Instant Pot Apple Honey Pork Tenderloin {Prep & Freeze Friendly}
Instant Pot Apple Honey Pork tenderloin is ready after 7 minutes under pressure, and only 7 ingredients!
This recipe comes from my friend Kaidy. Her and I used to teach Instant Pot classes together and this was always on our menu.
After such rave reviews, every class, I asked if she would be willing to let me publish her ever popular Instant Pot apple honey pork tenderloin here on the blog, and she has so kindly let me do that!
Perfect anytime of the year, this recipe is super popular on the blog for fall.
Move over pumpkin spice, honey apple with cinnamon is in town… and much better!
But, is it really only 7 minutes?
7 minutes of pressure time – yes. This is for a 1 pound pork tenderloin. Pork tenderloin can go overcooked really fast, so you want to quick release this, and not forget about it in your pot!
Can I use pork loin instead of pork tenderloin?
Yes, you can. But know that pork loin and pork tenderloin are not the same.
Pork loins look long and thin. Pork loin looks more like a roast.
Because of the difference in weight and shape, a pork loin is going to take closer to 20 minutes of pressure time vs 7 minutes.
Is this just a dump everything in and go type recipe?
Yes, seriously.
Put the tenderloins in whole with the rest of the listed ingredients, and set for 7 minutes.
If this isn’t on a Fall meal plan for you, it needs to be!
Can I make Instant Pot Honey Apple Pork tenderloin a prep and freeze meal?
Heck ya!
To make this a prep raw and freeze meal, pile in all of the ingredients (except the broth) into a freezer safe container of choice (here is what I use), and bam! freezer meal made.
You can cook this from frozen, but I find pork tenderloin easy to overcook, and a bit more finicky so I prefer to thaw it overnight (in the fridge), and cook from thawed.
Kaidy’s original recipe is for 2 pork tenderloins for 4-6 servings. Given my family consists of just 2 meat eating people, when I do this as prep ahead I follow the recipe and include only 1 tenderloin. The only modification I make is to reduce only the cinnamon by half. You need all of the liquid in the original recipe to get the pot to pressure.
Are you ready to add this simple Instant Pot Honey Apple Pork Tenderloin to your next meal plan?
When you make this, tag me @mealplanaddict on Instagram, or come post a photo over is the Meal Plan Addict Community!
Looking for more things to cook in your Instant Pot?! Me too! –> Here are all of my Instant Pot Recipes to try!
Instant Pot Apple Honey Pork Tenderloin
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 pork tenderloins 1 pound each
- 2 cups diced apples
- 1/4 cup Honey
- 1 cup Broth of choice (I prefer veggie broth here)
- 1 Tbs Cinnamon
- 1 Tbs palm or brown sugar
- 1/2 tsp Nutmeg
Instructions
- Mix all dry ingredients together and rub on tenderloin.
- Add the honey, broth/stock to the instant pot insert.
- Add tenderloins and apples to instant pot insert.
- Set on manual high pressure for 7 minutes.
- Quick release the pressure when the timer goes off. I have found that natural release on pork tenderloin causes it to overcook.
- Slice tenderloins into medallions and pour the now apple reduced sauce on top.
Notes
Nutrition
I finally bought an instapot and it arrives tomorrow!! So excited to finally get started on these recipes. I love your recipes, I love Social Supper and I love Bunky & Maries ❤️❤️
How long would I cook if just making 1 pork loin? Still 15 minutes or less?
still the 15 minutes.
I just received an Instant Pot for Christmas and this will be the first time I’m using it. You say here to cook for 15 minutes but the recipe says 7-10 minutes. My pork tenderloin is almost 2 lbs and I’ll be cooking from frozen. How long would you suggest I cook it?
I have the same question. Do I cook this for 15 minutes or 10 minutes for well done meat?
It very much so depends on the size of your pork tenderloin.
How many pounds total are the pork tenderloins used in this recipe?
I don’t know the exact weight. I always just purchase 2 tenderloins – so the weight varies each time I make it.
My whole family really enjoyed this tenderloin recipe and definitely want to make it again!
Awesome!!! Thanks for cooking your way through the blog, Lisa!
I’m another asking about the pork size. Is it one of those 2-packs? Or a one pack that is about1.7 pounds?
I use the two pack!
are you cooking this on high or low pressure? it doesn’t say on the recipe. thank you!
I use the LUX which doesn’t have low pressure option. So, this was done on high pressure.
Hi there,
Your recipe instructions say to add water with honey and vegetable stock but the ingredient list does not call for for it. How much do you add?
Thanks for noticing that water is listed incorrectly. I will remove that. I see the honey (1/4cup) and stock (1cup) listed in the ingredient lists with quantities.
I made this tonight and my hubs loved it. I cooked for 9 minutes. It was tender and juicy.
I will add more apples next time.
Once the pork was cooked I removed and place in serving dish.
