Ahh pork loin—lean, tender, and super versatile 🐖🔥. When it’s cooked right, it’s juicy and flavorful (not dry!). Here’s a foolproof oven-roasted pork loin that works every time.
🐖 Oven-Roasted Pork Loin
Serves 6–8
Ingredients
- 3–4 lb pork loin (not tenderloin)
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp dried rosemary or thyme
- Optional: 1 tsp onion powder
- Optional glaze (last 15 min): honey + Dijon mustard
Instructions
- Preheat oven
- Heat to 375°F (190°C).
- Season the pork
- Pat pork loin dry.
- Rub with olive oil, garlic, salt, pepper, paprika, herbs, and onion powder.
- Roast
- Place pork loin fat-side up on a rack in a roasting pan.
- Roast 20–25 minutes per pound.
- Check temperature
- Remove when internal temp reaches 145°F (63°C).
- Optional: brush with honey-mustard glaze during last 15 minutes.
- Rest
- Tent loosely with foil and rest 10–15 minutes.
- Slice & serve
- Slice against the grain into thick slices.
🔥 Pro Tips (Very Important)
- Do NOT overcook — pork loin dries fast.
- Use a thermometer — it’s the difference between juicy and dry.
- Fat side up = self-basting.
Flavor Variations
- Garlic herb: Add fresh rosemary & thyme
- Apple pork: Roast with apples & onions
- Italian-style: Garlic, oregano, fennel seed
- BBQ: Rub with BBQ seasoning + glaze at end
If you want, I can give you:
- Slow cooker pork loin
- Stuffed pork loin
- Sheet-pan pork loin with veggies
- Juicy pan-seared pork loin slices
Just tell me what vibe you want 😄