Easy Air Fryer Pork Tenderloin (Low carb, High Protein)
Cooking pork tenderloin in the air fryer is a quick and foolproof way to get a healthy high protein meal on the table fast. Coated in a simple sugar free dry rub, the air fryer cooks this pork tenderloin to absolute perfection giving it a beautiful spice rubbed crust, and juicy center.
This simple air fryer recipe is low carb, paleo, semi-carnivore, whole30, and keto friendly with only 2g net carbs and 37g of protein per serving!
This recipe is part of my 30 minute keto meals and semi-carnivore recipe series.
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Pork tenderloin is an underrated cut. Its affordable and when cooked right its decadent and delicious. The air fryer is a foolproof way to cook a perfect pork tenderloin every time. A great recipe for when you just want to turn your brain off and get a quality meal on the table at the end of a busy day.
Why You Have Try Air Fried Pork Tenderloin
- Ready in under 30 minutes, the spiced rubbed pork gets a stunning crust in the air fryer while the center stays juicy and tender.
- The air fryer is simple to clean and operate, a great way to get a healthy protein on the table on busy days.
- A simple set it and forget it pork recipe that pairs well with salad, coleslaw, or roasted vegetables for a low carb high protein meal.
- Made with an easy homemade sugar free spiced coffee rub or your favourite store bought seasonings.
- Low carb, keto, paleo, whole30, and semi-carnivore friendly.
What to Serve With Air Fryer Pork Tenderloin
Pork tenderloin is juicy and meaty, pairing perfectly with a simple side salad or air fry roasted vegetables such as crispy broccoli, roasted zucchini, cauliflower rice, spaghetti squash or cauliflower mash.
Try some of these simple low carb side dishes to make this recipe into a healthy low carb high protein meal.
Air Fried Pork Tenderloin Variations
Change the seasonings – This pork tenderloin has a simple low carb coffee spice rub on the outside. You can use literally any of your favourite seasonings for this recipe, whether homemade or store bought. If you are trying to cut out sugars make sure there is no added sugar in your chosen spice rub.
Pork is able to handle both sweet and savoury flavours which is why its such a versatile meat. Here are some of my favourite spices or seasonings that pair with pork:
- Cumin
- Black pepper
- Garlic
- Ginger
- Onion powder
- Ancho chili powder
- Chipotle
- Parsley
- Garam masala
- Coriander
- Cajun seasoning
- Celery salt
- Thyme
- Oregano
- Seasoning salt
Bacon Wrapped Air Fryer Pork Tenderloin – I feel like I don’t even need to sell you on this one. It’s bacon wrapped, it’s automatically delicious.
- Wrap strips of bacon tightly around the seasoned pork tenderloin, tucking the end of each slice underneath itself to hold it in place.
- Cook in the air fryer for a little bit longer than normal and make sure the bacon gets nice and crispy.
Air fryer pork tenderloin is a great keto recipe for one
When you’re the only one following keto in the house it can be tough to find recipes everyone can enjoy without cooking two separate meals. Air fryer pork tenderloin pairs with a variety of sides, and since the air fryer frees up your time to cook, you can easily prepare two simple sides, one low carb one, and on starchy option and serve it family style.
Tips for Air Fryer Pork Tenderloin
- For a crispy crust – The air fryer is great for getting a nice crust on the outside of pork tenderloin while keeping the inside juicy and tender. To maximize this, pat the pork tenderloin dry with a clean towel or paper towel and rub lightly with olive oil or dijon mustard over the pork before applying a generous amount of dry rub.
- To check for doneness – Use an instant read thermometer to check periodically to see if the pork is done. For a perfect medium pork you want the internal temperature to be 155°F [68°C] before resting until the temp is 160°F [71°C].
- Always rest before slicing – Pork tenderloin is relatively lean compared to other cuts of pork so it needs all the juices it can get. To keep all the moist and tender, let the pork rest uncovered for at least 5-8 minutes before slicing. Resting elevated on a wire rack will prevent the crust from becoming soggy.
- Serve with butter for extra juiciness – If the pork is a little on the dry side or you want some extra fat in there try adding a pat of butter or a simple pan gravy over the sliced pork tenderloin before serving.
Leftovers and Reheating
Allow leftover pork tenderloin to cool and place in a sealed air tight container.
Keep in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Reheat in the air fryer, oven, or microwave until warmed through, If reheating pork tenderloin is dry add a pat of butter to melt.
My favourite way to use up leftover pork tenderloin is to cut it into medallions and then pan fry on both sides in butter until they are golden brown and crispy.
Recipe Card
Easy Air Fryer Pork Tenderloin
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Equipment
- Knife and Cutting Board
- air fryer
- basting brush
Ingredients
- 1-2 lb pork tenderloin
- 3 tablespoons Dijon mustard
Spiced Coffee Dry Rub
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1½ teaspoon ground coffee
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon mustard powder
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
Instructions
- Prepare the pork tenderloin. Pat the pork tenderloin dry with a paper towel. Spread a light layer of dijon mustard or olive oil over the entire pork roast.1-2 lb pork tenderloin, 3 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- Spice rub the pork. Add the coffee, salt, cumin, smoked paprika, black pepper, mustard powder, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and onion powder, to a small bowl and combine well. Liberally season the pork with the spice rub making sure to cover the tenderloin liberally. Gently press the spices into the pork and lightly shake off any excess seasoning.2 teaspoons salt, 1½ teaspoon ground coffee, 1 teaspoon cumin, 1 tablespoon smoked paprika, 1 teaspoon black pepper, ½ teaspoon mustard powder, 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder
- Air fry until cooked through. Place the pork tenderloin in the air fryer and cook at 400°F [205°C] for 20-25 minutes (23-25 minutes for very large or multiple tenderloin) or until the internal temperature is at least 155°F [68°C] for medium and 160°F [71°C] for medium well.
- Rest, Slice, and, Serve. Rest the cooked pork tenderloin on a cutting board or wire cooling rack for at least 5 minutes before slicing into medallions and serving.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is calculated using the recipe calculator and verified database available from Cronometer. Although every reasonable effort is made to provide accurate information this estimate is provided as courteously and convenience only. To obtain the most accurate representation of the nutritional information in any given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe.
Try the free recipe calculator at Cronometer
Enjoy!
