridge before starting. I heated 1 10.5 oz can of Turkey Gravy with 1/4 cup white wine and a tablespoon of soy sauce on the stove and it simmer until thickened to the original consistency. I served this over the tenderloin and mashed potatoes. It was unbelievably good. You must try it this way.
We love it cooked in the air fryer. That sounds very good George, I’ll have to give that a try! I’m so glad you liked it!
Stop talking about “pork loin” in the narrative when you really mean “pork tenderloin”. Some inexperienced people don’t know they are two different things as referenced by the person who said her “tenderloin” was 3.93 lbs. That’s a loin, not a tenderloin.
The recipe can certainly be used for both tenderloin and loin. As stated in the recipe card and in the post, the time would vary, depending on the size of the roast. You are correct, my happens to be a tenderloin. The reader who commented that hers is 4 pounds was most likely referring to a double pack of vacuum packed tenderloins, but she hadn’t opened it yet to realize there were 2 in the package. A 4 pound whole loin is not possible, unless it were loin cut into roasts. Either way, they would both work with this recipe. Thanks for checking out the recipe.
Thank you for pointing that out! I found this recipe when looking for a pork loin recipe for air fryer, and here they are, tenderloins!
A pork tenderloin is part of the pork loin. As I responded to Bonita, this recipe works for both tenderloin and a whole loin roast. Cooking times will vary, according to the size of the roast. Thanks for checking out the recipe!
Hi! Please note that the preferred temperature for pork is 145, not 165! It will be so much tastier, juicer, and just as wonderfully healthy and safe!
Enjoy!
my tenderloin is a big. It weighs 3.93 lbs Gonna give it a try as I know how tasty this will be from my Cuisinart AF. Gonna have Hasselback potatoes and cole slaw as sides, will fill you guys in tomorrow
Oh, great! My guess is you have a double pack of pork tenderloins, or perhaps a loin roast? A single pork tenderloin would not weigh that much. I would say to do it a lower temperature and for longer. I haven’t tried one quite that big, but I would say 350°F for 35-40. Turn it a couple times too! Check for internal temperature after 20 minutes. Good luck! and please do, let us know! Can’t wait to hear! Thanks Nancy!