↑

Delicious Little Bites

Loving Life One Bite at a Time

  • About
    • Disclosure Statement
    • Work With Me
    • Contact Me
  • Recipe Index
  • Low Carb
  • Gluten Free
  • Vegetarian
  • Desserts
  • Privacy Policy
You are here: Home / Recipes / Main Dish / Pork / Cuban Pork Tenderloin

Cuban Pork Tenderloin

Published August 12, 2019. Last updated September 6, 2020 by Lauren Vavala

Thanks for sharing!

Cuban Pork Tenderloin is marinated in a delicious blend of citrus and fresh herbs. The result is an incredibly juicy, flavorful dish. This recipe makes plenty, as requests for seconds are to be expected!

Cuban Pork Tenderloin sliced on a wood serving board

This post contains affiliate links. See our Disclosure Statement for more information.

This recipe that I put together for Cuban Pork Tenderloin is a mash up of a couple of different, similar recipes. Most similar recipes refer to this as Cuban Mojo Pork.

With pork not being my favorite protein, I really didn’t think I was going to love this recipe, but boy was I wrong!  This pork turned out so good that its been on regular rotation since I first made it in 2015!

After I made this a couple of times, the biggest change I made was finally deciding to reserve some of the marinade to use as a drizzle after the pork has cooked. I found that the flavoring on the outside of the pork was so crispy and unbelievably tasty, that I just wanted a lot more of that. Warming the reserved marinade and using it as sauce to drizzle over the sliced pork tenderloin most definitely gives it that extra flavor that I was looking for.

We go all kinds of island crazy with side dishes to go along with this recipe too!  I always make Sticky Sweet Fried Plantains and my famous Creamy Coconut Rice  I can’t even imagine what else I would make as side dishes because I love this combination so much!  It’s one of my favorite dinners to make!

Why This Recipe Works

  • Fresh citrus and herbs give this pork tenderloin recipe a zesty taste of the islands.
  • Even kids will love this family-friendly recipe!
  • This recipe is naturally gluten free and low carb.

How to Make Cuban Pork Tenderloin

Prep!

This recipe is really not that difficult to put together, but do keep in mind that the pork tenderloin should really have all night (or at least 8 hours) to marinate for you to be able to get the most flavor, so plan ahead!

2 pork tenderloins in a white baking dish

Trim the pork of any excess fat.

Create!

Cuban Pork Marinade in a white bowl over a white background

Whisk together the olive oil, orange zest, orange juice, lime zest, lime juice, cilantro, mint, garlic, oregano and cumin. Reserve 1/4 cup of the marinade.

Pork Tenderloin Marinating in Cuban Marinade in a white baking dish

Pour the remaining marinade into a large zip top bag (or a container with a lid) and add the pork. Let the pork marinate in the refrigerator overnight.

Tip – fresh is always best! You can use dried herbs or bottled juices in a pinch, if needed.

Preheat your oven to 350ºF and heat a large skillet over medium-high.

Pork Tenderloins browning in a cast iron skillet

Remove the pork tenderloin from the marinade. Discard the marinade and add the pork to the hot skillet. Cook on each side, until just browned, about 1-2 minutes per side.

Roasted Cuban Pork Tenderloin on a foil lined baking sheet

Remove the pork from the skillet and place on a baking sheet.

Place the prepared pork tenderloin in the oven and cook for about 25-30 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 150°F.

Sliced Cuban Pork Tenderloin on a wood cutting board

Remove the pork from the oven and let it rest for 5-10 minutes before slicing.

Present!

Spooning extra marinade over the roasted cuban pork tenderloin on a wood cutting board

Serve the pork, with the extra marinade, if desired. I usually warm it a little before serving.

Tips and Techniques for the Best Cuban Pork Tenderloin

  • Marinate the pork for at least 8 hours for the most flavor.
  • Fresh is always best. I have used dried herbs and bottled juices in the past and the end result is still really delicious.
  • Store leftover pork tenderloin in an air-tight container in the refrigerator. Use within 3-4 days.

FAQ’s

  • How do you know when pork is done cooking? Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the pork. Once it has reached 150°F, it is done cooking. Be sure to let it rest for 5-10 minutes to allow the juices to disperse before slicing.
  • What do you serve with Cuban Pork? My favorite sides to serve with Cuban Pork are Sticky Sweet Fried Plantains and Creamy Coconut Rice. Black beans and yellow rice are also popular sides.

Other Recipes to Try

  • Maple Apple Pork Chops
  • Pork Tenderloin with Cranberry Apple Chutney
  • Ranch Pork Chops & Brussels Sprouts

Love this Cuban Pork Tenderloin recipe? Follow me on Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook for more!

