I’m so excited to share this Air Fryer Pork Tenderloin recipe with you! This juicy pork tenderloin comes with a delicious and creamy garlic sauce that makes it a perfect main dish.
The ingredients for this easy pork tenderloin recipe can be easily found at your grocery store. Using an air fryer is one of my favorite ways to get the best results for some of my favorite meat recipes. The simplicity of an air fryer helps me create an easy and delicious dinner like this quickly.
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What to serve with Air Fryer Pork Tenderloin with Garlic Sauce?
You can serve this with some of your favorite side dishes especially salads, green beans, or roasted vegetables if you want to skip the potatoes. If you’re a red wine lover, a light or medium-bodied red wine could go well with the tender pork tenderloin.
How Long to Cook Pork Tenderloin in Air Fryer?
It took me 25 minutes to cook this Pork Tenderloin in my air fryer. You can add 5 or more minutes if you want the surface to be more crispy and brown.
Kitchen Notes and Tips
- Store any remaining Roasted Garlic Cream Sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Toss it with rotisserie chicken breast, pasta, and/or roasted vegetables for a quick, easy, and delicious meal.
- I mixed my favorite seasonings and olive oil for the marinated pork tenderloin. To save time, the seasoned olive oil mixture can be prepared ahead in a single bowl and then divided in half. However, the instructions (and in-process photos) included in this recipe show this process as two distinct steps in case you’d prefer to serve with a different side dish.
- It is more efficient to roast the garlic ahead of time so the sauce can be prepared while the tenderloin is in the air fryer. However, you can also roast the garlic at the same time, and then prepare the sauce while the pork rests. Cut off the top of the head of garlic, brush with olive oil, and wrap in a small piece of aluminum foil before placing it into the air fryer basket along with the pork and potatoes.
- Cooking time for this recipe will depend on several factors, including the internal starting temperature, the tenderloin, the size of the potato chunks, and the make/model of the air fryer used.
- The air fryer used for this recipe is listed below. Cook times and instructions will vary among different air fryer models. Before preparing this recipe, check the recommended guidelines for pork tenderloin for your specific unit.
Prep time: 20 minutes
Cook time: 25 minutes
Serves: 4
Air Fryer Pork Tenderloin Ingredients
- 1-1¼ lbs. pork tenderloin, trimmed
- 2 lbs. red potatoes, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 2 T. extra virgin olive oil, divided*
- 1 t. garlic powder, divided*
- 2 t. dried rosemary, divided*
- 1 t. onion powder, divided*
- Salt & black pepper, to taste*
Garnish: Fresh rosemary and thyme leaves, if desired
Roasted Garlic Cream Sauce Ingredients
- ¼ t. salt
- 1 large head of roasted garlic**
- 1½ c. whole milk, divided
- ¼ c. unsalted butter
- ¼ c. all-purpose flour
- 4 oz. cream cheese, cut into chunks
- ¾ c. Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
Supplies used
- Silicon Tongs
- Airtight container
- Instant Read Meat Thermometer
- Ninja AG301 Foodi 5-in-1 Indoor Grill / Air Fryer
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How to Cook Pork Tenderloin in Air Fryer
#1. Remove pork tenderloin from the refrigerator 30 minutes before cooking. Remove excess fat and the thin membrane covering the tenderloin, if necessary. Use paper towels to pat it dry then set aside to let the pork tenderloin rest for a bit.
#2. Turn on the air fryer and select the “Air Crisp” function. Set the temperature to 375°F and adjust the timer to 25 minutes. Press “Start” to pre-heat the unit.
#3. While the unit pre-heats, combine half the olive oil, dried rosemary, garlic powder, and onion powder in a small bowl. Add salt and black pepper, to taste, and stir to combine.
#4. Brush the seasoned olive oil mixture over the pork tenderloin and set aside.
#5. Place the diced potatoes in a large mixing bowl and add a tablespoon of olive oil, dried rosemary, garlic powder, and onion powder. Season with salt and black pepper, to taste, and toss to combine.
#6. When the air fryer beeps and flashes “Add Food,” carefully remove the basket (Caution: it will be very hot) and place the seasoned tenderloin inside. Position at an angle, as shown, if necessary.
Further Air Fryer Pork Tenderloin directions and Garlic Sauce recipe
#7. Pour the potatoes in around the pork and place the basket back inside the unit. Close the lid to start cooking.
Tip: While the pork cooks, prepare the roasted garlic cream sauce according to the step-by-step directions listed below, assuming you’ve roasted the garlic in advance. If you are roasting the garlic along with the pork tenderloin, prepare the sauce while the pork is resting.
#8 After 10 minutes, lift the lid carefully turn the tenderloin, and stir the potatoes so they brown evenly. Close the lid and continue air frying for another 10 minutes before checking the internal temperature of the pork with a digital meat thermometer.
Note: The safe cooking temperature for pork tenderloin is 145°F. Remove from the air fryer when the temperature is just above 140°F as the temperature will continue to rise several degrees while the pork rests. For less pink results, continue air frying for several more minutes before removing the tenderloin. Allow the pork to rest for 3-5 minutes before serving.
#9. Once the air fryer tenderloin is removed, shake the basket and continue to air fry the potatoes for the remaining 5 minutes.
