This quick to make pork tenderloin recipe is perfect for days when you want to spend less time making dinner and more time enjoying life. Chipotle Honey Orange Sauce for Pork Tenderloin Medallions is a sweet and savory entrée with a fiery kick and is ready in about 20 minutes.
Hello friends! When the weather is warm and sunny, I like to spend my time outdoors and not in the kitchen. Getting in and out of the kitchen with a dinner that is memorable is one of my goals. The recipes I plan are quick to make. And they pack lots of flavor! I’m sharing my recipe for a super easy chipotle honey orange sauce for pork tenderloin medallions. It’s perfect for those you love their dinner with a fiery kick with just a touch of sweetness.
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the ingredients for this sweet and spicy sauce for pork tenderloin
- pork tenderloin ~ my favorite cut of pork!
- extra virgin olive oil
- barbecue seasoning
- chipotle peppers in adobo sauce ~ these really pack a spicy wallop!
- honey
- orange juice
- Dijon mustard
- orange
what are chipotle peppers in adobo sauce?
The recipe features canned chipotle peppers in adobo sauce which is the fiery ingredient in the sauce. The peppers are dried and smoked jalapenos. And the sauce is a little sweet and a little tangy. Put them together and they add a spicy smokey goodness to any recipe. The men in our family love hot and spicy food. These peppers, even in a small amount, get their attention. As a little goes a long way with the peppers, refrigerate any extras can be up to 2 months or freeze in a resealable plastic bag indefinitely.
chef cooking tips for pork tenderloin
- After seasoning the pork tenderloin, set it aside while you get the grill ready ~ about 20 minutes. It’s best to grill meat that is closer to room temperature. That way, it will cook more evenly.
- Make sure the grill is good and hot before adding the pork tenderloin. A hot grill ensures that the meat will not stick to the grill grate.
- Allow the pork tenderloin to grill about 3 to 4 minutes per side. As tenderloins are typically uneven in thickness, the timing of cooking each side can vary.
- Use a digital thermometer to check when the pork is done. The internal temperature should be about 140 to 145 degrees F at the thickest part of the meat. Remove the pork from the grill and cover with foil.
- The sauce comes together quickly. Keep an eye on it as it boils so it does not overflow. That would be a sticky mess on your stove top.
In about the time it takes to cook a side of Israeli couscous with sauteed spinach, your entree will be ready to serve. And if you want to make this meal in advance, reheat it on 70% power in the microwave for about a minute or so.
If you make this easy dinner recipe for a sweet and fiery sauce for pork tenderloin, I’d love hearing from you all. Be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating ~ I do my best to reply to all your comments. And snap a photo to post to Instagram. I’ll add the photos to my Insta stories as I love seeing all your creations.
more grill recipes to try
- Cider honey glazed chicken skewers with sweet mustard sauce
- Burgers with fresh tomato relish
- Grilled pork tenderloin with berry bacon sauce
- Smash burgers!
my cooking videos ~ grilled balsamic chicken sandwiches
Chipotle Honey Orange Sauce for Pork Tenderloin Medallions
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
Description
Chipotle Honey Orange Sauce for Pork Tenderloin Medallions is a sweet and savory entree with a fiery kick that comes together in about 20 minutes.
Ingredients
- 1 pork tenderloin, about 1 1/2 pounds
- extra virgin olive oil
- barbecue seasoning
- 1 chipotle pepper in adobo sauce, finely chopped
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 1/4 cup orange juice
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 orange, cut in wedges
Instructions
- Heat grill pan or grill to medium high heat.
- Brush the pork tenderloins with olive oil and sprinkle with the barbecue seasoning.
- Grill for about 3 to 4 minutes per side. You want the pork to just be cooked and still have a slight pink tint inside. Check the internal temperature of the pork with a digital thermometer. It should be about 140 to 145 degrees F. Remove from grill and tent with foil to keep warm.
- In a small sauce pan over medium heat add the chopped chipotle pepper, honey, orange juice, and mustard and bring to a boil. Continue cooking, stirring occasionally, for about 2 to 3 minutes or until the sauce slightly thickens. Remove from heat.
- Slice the pork tenderloin into 1 inch thick medallions. Place on a serving platter and drizzle with sauce. Serve with orange wedges.
Notes
- After seasoning the pork tenderloin, set it aside while you get the grill ready ~ about 20 minutes. It’s best to grill meat that is closer to room temperature. That way, it will cook more evenly.
- Make sure the grill is good and hot before adding the pork tenderloin. A hot grill ensures that the meat will not stick to the grill grate.
- Allow the pork tenderloin to grill about 3 to 4 minutes per side. As tenderloins are typically uneven in thickness, the timing of cooking each side can vary.
- Use a digital thermometer to check when the pork is done. The internal temperature should be about 140 to 145 degrees F at the thickest part of the meat. Remove the pork from the grill and cover with foil.
- The sauce comes together quickly. Keep an eye on it as it boils so it does not overflow. That would be a sticky mess on your stove top.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 – 15 minutes
- Category: entree
- Method: grill
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of recipe
- Calories: 291
- Sugar: 18.4 g
- Sodium: 144 mg
- Fat: 9.8 g
- Saturated Fat: 2.8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 1.4 g
- Protein: 31.2 g
- Cholesterol: 99 mg
Keywords: sauce for pork, pork tenderloin recipe, pork recipe, grill
This post was originally published in May 2012. Updates in June 2020 include photos, ingredient list, cooking tips and a video.
A friend of mine just emailed me one of your articles from a while back. I read that one a few more. Really enjoy your blog. Thanks
This looks wonderful! I love chipotle with pork, but adding orange to the flavor equation? That seems like a delicious and brilliant idea!
Thank you Sara! We love pork tenderloin in our house and I’m always developing unique sauces to go along with them.
Wow that pork tenderloin looks so tender and juicy. And that chipotle honey orange sauce sounds like such a perfect pairing! I have to make this for my hubby, thank you!!
★★★★★
I agree! The sauce is a wonderful compliment to the grilled pork tenderloin.
Dynamite recipe. I used fresh squeezed blood oranges for the juice and doubled the juice, added about 1/4 tsp orange zest, and 2 tbsp brown sugar. I smoked the tenderloins 2 1/2hrs to 150 deg internal temp, used my own rub mix of onion powder, garlic powder, thyme, smoked paprika, and brown sugar. Everyone loved it!
Thanks Dave! And I love the idea of smoking the tenderloins.