Cuban Pork Tenderloin sliced on a wood serving board
Print

Cuban Pork Tenderloin

Marinated Cuban Pork Tenderloin is an easy recipe full of citrus and herb flavors!
Course Dinner, Main Dish
Cuisine Gluten Free, Pork
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 40 minutes
Servings 6 people
Calories 480kcal
Author Lauren Vavala

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 orange * zested
  • 1 cup orange juice * fresh squeezed
  • 1 lime * zested
  • 1/2 cup lime juice * fresh squeezed
  • 1 cup cilantro * finely chopped
  • 1/4 cup mint leaves * finely chopped
  • 8 cloves garlic * minced
  • 2 teaspoons dried oregano
  • 2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 2 pounds boneless pork tenderloin * trimmed of any excess fat

Instructions

  • In a medium bowl, whisk together the olive oil, orange zest, orange juice, lime zest, lime juice, cilantro, mint, garlic, oregano and cumin. Reserve 1/4 cup of the marinade.
  • Add the remaining marinade to a large zip top bag (or a container with a lid) and add the pork. Let the pork marinate in the fridge overnight, or at least 8 hours.
  • Preheat oven to 350°F and heat a large skillet on medium-high.
  • Remove the pork tenderloin from the marinade. Discard the marinade and add the pork to the hot skillet.
  • Cook on each side, until just browned, about 1-2 minutes per side.
  • Remove the pork from the skillet and place on a baking sheet.
  • Place the prepared pork tenderloin in the oven and cook for about 25-30 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 150°F.
  • Transfer to a cutting board, cover with foil and allow pork to rest for 5-10 minutes.
  • While the pork rests, warm the reserved marinade in a saucepan over low heat.
  • Slice the pork, drizzle with the reserved marinade, and serve.

Notes

Tips and Techniques for the Best Cuban Pork Tenderloin

  • Marinate the pork for at least 8 hours for the most flavor.
  • Fresh is always best. I have used dried herbs and bottled juices in the past and the end result is still really delicious.
  • Store leftover pork tenderloin in an air-tight container in the refrigerator. Use within 3-4 days.
** Nutritional information is an estimate and will vary. With this recipe, you will discard the majority of the marinade, resulting in much lower totals for calories and fat than what it given here.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 480kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 48g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 147mg | Sodium: 123mg | Potassium: 1109mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 420IU | Vitamin C: 44.1mg | Calcium: 64mg | Iron: 3.3mg

This recipe was originally published on December 17, 2015. It was updated with new images, more thorough instructions, tips, techniques, and FAQ’s in August 2019.

Related Posts

Keto eggs benedict cut open so the egg yolk is running out on a white plate
Keto Eggs Benedict (on Cauliflower Toast)
A slice of ham and cheese frittata on a small white plate with a fork and a white napkin and extra green onions in the background
Ham and Cheese Frittata
Overhead of pork piccata in a black skillet over a wood board with a blue and white napkin on the bottom
Pork Piccata
Overhead of Italian Sausage Casserole with a scoop being lifted up with a wood turner in a white, square casserole dish over a wood board over a gray background with a blue and white towel on the bottom end
Italian Sausage Casserole
A slice of keto frittata on a white plate with a fork and towel blurred in the background
Keto Frittata with Turkey Sausage and Bacon

Filed Under: Gluten Free, Main Dish, Pork, Recipes

Comments

  1. Elizabeth DiGiacomo says

    August 5, 2020 at 2:07 am

    I just finished making a double batch of the marinade, but I noticed there is no salt listed. Yet there’s sodium in the nutritional info. Could you please let me know how much salt I should add? Serving tomorrow for a group of 10.

    Reply
    • Lauren Vavala says

      August 6, 2020 at 1:52 pm

      Hi Elizabeth, sorry for the delay. We were without power for the last 2 days.

      I don’t add salt to this recipe because the marinade has plenty of other flavors. The sodium in the nutritional content comes from what is found naturally in all of the foods listed in the recipe. For example, the pork comes up as having 471mg sodium (total).

      I hope this helps.

      – Lauren

      Reply
  2. Luz Munera says

    May 18, 2020 at 2:34 pm

    would it be ok to grill this dish? And how long would you suggest. T.I.A.

    Reply
    • Lauren Vavala says

      May 18, 2020 at 4:31 pm

      Hi Luz! You should be able to grill this, no problem. I’d set the grill to medium-high or 350. Grill for about 20 minutes, turning every few minutes. Check that the internal temp still reaches 145F. Hope you love it!

