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Bacon-Brown Sugar Pork Tenderloin

Bacon wrapped pork tenderloin with a caramelized brown sugar glaze that turns bacon into a crisp shell while keeping the meat juicy. Roasted at 400°F to 145°F internal temperature, then rested briefly for clean slicing.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
rest 5 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: American

Ingredients
  

pork tenderloins
  • 2 lb pork tenderloins (about 1 lb each)
bacon
  • 10 slices bacon Use 10–12 slices total.
brown sugar glaze
  • 3 tbsp brown sugar
  • 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
  • 1 tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 0.5 tsp smoked paprika
  • salt and pepper to taste

Equipment

  • 1 sheet pan

Method
 

Prep and glaze
  1. Preheat the oven to 400°F. Let it fully come up to temperature so the bacon crisps quickly.
  2. Season the pork tenderloins with salt and pepper. Aim for even coverage all over the surface.
  3. Mix the brown sugar, Dijon mustard, soy sauce, garlic powder, and smoked paprika until smooth. Brush half of the glaze over the pork so it starts caramelizing while it roasts.
Wrap and roast
  1. Wrap each tenderloin tightly in bacon strips, overlapping slightly, and secure the ends with toothpicks. Keep the wrap snug so it forms a continuous crispy shell.
  2. Place the tenderloins in a roasting pan and brush the remaining glaze over the bacon. Make sure glaze coats the bacon surface for caramelized edges.
  3. Roast for 25–30 minutes at 400°F until the bacon is crispy and the internal temperature reaches 145°F. Look for deep golden bacon and a glossy, caramelized glaze.
Rest and serve
  1. Rest the tenderloin for 5 minutes. Remove the toothpicks and slice to keep juices from running.

Notes

Pro tip: use an instant-read thermometer and pull the roast at 145°F for juicy pink meat; bacon can go from crispy to overdone fast. Refrigerate leftovers in a sealed container for up to 3 days; reheat in a 325°F oven until warmed through (about 10–15 minutes). Freezing is not recommended because bacon texture softens, but you can freeze sliced pork tenderloin (wrap tightly) and re-crisp later. For a lower-sodium option, use reduced-sodium soy sauce and season salt lightly.