See my guide on how to use an Instant Pot.


This Instant Pot Pork Tenderloin is tender, juicy and so flavorful! A sweet and savory honey garlic sauce makes this easy pork tenderloin recipe something special.

Looking for more Instant Pot pork recipes? Try Instant Pot Pork Chops, Instant Pot Ribs or Instant Pot Pulled Pork next.

Sliced instant pot pork tenderloin with honey garlic sauce on a plate.

Pork tenderloin is one of my favorite proteins because it’s lean, full of flavor, and it cooks up deliciously moist and mouthwateringly tender. My favorite Baked Pork Tenderloin is a staple meal in our house, and this saucy Instant Pot pork tenderloin is another regular in our recipe rotation.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • Fast and Easy. Pork tenderloin cooks quickly, especially when you cook it in the Instant Pot! This Instant Pot pork tenderloin is ready in just over 30 minutes, making it a fantastic weeknight meal.
  • Honey Garlic Sauce. You won’t find a tastier sauce to serve with pork tenderloin than this 5-ingredient honey garlic sauce. It’s a winning combination of flavors and any extra sauce is delicious drizzled over mashed potatoes or rice.
  • Perfectly Cooked Pork. Pressure cooking the pork keeps it exceptionally moist. Smothered in the sweet and savory garlicky sauce it is absolutely scrumptious!
  • Simple Yet Elegant. This recipe is particularly unfussy to make, yet it’s sure to dazzle everyone around your table. Serve it with a few comforting sides like Mashed Potatoes and Roasted Vegetables.

Amazing – the family loved it. I doubled everything and used an 8 qt pot.

Erin
Spooning honey garlic sauce over sliced instant pot pork tenderloin.

Pork Tenderloin vs. Pork Loin Roast

Be sure to use a pork tenderloin in this recipe. A pork tenderloin is a long, round and thin cut of pork that is boneless, lean and tender.

A pork loin (which is also sometimes called pork loin roast or pork roast) is larger and wider than a pork tenderloin and would require additional cook time. If you have a pork loin, try this Instant Pot Pork Loin recipe instead.

How to Cook Pork Tenderloin in the Instant Pot

Here is an overview of the recipe steps. Find the full printable recipe with ingredient amounts in the recipe card at the end of this post.

If you are new to Instant Pot cooking, read my Instant Pot Manual to learn how to use your Instant Pot.

Trim and season. Trim any silver skin off of the pork. Cut the pork tenderloin in half so that you have two shorter pieces that will easily fit in the Instant Pot. (This may not be necessary if you are using an 8 quart or larger pot.) Season the pork with salt and pepper.

Sear pork. Heat the olive oil in the Instant Pot using the sauté function. Once hot, add the pork and brown on all sides. Place the pork on a clean plate.

Browning two pork tenderloin halves in instant pot.

Deglaze the pot. Pour in 1/2 cup of water and scrape up any bits that are stuck to the bottom of the pot. This step is important for preventing the burn message.

Add remaining ingredients. Stir in the soy sauce, honey, garlic and fresh ginger. Place the pork in the sauce in the pot.

Two browned halves of pork tenderloin in instant pot with sauce.

Seal the pot and pressure cook for 4 minutes at high pressure.

Naturally release the pressure for 10 minutes (just leave the Instant Pot alone). Then quick release any remaining pressure. Transfer the pork to a clean plate or cutting board to rest for 5 minutes.

Thicken sauce. Stir together 2 teaspoons cornstarch and 1 tablespoon water – this is called a cornstarch slurry. Stir the slurry into the sauce in the Instant Pot. Heat, stirring, using the sauté function until the sauce thickens.

Slice pork tenderloin and serve it with the sauce.

Sliced pork tenderloin with honey garlic sauce in instant pot.

How Long to Cook Pork Tenderloin in an Instant Pot

  • Only 4 minutes! Pork tenderloin cooks quickly and a 1 to 1.5 pound tenderloin requires just 4 minutes of pressure cooking time. Be sure to let the pot naturally release for 10 minutes after the cook time; the pork will continue to cook during the natural release.
  • How to tell if pork tenderloin is done. The best way to tell if the pork is done is to check the internal temperature using an instant read thermometer. The USDA recommends that you cook pork tenderloin to an internal temperature of at least 145° F and then allow the pork to rest for at least 3 minutes before serving. At this temperature, the pork may be a little pink in the middle. If you prefer your pork a little more done, 155° F is a good temperature to aim for.
  • What if it’s not cooked enough? If your pork is not cooked through after pressure cooking, you can finish cooking it by leaving it in the Instant Pot and turning on the sauté function until the pork reaches 145° F.
Close up of sliced pork tenderloin with fork.

