Are you looking for a delicious and impressive dish to serve at your next barbecue? Look no further than stuffed pork tenderloin!
This versatile cut of meat can be filled with a variety of flavorful ingredients, from creamy cheeses to savory vegetables. And when cooked on the grill, it develops a delicious smoky flavor that will have your guests coming back for seconds.
In this article, we’ll walk you through the steps to prepare and grill a stuffed pork tenderloin, so you can impress your friends and family with your culinary skills.
So fire up the grill and let’s get cooking!
How To BBQ Stuffed Pork Tenderloin?
Step 1: Prepare the Pork Tenderloin
Start by preparing your pork tenderloin. Remove any visible silverskin or excess fat with a sharp knife. Then, butterfly the tenderloin by making a shallow cut from top to bottom, being careful not to cut through the meat entirely. Season the inside of the tenderloin with salt and pepper.
Step 2: Stuff the Pork Tenderloin
Now it’s time to add your filling. You can get creative here and use any combination of ingredients you like. Some popular options include cream cheese, spinach, mushrooms, onions, and bacon. Spread your filling evenly over the inside of the tenderloin, leaving a little space around the edges.
Step 3: Roll and Tie the Pork Tenderloin
Carefully roll up the pork tenderloin, trying to keep all of the filling inside. Use kitchen twine to tie the roll together every inch or so. This will help keep everything in place while it cooks.
Step 4: Season and Grill the Pork Tenderloin
Season the outside of the pork tenderloin with your favorite BBQ seasoning. Preheat your grill to medium-high heat and oil the grates to prevent sticking. Place the stuffed pork tenderloin over indirect heat and grill for about 20-30 minutes, turning every 5 minutes or so. Use an instant-read thermometer to check for an internal temperature of 145°F.
Step 5: Rest and Serve
Once your stuffed pork tenderloin is cooked to perfection, remove it from the grill and let it rest for at least 5-10 minutes before slicing into rounds. This will allow the juices to redistribute throughout the meat, resulting in a more flavorful and tender dish.
Serve your stuffed pork tenderloin with your favorite sides, such as roasted vegetables or a fresh salad. Your guests will be impressed by this delicious and impressive dish that’s perfect for any summer barbecue.
Choosing The Right Pork Tenderloin
When it comes to choosing the right pork tenderloin for your stuffed BBQ dish, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, look for a tenderloin that is pinkish-red in color with some marbling in the meat. This marbling will add flavor and tenderness to the meat once it’s cooked. Avoid any pork that is pale in color or has dark spots on the fat, as this can indicate that the meat is past its prime.
It’s important to note that pork tenderloin and pork loin are two different cuts of meat. For this recipe, you’ll want to use pork tenderloin, which is a slender cut that’s about 10 inches long and 2 inches in diameter. It’s more tender than pork loin and cooks in a fraction of the time.
When selecting your pork tenderloin, make sure to remove and discard any visible silver skin or excess fat. You’ll also want to butterfly the tenderloin by making a shallow cut from top to bottom, being careful not to cut through the meat entirely. This will allow you to stuff the tenderloin with your desired filling.
Preparing The Stuffing
The stuffing is the heart of any stuffed pork tenderloin, and it’s important to get it right. There are countless variations you can try, but here’s a simple and delicious recipe to get you started.
Start by heating some olive oil and butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add diced red onion and sliced shiitake mushrooms and cook for 5-7 minutes, or until the mushrooms begin to brown. Add some roasted red pepper, spinach, finely chopped rosemary, lemon zest, and a pinch of salt. Cook just until the spinach has wilted, then remove from heat.
Next, add a layer of fontina cheese to the pork tenderloin, leaving the outer edges clear. Spoon the mushroom and spinach mixture down the center of the pork tenderloin. Carefully roll up the pork tenderloin and tie it with kitchen twine.
Grill the stuffed pork tenderloin over indirect heat until it reaches an internal temperature of 145°F. Once cooked, let it rest for 5-10 minutes before slicing into rounds.
