Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Pork Tenderloin (Juicy & Easy)
If you’re looking for a dinner that looks impressive but is secretly easy, this Air Fryer Bacon-Wrapped Pork Tenderloin is it. It’s simple enough for a weeknight, but totally guest-worthy if company drops by. You just season the pork, wrap it in bacon, brush on a little honey and olive oil, and let the air fryer do its thing.
Around the holidays, you can even take it up a notch and stuff it with dressing or stuffing before wrapping it in bacon. It’s one of those meals that looks like you went all out… when really, it wasn’t that hard at all.
⭐ Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Cooks quickly in the air fryer
- Juicy, tender pork every time (when cooked to the right temp)
- Minimal prep with big flavor payoff!
- Easy to customize for holidays or everyday dinners
- Pairs well with tons of simple side dishes
🛒 Ingredients & Quick Substitutions
- Bacon: Bacon keeps pork tenderloin (which is usually pretty lean) juicy and happy, locking in moisture while adding that rich, smoky flavor we all love. Thick or thin sliced both work. Thick-cut bacon adds more fat, which means extra moisture. Maple-smoked or hickory-smoked bacon are both great options.
- Olive oil: Can be swapped for avocado oil or melted butter.
- Honey: Maple syrup or brown sugar work well for a similar sweet glaze.
- Spices: Feel free to add onion powder, smoked paprika, or a pinch of cayenne for heat. Italian seasoning can replace thyme in a pinch.
- Holiday variation: Slice the tenderloin lengthwise, stuff with a prepared stuffing, then wrap tightly with bacon. Serve with cranberry sauce for a holiday-style main dish!
👩🍳 How to Make Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Pork Loin
- Trim, season and leave the roast at room temperature for 20 minutes. Sear the tenderloin.
- Arrange the bacon strips on a clean surface or board in an overlapping pattern.
- Place the roast on top of the bacon strips on the edge.
- Using a wide knife or spatula, roll the bacon around the roast and continue until it’s covered the meat.
- Form an improvised baking dish out of a double layer of foil. Place the meat and bacon in the foil mold and drizzle with honey.
- Bake in the air fryer for 15 minutes. Stop for a moment and baste the pork with juice that has formed during cooking. Continue cooking for about 10 minutes more. (Keep in mind that cooking times may vary depending on the thickness of the pork.)
- During the baking process, the bacon will become crispy and the honey glaze will caramelize to form yummy crust. When the roast has reached the safe internal temperature, let it rest before serving.
- *****Optional oven cooking directions are located in the recipe card below.
Please refer to the printable recipe card below for exact amounts, detailed instructions, and helpful tips to make this recipe perfect every time.
🍽 Serving Ideas
This dish pairs beautifully with simple sides. A few great options:
- Roasted vegetables (green beans, carrots, or Brussels sprouts)
- Mashed potatoes or garlic potatoes
- Simple side salad with vinaigrette
- Coleslaw, or Vegetable salad for contrast
- Cranberry sauce (especially for holidays)!
You could also serve this alongside other easy favorites like air fryer vegetables, buttery dinner rolls, or a light pasta salad to round out the meal.
Recipe FAQs
This is a very common question, and they are not the same cut.
Pork tenderloin is long, thin, and very tender. It cooks quickly and is ideal for the air fryer . This recipe is written specifically for pork tenderloin.
Pork loin is wider, thicker, and much larger. It requires a longer cooking time and is better suited for roasting, not air frying in this way.
Substituting pork loin for pork tenderloin without adjusting time and method can result in undercooked or dry meat.
The pork is done when the internal temperature reaches 145°F (63°C). The bacon should be crispy and the pork slightly blush-pink in the center, which is safe and juicy.
This Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Pork Tenderloin is one of those reliable recipes you’ll come back to again and again. It’s juicy, flavorful, and flexible enough for both everyday dinners and special occasions. Thanks for stopping by The Salty Pot today, see you next time!
Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Pork Loin
Juicy air fryer bacon wrapped pork tenderloin with a perfectly crisp exterior and tender, flavorful center. This easy recipe feels special enough for holidays but simple enough for a weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
- 1 pound pork tenderloin
- 10 strips of bacon
- 1 1/2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp honey
- Spice mix - garlic powder, paprika, thyme, salt and black pepper
- Salt to taste
Instructions
1. Remove excess fat and spit from the tenderloin. Rub with salt and spices on all sides and leave at room temperature for 20 minutes. Sauté the tenderloin in olive oil on all sides.
2. Arrange the bacon strips on a clean surface or board in an overlapping pattern.
3. Place the pork tenderloin on top of the bacon strips on the edge.
Using a wide knife or spatula, make the first turn of the bacon. Continue wrapping the bacon around the meat.
4- Form an improvised baking dish out of a double layer of foil. Place the meat and bacon in the foil mold and drizzle with honey.
5. Bake the dish in the oven or in an air fryer at 200°C/390°F for 15 minutes. Pour over the pork the juice that has formed during cooking and cook for about 10 minutes more. Keep in mind that cooking times may vary depending on the thickness of the pork.
During the baking process, the bacon will become crispy and the honey glaze will caramelize to form yummy, crispy crust. Be sure to let the meat rest for 10 minutes are cooking.
Notes
Choosing bacon: For best results, use good quality bacon. It should be thin enough to crisp up in an air fryer. You can use regular or smoked bacon, depending on your preference.
Cooking: The recommended internal temperature for pork is 145°F (63°C) for medium rare and 160°F (71°C) for medium rare. Use a meat thermometer to make sure the pork is cooked to the desired degree of doneness.
For Oven Cooking:
- Prep the pork: Trim excess fat or silver skin from the tenderloin. Rub it all over with salt and your spice mix (garlic powder, paprika, thyme, black pepper). Let it sit at room temperature for 20 minutes.
- Preheat: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Sear the tenderloin: Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the tenderloin on all sides until lightly browned (about 1–2 minutes per side). Remove from heat.
- Wrap with bacon: Lay the bacon strips on a board in a slightly overlapping horizontal row. Place the tenderloin at one end and roll it up tightly using a spatula or wide knife to help you start the first turn.
- Prepare for baking: Place the bacon-wrapped tenderloin in an oven safe baking dish and drizzle the honey over the top.
- Bake: Bake for 25-30 minutes, basting once with the pan juices halfway through. If the bacon isn't crisp enough near the end of roasting, broil for 2-3 minutes, watching closely. Cook until the internal temperature reaches 145°F (63°C) for juicy/medium, or 160°F (71°C) for more well-done.
- Rest: Remove from the oven and let the tenderloin rest 10 minutes before slicing so the juices settle.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 318Total Fat: 20gSaturated Fat: 6gUnsaturated Fat: 14gCholesterol: 83mgSodium: 754mgCarbohydrates: 4gFiber: 0gSugar: 3gProtein: 30g
All nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe and nutritional value will vary depending on the brands you use, measuring methods, and portion sizes per household.
