This grilled pork loin recipe is a surefire way to win your family's hearts over. Loaded with flavor, incredibly tender, and juicy, it's a perfect meal for both busy weeknights and leisurely weekend barbecues.
This grilled BBQ pork loin is my family’s favorite. It's a hearty, satisfying dish that's easy to make and always a hit at family gatherings. Pair it with our favorite BBQ sauce.
If you love this grilled pork loin recipe, you'll also enjoy my grilled BBQ baby back ribs. And if you're a fan of the slow cooker, my recipe for pork roast cooked to perfection in a crockpot is a must-try.
Table of Contents
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Family Favorite: This grilled pork tenderloin recipe is a family favorite. Its hearty flavor and satisfying texture make it a hit with both kids and adults, and it's perfect for a family dinner or a gathering.
- Easy to Make: This recipe is easy to make, even for those new to grilling. With a few simple steps, you'll have a delicious meal ready in no time.
- Classic BBQ Flavors: If you're a fan of classic BBQ flavors, you'll love this recipe. The pork loin steaks are grilled to perfection and have a delicious, smoky flavor that's perfect for a summer barbecue.
Key Ingredients
All you need are some simple pantry staple ingredients to make this grilled pork loin recipe at home. Let's look at them in more detail:
For a full list of ingredients and quantities, please check the recipe card at the end of this post.
- Pork Bone-in Loin Steaks: The star of our dish, these cuts of meat are known for their tenderness and flavor.
- Mayonnaise: This will help to keep our pork loin steaks moist and tender while adding a rich, creamy flavor to the dish.
- Vegeta, Mrs. Dash, Garlic Salt, Salt, and Black Pepper: These seasonings will add depth and complexity to the flavor of our grilled pork loin.
How to Make Grilled Pork Loin
Making this incredible grilled pork loin is easier than you think. Here's how to make them at home step by step:
Soak the Pork: To start, I recommend soaking the meat in a large bowl of water. Change the water every 15 minutes and soak the pork bone-in loin steaks for a total of 1 hour.
Rinse the Meat: Next, rinse the steaks and place them in a large strainer basket to drain for 10 minutes. This cleaning process also helps bring the meat to room temperature, guaranteeing that it cooks evenly.
Mix the Seasonings: While the steaks are draining, prepare your seasonings. Mix all the seasonings on a plate.
Season the Pork: Using a tablespoon, sprinkle the seasonings onto the top of each steak and rub them in. When you stack another steak on top of the seasoned one, the seasoning will stick to the bottom of the top steak. Coat each side of the steak with mayonnaise.
Refrigerate the Meat: Once the steaks are seasoned and coated, refrigerate them for at least 6 hours. For best results, I recommend soaking them for 10-12 hours.
Prepare the Grill: Heat a gas grill to medium heat and place the steaks on the bottom rack. If the meat sticks to the grill rack, you can brush the surface with a little oil to prevent sticking.
Grill the Pork: Grill the steaks for about 20 minutes, then flip them over. Continue grilling for another 20-30 minutes, reducing the heat if necessary to avoid overcooking or burning.
Serve and Enjoy: Once the steaks are done, remove them from the grill and let them rest for a few minutes. Then, enjoy your delicious grilled pork loin steaks with mashed potatoes and a cucumber and tomato salad!
For a full list of ingredients and instructions, see the recipe card below.
Tips for Making the Best Grilled Pork Loin
- Soak the Meat: Before grilling, soak the pork loin steaks in a large bowl of water for 1 hour, replacing the water every 15 minutes. This process helps to remove any impurities and guarantees a clean cut of meat.
- Bring the Meat to Room Temperature: After washing, place the steaks in a strainer basket to drain for 10 minutes. This step brings the meat to room temperature, which is essential for even cooking. Room-temperature meat cooks more evenly than cold meat.
- Marinate the Steaks: Let the steaks sit in the fridge for at least 6 hours to soak in the seasoning. The longer it soaks, the softer the meat will be.
- Use an Instant-Read Thermometer: To guarantee that your grilled pork loin is cooked to perfection, use an instant-read thermometer to check the internal temperature. The thickest part of the steak should reach 145°F. Remove the steaks from the grill and let them rest for a few minutes before serving. This will guarantee that your grilled pork loin is both safe to eat and delicious.
Serving Suggestions
- This delicious grilled pork loin pairs perfectly with a side of creamy mac and cheese. The rich and creamy mac and cheese is the perfect complement to the savory and smoky flavor of the pork loin.
