Name: Pork Loin Marinade
Prep time: 30 min
Total time: 30 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1/4 cup ketchup; 1/4 cup soy sauce (or coconut aminos); 2 tablespoons garlic, minced; 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil; 1 tablespoon lemon zest; 1 teaspoon dried basil leaves; 1 teaspoon dried oregano leaves; 1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves; 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt; 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

Published on 09/11/21

by Erin

Our simple Pork Loin Marinade is a go-to recipe whether you are grilling, smoking or roasting your pork loin it will be juicy, tender and full of great flavor! Made with real, simple ingredients an easy homemade marinade is always the way to go!

A pork loin on a wooden board with a knife next to it and the end cut off.

The Best Marinade For Pork Tenderloin

Pork tenderloin is a lean and delicious main dish option that pairs so well with a good marinade! No matter if you are smoking, grilling or roasting your pork loin in the oven – this pork tenderloin marinade recipe works so well. We love to mix up this homemade pork loin marinade so that our pork loin can marinate overnight for the most tender meat. Perfect for your next backyard cookout, an easy weeknight meal, or family gathering!

Why You Will Love This Recipe

Easy: you probably have all these pantry staples on hand for this quick marinade!
Flavorful: the garlic, soy sauce and other herbs just come together beautifully.
Paleo-Friendly: just a few little tweaks make this recipe can be paleo + Whole30!

What You Will Need

ketchup: use any kind you want, but we love Primal Kitchen ketchup if you are keeping this paleo!
soy sauce (or coconut aminos): we pretty much love anything with soy sauce in it, but if you are keeping it paleo then opt for some coconut aminos!
fresh garlic: because pretty much every good recipe has some garlic in it!
olive oil: gotta have a little olive oil in there to help thin things out.
lemon zest: a little bit adds some much-needed acidity. Lemon juice or lime juice would work too!
dried basil leaves, oregano leaves, thyme leaves: we love this combination of dried herbs!
kosher salt + ground black pepper: because you always have to season things a little bit to bring out the flavor.

How To Make A Pork Loin Marinade

The first steps to making this easy recipe are to gather all of the ingredients.

Ingredients for pork loin marinade all separated in different bowls.

Place all of the marinade ingredients in a large bowl, shallow baking dish, or ziplock bag and mix the marinade together. Then pour it over the entire pork tenderloin and cover with aluminum foil. Ensure it marinates for at least 30 minutes, but up to overnight in the refrigerator.

A pork loin sitting in a homemade marinade.

How Long Should Pork Marinate

Pork tenderloin can marinate for up to 24 hours, but you should really make sure you have a marinating time of at least 30 minutes for it to absorb some of the savory flavors. This process will also ensure that your fully cooked pork loin is perfectly juicy every time!

A pork loin on a plate, marinated and ready to be cooked.

Once you are ready to cook your pork loin, remove it from the marinade, allowing any excess to drip off, and then discard the extra marinade. Some of the best ways to cook pork tenderloin are on a pellet grill, electric smoker, charcoal grill, roast in an oven-safe skillet, the options are endless! Just make sure you check the internal temperature of the pork with a meat thermometer to make sure it’s fully cooked.

Recipe FAQ

Make Ahead: the fact that the pork loin can marinate overnight makes this the perfect main dish to prep ahead of time for a delicious family dinner!
Bring the heat: simply toss in a little bit of red pepper flakes if you are looking to add some kick.
Best results: allow the marinated pork tenderloin to come up to room temperature before cooking.
Other cooking methods: you could also easily make a juicy pork tenderloin in an Instant Pot, sous vide, or slow cooker! There are so many easy pork recipes that can be made using this delicious marinade!
Can I freeze a marinated pork loin: absolutely! Just mix up the marinade, pour it over the pork loin in a freezer bag or other freezer-safe container, and store in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Made this recipe and loved it?! We would love it if you would take a minute and leave a star rating and review – it is also helpful if you made any substitutions or changes to the recipe to share that as well. THANK YOU!

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