Honey Mustard Pork Loin Roast

This Honey Mustard Pork Loin Roast is on a mission to win back a great reputation for pork dinners. It's FULL of flavor and results in tender pork that the family will love.

I promise you, this pork loin is unlike any pork roast you’ve ever had. It’s tender, juicy, flavorful, and completely craveable thanks to a few special tricks I’m sharing with you today!

Now, let's talk about pork for a hot minute. Sometimes (nobody's pointing any fingers here), pork can be dry. It can be dry, bland, and when you eat it, you think “YEP, this is protein.” If you've had too many sad pork meals in the past, rest assured that this one will win you back over. Best combo ever? This honey mustard pork loin (that features the creamiest homemade honey mustard sauce), roasted potatoes, and your favorite green veggie!

What is the difference between pork loin and pork tenderloin?

Great question! Pork loin and pork tenderloin may sound similar, but they’re actually quite different! Here's a quick breakdown of the two:

• Pork loin – typically a larger cut of meat that is usually sold as a 2-5 pound roast. It is fattier than pork tenderloin and can come as either boneless pork loin or bone-in.
• Pork tenderloin – a smaller cut of meat that usually weighs around one pound. The tenderloin is from a muscle that runs along the spine of the pig and isn't used for movement, and because of this, it tends to be much more tender than other cuts of meat. Pork tenderloin is also a lean cut of meat and has a very mild flavor.

Ingredients

Just a few ingredients are needed here, some of which you likely already have in your kitchen! Here’s what you’ll need: 

• Pork Loin Roast – to start, you’ll need to grab 1 (2½ to 3-pound) center cut boneless pork loin roast.
• Seasoning – to season your roast, you’ll need a ½ tablespoon of sea salt, a ½ teaspoon of black pepper, and a ¼ teaspoon of garlic powder.
• Honey Mustard – to really make a flavorful pork roast, we’ll use 1 batch of this *delicious* (and super easy-to-make) honey mustard dressing.
• Extra-Virgin Olive Oil – we’ll use 1 tablespoon of extra-virgin olive oil to brown our onion and garlic which will really help to build flavor!
• Onion – you’ll also need to grab 1 onion, and cut it into 6 wedges.
• Garlic – 4–5 cloves of garlic will do nicely here.
• Chicken Broth – a ½ cup of chicken broth goes into the pot just before baking!
• Fresh Thyme – 4 sprigs of fresh thyme add a really nice herby flavor!

How to Cook Pork Loin in the Oven

With just 20 minutes of hands-on cooking time, this pork roast is super easy to throw together! Here’s how you’ll do it:

1. Preheat the oven to 325°F.
2. Brown the onions and garlic – Sear the onion wedges and whole garlic cloves for 3-4 minutes per side (until browned) in a large, oven-safe pot, then remove from the pan.
3. Season the pork – Season the pork loin with the salt, pepper, and garlic powder, then brush one-third of the honey mustard dressing. 
4. Sear the pork – Brown the roast for 5-6 minutes on one side, flip, and add the onions and garlic back to the pan along with the broth and thyme sprigs. You don’t have to brown the other side because it’ll brown on its own in the oven!
5. Bake – place the lid on the pot, and bake the roast at 325°F for 1 hour.
6. Let the pork rest + serve – remove the roast from the oven, and let sit for 15 minutes before slicing. Then, serve the roast with additional honey mustard dressing for dipping!

Tips for Perfect Baked Pork Loin

Here are a few tips that'll ensure the juiciest, most flavorful baked pork loin!

• Sear the pork – this adds a ton of flavor and is essential in a really delicious finished product!
• Use a dutch oven/enameled cast iron pot – this helps lock in moisture and create juicier pork. If you don't have a dutch oven or enameled cast iron pot, though, don't worry! It'll still be really yummy!
• Use an in-oven thermometer – this is *key* for pork! Pork is really easy to overcook, so an in-oven thermometer is the best way to make sure that it doesn't dry out.
• Don’t skip the honey mustard glaze – pork loin doesn’t have tons of flavor on its own, so the honey mustard glaze is a really great addition here!

FAQs

How to Store, Freeze, and Reheat Leftovers

To store your leftover pork roast, simply put it into an airtight container in the fridge! It’ll stay good for about 5 days this way. If you’re looking for a longer-term storage solution, you can absolutely freeze your leftover pork roast in an airtight container. To reheat, simply let it thaw in the fridge and either pop it in the microwave (if you froze your pork loin in slices) or pop it in the oven at 325°F until warmed through!  

More Favorite Pork Recipes

• Perfect Oven-Roasted Pork Tenderloin
• 3 Easy Pork Tenderloin Marinades
• Balsamic Pork Loin Roast
• Herbed Goat Cheese Stuffed Pork Loin
• Hard Cider Roasted Pork Loin
• Best Pork Chops Ever
• Smothered Crock Pot Pork Chops

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