Sheet pan pork tenderloin with roasted cauliflower and crispy kale. The pork tenderloin has the most delicious honey mustard marinade.
Remember that time we made Schnitzel, and I told you to toss the other pork tenderloin from the bag in the freezer? Yeah, I just found it last weekend. I'm cleaning out the freezer to make room for meals for baby time, and I'm putting to use all the frozen meat I found! I have the worst habit of buying the big pack of chicken breasts when I really just need two. I wrap and freeze the leftovers for future meals, which is great, except I forget that it's in there and buy another large pack of chicken breasts. Repeat three times. Those of you requesting chicken dinners for two, your wish will come true!
Pork tenderloin is one of those things my Mom makes for company quite frequently. She wraps it in bacon and fresh thyme and bakes it to perfection. Everyone loves it plain, or on a sandwich leftover the next day. I knew it was time to put a pork tenderloin recipe in my arsenal for company. I have lots of company and guests planned over the next few months, and I plan on making them scaled-up versions of my Dinners for Two.
In order for a dinner recipe to be in my life, it must:
-use minimal pots and pans
-be easy
-have easy clean-up (bonus points for foil-lined pans!)
-be quick
After baking all day, these are really the only kind of dinners for which I have the time.
This one-pound tenderloin serves two quite generously, maybe even three people. I'm not a huge meat-eater (but gimme all the crispy veggies), so in your house, it may only serve two. The recipe below is for one tenderloin, but you can easily scale it up and put as many tenderloins on the sheet pan that will fit.
We haven't even talked about my favorite part: crispy veggies. I feel like it makes me a boring person to admit that cauliflower is my favorite vegetable, but it's true. I credit my addiction to Indian food for my love of cauliflower. I always have a head in the fridge during the winter. Heads up: buy the whole head instead of the already-cut florets so that it will last up to 2 weeks in your fridge. Or not---buy pre-chopped florets the day you want to make this and save yourself the mess!
The vegetables roast right on the same pan as the pork (but come out after 15 minutes). It's perfect because you need to check the temperature of the pork at 15 minutes anyway. I always cook meat in the oven using a thermometer---it's the best way to be 100% of your results.
RECAP: tangy, moist honey-mustard pork with roasted cauliflower and crispy kale bits showered in Parmesan cheese. Is it a yes? I think so.
Sheet Pan Pork Tenderloin
A delicious main meal for two that's easy to make.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 lemon
- 1 1-pound pork tenderloin
- ½ head cauliflower, chopped into florets
- 2 large handfuls chopped kale
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
- 2 tablespoon Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- In a large re-sealable bag, add the mustard, honey, garlic, olive oil, salt and pepper. Squeeze the juice of the lemon in the bag too, and then add the whole lemon. Smush to combine.
- Add the pork tenderloin and use your hands to ensure it's evenly coated with the marinade.
- Let rest in the fridge for 8 hours.
- Preheat oven to 500. While the oven preheats, remove the pork from the fridge.
- Line a baking pan with foil.
- Roast the pork (with the marinade, including the lemons) on the pan for 20-25 minutes, checking the internal temperature at 15 minutes. I like a hint of pink in my pork, so I take it out of the oven at 145, cover it in foil and let it rest for 15 minutes before slicing. Squeeze the roasted lemons on top before serving.
- On the same pan as the Pork Tenderloin, toss the vegetables with the oil, salt, pepper and nutmeg.
- Roast for 15 minutes, and then remove the vegetables from the oven to a serving dish. Stir in the Parmesan cheese, and cover to keep warm.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
2Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 796Total Fat: 46gSaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 34gCholesterol: 170mgSodium: 1468mgCarbohydrates: 33gFiber: 7gSugar: 22gProtein: 66g
Liz @ Floating Kitchen says
All my favorite things right here! YUM! I eat the worst dinners. Everyone thinks us food bloggers eat fabulous meals all the time. But after cooking all day, by dinner time I just scrounge around. So it definitely has to be easy peasy for me to make something. Have a great weekend, girlfriend!
Jenn Peas and Crayons says
um hello easiest dinner of life! The hubs and I would love this and the chickpea would be all over it too! Def need to add this one to our meal plan :)
Brianne @ Cupcakes & Kale Chips says
Love this simple meal! I'd definitely eat a bigger share of veggies though, and my hubby will eat more of the meat :-)
Erin@WellPlated says
I didn't know pork could be so darn beautiful! Frame this baby.
Patricia @ Grab a Plate says
Love an easy-to-make dinner, AND crispy veggies. Yours look amazingly delicious! I love this meal!
Danae @ recipe runner says
I love making pork tenderloin, it's so easy and fast! The flavors you added to this are perfect and I can't get enough of some delicious crispy cauliflower!
Christine @ Cooking with Cakes says
this tenderloin looks absolutely gorgeous, my husband would love it! perfect for a Friday or Saturday night in (with some vino, obv)
Sharon @ What The Fork Food Blog says
Gorgeous pork, gorgeous photos! I love easy meals that seem like they'd take forever to prepare :)
Olivia @ Olivia's Cuisine says
Beautiful meal! Looks so flavorful!
Matea says
Have to try making my own honey mustard!