Herb Crusted Pork Loin | The Gracious Pantry | Clean Eating Recipes (2024)

This herb-crusted pork loin is your answer to what’s for dinner tonight!

Love a good herb-crusted pork loin? This one has become a fast, family favorite. Perfect every time and even better warmed up the next day!

We love slicing and reheating leftovers with a little oil in the skillet until it’s slightly browned. It’s absolutely delicious! I usually serve this with some chard that I sautéed in a little bit of olive oil with some garlic powder. Sprinkle on a tiny bit of salt and you’re good to go! It makes a fabulous weeknight meal.

Pork Tenderloin Vs. Pork Loin

The most obvious difference between pork loin and pork tenderloin is the size. Pork loin is wide and thick, with a sizable fat cap running along the top. Pork tenderloin, on the other hand, is narrow and thin, with little to no visible fat.

Taste Of Home

What Temperature Should You Cook Pork Loin To?

The National Pork Board recommends cooking certain cuts of pork, including pork loin, to a minimum of 145 degrees fahrenheit. However, pork is one of those meats you NEVER want to eat undercooked. At 145 degrees, pork still has some pink to it. So I always cook any cut of pork to an internal temperature of 165 degrees. Some may consider that overkill, but I’d rather make sure I don’t make any of those I feed, sick from undercooked pork.

Note: You can read more about the correct internal temperatures for different cuts of pork from the National Pork Board here.

What Seasonings Go Well With Pork Loin?

There is a list of seasonings that will pair well with pork loin other than the ones called for in this recipe. If you want to try different herbs and spice than I have listed in this recipe, here are some others you can try:

• Bay leaf
• Chili peppers
• Cilantro
• Cinnamon
• Ginger
• Lemongrass
• Mustard
• Oregano
• Soy sauce
• Thyme
• White vinegar

How Long Do I Cook Pork Loin Per Pound?

One pound of pork loin will tak approximately 20-25 minutes to reach an internal minimum temperature of 145 degrees fahrenheit. If you want to cook it longer than that, you can cook it for up to an additional 10-20 minutes, depending on the temperature you are shooting for.

Recipe Tip

For easy cleanup, line your baking pan with foil.

What To Serve With Herb Crusted Pork Loin?

• Roasted or baked potatoes
• Roasted Carrots
• Roasted onions
• Roasted cloves garlic
• Garnish with fresh herbs such as fresh rosemary or fresh thyme, or an herb mixture of your choosing. Fresh parsley is always a nice touch.

About The Ingredients

Pork loin

Ground rosemary

Onion granules – onions powder works just as well.

Ground sage

Salt – Use whatever salt you normally cook with.

Ground black pepper

Oil – Any light-flavored oil will work well here.

How To Make Herb Crusted Pork Loin

Blend all the herbs and seasonings together in a medium bowl.

Add the oil and stir to make a paste.

Place the pork loin into the bowl and using your hands, massage the herbs into the pork loin, making sure to coat all sides and both ends evenly in the spices.

Bake at 350° F for about 1 to 1½ hours (varies by oven and thickness of roast), or until the internal temperature reaches at least 165° F. on a meat thermometer.

Remove from oven and let sit for 10 minutes before cutting into it.

How To Store Herb Crusted Pork Loin

Wrap this well and keep it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. It can sometimes be easier to cut it into smaller pieces for storage containers.

How To Reheat Herb Crusted Pork Loin

Have leftovers? Simply slice and saute the pieces in a skillet with a small amount of oil until browned, and serve.

Recipe Supplies

For this recipe, you’ll need a rimmed baking sheet or roasting panto cook the loin on (although you could also use a cast-iron skillet), a mixing bowl for the spices and storage containers for storing any leftovers. If you need any of these items, you can click on the image which will take you to that product on Amazon. (Affiliate links)

See Also

Homemade Beef Stew Recipe

More Healthy Pork Recipes

• Pork Marinade Recipe
• 10 Hour Slow Cooker Pork Roast Recipe

Herb Crusted Pork Loin Recipe