(Don’t have a smoker? No problem! You can make this recipe on the grill, as well.)
Sometimes when you think smoker recipes, your mind goes straight to big expensive cuts of meat and a minimum 12 hour time commitment. I love smoking pork tenderloin because you don’t have to plan a day in advance; it only takes 2-3 hours to smoke, which is speedy for a smoker! We frequently buy the pork tenderloin from Costco, which comes with packs of 2 tenderloins, which is perfect for this recipe. The result is a flavorful, smoky pork with a light, sweet glaze. If you like our Spicy Honey Chicken recipe, I based this loosely on that flavor combination.
Ingredient Notes
- Pork Tenderloin – Make sure you’re not buying the pre-marinated ones. The packaging looks similar on all pork tenderloins! I like buying the two-pack from Costco.
- Marinade
- Olive Oil
- Apple Cider Vinegar
- Fresh Garlic
- Smoked Paprika
- Chili Powder
- Chipotle Chili Powder
- Oregano
- Glaze
- Honey
- Apple Cider Vinegar
How to Make Honey-Glazed Smoked Pork Tenderloin
Marinate
- Whisk together some olive oil, apple cider vinegar, garlic, paprika, chili powders and oregano. Place pork in a shallow baking dish and rub with marinade. Cover.
- Pop it in the fridge. If you have the time, I prefer to marinate this recipe overnight, but several hours during the day is great, too.
Smoke and Glaze
- Heat the smoker to 225°F. Transfer the pork to the smoker and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Smoked pork tenderloin takes about 2 1/2-3 hours. When it’s done, tent it with foil.
- While the pork is resting, mix up your honey and apple cider vinegar glaze.
- Slice your pork, drizzle with glaze, and serve.
Do you see that pink ring around the edge? That’s a smoke ring- where the smoke penetrated the meat, and it’s a thing of beauty.
Storage and Other Tips
- Store leftover pork in an airtight container in the fridge and consume within 3-4 days for best results.
- If you don’t have a smoker, simply cook your tenderloins directly on the grill. They usually take about 5-8 minutes per side. Cook to a minimum internal temperature of 145°F. If you like your pork a little more done, remove from the grill at 150°F.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can. Be sure to keep an eye on the temperature and pull it off the smoker or grill at the appropriate time. Pork tenderloin is a lean cut of meat and will therefore become very dry if overcooked!
Honey-Glazed Smoked Pork Tenderloin
Ingredients
Glaze:
- 4 tablespoons honey
- 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
Instructions
- Whisk olive oil, vinegar, garlic, paprika, chili powders and oregano together and add pork to coat well. Marinate overnight or 4-6 hours preferred.
- When ready to cook, heat smoker to 225°. Transfer pork to smoker, sprinkle with kosher salt and pepper, and close lid.
- Cook to an internal temperature of 145° and remove from smoker. Tent in foil to rest while you prep glaze.
- Combine honey and apple cider vinegar and drizzle over sliced pork.
Notes
- Store leftover pork in an airtight container in the fridge and consume within 3-4 days for best results.
- If you don’t have a smoker, simply cook your tenderloins directly on the grill. They usually take about 5-8 minutes per side. Cook to a minimum internal temperature of 145°F. If you like your pork a little more done, remove from the grill at 150°F.
Questions & Reviews
Can you tell me how big of pork loin you used for this recipe? It is just small 2-3 lb or the longer at like 10 lbs? Thanks.
This recipe uses pork tenderloin, which is the smaller cut- usually 2-3lbs each!
Oh my gosh, made it tonight and it was delicious! I put it on the smoker and it came out perfect- tender and very flavorful! I forgot to marinate it and didn’t added the honey and vinegar but drizzled a little maple syrup when it was out! I bet it would have been even better, if possible, if I had marinated it. Thanks for the recipe it’s a keeper!
I made this tonight and it was ZOMG so good. We don’t have a smoker so we threw it on the BBQ and it came out perfect. The whole family loved it including my fickle 3 year old and 8 year old. Loved it!
SO glad you loved it!!
What type of pellets did you use to smoke it? Apple? Cherry?
Right now I’m using a blend- you could use any that you like, but Apple is always a good choice for something like this!
Hello! This looks looks really good. If you cook it on the grill do you adjust the length of the cooking time and the temperature?
Looks delicious! How much vinegar is in the marinade?
oops, good catch! There’s a glitch that’s not letting me edit the recipe, but it’s 2 tablespoons!
This sounds so delicious!! Do you know how long it would need to be on the grill?
You’ll want to cook to temperature, but it usually doesn’t take more than about 30 minutes.
I can’t wait to try this. We recently bought a Traeger at the costco roadshow and this seems like a perfect beginner recipe. We love pork tenderloin, I just wish I one in my freezer right now.