Smoked Pork Tenderloin
Step-by-step instructions on how to smoke pork tenderloin. Soaked in a citrus brine and coated in the most flavorful BBQ spice rub, this is a "no-hassle" smoker recipe the whole family will love!
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 315kcal
Equipment
- Smoker Pellet, Electric, Charcoal, or Propane Gas
Ingredients
- 2 lb. pork tenderloin
Dry Rub Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons light brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons Byron's Butt Rub
Brine Ingredients
- 1 cup apple cider vinegar
- 2 cups water
- 2 tablespoons salt
- 1 orange, sliced
- 1 lemon, sliced
- 2 teaspoons rosemary, dried
- 2 bay leaves
- 2 garlic cloves, crushed
- ¼ cup sugar
Instructions
How to Brine Pork Tenderloin
- To brine, place the pork tenderloin in a large 13x9 dish. Pour 1 cup apple cider vinegar, 2 cups of water, 2 tablespoons salt, 1 sliced orange, 1 sliced lemon, 2 teaspoons rosemary, 2 bay leaves, 2 garlic cloves, ¼ cup sugar into a bowl and mix well.
- Pour the brine mixture over the pork. Cover with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for a minimum of 2 hours. If you have the time, brine for 12-24 hours.
How to Smoke Pork Tenderloin
- In a small bowl, combine 3 tablespoons light brown sugar, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, 2 teaspoons smoked paprika, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, and 2 teaspoons Byron's Butt Rub. Mix well to combine.
- Generously apply the dry rub onto the meat and ensure all sides are covered.
- Prepare the smoker. Once the smoker is preheated to 225°F, place the meat in the smoker directly onto the smoker grates, close the lid, and smoke for 1 hour.
- After 1 hour, open the smoker lid and baste with barbecue sauce on both sides of the meat. This is the point in the smoking process where I insert the digital thermometer and start monitoring the internal temperature.
- Once the pork tenderloin reaches 145°F, remove the meat from the smoker and let it rest for 3 minutes before slicing.
- Serve immediately.
Video
Notes
- IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT THE TIMING OF THIS RECIPE:
- Marinate the pork for a minimum of 2 hours, but preferably 10-12 hours.
- The estimated smoke time at 225°F will be between 1-2 hours. Always place a digital meat thermometer in the pork and when it reaches the desired done temperature, remove it from the smoker.
- Trim off any excess fat with a sharp knife.
- You'll sometimes find a layer of silverskin. You can easily remove this with a sharp knife or ask the butcher to remove it for you.
- Skip the BBQ sauce process if you want to stick strictly with the rub. The flavor is fabulous with only the dry rub, but I love BBQ sauce so I wanted to take this recipe to the next level flavor wise.
- If you can't find Byron's Butt Rub, you can skip that ingredient. But you can typically find it at Costco or on Amazon. Even a small amount adds to the flavor!
- For storage purposes, it will last in the refrigerator in a covered container for 3-4 days.
- To reheat, use a cast iron skillet and bake in the oven at 300°F for about 20 minutes.
Nutrition
Calories: 315kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 47g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 147mg | Sodium: 703mg | Potassium: 935mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 493IU | Calcium: 21mg | Iron: 3mg