This Traeger Pork Tenderloin recipe is a family favorite! Because it's marinated and then cooked low and slow on the pellet grill, it's tender, juicy, and full of delicious smoky flavor.
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Cooking on a Traeger grill makes this recipe simple and delicious. The pork stays juicy and the smoky flavor is amazing. You'll need a few hours, but it's worth it.
If you don't have a Traeger pellet grill, you can use a Pit Boss pellet smoker or electric smoker instead.
If you like this recipe, try my smoked beef tenderloin next!
Why You'll Love Smoked Pork Tenderloin
- Smoky flavor: Traeger grills add fantastic wood-fired flavor.
- Tasty marinade: The marinade makes the meat tender and flavorful.
- Great for gatherings. Cook one tenderloin for a small dinner or more for a big group.
- Easy recipe: Easy way to cook this lean cut of meat.
Watch this Quick Video To See How To Make It
Traeger Pork Tenderloin Ingredients
A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the printable recipe card below.
- Pork tenderloin. Use two 1-pound tenderloins, trimmed of any silver skin or excess fat.
- Apple Juice helps to tenderize the pork as it marinates. Use store-bought, or make homemade apple juice.
- Brown sugar
- Garlic
- Thyme. Use ground thyme or dried thyme leaves.
- Barbecue sauce. Use your favorite barbecue sauce or make homemade barbecue sauce.
How To Smoke a Pork Tenderloin on Traeger
For more detailed instructions with measurements, jump to the recipe card.
Step 1
Make Marinade: Combine apple juice, brown sugar, garlic, ground thyme, kosher salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper in a small bowl.
Step 2
Marinate: Trim the silverskin off the tenderloins and place the whole pork in a large bag or shallow container. Pour the marinade over top. Refrigerate for at least one hour.
Pro Tip: Place the bag on a sheet pan in case there is any leakage.
Step 3
Smoke: Preheat your smoker to 225 degrees F. Place the tenderloins directly on the grill grates and discard the marinade. Insert a digital meat thermometer into the middle of the thickest part of the meat. Close the lid, and smoke for one hour.
Step 4
Flip and Continue Smoking: Flip the tenderloins and smoke until the internal temperature reaches 145°F. This may take 1½ to 2 hours.
Step 5
Sauce: Brush with BBQ sauce on all sides and smoke for 5-10 more minutes.
Step 6
Serve: Let the meat rest for 5 minutes before slicing and serving. Enjoy!
Serving Suggestions
Serve with side dishes like twice-baked mashed potatoes, smoked mac and cheese, smoked baked potatoes, smoked baked beans with bacon, and Traeger corn on the cob.
Lighter sides include watermelon basil salad, fruit salad with Cool Whip, raw shredded carrot salad, and Miracle Whip coleslaw.
Top Tips
- Marinate overnight for the best flavor.
- Use a meat thermometer for perfectly cooked meat.
- Keep the heat in by not opening the grill too often.
- To catch the drips, put a layer of aluminum foil underneath the grill grates or use drip tray liners.
- If you have a Traeger Pro grill, use the Super Smoke setting for extra smoke flavor.
Traeger Pork Tenderloin FAQs
Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
Serve as medallions or shred for tacos, sandwiches, or salads.
I love using apple wood, but I also like cherry wood, hickory, maple, pecan, and the Signature blend by Traeger.
Pork tenderloin is smaller, leaner, and a more tender cut of pork than pork loin. Try my smoked boneless pork loin roast recipe.
More Smoked Pork Recipes To Try
Did you make this Traeger pork tenderloin recipe? If you did, can you do me a big favor and leave a rating and review letting me know how you liked it? This helps my website grow so I can continue to publish free recipes. Thank you! 😊
Recipe
Traeger Pork Tenderloin
Ingredients
- 2 1-pound pork tenderloins silver skin removed
- 2 cups apple juice
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ tablespoon ground thyme
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ⅓ cup barbecue sauce optional
Instructions
- To make the marinade, combine apple juice, brown sugar, garlic, ground thyme, kosher salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper in a small bowl.
- Place the pork tenderloins in a large Ziploc bag or airtight container and pour the marinade mixture over them. Seal and place in the fridge for at least one hour or up to overnight. Flip the bag or shake the container occasionally to make sure all the meat gets covered.
- When ready to grill, preheat the smoker to 225 degrees F and let it warm up for 15 minutes.
- Place the tenderloins directly on the grill grate and discard the marinade. Insert a digital meat thermometer into the middle of the thickest part of the tenderloin. Close the lid, and smoke for one hour. Open the lid and flip the tenderloins over with tongs. Close the lid and smoke until the internal temperature reaches 145 degrees F. This may take 1½ to 2 hours.
- When the internal temperature reaches 145 degrees F, brush the tenderloins with your favorite barbecue sauce on both sides. Close the lid and smoke for 5-10 minutes to caramelize the sauce.
- Remove the tenderloins from the grill, and let rest for 5 minutes before slicing and serving with your favorite side dishes. Enjoy!
Video
Recipe Notes:
- Marinate overnight for the best flavor.
- Use a meat thermometer for perfectly cooked meat.
- Keep the heat in by not opening the grill too often.
- To catch the drips, put a layer of aluminum foil underneath the grill grates or use drip tray liners.
- If you have a Traeger Pro grill, use the Super Smoke setting for extra smoke flavor.
NUTRITION INFORMATION
The provided nutritional information is an estimate per serving. Accuracy is not guaranteed.
**This post was originally published in January 2023. It has been recently updated with more information, helpful tips, and a video, but the recipe remains the same.
About Jeri Walker
Jeri Walker is the founder and CEO of Winding Creek Ranch. She is a self-taught home cook who specializes in easy family-friendly recipes. Jeri is also a food writer who regularly writes articles for MSN. Read about Jeri's journey and connect with her on your favorite social media channels!
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