Instant Pot Pork Tenderloin

instant pot pork tenderloin | pork tenderloin instant pot | pressure cooker pork tenderloin

Step-by-Step Guide on how to cook Instant Pot Pork Tenderloin. Learn the secrets to cooking the juiciest tender pork tenderloin in Instant Pot with our “Zero-Minute” method. Enjoy tasty meaty pressure cooker pork tenderloin with gravy. Easy to make weeknight dinner with budget-friendly, healthy, pantry ingredients.

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instant pot pork tenderloin | pork tenderloin instant pot | pressure cooker pork tenderloin

Pork Tenderloin

Pork Tenderloin, aka Pork Tender or Pork Fillet, is the muscle underneath the backbone. It begins from below the ribs to the hip area. This cut of pork is lean and boneless, but it’s also the most tender cut of pork. 

  • Texture & Flavor: Lean and tender with mild pork flavors
  • Size & Shape: Relatively small, thin, long, and round cut of pork

Pork Tenderloin vs. Pork Loin

Though Pork Tenderloin sounds like Pork Loin, they’re not the same cut of pork!

pork loin vs. pork tenderloin
Pork Tenderloin (left) vs. Pork Loin Roast (right)
  • Pork Tenderloin (Left): a long, narrow muscle that runs along the backbone; leanest, most tender cut; boneless
  • Pork Loin (Right): a larger, wide, flat meat from pork’s back; boneless or bone-in; lean, tender; meatier than pork tenderloin

Even though they’re both lean cuts of pork, they differ in size, thickness, and shape. So they’re not interchangeable in recipes and cooking methods.

If you have a Pork Loin, head over to our Instant Pot Pork Loin recipe instead. 

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How long to cook pork tenderloin in Instant Pot

Since pork tenderloin is lean and boneless, it’s easy to overcook. But this also means it’s a quick-cooking cut of meat, so it’s easy to make a quick meal with pork tenderloin.

The key is to find the best method and how long to cook pork tenderloin in Instant Pot. So we won’t overcook the meat.

Time for Best Instant Pot Pork Tenderloin Experiment in Amy + Jacky’s Test Kitchen!

pork tenderloin in instant pot

Instant Pot Pork Tenderloin Experiment

Instant Pot Pork Tenderloin Recipe

Here are some of the meat we used for our pork tenderloin Instant Pot experiments.

How to cook pork tenderloin

In 2011, the USDA lowered Pork’s safe cooking temperature to 145°F (63°C) from the longtime standard of 160°F (71°C).

Amy + Jacky’s Experiment Goal: Pork tenderloin at 160°F (71°C) will be very dry and tough. So our goal is to get the Instant Pot pork tenderloin as close to 145°F (63°C) or “medium cooked” as possible.

Our experimental pork tenderloins are ~1.5 inches thick (as shown below).

Instant Pot Pork Tenderloin Experiment: thickness of pork tenderloin

Our first pork tenderloin was way undercooked with an internal temperature of 116°F (47°C). oops… 😛

measure pork tenderloin temperature

Of course, we didn’t stop our pork tenderloin experiments here!

Check out our findings and cooking tips in our Step-by-Step pork tenderloin Instant Pot cooking guide below.

How to Cook Pork Tenderloin in Instant Pot

pressure cooker pork tenderloin

Here are the few ingredients for cooking pork tenderloin in Instant Pot:

pork tenderloin ingredients

Pork Tenderloin. Make sure you’re not using pork loin! It’s important to measure the thickness of your pork tenderloin to find the best cooking time. If your pork tenderloin is thicker than 1.5″ thick, add roughly 5 to 6 minutes per 0.5″ of thickness to the natural release time.

Unsalted Butter and Unsalted Chicken Stock. We develop recipes with unsalted ingredients so we can better control the flavors. If you’re substituting with salted ingredients, the sodium level can vary a lot between different brands. Adjust accordingly.

Step 1

Brown Pork Tenderloin in Instant Pot

Heat up Instant Pot using “Sauté More” function.

Saute More Function:

Older Instant Pots: Press “Saute” button, then “Adjust” button.
Newer Instant Pots: Press “Saute” button twice.

Saute More Function

Wait until the Instant Pot says “HOT” on the screen (roughly 8 minutes).

Amy + Jacky’s Tip: Make sure the Instant Pot is as hot as it can be to induce a Maillard reaction and prevent excessive moisture loss.

Pat dry the pork tenderloin with a paper towel. Then, generously season one side of the pork tenderloin with salt and ground black pepper.

generously season pork with salt and black pepper

Add 1 tablespoon (15ml) unsalted butter or olive oil in Instant Pot. Make sure to coat the oil well over the whole bottom of the pot.

Place the seasoned side of the pork tenderloin in Instant Pot. Then, season the other side of the pork tenderloin with more kosher salt and ground black pepper.

saute pork tenderloin

Brown the two sides of pork tenderloin for 2 minutes per side. You don’t need to constantly flip the pork tenderloin.

brown pork tenderloin

Step 2

Pressure Cook Pork Tenderloin

Remove and set aside the browned pork tenderloin.