      – Lauren

      Reply
  3. Sandra says

    December 13, 2019 at 2:16 pm

    It looks amazing! I’m planning on making it for Christmas. I’ll be using a lg. pork loin instead of a tenderloin. Should I double or triple the marinade? And how long should I bake it?

    Reply
    • Lauren Vavala says

      December 17, 2019 at 7:52 pm

      Hi Sandra – sorry for the delay, your comment ended up in my spam folder for some reason.

      I would double the marinade, then just pour in enough to cover it. You can save the extra to drizzle on after it cooks, if you want to add more flavor.

      As far as cook time, I can’t really say since I don’t know the exact size of the loin. It *should* have cooking instructions on the package, so I’d start there, then just make sure it gets up to temp. Hope you enjoy it!! Lauren

      Reply
  4. Tara says

    November 1, 2018 at 2:27 pm

    This pork tenderloin looks incredible! Love those flavors and it definitely sounds perfect paired with plantains and your creamy coconut rice.

    Reply
  5. Jillian says

    November 1, 2018 at 2:19 pm

    Ok, this is mouthwatering! YUM!

    Reply
  6. Danielle says

    November 1, 2018 at 1:45 pm

    Yum! This looks delicious! I love the step by step instructions as well.

    Reply
  7. Matt @ Plating Pixels says

    November 1, 2018 at 1:31 pm

    I never seem to know how to flavor pork loin.. This looks like a great option!

    Reply
  8. Lisa Bynum says

    November 1, 2018 at 12:28 pm

    I’m always on the lookout for a new pork loin recipe because I feel like I make it the same way over and over again. This really sounds delicious.

    Reply
  9. Larry King says

    March 8, 2018 at 10:05 am

    Hello,

    I know this might sound dumb or odd, but if I were to get some thin sliced pork roast from the Kroger deli could I marinate it in in your Cuban recipe and achieve some of the flavor by heating it up for a Cuban sandwich? I really don’t want to cook a whole pork roast.

    Thanks

    Larry King

    Reply
    • Lauren says

      March 8, 2018 at 7:01 pm

      Hi Larry! I think this would work out great! I actually like to save some of the marinade to pork over the pork after it’s done cooking because I want as much of the flavoring as possible 🙂 Let me know how it goes if you try it! Lauren

      Reply
  10. kristen says

    June 8, 2016 at 12:05 am

    this looks amazing. I love cuban food and I love that this is paleo too! Thanks for the delicious recipe! I cannot wait to make this! pinning for later!

    Reply
    • ourlittleeverything says

      June 8, 2016 at 10:02 am

      Yay! Hope you enjoy, it’s one of my favorites!

      Reply
  11. Shann says

    June 7, 2016 at 8:24 pm

    Yum! This sounds delicious! So many great flavors that you’ve put together. Pinning to make for the family. And I LOVE plantains too!

    Reply
    • ourlittleeverything says

      June 8, 2016 at 10:03 am

      I don’t think I would make this if I couldn’t get plantains! They just go so well together that now it’s how I HAVE to have it lol! Thanks for pinning!

      Reply
  12. Maggie Unzueta says

    June 7, 2016 at 4:24 pm

    Love this recipe so much. Printing now. Can’t wait to try this out.

    Reply
    • ourlittleeverything says

      June 8, 2016 at 10:03 am

      Let me know what you think!!

      Reply
  13. Candy says

    June 7, 2016 at 1:18 pm

    Always looking for new ways to fix pork tenderloin. Sounds delicious.

    Reply
    • ourlittleeverything says

      June 8, 2016 at 10:04 am

      Thank you Candy!

      Reply
  14. linda spiker says

    June 7, 2016 at 11:23 am

    I adore port tenderloin! Great recipe. Thanks!

    Reply
    • ourlittleeverything says

      June 8, 2016 at 10:04 am

      Thanks for stopping by Linda 🙂

      Reply
  15. Ann says

    May 4, 2016 at 10:30 am

    Yum! I absolutely love cuban marinated anything. I got rid of all of my recipe boards on pinterest, but had to create a private one to pin to because I don’t want to forget this. Thanks!

    Reply
    • ourlittleeverything says

      May 4, 2016 at 12:04 pm

      I’m with you – ever since my first bite of island-inspired food, I want it ALL! haha!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Welcome, I'm Lauren!

Delicious Little Bites is where I share all types of recipes from appetizers to desserts. You will also find plenty of keto, gluten free, and vegetarian recipes here to help you put a delicious meal on the table every night that the whole family will love! Read More...

as seen on


Copyright ©2021, Delicious Little Bites. All Rights Reserved.