Maple Bacon Pork Tenderloin is a smoky, flavorful dish that the family will love. Bacon makes everything better, right? {gluten free}
Do your kids like bacon? Mine are obsessed. They love the microwave bacon but I feel bad buying it because I know I'm overpaying. It does get them to eat some protein before school and who wants to be cooking a pound of bacon on busy school mornings? Not me! I'm too busy packing lunches, feeding the dog and finding random homework papers lost overnight (not to mention socks, belts, and shoes).
So when I saw this recipe on Allrecipes, I knew I had to try it. I thought maybe, just maybe, I could get all three of the Kelly kids to eat this one meal.
After all, they like bacon and they like pork tenderloin so why not put it together. It worked.
This Maple Bacon Pork Tenderloin is...
- tender
- juicy
- smoky
- sweet
- spicy
- gluten free
There are a few tricky parts. First I encourage you to cut your bacon slices in half. I've made this several times and I hate having a bunch of extra bacon wrapped around the pork because it tends to be soggy. Ew!
Although I do have the bacon overlapped in this photo above, I spread them out when I wrapped them around the pork so they were just touching. Again, you don't want overlapping bacon.
Also, I found that broiling for a few minutes at the end cooked the bacon more. If you want it crispy you can broil it even longer but be careful not to overcook the pork. I prefer not to use toothpicks to attach the bacon because I'm lazy ?.
Maple Bacon Pork Tenderloin
Ingredients
- 1 pork tenderloin this is usually two pieces around 3 pounds
- 2 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne
- salt and pepper
- 3 tablespoon maple syrup
- 1 pound bacon do not use thick bacon paleo if necessary
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350º.
- Season pork with salt and pepper.
- In a small bowl mix the brown sugar, paprika, and cayenne.
- Rub the spice mixture all over both tenderloins.
- Lay bacon slices out on a cutting board and cut in half lengthwise. They should be just touching each other at the sides.
- Lay one pork tenderloin on top of bacon and wrap bacon slices around the tenderloin so that the bacon meets on the bottom of the tenderloin.
- Place on a sheet pan seam side down.
- Brush with maple syrup.
- Repeat with the second tenderloin.
- Bake for about 30 minutes or until instant read thermometer reads 145º.
- Remove from oven.
- Turn oven to low broil and broil for a minute or two or until bacon crisps to your liking.
- Serve immediately.
- This tastes best on the first day and doesn't make great leftovers.
Nutrition
Adapted from Allrecipes.
Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary says
Bacon definitely DOES make everything taste better!! And I had to laugh at the microwave bacon, because my husband is OBSESSED with that stuff... but he doesn't microwave it. He just eats is out of the bag as is. It weirds me out, but whatever makes him happy, right? Ew. 😉 Anyways, I am LOOOOVING this tenderloin!!!! I mean, bacon wrapped with a nice dose of maple?! GIMME GIMMMMMEEEEEEE! Dinner heaven up in here! Pinned! Cheers!
Karen Kelly says
Gotta love bacon. My kids eat it out of the box too. No thanks, I like my bacon warm!
Robyn Gleason says
I especially love bacon now that I have a good source. I hadn't had it in years and now I am cooking it whenever I have time on the weekends and like you, Karen, I love to include it in dishes when I can.
This is cooked and presented so perfectly. No wonder the kids gobbled it up, lol. Sharing 🙂
Karen Kelly says
Thanks Robyn!
Karen @ The Food Charlatan says
Oh man does this look good! I'm already a sucker for pork tenderloin but you add BACON to the mix?? Bring it on!
Karen Kelly says
Thanks Karen!
Jennifer @ Seasons and Suppers says
So lovely! I have never thought to add maple to the bacon wrapped pork. Such a great idea (as is bacon wrapped pork - or as my husband always says, pork on pork is always a win 🙂
Karen Kelly says
Thanks, Jennifer!
Karen Kelly says
Ha! Pork on pork. Thanks Jennifer.
Cathy | whatshouldimakefor.com says
My boys love bacon almost as much as I do and this would make my entire family run to the table for dinner! What could be tastier then double pork?? And I give you credit for even considering microwave bacon on a school morning....cereal is sadly our norm.
Karen Kelly says
Thanks Cathy! Yeah, I like the microwave bacon bc they can make it themselves! 🙂
annie@ciaochowbambina says
I'm a big fan of bacon and pork tenderloin- so this is right up my alley! A perfect and delicious dinner for any night of the week!
Karen Kelly says
Thanks, Annie!
Rhiannon says
I love the addition of bacon to this! I am sure my family will love this–can't wait to try it!
Karen Kelly says
Thanks Rhiannon!
Emily says
Yum all the flavours here are amazing!
Karen Kelly says
Thanks Emily!
Platter Talk says
This is 150% up my taste bud ally! I can imagine how good this is going to taste with some cooked cabbage.
Karen Kelly says
Sounds like a great combo!
Megan Marlowe says
I love pork tenderloin and my family is going to love it even more when I wrap it in bacon with your recipe!
Karen Kelly says
Thanks Megan!
Julie | Bunsen Burner Bakery says
Looks so good and perfect for fall! I bet my husband would love this -- not sure on our toddler, he does like bacon but he definitely prefers his veggies over anything else. 😉
Karen Kelly says
He prefers his veggies? Wow, that's a huge win! Thanks Julie!
Sarah says
Now this is a recipe I can totally get behind! This will be a hit at our house 🙂
Christine says
This is a winner! Everyone in my family loved it- five for five. And, your directions were perfect and easy to follow. Thanks for a great new recipe!!!
RIck Appleby says
Wonderful! I’ve never cooked tenderloin before but this was a delicious first.family gobbled it up. Thanks so much!!