Grilled Pork Tenderloin with Cherry Sauce

Try a grilled tenderloin with cherry sauce for an easy weeknight dinner and one that will also impress when entertaining family or friends. Fresh or Frozen cherries add sweetness to a savory sauce that’s the perfect accompaniment for a baked or grilled pork tenderloin in less than an hour.

 

Impress with an Easy Grilled Pork Tenderloin

When I feel like I just can’t eat any more chicken recipes, I turn to pork and there’s nothing easier than a grilled tenderloin with a savory cherry sauce. A glaze made of cherry preserves is brushed on the pork as it cooks on the grill. Then it’s smothered with a cherry chutney made fresh or frozen sweet cherries cooked to bring out their natural sweetness.

Pork tenderloin comes in a package of two with each weighing about a pound or so. You’ll have enough sauce for both tenderloins in this recipe, it makes great leftovers, just freezer the second tenderloin for another night.

A pork tenderloin is one of the most tender cuts of pork and cooks in about 25 minutes making it a great choice for busy weeknights. 

If you want dinner really quick, then try slicing the pork tenderloin, breading it and then pan fry the cutlets and you’ll have dinner in 10 minutes, and if peaches are in season, try grilling some pork kabobs with peaches.

A grilled pork tenderloin with this impressive cherry sauce is also a great dish to make for guests.  When it’s 94º outside, it’s nice if you don’t have to turn on the oven. Another reason to give this a try is that you can make the sauce in advance, so while the pork is cooking you can put your feet up.  Mike always does the grilling for me, so I just hand him the pork and marinade and I’m done.

Why You’ll Be Making This on Repeat

• Pork tenderloin is a delicious, inexpensive cut of meat. My grocery is always having a buy one get one free special so I almost always have one in the freezer.
• The sweet and savory cherry sauce is the surprising win in this recipe – it’s easy to prepare and the natural sweetness of the cherries keeps the pork tender and flavorful, the best part is you can use fresh or frozen.
• This meal comes together in no time.

How do you bake a pork tenderloin

If you don’t want to grill the pork you can cook it in the oven at 425º for about 10-15 minutes until a meat thermometer registers an internal temperature of 135º.

We don’t see cherry trees in the Carolinas, they grow mostly in Michigan, Wisconsin and on the West coast, but we still can find fresh cherries in the grocery.  Cherries won’t ripen off the tree but they seem to travel well. 

If you can’t find fresh or don’t feel like pitting them, frozen cherries will work perfectly in this homemade cherry sauce.  Cherries freeze so well and don’t seem to loose any of their flavor.   

The sauce is a little spicy which you can adjust, but I think you’ll like the sweet and savory combination.  This deep rich cherry sauce is amazing served over tender pork.

Just a Few Ingredients

• Cherry preserves – any type will work.
• Balsamic vinegar – this is used in the glaze and adds a nice savory touch.
• Fresh/frozen cherries
• Onion or shallots
• Pork tenderloin – this makes enough sauce for two tenderloins.
• Spice mix – cayenne pepper and allspice.

Pro Tip: If you’re in a pinch and don’t have a cherry picker, you can place a cherry on the top of a wine bottle and use a chop stick to push the pit into the bottle.

Simple Steps for a Tender Pork Dinner

Step 1: Make a glaze

For the glaze, combine cherry preserves, vinegar and allspice.

Step 2: Make the cherry chutney

In a skillet sauté onions and add fresh cherries, cayenne and allspice, and ¼ cup of the glaze. Simmer until the cherries have softened and the mixture has thickened.

Step 3: Puree the sauce

Puree the sauce with an immersion blender, or in a food processor, and keep warm while the pork is cooking. 

Step 4: Grill

Brush the glaze over the tenderloins and grill over direct heat to brown, then remove to indirect heat and continue to cook until a meat thermometer reads 135º. 

Step 5: Rest

Let it rest and come up to 145º. Slice and place pork on a serving platter covered with the warmed cherry sauce.

Whether you have fresh cherries or use frozen, this sauce creates a company worthy dinner. Make the sauce ahead of time and you’ll be set for a stress free evening. 

What to serve with pork tenderloin

Add some yeast rolls and a side and you’ve got a perfect dinner. If you’d like some greens, green beans with bacon and onions cooks up quickly, or be a little decadent and make the creamiest macaroni & cheese.

If you loved this recipe, give it a star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating! Also, snap a picture of your finished dish and share it with me on Instagram using the hashtag #butterandbaggage and tagging me @butterandbaggage.