Kitchen notes · a little help before you start
Cajun Honey Pork Tenderloin
Cajun pork with honey sauce has an appealing sweet-and-spicy edge. The browned tenderloin slices catch a generous coating, with extra sauce ready for the plate. Sit down while it is warm and enjoy how the seasoning and honey meet in each bite.
- Prep
- 3 min
- Cook
- 30 min
- Total
- 33 min
- Original yield
- Serves 6
- Ingredients
- 7 listed
Make it part of your week
Recipe categories & planning details
- Meal type
- Dinner
- Primary protein
- Pork
- Cuisine
- American
- Cooking method
- Roasting · Baked & roasted
- Preparation & total time
- Prep: 15 minutes or less · Total: 31–60 minutes
A few quick notes
1. Rub seasoning over every side
Coat the tenderloins all over with Cajun seasoning before putting them into the hot oil for searing.
2. Make sauce after searing
Move the browned pork to a plate while butter, honey and broth come to a boil in the same skillet.
3. Reduce sauce after roasting
Take the roasted pork out again and simmer the sauce on the stovetop until reduced and thickened, then check seasoning.
Get to know the ingredients
Pork tenderloins
Use the two tenderloins listed here, searing each on all sides before returning them to the sauce for roasting.
Low-sodium broth
The broth joins butter and honey in the hot skillet after the pork's first sear, before it returns for roasting.
Unsalted butter
The butter melts into the honey-and-broth sauce, with salt checked later after the roasted meat is removed and the sauce reduces.
Let’s make it
Choose your servings, then check things off as you go.
Original recipe: Serves 6. Original quantities shown.
Check ingredients as you prepare them. These checks stay on this page.
How to make it
0 of 7 steps completeMake room for Cajun Honey Pork Tenderloin
Review ingredients in your pantry before anything is added. Meal plans use your household size; grocery-only additions use the servings selected above.
The last little job
Coat before slicing
Return the pork to the thickened sauce and turn it to coat all around, then slice and serve with sauce.
A little more help as you go
Cajun heat can vary
You can adjust the amount of Cajun spice to suit how spicy you like the finished pork.
Reheat leftover pork as allowed
You can reheat refrigerated pork in the microwave or in a skillet over medium heat after airtight storage.
A few questions you might have
Is the skillet meant for the oven too?
Use an ovenproof skillet for searing; the sauce and returned tenderloins go into the oven in that same skillet.
When should I taste the sauce?
Taste after its final stovetop reduction, adjusting with salt or more Cajun seasoning before coating the tenderloins again.
Does the honey go over raw pork?
The dry seasoning goes on first. Honey joins butter and broth in the skillet after the initial sear.
How long can leftover pork stay refrigerated?
Cool the cooked pork, then keep it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for three to four days.
Can I freeze the finished pork?
Cool it fully before freezing in an airtight container or sealable freezer bag for two to three months.
Any more cooking tips?
Don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty! Use your hands to season the pork loin to ensure you get every crack and crevice. To get the pork so that it’s perfect on the outside and perfect on the inside, sear it first on all sides until it’s crisp then put it in the oven so that it cooks in the middle. You’ll end up with the perfect piece of meat. I decided to make it sweet and spicy. You can make it more or less spicy, depending on how much spiciness you can handle! Just adjust the amount of Cajun spice used in the recipe. You can also experiment with different spices such as garlic powder, paprika, chili powder, etc. Transfer the pork tenderloin to an airtight container and store in the fridge for 3-4 days. Make sure the pork has fully cooled down to room temperature before storing. To reheat, you can use the microwave or in a skillet over medium heat. To freeze, make sure the pork has fully cooled down to room temperature before freezing. You can store the pork in an airtight container or sealable freezer bag. It will last 2-3 months frozen.
Storage & reheating safety
For cooked, perishable leftovers, refrigerate within 2 hours (1 hour above 90°F), using shallow containers for prompt cooling. Keep the refrigerator at 40°F or below, use refrigerated leftovers within 3–4 days, and reheat hot leftovers to 165°F, checked with a food thermometer. Follow any shorter package limit.
These are general safety limits, not a tested storage or freezing recommendation for this particular dish. USDA leftovers guidance · Safe cooking temperatures
Recipe source: jocooks.com. Ingredient names and quantities may be adapted for the pantry.
Preparation notes follow the recipe shown here.