Add 1 cup (250ml) unsalted chicken stock in Instant Pot. Then deglaze by scrubbing all the flavorful brown bits off the bottom of the pot with a wooden spoon. Turn off the heat briefly.

deglaze

In a small bowl, mix 1 teaspoon (0.5g) dried oregano, 1 teaspoon (2g) dried sage, 1 teaspoon (1g) dried rosemary, and 3 (14.6g) finely minced garlic cloves together.

Apply the dry rub to all sides of the browned pork tenderloin.

make dry rub, then apply on browned pork tenderloin

Place the pork tenderloin in Instant Pot.

pressure cook pork tenderloin

Close lid, then turn Venting Knob to Sealing position.

Instant Pot Pork Tenderloin Cook Time: Pressure Cook pork tenderloin at High Pressure for 0 minutes (zero minutes), then Natural Release for 15 minutes.

Amy + Jacky’s Notes – “Zero-Minutes” Method: Zero minutes is not a typo! We’re using the time it takes to “get up to pressure”, and “release pressure” to perfectly cook pork tenderloin in Instant Pot.

Instant Pot Pressure Cooker High Pressure 0 Minute

Thicker Pork Tenderloin: If your pork tenderloin is thicker than 1.5″ thick, increase the Natural Release time. Add roughly 5 to 6 minutes per 0.5″ of thickness.

After 15 minutes, release the remaining pressure by turning the Venting Knob to Venting position. Open the lid carefully.

Amy + Jacky’s Pro Tips!

  1. Keep Warm Mode: It doesn’t matter if you keep the “Keep Warm” mode on or off during the Natural Release process.
  2. Early Pin Drop: Even if your pin drops before the stated Natural Release time, leave the lid close and wait.
Step 3

Check Pork Tenderloin Temperature

Check Instant Pot pork tenderloin’s internal temperature at its’ thickest part with an accurate thermometer.

The USDA recommends 145°F (63°C). But in our opinion, it’s okay if it’s above 142°F (61°C) because some restaurants take the pork tenderloin out at roughly 140°F (60°C).

measure temperature

Amy + Jacky’s Notes: If the temperature is off by more than 6°F, quickly close the lid. Then let the residual heat in Instant Pot cook the pork tenderloin for a few more minutes.

For reference, one of our thicker pork tenderloins recorded at 128°F (53°C), then it went up to 145°F (63°C) in roughly 5 minutes.

Our first pressure cooker pork tenderloin (below photo) recorded at 143°F (62°C), then jumped to 150°F (66°C) after resting for 3 minutes.

pork internal temperature measurement changes after resting

Our second pork tenderloin (below photo) recorded at 146°F (63°C), then jumped to 154°F (68°C) after resting for 3 minutes.

pork internal temperature measurement changes after resting

Remove and place pork tenderloin on a chopping board.

After resting for 3 minutes, slice Instant Pot Pork Tenderloin with a sharp knife into bite-size medallions (as shown in photo below).

how to cut pork tenderloin

Amy + Jacky’s Notes: The pressure cooker pork tenderloin should be slightly pink on the inside (as shown in the above photo). Don’t worry! It’s fine! 🙂

Step 4

Bonus: Make Pork Gravy

You can use cornstarch to thicken the pork yumminess cooking liquid and turn it into a tasty gravy. It has some delicious flavors from the pork and herbs. 

thicken gravy

Use “Saute More” function to bring the mixture back to a simmer.

Mix 2.5 tablespoons (22.5g) cornstarch with 3 tablespoons (45ml) cold water in a small mixing bowl.

Add the cornstarch mixture one-third at a time to thicken the gravy until desired thickness.

Taste and adjust the seasoning with more salt or soy sauce.

Step 5

Serve Instant Pot Pork Tenderloin

You did it!! Easy peasy pressure cooker pork tenderloin with gravy.

pork tenderloin pressure cooker

Best to serve the juicy tender pork tenderloin immediately. Don’t forget the yummy gravy. 🙂

pork tenderloin recipe

What to Serve with Pork Tenderloin

This Instant Pot Pork Tenderloin with Gravy is a budget-friendly, family-friendly, quick and easy dinner. You can serve this pork tenderloin with a variety of side dishes including soups, salads, vegetables, bread, or beans.

Tasty side dishes to serve with pork tenderloin:

Enjoy Juiciest Tender Instant Pot Pork Tenderloin!

