Sweet and Spicy Pork Tenderloin
This sweet and spicy pork tenderloin recipe is perfect for an easy dinner or family or entertaining.
The honey mustard is a nice balance to the spice rub.
 I’m sharing my recipe for Sweet and Spicy Pork Tenderloin. It is so delicious with just a bit of a kick, but if you aren’t a spicy person you can totally adjust the spices for your taste buds.
My dad is a great cook and he has this huge (like the size of a small car – huge) industrial smoker he wheels out as soon as the weather gets warm. His specialty is bbq ribs, which he rubs with mustard, a spice rub and then hits with bbq sauce at the end. He smokes them all day and it smells so good you can hear the neighbors stomachs growling! He won’t give up his spice rub recipe, but my Sweet and Spicy Pork Tenderloin is definitely inspired by his ribs…someday I’ll get him to give up the goods!
So just like his ribs, rub the pork tenderloin with yellow mustard this will help the spice rub stay put. Mix up your spices and rub into the pork. I like to let it sit and marinate for at least 30 minutes, but you could let it go longer too.
While it marinates, I mix up some honey mustard sauce.
Now you are ready to cook. I did mine on the grill because GASP! the sun was actually shining in Michigan today and I wanted to take full advantage of the rare sighting, but you could easily brown this in a saute pan with some butter.
Grill about 5 minutes on all sides for a total cooking time of 20 minutes. In the last few minutes of cooking I like to brush on some of the honey mustard to get a nice glaze on the outside. Then let rest 5-10 minutes before slicing, and serve with the honey mustard  sauce –  enjoy!

Sweet and Spicy Pork Tenderloin
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp curry powder
- 1/2 tsp chili powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/8 - 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
- 2 pork tenderloin
- 2 tbsp yellow mustard
- 1/4 c yellow mustard
- 1/4 c stone ground mustard
- 1/2 c honey
Instructions
- Mix all dry ingredients together for the spice rub in a bowl
- Coat pork tenderloin in 2 tbsp yellow mustard
- Then rub with spice rub
- Allow to marinate for at least 30 min or up to overnight
- Combine mustards and honey to create honey mustard sauce
- Preheat grill to 400
- Grill pork tenderloin 5 minutes per side for a total of 20 minutes
- Baste with honey mustard sauce while grilling
- Allow to rest for 5 minutes before slicing
- Thinly slice and serve with additional honey mustard sauce
Nutrition
Any of these sides would be delicious to serve along side this sweet and spicy pork tenderloin.
Thank you for the recipe, it looks amazing…can’t wait to try it. I’ve been in a cook rut, it’s always nice to try new recipes.
Really great recipe. Made it a few nights ago with a warm farro salad. Had the leftovers tonight, mixed the pork, mustard sauce and farro together, wished I had more. Mustard sauce takes it over the top. Thanks for a wonderful recipe.
Can’t wait to try this rub! Have never used this much ground mustard? Can’t wait to taste the results!!! Will let you know if the fam aproves !!!!! Thanks
Hey Kay it’s not the ground mustard like in powder form? I used stone ground mustard like grey poupon or another similar brand, hope that helps?
Made this last night, so easy to prep and it was really good! Had never used the BBQ to grill tenderloin, but it was so hot here so perfect idea. Will definitely make again! Thanks!
I made this last night and it was absolutely amazing!!!! Thanks for the recipe. My boyfriend was so impressed after coming home from work to this :)
YUM! I have a rack of ribs in my fridge I am going to put this stuff on tomorrow night! Thanks for sharing!!
Thanks Etta! I hope it was good :)
I plan to use your pork loin recipe this weekend. I love your blog. You are a very talented girl and have created a very pretty home.
Jerri
Thanks so much Jerri, I hope you liked it!
Thank you for posting this recipe! My poor family was going through a stir-fry rut and really needed a change. Then I came across your blog and what was the most recent post? A grilling wonder! That night, dinner was a hit!!! Little man begged for more and hubby wants to know when we’re doing this one again. You have saved this home from yet another boring meal. Thanks
~Crys
Oh good! I’m so glad you liked it!
I can smell your grill all the way down here in the south. I can’t wait to try this rub on some pork.
ha ha ha, hope you like it!
This looks fantastic. Looking forward to nice weather to try it.
This pork loin looks amazing; can’t wait to try it! I love those dishes! Beautiful! I am a big fan of Ella Claire too!
Kristen from Ella Claire is the best!
The pork recipe looks/sounds delish!! making for dinner tonight!! By the way, I love your blog! Your home is so charming!!
Thanks so much Kelli, I hope you all liked it :)
This recipe looks delicious. I can’t wait to give it a try.
I can’t WAIT to try this recipe! It looks so delicious *drool*
The pork tenderloin looks delicious!
That pork tenderloin looks sooo good! I’ll definitely be trying it. And what an awesome giveaway…I’m swooning over the Le Creuset items! :-)
I know right? I love Le Creuset! Good luck!
What a fun idea and the recipe sounds yummy!
Thanks Ruby, I know, fun right? Loving all the recipes!
Oh my I love grilling pork tenderloin. I’m going to have to try your recipe the next time I go to grill one!
You have a beautiful home and family! You are blessed. Thanks for great recipe.
Thanks so much Elizabeth!
Love your blog. It’s the first one I’ve ever followed!
Thanks so much Villette! So honored to be your first blog :) I hope you got a chance to check out some of the other great bloggers from the progressive dinner, I can promise you will want to follow along with them too!