Balsamic Marinated Pork Tenderloin

This simple, comforting pork tenderloin recipe is simple enough for a weeknight and elegant enough for entertaining. It’s been in my family for years, and we enjoy it served with black beans and rice and drizzled with the tangy pan juices.

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This recipe is one of the first things I cooked on a regular basis in my tiny kitchen. It’s an adaptation of a family recipe that my Italian in-laws have been making for years.

The recipe is really flexible. Need to make this for dinner tonight? Give it 2 hours in the marinade. Want to serve it tomorrow? Get it together and pop it in the fridge till tomorrow!

Making a small dinner? Just do 1 or 2 pieces of pork. Have a larger group coming for dinner? Add another 2 pieces to the marinade!

Easy peasy.

I tend to stock up on pork tenderloin when it goes on sale. I also like picking up larger packs from the wholesale club and dividing it into smaller portions.

It freezes really well, and I love having it on hand for when we’re having company over.

The marinade for this recipe is made up of ingredients I almost always have on hand. Occasionally I won’t have a lemon, but that’s a quick thing to pick up from the store if need be.

Be sure to let your pork rest for about 10 minutes after it comes out of the oven. This will allow the juices to redistribute and will keep the pork from drying out when you cut into it.

There’s no need for dried out leftover pork! I usually cut whichever tenderloin is thinnest first, saving the thicker one for leftovers. When reheating, I pour some of the juices over top and reheat it at 50% power in the microwave.

All these things combined will help ensure your tenderloin stays nice and juicy, even after its initial cook time.

My family loves having this dish with rice and beans. Specifically steamed basmati rice piled with black beans and finely chopped shallots or red onions. The extra juices from the pork are perfect drizzled over the rice.

For company, I’d probably serve this with rice and beans and a nice salad. Mashed potatoes (like these Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes or these Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes) would also be a good choice, with the juices drizzled over top.

What are your family’s favorite comfort food dishes? I’d love to hear about them in the comments section below!

Looking for more comfort food favorites? Check out these 5-star recipes:

• Sausage and Peppers
• Skillet Lasagna with Lamb, Ricotta + Mint
• Latin-Spiced Pork + Squash Skillet with Chili Lime Cherries
• Ravioli Lasagna
• Instant Pot Herbed Pot Roast
• Grilled PB&J Sticks
• Garlicky Littleneck Clams with Bacon + Wine Over Sautéed Spring Veggies
• Instant Pot Beef Goulash
• Waffle Pulled Pork Eggs Benedict
• Instant Pot Chicken, Bacon, and Potato Soup
• Roast Chicken with Dijon Root Vegetables
• Our Favorite Sloppy Joe Sandwiches
• Roasted Garlic Gruyère Pull-Apart Bread
• Rosemary Beef & Peas Over Grits
• Bar-B-Q Pulled Pork Fries with Cole Slaw
• Spicy Turkey Three-Bean Chili
• Buttered Pasta with Peas, Egg and Garlic

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