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With a yummy paprika dry rub, crispy bacon, and caramelized maple syrup, this bacon-wrapped pork tenderloin is a show-stopping protein that is incredibly easy to whip up!
Ingredients for Pork Tenderloin Wrapped in Bacon
This list is super short! You may even have several of the ingredients on hand already. Here’s what you’ll need:
- 1 tablespoon of paprika
- ½ teaspoon of salt
- 2 tablespoons of maple syrup
- 1 pork tenderloin
- 8 slices of bacon
Flavor Variations
The simple paprika + salt combination is really delicious, but if you’re looking to change things up, these are a few of our favorite variations!
- Garlic Lovers – grate or mince 2-3 cloves of fresh garlic, mix with olive oil and salt, then rub the mixture onto the pork tenderloin before wrapping it in bacon.
- Taco – use your favorite store-bought taco seasoning (or THIS homemade one) in place of the paprika and salt.
- Italian – grab your favorite classic Italian seasoning to use in place of the paprika and salt.
How to Wrap Pork Tenderloin with Bacon
We’ve found that the easiest way to wrap pork tenderloin in bacon is to lay out the slices of bacon on a surface (a cutting board or piece of parchment paper are both great options), lay the pork tenderloin over top, then fold each slice of bacon towards the middle of the tenderloin, allowing the ends to overlap.
How to Cook Bacon Wrapped Pork Tenderloin in the Oven
- Preheat – preheat the oven to 425°F.
- Dry rub – rub the pork tenderloin with paprika and salt.
- Wrap in bacon – lay out your slices of bacon on a surface and place the tenderloin on the middle of the bacon slices. Wrap each slice of bacon around the pork tenderloin.
- Drizzle – drizzle the maple syrup over the top of the bacon.
- Air fry – bake the tenderloin for 35 minutes.
- Rest – let the pork rest for 5-10 minutes.
- Slice, serve, and enjoy!
Bacon Wrapped Pork Tenderloin Air Fryer Version
Cooking pork tenderloin in the air fryer is easy peasy (and not all that different than the oven)! Simply preheat your air fryer to 400°F, follow the directions above, and then air fry for 25 minutes!
Tips & Notes for Bacon Wrapped Pork Tenderloin
- Use thinly sliced bacon – use regular bacon (vs. thick-cut) for this recipe! It’ll get nice and crispy during the cooking process!
- Wrap the bacon in a criss-cross pattern – to secure the bacon around the pork tenderloin, be sure to wrap the pieces in a criss-cross pattern (see the photos for reference). Bacon tends to shrink as it cooks, so making sure that it’s tightly secured on the pork tenderloin will keep it from falling off.
- Use any spice rub – feel free to swap the paprika and sea salt for any spice blend that you love! A BBQ rub would be really delicious here.
How long do you cook pork tenderloin?
This pork tenderloin cooks in the air fryer for 25 minutes and in the oven for 35 minutes. We highly recommend using an in-oven thermometer whether you’re cooking in the air fryer or oven!
What temperature should pork tenderloin be cooked to?
Pork tenderloin should be cooked to 145°F. The easiest way to ensure that your pork is cooked to this temperature is to use an in-oven thermometer.
Bacon Wrapped Pork Tenderloin Recipe FAQs
The best way to keep from overcooking (and drying out) your pork is to rely on an in-oven thermometer (vs. time) to determine doneness.
If you’re enjoying a pork tenderloin as the main component of a meal (vs. the mixed into a hearty chili), it’s a good rule of thumb to plan for a half pound (8 ounces) of pork tenderloin per person. Because this pork tenderloin is wrapped in bacon, though, it can definitely feed 3-4 adults.
There is! While they may sound the same, there are some distinct differences between pork loin and pork tenderloin. Here’s a comparison of the two:
Pork loin – a larger cut of meat that is usually sold as a 3-5 pound roast. Pork loin is fattier than pork tenderloin, usually comes with a fat cap on top, and can be sold either boneless or bone-in.
Pork tenderloin – a smaller cut of meat that usually weighs about one pound. The tenderloin is from a muscle that runs along the spine of the pig and isn’t used for movement. As a result, it’s much more tender than other cuts of meat. Pork tenderloin is a lean cut of meat that has a very mild flavor.
Whether in the air fryer or the oven, you’ll cook your pork tenderloin uncovered. It isn’t in the oven for quite long enough to require a lid, and we really want to get that bacon nice and crispy!
Storing Bacon Pork Tenderloin
Store your leftover bacon-wrapped pork tenderloin in an airtight container in the refrigerator; stored this way, it’ll stay good for up to 5 days!
Reheating Bacon Wrapped Pork Tenderloin
Reheat individual servings of your bacon-wrapped pork tenderloin either in the microwave or in the air fryer. For an air fryer reheat, start with 3 minutes at 400°F and add on a minute or two at a time after that, if needed. For the microwave, start with a minute and add on in 30-second increments until warmed through.
What to Serve with Bacon Wrapped Tenderloin
Serve your bacon-wrapped pork tenderloin alongside a starch (roasted veggie orzo, roasted potatoes, sweet potato fries, and simple white rice would all be delicious) and a veggie (roasted asparagus, broccoli, and spinach salad are all great options).
Just for You
Pork Recipes
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Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 1, 1-pound pork tenderloin
- 8 slices bacon
Instructions
Oven Method:
- Preheat the oven to 425°F.
- Rub the pork tenderloin with paprika and salt.
- Lay out your slices of bacon on a surface and place the tenderloin on the middle of the bacon slices. Wrap each slice of bacon around the pork tenderloin.
- Drizzle the maple syrup over top of the bacon.
- Bake the tenderloin for 35 minutes.
- Let the pork rest for 5-10 minutes, then slice and serve.
Air Fryer Method:
- Preheat the air fryer to 400°F.
- Rub the pork tenderloin with paprika and salt.
- Lay out your slices of bacon on a surface and place the tenderloin on the middle of the bacon slices. Wrap each slice of bacon around the pork tenderloin.
- Drizzle the maple syrup over the top of the bacon.
- Air fry the tenderloin for 25 minutes.
- Let the pork rest for 5-10 minutes, then slice and serve.
Nutrition Information
Recipe Notes
- Garlic Lovers – grate or mince 2-3 cloves of fresh garlic, mix with olive oil and salt, then rub onto the pork tenderloin before wrapping in bacon.
- Taco – use your favorite store-bought taco seasoning (or THIS homemade one) in place of the paprika and salt.
- Italian – grab your favorite classic Italian seasoning to use in place of the paprika and salt!
- Use thinly sliced bacon – use regular bacon (vs. thick-cut) for this recipe! It’ll get nice and crispy during the cooking process!
- Wrap the bacon in a criss-cross pattern – to secure the bacon around the pork tenderloin, be sure to wrap the pieces in a criss-cross pattern (see the photos for reference). Bacon tends to shrink as it cooks, so making sure that it’s tightly secured on the pork tenderloin will keep it from falling off.
- Use any spice rub – feel free to swap the paprika and sea salt for any spice blend that you love! A BBQ rub would be really delicious here.
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