Dutch Oven Pork Tenderloin with Gravy

Tender and juicy, this Dutch oven pork tenderloin bakes alongside potatoes, carrots, celery, onions, and herbs. A quick apple cider pan gravy adds the perfect finishing touch to the one-pot meal!

If you love pork tenderloin as much as we do, be sure to try this honey garlic dijon pork tenderloin marinade, this easy oven roasted pork tenderloin, and this mustard and brown sugar baked pork tenderloin, too!

Frequently Asked Questions

• What cooking method is best for pork tenderloin? Since the tenderloin is a naturally very lean and tender cut of meat, it does best when cooked quickly. That’s why you’ll sear it on the stovetop, and then finish it off in the Dutch oven for just 20-25 minutes. It doesn’t need a low-and-slow cooking method like other tougher cuts of pork.
• Is it better to cook the tenderloin fast or slow? Cooking tenderloin fast is best, which helps to prevent the small piece of meat from becoming overdone and dry. Unlike bigger roasts and pork shoulders, the tenderloin doesn’t need a longer, slower cooking time because it doesn’t have the collagen and tough connective fibers to break down.
• Should the pot be covered or uncovered? Using the Dutch oven gives you the best of both worlds: you’ll leave the pot uncovered while you sear the pork, and then cover the pot to trap the heat and moisture while it’s in the oven.
• Do I sear the pork first? Yes! Browning the meat on the stovetop before finishing it in the oven adds color and a flavorful crust to the outside of the meat. The browned caramelized bits left in the bottom of the pan (called “fond”) also give the vegetables and gravy incredible flavor. Don’t skip this important step!

The Best Dutch Oven to Use for Pork Tenderloin

We rounded up the best Dutch ovens you can buy, including 3 (yes, 3!) that I personally own and love. It was difficult to choose my favorite, but the Staub Cast Iron Dutch Oven (5.5 quarts) earned the top spot. You can buy it on Amazon for $311.50 or at Walmart for $359.95. That said, the Le Creuset Enameled Cast Iron Dutch oven was a close second that’s just a little bit larger (7.5 quarts). It’s available on Amazon for $459.95. Here I’ve shown the 6.75-quart Le Creuset round wide Dutch oven, which is especially nice for this dish because the wide surface area accommodates the long pork tenderloins better than smaller models.

Serving Suggestions

The Dutch oven pork tenderloin with carrots and potatoes gives you an entire meal in a single pot. If you’d like to add something else to the table, pair the meat and veggies with any of these side dishes:

• Southern Cornbread, Cast Iron Cornbread, Jiffy Cornbread with Creamed Corn, Bakery-Style Corn Muffins, Sweet and Fluffy Cornbread with Corn, Old-Fashioned Corn Sticks
• Creamy Baked Mac and Cheese, Crock Pot Mac and Cheese, Stovetop Shells and Cheese, or No-Boil Easy Mac and Cheese
• Southern Buttermilk Biscuits, Flaky Biscuits, Aunt Bee’s 3-Ingredient Buttermilk Biscuits, Sweet Potato Biscuits, Cheese Biscuits, Easy Drop Biscuits
• Pumpkin Bread or Pumpkin Muffins
• Corn Salad, Jiffy Corn Casserole, or Fried Corn
• 3-Ingredient Sour Cream Muffins
• Wedge Salad, House Salad with Candied Pecans, Mandarin Orange Salad, or a Green Salad with Red Wine Vinaigrette or Honey Mustard Dressing
• Arkansas Green Beans with Bacon or Southern-Style Green Beans
• Fried Apples or Baked Apple Slices
• Southern Collard Greens or Sweet and Spicy Collard Greens with Bacon
• Perfect Oven-Roasted Asparagus
• Broccoli and Cheese
• Okra and Tomatoes
• Fried Cabbage with Apples and Onion, Braised Red Cabbage, or Roasted Cabbage

Recipe Variations

• Substitute white wine, apple juice, or additional chicken broth for the apple cider.
• Use a larger pork loin roast instead of two small tenderloins.
• Season the meat with your favorite herbs and spices. Other good options include parsley, oregano, chives, basil, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and chili powder.