Instant Pot Balsamic Apple Pork Tenderloin is a quick cooking meal that has an amazing sweet and tangy flavored sauce to go on the pork medallions. The delicious balsamic apple gravy is lightly spiced and makes this pressure cooker pork tenderloin a great dinner idea.
Instant Pot Balsamic Apple Pork Tenderloin
I have seen many cook times for pork tenderloin in the pressure cooker, but I feel my method yields the most tender and moist tenderloin. This pressure cooker pork tenderloin recipe is one of the top 3 most loved recipes by my readers!
One of my favorite cuts of pork is the tenderloin. I have always loved those little medallions, so tender, covered with an amazing sauce! Such a versatile little pork roast.
A pressure cooker pork tenderloin can easily be overcooked, so I developed this recipe to give a tender and juicy result.
I'm always looking for smaller meals with great flavor to make. Since I am a cook and develop recipes, smaller meals are easier said than done!
It's important to note that there is a difference between pork tenderloin and pork loin. You can tell it's a tenderloin because it is long, thin, and tubular in shape, and usually weighs 1 lb to 2 lbs on average. A pork loin roast is flatter, rectangular, and wider.
This recipe for Instant Pot Balsamic Apple Pork Tenderloin uses the long, thin, tubular cut and cooks very quickly. After it cooks you cut it into medallions and drench them in this incredible sauce!
The apple and honey in this Instant Pot Balsamic Apple Pork Tenderloin recipe add the sweetness to the sauce. This is a great way to use up any apples that are too ripe to eat, or too mealy. Ever bite into a mealy apple? Not a fan. But I am a fan of cooking with them!
Fruit and pork go very well together, especially apples and pork. Check out my Instant Pot Autumn Apple Pork Chops.
Making a pork tenderloin in the Instant Pot is easy and the sauce is delicious!
Instant Pot Balsamic Apple Pork Tenderloin is a very nice meal for when you have company over, or for a nice "date night" in, or even just to treat yourself, as you should!
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Instant Pot Balsamic Apple Pork Tenderloin has a sweet and tangy burst of flavor. The apple balsamic sauce is accented with fresh rosemary and thyme. A dish you can serve to company, or enjoy on a weeknight.
- 1 Tablespoon Cooking Oil, neutral, such as canola or sunflower
- 1 ½ lbs Pork Tenderloin* (not loin roast)
- 1 small Onion, cut in half and thinly sliced
- 2 cloves Garlic, pressed or finely minced
- 2 ½ Tablespoons Balsamic Vinegar (good quality vinegar makes a big difference)
- ½ cup Apple Juice or Chicken Broth, low sodium
- 2 Apples, chopped (any variety)
- ½ teaspoon Coarse Salt, or ¼ tsp table salt
- 1 sprig Rosemary, about a 3" sprig
- 3 sprigs Thyme, fresh
- 2 Tablespoons Honey
- 1 Tablespoon Butter
- 2 ½ teaspoons Corn Starch
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Turn on pot to Sauté function (Normal/Med heat). When the display reads Hot, add the oil.
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Place the tenderloin in the pot and let it cook for 2-4 minutes (depending on thickness), undisturbed, Then flip it over and do the same on that side. Brown all sides.
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Remove the tenderloin to a plate. Set aside.
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Add the onion and cook until tender, stirring frequently, deglazing the pot (scraping up all of the brown bits from the bottom of the pot). You might need to add a small splash of the broth to help loosen the fond (brown bits).
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Add the garlic. Stir.
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Add the balsamic vinegar. Stir.
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Add the juice/broth, apple, salt, rosemary, and thyme. Stir well.
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Add the tenderloin back in and nestle it down into the broth mixture.
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Put the lid on the pot and lock it in place. Set the steam release knob to the Sealing position.
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Cancel the Sauté function.
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Press Pressure Cook (Manual) and adjust the pressure to Low Pressure, then the + or - to choose 2 minutes (smaller tenderloins use 1 minute).
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When the cooking cycle ends, Turn the pot off or unplug it (so the warming doesn't get activated) and let the pot sit for 15 minutes (natural release). Then turn the steam release knob to the Venting position to release the remaining pressure/steam (there may not be any, and that's okay).
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When the pin in the lid drops, open the lid and use a meat thermometer to take the internal temperature of the tenderloin. If it reads 137°F or more, you are good to remove the tenderloin to a plate and cover with foil to rest (it will continue to cook and heat to the desired 145°F temp).
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If the tenderloin isn't up to temp, Remove the tenderloin and complete the next 3 steps. Then add tenderloin to mixture and let it cook for a few minutes, turning once. Check temperature again before removing and covering with foil. Then proceed to adding the corn starch, etc.
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Turn the Sauté function back on.
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Add the honey and stir well to incorporate.
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Add the butter and stir.
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Cook for about 5 minutes to let the mixture reduce a little and the flavors concentrate.
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Scoop out about ⅓ cup of the liquid into a cup and whisk in the corn starch. Pour mixture into the simmering sauce and stir well to thicken.
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Turn off the pot.
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Slice the tenderloin into medallions and serve with a generous portion of the balsamic-apple sauce.
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Garnish if desired (photo shows thyme and pomegranate arils).
*If you have a smaller tenderloin, say 1 pound, you will only cook for 1 minute instead of 2. Same natural release time. Please use a meat thermometer, they are so handy!
Resources to Make Instant Pot Pork Tenderloin recipe and more
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Jeanne McMurdy
Fantastic recipe! Enjoyed it just as you suggested! Didn't change a thing!
Thanks!
Renee Ruse
I don't have fresh Thyme or Rosemary......can I use dried and how much do you think I should use?
Sandy
If using dried thyme leaves, use 1/4 tsp. If the thyme is ground, use 1/8 tsp. Crush the rosemary before adding, and use 1 tsp.
Christina Willson
This was so delicious. I never leave ratings or reviews of recipes because I alter so much that it loses the writer's feel but, the only alterations I made was I doubled it including times for my large family. Also, the only balsamic vinaigrette that I had was raspberry. Every bit of it was eaten and my husband raved about it. Thank you!
Susan
Pretty good. I used 1/2 of a Costco pork loin, doubled the sauce and increased the time to 5 minutes. Turned out quite nice and a good way to use up a few apples.
Not a IP Fan
what am i doing wrong - i am about to throw out this IP pot. I started the cooking at 3:00, thinking it would be ready to eat by 3:30, hence the recipe stated 17 minutes total. It is now 6:00 and it is still not cooked! Very frustrated. I would have been finished if I put it in the oven.
Sandy
Sorry you are so frustrated. Did you by chance press the timer button? That would have delayed the start time of the cooking. Did you slow cook it? I can't think of another reason this took so long. Can you tell me the exact steps you took so I can help you?
Belle
Hi! If I use a 1.5lb tenderloin, would doubling the sauce ingredients ruin it somehow? Would love to have some extra to put on the mashed potatoes and vegetables!
Sandy
No, doubling the sauce is fine! Just keep the cook time the same.
Gretchen
This looks fantastic! My pork loin is boneless and is 3 1/3 pounds. Can I cook they mostly frozen pork loin and accomplish the fabulou recipe looks fantastic! My pork loin is boneless and is 3 1/3 pounds. How do you suggest I adjust the recipe and cooking times?
Sandy
I would cook it longer. Is it a loin or a tenderloin?