#10. Get a sharp knife to ensure the equal sizes of the lean cut of meat. Serve immediately with the roasted potatoes on the side and a drizzle of the Roasted Garlic Cream Sauce on top. Garnish with fresh thyme or finely chopped rosemary leaves, if desired. Enjoy!
Roasted Garlic Cream Sauce Directions
#1. Squeeze the warm roasted garlic cloves from their skins into a medium bowl. Add one cup of whole milk and mash the garlic with a fork to break it into small, pieces and set aside.
Tip: For smoother results, pulse garlic and milk for several seconds in a blender.
#2. Add butter to a skillet set over medium-low heat. Gradually whisk in the flour until thoroughly incorporated into the melted butter for 2-3 minutes or just until no lumps remain. Do not allow the mixture to brown or darken.
#3. Add the cream cheese and the milk mixture to the skillet. Cook, stirring continually, until the cheese is completely melted, approximately 2-3 minutes.
#4. Add the grated Parmesan cheese and salt. Continue stirring until the cheese is completely incorporated into the sauce.
#5. As the sauce thickens, add the remaining milk, a little at a time, until the desired consistency is reached. Remove from heat and keep warm until ready to serve. Enjoy!
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More Easy and Delicious Recipes to Try
- Chicken Paillard Salad
- Seared Swordfish Salad
- Deconstructed Waldorf Salad
- Cranberry Orange Pork Tenderloin
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Air Fryer Pork Tenderloin with Garlic Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
Air Fryer Pork Tenderloin with Garlic Sauce Ingredients
- 1-1 1/4 lbs. pork tenderloin , trimmed
- 2 lbs. red potatoes , cut into bite-sized pieces
- 2 T. extra virgin olive oil , divided*
- 1 t. garlic powder , divided*
- 2 t. dried rosemary , divided*
- 1 t. onion powder , divided*
- Salt & black pepper to taste*
- Garnish: Fresh rosemary and thyme leaves if desired
Roasted Garlic Cream Sauce Ingredients
- 1 large head roasted garlic**
- 1 1/2 c. whole milk , divided
- 1/4 c. unsalted butter
- 1/4 c. all-purpose flour
- 4 oz. cream cheese , cut into chunks
- 3/4 c. Parmesan cheese , freshly grated
- 1/4 t. salt
Instructions
Air Fryer Pork Tenderloin with Garlic Sauce
- Remove pork tenderloin from the refrigerator 30 minutes before cooking. Remove excess fat and the thin membrane covering the tenderloin, if necessary. Use paper towels to pat it dry then set aside to let the pork tenderloin rest for a bit.
- Turn on the air fryer and select the “Air Crisp” function. Set the temperature to 375°F and adjust the timer to 25 minutes. Press “Start” to pre-heat the unit.
- While the unit pre-heats, combine half the olive oil, dried rosemary, garlic powder, and onion powder in a small bowl. Add salt and black pepper, to taste, and stir to combine.
- Brush the seasoned olive oil mixture over the pork tenderloin and set aside.
- Place the diced potatoes in a large mixing bowl and add a tablespoon of olive oil, dried rosemary, garlic powder, and onion powder. Season with salt and black pepper, to taste, and toss to combine.
- When the air fryer beeps and flashes “Add Food,” carefully remove the basket (Caution: it will be very hot) and place the seasoned tenderloin inside. Position at an angle, as shown, if necessary.
- Pour the potatoes in around the pork and place the basket back inside the unit. Close the lid to start cooking.
- After 10 minutes, lift the lid and carefully turn the tenderloin and stir the potatoes so they brown evenly. Close the lid and continue air frying for another 10 minutes before checking the internal temperature of the pork with a digital meat thermometer.
- Once the air fryer tenderloin is removed, shake the basket and continue to air fry the potatoes for the remaining 5 minutes.
- Get a sharp knife to ensure the equal sizes of the lean cut of meat. Serve immediately with the roasted potatoes on the side and a drizzle of the Roasted Garlic Cream Sauce on top. Garnish with fresh thyme or finely chopped rosemary leaves, if desired. Enjoy!
Roasted Garlic Cream Sauce Directions
- Squeeze the warm roasted garlic cloves from their skins into a medium bowl. Add one cup whole milk and mash the garlic with a fork to break it into small, pieces and set aside.
- Add butter to a skillet set over medium-low heat. Gradually whisk in the flour until thoroughly incorporated into the melted butter for 2-3 minutes or just until no lumps remain. Do not allow the mixture to brown or darken.
- Add the cream cheese and the milk mixture to the skillet. Cook, stirring continually, until the cheese is completely melted, approximately 2-3 minutes.
- Add the grated Parmesan cheese and salt. Continue stirring until the cheese is completely incorporated into the sauce.
- As the sauce thickens, add the remaining milk, a little at a time, until the desired consistency is reached. Remove from heat and keep warm until ready to serve. Enjoy!
Notes
- While the pork cooks, prepare the roasted garlic cream sauce according to the step-by-step directions listed below, assuming you’ve roasted the garlic in advance. If you are roasting the garlic along with the pork tenderloin, prepare the sauce while the pork is resting.
- Safe cooking temperature for pork tenderloin is 145°F. Remove from air fryer when the temperature is just above 140°F as the temperature will continue to rise several degrees while the pork rests. For less pink results, continue air frying for several more minutes before removing the tenderloin. Allow the pork to rest for 3-5 minutes before serving.
- For smoother results, pulse garlic and milk for several seconds in a blender.
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