Juicy pork tenderloin seasoned with a flavorful rub with roasted red potatoes served with creamy roasted garlic sauce makes for a perfect weeknight dinner as you can get it ready in matter of less than an hour.
To save time you may choose to buy already seasoned pork tenderloin, too. This air fryer recipe is so delicious and fulfilling that I am sure you’re going to add this to your rotation.
If you thought air-fryers are only best to make low calorie fried snacks this recipe is going to your perspective completely. The popularity of air-fryer recipes all around the web shows how versatile this handy kitchen apparatus can turn out to be.
About the recipe:
The recipe might look complicated but it isn’t if you follow the procedure properly:
Before setting up the pork tenderloin and potatoes inside the air-fryer to roast, we would need to roasted garlics for the sauce. I am going to show you how to roast the garlic inside an air-fryer below.
Kitchen Tip: It is more efficient to roast the garlic ahead of time so the sauce can be prepared while the tenderloin is in the air fryer. However, you can also roast the garlic at the same time, and then prepare sauce while the pork rests. Simply cut off the top of the head of garlic, brush with olive oil, and wrap in aluminum foil before placing into the air fryer basket along with the pork and potatoes.
How To Roast Garlic in Air Fryer
This “recipe” is rather forgiving in that you can adjust the number of heads of garlic used, along with the exact temperature and cook time if you choose to prepare the garlic alongside other recipes. Just be sure the garlic remains in the air fryer long enough to become soft, tender, and golden brown, without drying it out.
Sprouted raw garlic tends to be bitter, but roasting is a great way to get around this. These photos show three heads of garlic in various stages, ranging from fresh to fully sprouted. All three come out of the air fryer ready to use in your favorite recipes.
Roasted garlic is always nice to have on hand because it can be used in so many ways to deepen and enhance the flavors of your favorite dishes. Try it in your favorite sauces and soups – or use it to make a delicious compound butter to spread on warm crusty bread, roasted vegetables, or steaks.
Air Fryer Used – Ninja AG301 Foodi 5-in-1 Indoor Grill / Air Fryer
Prep time: 5 minutes | Cook time: 20-25 minutes | Yields: 3 heads roasted garlic
Ingredients:
- 3 large heads garlic
- 1-2 T. extra virgin olive oil
Directions:
- Turn on the air fryer and select the “Air Crisp” function. Set the temperature to 400°F and adjust the timer to 20 minutes. Press “Start” to pre-heat the unit.
- While the unit pre-heats, remove the outer papery layers from the garlic. Carefully slice off the top of each head of garlic with a sharp knife, making sure each clove is exposed.
- Drizzle some olive oil onto each head of garlic and wrap each head in a small square of aluminum foil, as shown.
- One the unit is pre-heated, place the prepared garlic in the air fryer basket and close the lid. After 20 minutes, check the garlic to make sure it is roasted through. If more time is necessary, rewrap the garlic and return to the air fryer for another 5-7 minutes.
Let’s make Roasted Pork Tenderloin and Potatoes with Garlic Sauce…
Note: Cooking time for this recipe will depend on several factors, including the internal starting temperature the tenderloin, the size of the potato chunks, and the make/model of the air fryer used. For this recipe, the pork was removed from the refrigerator 30 minutes prior to cooking and the potatoes were cut into equal-sized pieces, as shown.
The air fryer used for this recipe is listed below. Cook times and instructions will vary among different units. Be sure to check the recommended guidelines for pork tenderloin for your specific unit before preparing this recipe.
Ninja AG301 Foodi 5-in-1 Indoor Grill / Air Fryer
Air Fryer Pork Tenderloin and Red Potatoes with Creamy Roasted Garlic Sauce
Quick and easy pork tenderloin recipe with a delicious homemade rub! This Air Fryer Pork Tenderloin is so easy to make which makes it the perfect weeknight dinner that everyone will love. The best part is it’s so juicy and flavorful thanks to that delicious rub. It's served on a bed of roasted red potatoes, and alongside a roasted garlic sauce which increases the meals flavor quotient many fold.
What You'll Need
Roasted Garlic Cream Sauce Ingredients
Instructions
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Remove pork tenderloin from the refrigerator 30 minutes before cooking. Remove excess fat and the thin membrane covering the tenderloin, if necessary, and set aside.
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Turn on the air fryer and select the “Air Crisp” function. Set the temperature to 375°F and adjust the timer to 25 minutes. Press “Start” to pre-heat the unit.
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While the unit pre-heats, combine half the olive oil, dried rosemary, garlic powder, and onion powder in a small bowl. Add salt and black pepper, to taste, and stir to combine.
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Brush the seasoned olive oil mixture over the pork tenderloin and set aside.
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Place the diced potatoes in a large bowl and add the remaining olive oil, dried rosemary, garlic powder, and onion powder. Season with salt and black pepper, to taste, and toss to combine.
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When the air fryer beeps and flashes "Add Food", carefully remove the basket (caution: it will be very hot) and place the seasoned tenderloin inside. Position at an angle, as shown, if necessary.
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Pour the potatoes in around the pork and place the basket back inside the unit. Close the lid to start cooking.
Tip: While the pork is cooking, prepare the roasted garlic cream sauce according to the step-by-step directions listed below, assuming you've roasted the garlic in advance. If you are roasting the garlic along with the pork tenderloin, prepare the sauce while the pork is resting.
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After 10 minutes, lift the lid and carefully turn the tenderloin and stir the potatoes so they brown evenly. Close the lid and continue air frying for another 10 minutes before checking the internal temperature of the pork with an instant read meat thermometer.
Note: Safe cooking temperature for pork tenderloin is 145°F. Remove from air fryer when the temperature is just above 140°F as the temperature will continue to rise several degrees while the pork rests.
For less pink results, continue air frying for several more minutes before removing the tenderloin. Allow the pork to rest for 3-5 minutes before serving.
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Once the tenderloin is removed, shake the basket and continue air frying the potatoes for the remaining 5 minutes.
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Slice the pork tenderloin and serve immediately with the roasted potatoes on the side and a drizzle of the Roasted Garlic Cream Sauce on top. garnish with fresh thyme or finely chopped rosemary leaves, if desired. Enjoy!
Roasted Garlic Cream Sauce
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Squeeze the warm roasted garlic cloves from their skins into a medium bowl. Add one cup whole milk and mash the garlic with a fork to break it into small, pieces and set aside.
Tip: For smoother results, pulse garlic and milk for several seconds in a blender.
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Add butter to a skillet set over medium-low heat. Gradually whisk in the flour until thoroughly incorporated into the the melted butter for 2-3 minutes or just until no lumps remain. Do not allow the mixture to brown or darken.
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Add the cream cheese and the milk mixture to the skillet. Cook, stirring continually, until the cheese is completely melted, approximately 2-3 minutes.
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Add the grated Parmesan cheese and salt. Continue stirring until the cheese is completely incorporated into the sauce.
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As the sauce thickens, add the remaining milk, a little at a time, until the desired consistency is reached. Remove from heat and keep warm until ready to serve. Enjoy!
Note
Time-Saving Tip: The seasoned olive oil mixture can be prepared in a single bowl and then divided in half. However, the instructions (and in-process photos) included in this recipe show this process as two distinct steps in case you’d prefer to serve with a different side dish.
Cook Once, Eat Twice: Store any remaining Roasted Garlic Cream Sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Toss it with rotisserie chicken breast, pasta, and/or roasted vegetables for a quick, easy, and delicious meal.