4.94 from 140 votes

Instant Pot Pork Tenderloin

Author: Amy + Jacky
How to cook Instant Pot Pork Tenderloin: Learn the secrets to cooking the juiciest tender pork tenderloin in Instant Pot with Amy + Jacky's "Zero-Minute" method. Enjoy tasty pork tenderloin with gravy. Easy weeknight dinner made with healthy pantry ingredients.
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Servings 4
Total Time 40 minutes
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Ingredients

Dry Rub:

Thickener:

  • tablespoons (22.5g) cornstarch
  • 3 tablespoons (45ml) cold water

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Instructions 

  • Brown Pork Tenderloin: Heat up Instant Pot using Sauté More function. Wait until it says HOT (~8 mins).
    Pat dry pork tenderloin with a paper towel. Generously season one side of pork with salt and ground black pepper.
    Add 1 tbsp unsalted butter or olive oil in Instant Pot. Make sure to coat the oil well over the whole bottom of the pot.
    Place seasoned side of pork in Instant Pot. Then, season the other side of pork with more salt and ground black pepper. Brown the two sides of pork for 2 minutes per side. No need to constantly flip the pork.
  • Pressure Cook Pork Tenderloin: Remove and set aside the browned pork tenderloin.
    Add 1 cup (250ml) unsalted chicken stock, then deglaze by scrubbing all the flavorful brown bits off the bottom of the pot with a wooden spoon. Turn off the heat briefly.
    In a small bowl, mix 1 tsp (0.5g) dried oregano, 1 tsp (2g) dried sage, 1 tsp (1g) dried rosemary, and finely minced garlic together. Apply Dry Rub to all sides of the browned pork tenderloin. Place pork tenderloin in Instant Pot.
    Close lid, then turn Venting Knob to Sealing position. Pressure Cook at High Pressure for 0 minutes (zero minutes), then Natural Release for 15 minutes. 
    "Zero-Minutes" Method: Zero minutes is not a typo! We're using the time it takes to "get up to pressure", and "release pressure" to perfectly cook pork tenderloin in Instant Pot.
    Thicker Pork Tenderloin: If your pork tenderloin is thicker than 1.5", increase the natural release time (~5 to 6 minutes per 0.5" of thickness).
  • Check Pork Internal Temperature: Check pork tenderloin's internal temperature at its’ thickest part with an accurate thermometer. It needs to be above 142°F (61°C)
    Amy + Jacky's Notes: If the temperature is off by more than 6°F, quickly close the lid. Then let the residual heat in Instant Pot to cook the pork for a few more minutes. 
    Remove and place pork on a chopping board. After resting for 3 minutes, slice pork tenderloin in bite-size medallions.
    Amy + Jacky's Notes: Pork tenderloin should be slightly pink on the inside. It's fine!
  • Bonus - Make Gravy: Use “Saute More” function to bring the mixture back to a simmer. Mix 2½ tbsp (22.5g) cornstarch with 3 tbsp (45ml) cold water in a small mixing bowl. Add cornstarch mixture one third at a time to thicken the gravy until desired thickness. Taste and adjust seasoning with more salt or soy sauce.
  • Serve: Enjoy the juiciest tender, and flavorful Pork Tenderloin! Serve immediately.

Notes

1. Thicker Pork Tenderloin: If your pork tenderloin is thicker than 1.5" thick, increase the natural release time. Add roughly 5 to 6 minutes per 0.5" of thickness. Use a meat thermometer to make sure.
2. Unsalted Butter and Chicken Stock: We develop recipes with unsalted ingredients so we can better control the flavors. If you’re substituting them with salted ingredients, the sodium level can vary a lot between different brands. Reduce the amount of salt accordingly.
3. Dry Rub: Feel free to adjust the seasonings to your preferences (i.e. paprika, chili).
4. Double Recipe: If you want to cook two 1.5"-thick pork tenderloins at the same time, try to leave some space between the 2 pork tenderloins. Then set it to "Pressure Cook for Zero minutes", and reduce the Natural release time by 1 to 2 minutes. We're reducing the pressure release time because the "get-up-to-pressure" time will be longer.
5. Instant Pot Models: We developed & tested this recipe with 6 Quart Instant Pot Duo Pressure Cookers. Since this is a time-sensitive recipe, using the optimal Natural Release time is critical. If you're using Instant Pot models with a higher wattage or pressure level (i.e. Instant Pot Pro, Instant Pot Pro Plus, Instant Pot Pro Crisp, Instant Pot Duo Crisp, or Instant Pot Max), adjust the Natural Release time.
6. Can't Set Zero-Minute: If your Instant Pot doesn’t let you set “zero minutes”, set it to “Pressure Cook at High Pressure for 1 minute”. Once it gets up to pressure, press “Cancel”, then let the pressure Natural Release.
7. Keep Warm Mode: It doesn't matter if you keep the "Keep Warm" mode on or off during the Natural Release process. For the Instant Pot, the "Keep Warm" mode won't kick in well after the pressure is released.
8. Early Pin Drop: If your pin drops before the needed natural release time, leave the lid close until you reach the required natural release time.
9. High Altitude: We developed & tested this method close to sea level. So if you're cooking at a high altitude, increase the cooking time accordingly.
Rate Amy + Jacky's Recipe: If you've tried our recipe, rate the recipe in the Comments section. Thank you!
Calories: 202kcal
Course: Main
Cuisine: American
Keyword: instant pot pork tenderloin, pork tenderloin in instant pot, pork tenderloin instant pot, pressure cooker pork tenderloin

Nutrition

Calories: 202kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 73mg | Sodium: 78mg | Potassium: 511mg | Vitamin C: 1.2mg | Calcium: 21mg | Iron: 1.5mg
instant pot pork tenderloin | pork tenderloin instant pot | pressure cooker pork tenderloin
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