This filling is just one option – feel free to experiment with different ingredients and flavors to create your own signature stuffing. Just be sure to choose ingredients that complement each other well and won’t overpower the flavor of the pork.
Prepping The Pork Tenderloin
Before you can stuff and grill your pork tenderloin, you need to properly prepare it. Start by removing any visible silverskin or excess fat with a sharp knife. This will ensure that your pork tenderloin cooks evenly and is easier to work with. Next, butterfly the tenderloin by making a shallow cut from top to bottom, being careful not to cut through the meat entirely. Season the inside of the tenderloin with salt and pepper to add flavor to your stuffing. Once you’ve completed this step, you’re ready to move on to stuffing your pork tenderloin with your favorite ingredients.
Stuffing The Pork Tenderloin
One of the most important steps in preparing a stuffed pork tenderloin is to choose the right filling. As mentioned earlier, there are many options to choose from, but for this recipe, we recommend using a pork stuffing mix. Prepare the stuffing mix according to the package directions, but only use half of the package. This will be enough to fill one pork tenderloin.
Once the stuffing is prepared, it’s time to stuff the pork tenderloin. Lay the tenderloin flat on a cutting board and spread the stuffing evenly over the top, leaving about an inch of space around the edges. Then, carefully roll up the tenderloin and secure it with kitchen twine.
When choosing a BBQ seasoning for your stuffed pork tenderloin, keep in mind that the filling already has a lot of flavor. We recommend using a simple seasoning of salt, pepper, and maybe a little garlic powder.
Grilling your stuffed pork tenderloin over indirect heat is key to ensuring that it cooks evenly and doesn’t dry out. Keep a close eye on it and turn it frequently to prevent burning.
Finally, don’t forget to let your stuffed pork tenderloin rest before slicing into it. This will allow the juices to redistribute throughout the meat, resulting in a more flavorful and tender dish.
Tying The Pork Tenderloin
Tying the pork tenderloin is an important step in ensuring that the filling stays inside and the meat cooks evenly. Here’s how to do it:
1. Cut a length of kitchen twine that is long enough to wrap around the tenderloin several times.
2. Starting at one end of the tenderloin, tie a knot with the twine and pull it tight. Make sure to leave a long tail of twine so that you can tie another knot later.
3. Move down the tenderloin about an inch and tie another knot with the twine, pulling it tight to secure the filling inside.
4. Continue tying knots every inch or so until you reach the end of the tenderloin.
5. Once you’ve tied all of the knots, wrap the twine around the tenderloin once lengthwise and tie it to the end of the first knot using the long tail of twine you left earlier.
6. Cut off any excess twine and your pork tenderloin is ready to grill!
By following these simple steps, you’ll be able to tie your pork tenderloin like a pro and impress your guests with a perfectly cooked and delicious meal.
Preparing The Grill
Before you start grilling your stuffed pork tenderloin, it’s important to prepare your grill for two-zone or indirect grilling. This means that you’ll be cooking the pork tenderloin over indirect heat, which will help prevent it from drying out or burning.
To set up your grill for indirect grilling, start by targeting an ambient temperature of 450°F. If you’re using a gas grill, turn on two of the burners to medium-high heat and leave the third burner off. If you’re using a charcoal grill, arrange the coals to one side of the grill.
Once your grill is heated up and ready to go, place the tied stuffed pork tenderloin over direct heat. Cover and grill for up to 5 minutes or until you see a nice sear and color. Flip and continue to grill for an additional 3-5 minutes until you see a nice sear on both sides.
Next, move the pork tenderloin to indirect heat and cover the grill. Continue cooking until the internal temperature of the middle of the pork reaches 135-140°F using an instant-read thermometer like the Thermoworks MK4 Thermapen.
Finally, remove the pork tenderloin from the grill and let it rest for 10 minutes before removing the kitchen twine, slicing, and serving with your favorite sides. By following these simple steps, you’ll be able to create a perfectly grilled stuffed pork tenderloin that’s sure to impress your guests at your next barbecue.