- For a refreshing and light side, try serving this grilled pork loin with fresh corn on the cob. The sweetness of the corn is a great contrast to the savory seasonings on the pork loin.
- For a hearty dinner, serve this grilled pork loin with a side of pasta salad. The tangy and flavorful pasta salad is a great way to round out the meal and is perfect for soaking up the delicious juices from the pork loin.
- This grilled pork loin is also great for making sandwiches. Serve it on a crusty roll with some BBQ sauce for a delicious and easy-to-eat meal.
Recipe Variation Ideas
This delicious grilled pork loin recipe is absolutely perfect as is, but if you're looking to change things up, here are a few variation ideas you can try:
- BBQ Sauce: If you're a fan of smoky, tangy flavors, baste your grilled pork loin with your favorite BBQ sauce during the last 10 minutes of grilling.
- Paprika: For a subtle, smoky flavor, try adding a teaspoon of smoked paprika to the seasoning mix.
- Herbs: If you love the aroma of herbs, add a tablespoon of mixed dried herbs such as rosemary, thyme, and oregano to the seasoning mix.
Frequently Asked Questions
Soaking the pork loin in water helps to remove any residual blood or bone fragments that may be left on the meat. This process also helps to guarantee a clean cut of meat, which is essential for a delicious and healthy meal.
Bringing the meat to room temperature before cooking is important because it allows the meat to cook more evenly. Cold meat tends to cook unevenly, with the outside being overcooked and the inside undercooked. By bringing the meat to room temperature, you guarantee that it will cook perfectly on the grill.
To prevent your steaks from sticking to the grill, make sure the grill grates are clean and well-oiled before placing the steaks on them. You can also brush the surface of the steaks with a little oil before placing them on the grill.
You can determine when your pork loin is fully cooked by using an instant-read thermometer. The internal temperature of the thickest part of the pork loin should reach 145°F. Remove the pork loin from the grill and let it rest for a few minutes before slicing and serving.
How to Store Leftovers
- Storing: After enjoying this delicious grilled pork loin recipe, you can store any leftovers in an airtight container. Place the leftover grilled pork loin in the refrigerator within 2 hours of cooking.
- Freezing: Unfortunately, due to the nature of the meat and the mayonnaise and seasonings used in this recipe, freezing is not recommended. The texture of the grilled pork loin can change significantly when frozen and thawed, which can affect the overall quality of the dish.
- Reheating: To reheat grilled pork loins, preheat your oven to 325°F (160°C), wrap the pork tightly in aluminum foil to retain moisture, and place it in the oven for about 10-15 minutes until heated through.
Recipe Card
Grilled Pork Loin (Tasty Marinate!)
Ingredients
- 5 lbs pork loin steaks bone-in
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoon Vegeta
- 1 tablespoon Mrs Dash seasoning
- 1 teaspoon garlic salt
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
How to Prep and Marinate Pork Loin
- Place the meat in a large water filled bowl for soaking. Soak it for 1 hour replacing water every 15 minutes.
- Wash each steak thoroughly, rubbing it with your hands under the faucet running water. Let the steaks sit in water for another 30 minutes after washing it.
- Rinse them and place the stakes in a larger strainer basket to drain for 10 minutes. This cleaning process also brings the meat to room temperature, making it cook evenly.
- During that time prepare your seasonings. Place all the seasoning on the plate and mix it together.
- With a table spoon, sprinkle and rub seasoning on top of the stakes only. Then when you stack another steak on top of the seasoned steak, the seasoning will stick to the bottom of the stake on top as well.
- Coat each side of the steak with mayonnaise.
- Let it sit in the fridge for at least 6 hours to soak in the seasoning. The longer it soaks, the softer the meat will be. I like to soak it for 10-12 hrs.
How to Grill Pork Loin Steaks
- Heat the gas grill to medium heat, and place the steaks on bottom rack of the grill.
- Turn them over half way through grilling, about 20 minutes. Grill it for another 20-30 minutes, reducing the heat, if necessary, to low-medium so you don't over grill/burn them.
- Remove from the grill and enjoy with mashed potatoes, cucumber and tomato salad!
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This recipe was originally posted on July 22, 2014 (original picture below), and updated for a better user experience. The post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure.
nata says
Can I bake it in oven? Whats the temp I shud use?
valya'stasteofhome.com says
I never tried baking it in the oven. These steaks have to be grilled on the BBQ.