Then I steamed some broccoli and tossed with some seasoned pumpkin seeds.
Easy, simple meal for a ‘school night’ ?
Thank you for the great meal ideas!
Great idea to add more veggies! I don’t think there is such a thing as too many apples for this anyways! So happy to hear it was a hit at your house!
Can I use this recipe in a slow cooker?
you totally can! I would do 4 hours on low!
Can i cook this from frozen? If so, how long would you say?
I would add 2 minutes cook time maximum to make sure it doesn’t overcook. You could always check it and put it back in for more time if it isn’t cooked to your desired taste. It also depends on the size. I used 1 pound tenderloins in this recipe.
Great. Thank you.
I have one 2.5 lb pork tenderloin. It will be frozen so how long total do you think I need to increase the cook time?
I see that you already answered a similar question above about cooking it frozen. Thanks!
I have a 4lb pork top loin. Im hoping I just double the cook time!? I’m also hoping it’s about the same thing as a tenderloin. I always thought they were, but while looking through recipes, I’m thinking they aren’t. Oops!
I think you have a pork roast on your hands. In that case, the cook time is more like 20 minutes and is quite a different cut. Both are great – just different!
If I do not have Veg broth can I use Chicken broth?
Yes, you can!
Absolutely delicious and so easy to do
Do you just split all of the listed ingredients between the two tenderloins?
Hi Ali, I keep the recipe the same and add only 1 tenderloin.
Hi, my instant pot doesn’t have a manual setting? Also how do you do a quick release?
This is my first time using the pot. Thanks
Manual is a term used on older versions. They now say “pressure cook” and that is the same thing. Quick release means manually releasing the pressure as soon as the pressure cycle is complete!
This was easy and delicious. I teased my family that this was a fancy meal for a weeknight. I served mashed potatoes and roasted asparagus. I cooked it for 7 minutes and it was perfect. I did sear the meat first.
Yay! I am so glad you liked it. Which recipe will you try from the blog next?!
Hi there. Just tried this recipe and have a couple of comments.
1. Recipe says 7 minutes. Needs at least double that.
2. It’s verrrrrry sweet.
3. To counter sweetness, I sautéed some onions, added cooking juices, some savoury, salt and pepper, apple cider vinegar, and Worcestershire sauce. Then thickened it and served over rice.
All that being said, I will make it again.
Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for giving it a try Gillian! 7 minutes is perfect for the 1 pound tenderloins I buy. I do find if the diameter of your meat is larger than my typical 2 inches, then yest the time will need to be adjusted. I have also over cooked with 7 minutes, so I really do think it is dependent on size! Thanks for the feedback!
Can you use apple juice instead of broth?
No, that would change the flavor completely. It would be far too sweet.
HI, Just tried this tonight… very tasty, but a bit sweet to my liking, which simply opens the opportunity to play around with maybe adding other spices.
Question on the freezing…. you said you omit the broth. The photos look like everything is ‘dry’… do you also omit the honey and only add that when cooking?
Plus, when you freeze, do you generally cook from frozen, or thaw first?
Thanks!
Hi Shelley,
I typically cook from thawed, but you can cook from frozen, you will just need to add a few more minutes of cooktime. I add everything except the broth (which you can) it just is easier to store with less volume.
Thank you!!
Just got my InstaPot and tried this recipe. Awesome! Easy to make and delicious. I did rub and sauté the pork in a little olive oil first. Then scraped the brown bits into the vegetable broth and honey. Will definitely make this again!
Can you make this recipe with pork chops (no bone) instead of a tenderloin?
I haven’t tried that because I can’t seem to get pork chops to turn out very good with the instant pot.
I tried this recipe and it turned out perfect. Pork was very moist and the sauce delicious, I used the immersion blender on the apples/sauce. I can’t wait to make this dish again, it really was that good. Thank you for posting.
Thanks! Great idea blending the apples, I am going to try that next time!
What type of apples do you recommended? Tart like a granny smith or sweet like a gala or Braeburn?
I usually use Red Delicious for this recipe.
Oh yes! This is a keeper! Totally enjoyed this dish. Thank you!
I made this recipe for dinner last night and my husband liked the flavour of the apples and sauce, but the actual tenderloin was pretty flavourless – I’m not sure what I did wrong?
I have an 8 qt Instant Pot. How do I need to adjust the time if I put in both tenderloins? Do I need to increase my liquid?
No adjustments required at all.
Made this tonight for dinner. I added a couple of extra apples, and while I was letting the meat rest for 5 minutes before slicing it, I turned the sauce on to saute to reduce it to a thicker consistency. Delicious! thank you!
This looks great as a first time recipe for my instsnt pot i am looking at the directions here and i am still a bit confused . The recipe i am looking at has half cup of water listed. Where can i find the updated recipe? Thank you
I think the recipe needs to be updated, as 7 minutes is not enough time.
This looks delicious. Do you think Butternut Squash cubes added in with apples would work?