Orange Chipotle Pork Tenderloin

Name: Orange Chipotle Pork Tenderloin
Prep time: 1445 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 1465 min
Ingredients: 1 cup chipotle salsa; 1/2 cup orange juice; 1/3 cup cilantro (roughly chopped); 2 1/2 lbs pork tenderloin (2-3 lbs; will vary); 1 tsp salt; 1/2 tsp pepper (ground); 1/2 tsp granulated garlic; 1 tbsp vegetable oil; 1 orange (sliced); 1/4 cup cilantro (roughly chopped); 1 1/2 cups orange juice; 1/4 tsp chipotle powder

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Orange Chipotle Pork Tenderloin is a deliciously easy flavor packed recipe that is tender and juicy in every bite. Dinner will never be boring again.

Cast iron skillet with a pork tenderloin half sliced resting on a bed of rice and beans with orange slices and cilantro for garnish.

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Why you'll love this recipe
Recipe Ingredients
Variations
How to make Orange Chipotle Pork Tenderloin
Serving Suggestions
Expert Tips
Recipe FAQs
More Delicious Meaty Recipes
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Why you'll love this recipe

Pork tenderloin is a fantastic cut of meat that cooks rather quickly. However, it can be quite boring and bland if not properly seasoned.

Bright citrus from the orange juice and bold spiciness from the chipotle salsa combine in a simple marinade for the perfect balance of taste and flavor.

The marinade takes mere minutes to make and when ready, the pork takes about 20 minutes to cook. Allow the pork to marinate overnight will yield the best flavor results.

Chipotle orange pork tenderloin in a cast iron skillet next to rice and beans with orange and cilantro as garnish.

Recipe Ingredients

Labeled ingredient image: salt, pepper, orange, orange juice, oil, pork tenderloin, cilantro garlic, chipotle powder, and creamy chipotle salsa.

Pork — the crucial recipe ingredient. You'll want a tenderloin versus a pork loin, which is much larger in size. Some packages have two smaller tenderloins while others have a bit larger of a tenderloin.
Produce — fresh cilantro and a navel orange or two are all you'll need. These two simple ingredients go far in giving this recipe its fantastic flavor.
Salsa — there's so many options available when you're on the salsa aisle at the market, but we have found this creamy chipotle salsa from Herdez to be our favorite.
Seasonings — salt, pepper, and granulated garlic are sprinkled onto the tenderloin after it comes out of the marinade right before searing. Chipotle powder is used in the cooking liquid. You'll also want to use a high heat oil with a neutral flavor like vegetable oil or avocado oil.
Juice — orange juice is used in both the marinade and while cooking the pork.

See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts, nutritional information, and detailed instructions.

Variations

Go spicier — the salsa does have a kick but if you want to turn the heat up, add some chipotle in adobo to the marinade.
Go brighter — add some fresh orange zest to the marinade.
Go sweeter — sweet and spicy is always delicious, so you can add a tablespoon of honey or dark brown sugar to the marinade.

How to make Orange Chipotle Pork Tenderloin

Chipotle salsa, cilantro, orange juice, and the pork tenderloin inside a zip seal bag.

Step 1: Add the salsa, ½ cup orange juice, ⅓ cup roughly chopped cilantro and the pork tenderloin to a large resealable plastic bag. Mix it all up together. The pork should be entirely submerged in the marinade.

The pork in the orange chipotle marinade.

Step 2: Place the marinating pork in the fridge for a minimum of two hours but we highly recommend marinating it all day, preferably overnight.

Chipotle powder and orange juice in a bowl.

Step 3: Preheat the oven to 400°F. Combine the orange juice and chipotle powder in a large bowl. Remove the pork from the marinade (discard the marinade) and wipe off any excess liquid.

Seasoned pork tenderloin being seared in a cast iron skillet.

Step 4: Season the pork on all sides with the salt, pepper, and granulated garlic. Over medium high heat, add oil to the cast iron skillet. Once hot, sear the pork on all sides.

The pork nestled between layers of orange slices and cilantro for baking.

Step 5: Remove any excess oil and add orange slices and cilantro to the bottom of the skillet. Place the seared pork tenderloin atop them, then add additional orange slices and cilantro on top.

Seasoned orange juice being poured over the pork in the skillet.

Step 6: Pour the seasoned orange juice in and cook for 20 minutes or until the pork reaches an internal temperature of 145°F using an instant read thermometer. Allow the pork to rest for a few minutes before slicing and serving.

Pork tenderloin cooked in a chipotle and orange sauce.

Serving Suggestions

This Chipotle Orange Pork Tenderloin is a fantastic entree needing a few side dishes to make the meal complete.

With the south-of-the-border taste of the pork, rice and beans would be the perfect accompaniment.
Sauteed squash, onions and mushrooms with a bit of chili powder or roasted asparagus with a bit of chipotle powder and lemon.
Play with the flavor of hasselback potatoes by adding seasoned butter and pepper jack cheese
For dessert butterscotch brownies or caramel brownies would be perfect.

Expert Tips

Tenderloins usually come fairly trimmed of excess fat and silver skin, but occasionally they don't. Use a sharp knife to do any trimmings, especially any silver skin.
The cooking time of 20 minutes is an approximation. Cooking by temperature is the best way. An instant read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the tenderloin has reached a temperature of 145°F.
The cooking liquid can be thickened up with a little cornstarch slurry for a dipping sauce or gravy.

Recipe FAQs

Can I use a pork loin instead of a tenderloin?

Yes. You'll want to double the marinade ingredients and increase the cooking time to about 40 minutes, but use a thermometer to check doneness.

How long will leftovers stay good?

Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.

What's the best way to reheat the leftovers?

Reheating in the microwave is always the quickest. If you have leftover cooking liquid that you've used as a sauce, reheat the pork in the liquid to help keep it from drying out. You could also reheat slices in a skillet on the stove.