I present the Best Pork Loin Recipe featuring a balanced spice rub and a sweet honey-dijon garlic sauce. I start with a hearty pork loin roast, drizzling olive oil and layering in garlic powder, smoked paprika, and red pepper flakes for a gentle kick. A touch of honey and dijon mustard round out this enticing pork dinner.
I recently tried my hands on a Tender Juicy Pork Roast that quickly became one of my favorites. I start with a 3 lbs pork loin roast and give it a quick sear in 2 tbsp olive oil with 1 tsp kosher salt and 1/2 tsp ground black pepper.
Then I sprinkle in a blend of garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, dried thyme, and even a pinch of red pepper flakes to bring out a full burst of flavor. Once the roast is nicely coated, I whip up a killer honey garlic glaze, mixing 1/4 cup honey with 2 tbsp dijon mustard and 4 minced garlic cloves.
I let the flavors meld together as the roast bakes, creating a moisture locked, deeply savory dish that I can honestly say is the best pork loin recipe I’ve ever made. I hope you give this dish a go and enjoy it as much as I did.
Why I Like this Recipe
I love this recipe because the spice rub and honey garlic sauce mix together perfectly to create a flavor that is both sweet and savory. I also really like how simple the steps are – even though there’s a few timings to keep in mind, the instructions are easy enough to follow and the meat always turns out juicy and tender. Another big reason is that I appreciate the extra tip of basting the pork with the pan juices every so often; it might seem like a chore but it really packs in extra flavor every single time. Lastly, this dish gives me a fun feeling of accomplishment and makes my dinner table look like I really put in some effort, even though its pretty straightforward to make.
Ingredients
- Pork loin roast: provides lean protein and essential vitamins for muscle repair
- Olive oil: contains good fats that help with tenderness and bring a rich flavor
- Honey: a natural sweetener that adds subtle caramel notes and balances spicy heat
- Dijon mustard: offers tangy zest and a slight kick that lifts the dish overall
- Garlic cloves: packed with flavor and benefits the immune system while boosting aroma
- Dried thyme: gives earthy undertones that mix well with the other savory spices
- Kosher salt: enhances flavor and acts as an essential seasoning for depth
- Smoked paprika: adds a deep smoky warmth and intensifies both flavor and color
Ingredient Quantities
- 3 lbs pork loin roast
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/2 tsp dried thyme
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
- 1/4 cup honey
- 2 tbsp dijon mustard
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
How to Make this
1. Preheat your oven to 375°F so it gets nice and hot before you start cooking
2. In a small bowl mix together olive oil, kosher salt, ground black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, dried thyme, and red pepper flakes then rub this all over the pork loin roast making sure its evenly coated
3. In another bowl whisk honey, dijon mustard and the minced garlic until its well combined
4. Place the pork roast in a roasting pan and brush a generous amount of the honey garlic sauce all over it
5. Pop the pan in the oven and let it roast for about 60 to 75 minutes, depending on how thick your meat is
6. About every 15 to 20 minutes take the pork out quick and brush it with the juices from the pan mixed with a bit more of the sauce to get that extra flavor
7. Once a meat thermometer shows 145°F in the middle of the pork, take it out of the oven
8. Let the roast rest for roughly 10 minutes so that the juices can settle in before slicing it up
9. Slice and serve the pork with any extra pan juices drizzled over the top Enjoy your tender juicy pork roast!
Equipment Needed
1. Oven
2. Two mixing bowls (one for dry spices and one for the honey garlic mix)
3. Measuring spoons and cups
4. Whisk for the sauce
5. Roasting pan
6. Basting brush
7. Meat thermometer
8. Cutting board and a sharp knife for slicing the roast
9. Small knife or garlic mincer for prepping the garlic
FAQ
Tender Juicy Pork Roast Recipe Substitutions and Variations
- If you cant find pork loin roast, try using a pork shoulder roast instead; it might be fattier but still tender when cooked right.
- Instead of olive oil, you could substitute with avocado oil or even canola oil if you don’t have any on hand.
- If dijon mustard is hard to find, a spalier blend of yellow mustard or spicy brown mustard works pretty well in its place.
- For honey, you might use maple syrup or agave nectar for a similar sweet glaze flavor.
Pro Tips
1. It really helps to let the pork sit in the fridge with the seasoning rub for a few hours ahead of time if you can. This gives the flavors time to really sink in and makes the meat even tastier.
2. When you’re basting with the pan juices mixed with extra sauce, try not to overdo it. Too much can wash off the spice crust that really seals in the flavor.
3. Always double-check the internal temp with a meat thermometer a few minutes before you think its done. Getting it right is key, because one minute too long and you might end up with dry pork.
4. Let the roast rest after it comes out of the oven before you slice it up. Even if you’re impatient, giving it a few extra minutes helps those juices settle back in so every bite stays moist.
Tender Juicy Pork Roast Recipe
I present the Best Pork Loin Recipe featuring a balanced spice rub and a sweet honey-dijon garlic sauce. I start with a hearty pork loin roast, drizzling olive oil and layering in garlic powder, smoked paprika, and red pepper flakes for a gentle kick. A touch of honey and dijon mustard round out this enticing pork dinner.
6
servings
410
kcal
Equipment: 1. Oven
2. Two mixing bowls (one for dry spices and one for the honey garlic mix)
3. Measuring spoons and cups
4. Whisk for the sauce
5. Roasting pan
6. Basting brush
7. Meat thermometer
8. Cutting board and a sharp knife for slicing the roast
9. Small knife or garlic mincer for prepping the garlic
Ingredients
-
3 lbs pork loin roast
-
2 tbsp olive oil
-
1 tsp kosher salt
-
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
-
1 tsp garlic powder
-
1 tsp onion powder
-
1 tsp smoked paprika
-
1/2 tsp dried thyme
-
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
-
1/4 cup honey
-
2 tbsp dijon mustard
-
4 garlic cloves, minced
Directions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F so it gets nice and hot before you start cooking
- In a small bowl mix together olive oil, kosher salt, ground black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, dried thyme, and red pepper flakes then rub this all over the pork loin roast making sure its evenly coated
- In another bowl whisk honey, dijon mustard and the minced garlic until its well combined
- Place the pork roast in a roasting pan and brush a generous amount of the honey garlic sauce all over it
- Pop the pan in the oven and let it roast for about 60 to 75 minutes, depending on how thick your meat is
- About every 15 to 20 minutes take the pork out quick and brush it with the juices from the pan mixed with a bit more of the sauce to get that extra flavor
- Once a meat thermometer shows 145°F in the middle of the pork, take it out of the oven
- Let the roast rest for roughly 10 minutes so that the juices can settle in before slicing it up
- Slice and serve the pork with any extra pan juices drizzled over the top Enjoy your tender juicy pork roast!
Notes
- Below you’ll find my best estimate of this recipe’s nutrition facts. Treat the numbers as a guide rather than a rule—great food should nourish both body and spirit. Figures are approximate, and the website owner assumes no liability for any inaccuracies in this recipe.
Nutrition Facts
- Serving Size: 250g
- Total number of serves: 6
- Calories: 410kcal
- Fat: 16g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0.1g
- Polyunsaturated: 2g
- Monounsaturated: 7g
- Cholesterol: 159mg
- Sodium: 383mg
- Potassium: 907mg
- Carbohydrates: 11g
- Fiber: 0g
- Sugar: 11g
- Protein: 48g
- Vitamin A: 10IU
- Vitamin C: 0mg
- Calcium: 10mg
- Iron: 1mg