Recipe Tips

  • If you don’t have fresh ginger on hand you can substitute 1/2 teaspoon of ground ginger.
  • You can cook more than one pork tenderloin at once using this recipe. If the tenderloins came packaged together, separate them before cooking. Double the sauce ingredients if you like a lot of sauce. The cook time will be the same for a double recipe, as long as each individual tenderloin weighs between 1 and 1.5 pounds.
  • If you’re wondering if this recipe has enough liquid, yes, it does. The 1/2 cup water plus other sauce ingredients makes enough liquid for the pot to pressurize. The pork will also release some juices as it cooks.
  • Do not skip the 10 minute natural release time in this recipe. The natural release makes the meat more tender and the pork will continue to cook during the natural release.

Frozen Pork Tenderloin in the Instant Pot

You can use a frozen pork tenderloin in this recipe. Skip the browning step because frozen meat will not sear well. Put the frozen pork tenderloin and sauce ingredients in the Instant Pot. Pressure cook on high pressure for 13 minutes and then allow the pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes.

Alternatively, you can partially thaw the pork tenderloin by placing it in cool water (keep it in its packaging or put it in a zip-top bag) for 10-15 minutes. Once the outside of the pork is thawed you can brown it using the sauté function. Then pressure cook for 8-10 minutes on high pressure, followed by a 10 minute natural release. The exact cook time will depend on how frozen the pork is.

Pork tenderloin served with mashed potatoes and green beans.

What to Serve with Instant Pot Pork Tenderloin

More Easy Instant Pot Recipes

Sliced instant pot pork tenderloin with honey garlic sauce on a plate.
4.91 from 10 ratings

Instant Pot Pork Tenderloin

Servings: 4 servings
Prep Time: 12 minutes
Cook Time: 4 minutes
Natural Release: 10 minutes
Total Time: 34 minutes
With a cook time of just 4 minutes, this Instant Pot Pork Tenderloin is a quick and easy dinner recipe! Juicy, tender pork drizzled with a sweet and savory honey garlic sauce is a meal the whole family will love. Serve it with mashed potatoes or sweet potatoes and green veggie.

Ingredients

  • 1-1.5 pound pork tenderloin
  • salt and pepper
  • 2 teaspoons olive oil
  • ½ cup water
  • ¼ cup low sodium soy sauce
  • ¼ cup honey
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 ½ teaspoons minced fresh ginger
  • 2 teaspoons cornstarch
  • 1 tablespoon water

Instructions
 

  • Trim any silver skin off of the pork tenderloin. Cut the pork tenderloin in half so that you have two shorter pieces that will easily fit in the Instant Pot. (If using an 8 quart Instant Pot this may not be necessary.)
  • Season all sides of the pork tenderloin with salt and pepper.
  • Heat the olive oil in the Instant Pot using the sauté function. Place the pork in the pot and brown 2-3 minutes per side. Remove pork to a clean plate and turn off the Instant Pot.
  • Pour in the ½ cup water and use a spatula or wooden spoon to scrape up any browned bits on the bottom of the pot.
  • Add the soy sauce, honey, garlic and ginger to the Instant Pot. Stir well. Place the pork back in the Instant Pot.
  • Close the lid and move the steam release valve to the sealing position.
  • Pressure cook on high pressure for 4 minutes. When the cook time ends allow the pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes by leaving the Instant Pot alone. (Do not skip the 10 minute natural release, as the pork will continue to cook during this time.) Then carefully move the steam release valve to the venting position to release any remaining steam and pressure (there may be none). Make sure that the float valve has dropped down and then open the Instant Pot lid.
  • Use an instant read thermometer to check that the internal temperature of the thickest part of the pork has reached at least 145° F. If not, you can cook the pork for a few more minutes using the sauté function.
  • Remove the pork to a clean plate or cutting board and let it rest for 5 minutes.
  • In a small bowl, stir together the 2 teaspoons cornstarch and 1 tablespoon water. Stir the mixture into the sauce in the Instant Pot. Cook using the sauté function, stirring, until the sauce has thickened, 2-3 minutes. Turn off the Instant Pot and remove the inner pot from the base to stop the cooking process.
  • Slice the pork and serve with the sauce.

Notes

  • To cook from frozen, place a frozen pork tenderloin and the sauce ingredients in the Instant Pot (skip the step of browning the pork) and pressure cook on high pressure for 13 minutes plus 10 minutes natural pressure release. Check that the internal temperature of the pork has reached 145 degrees F. Then follow the directions in the recipe to thicken the sauce.
  • If you don’t have fresh ginger you can substitute 1/2 teaspoon of ground ginger.
  • You can cook more than one pork tenderloin at once using this recipe. If the tenderloins came packaged together, separate them before cooking. Double the sauce ingredients if you like a lot of sauce. The cook time will be the same for a double recipe, as long as each individual tenderloin weighs between 1 and 1.5 pounds.
Serving: 1/4 recipe, Calories: 297kcal, Carbohydrates: 21g, Protein: 34g, Fat: 9g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Cholesterol: 86mg, Sodium: 649mg, Sugar: 18g
Nutrition information is an estimate.
Cuisine: American
Course: Main Course
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