Bacon Wrapped Pork Loin
Pork tenderloin looks fancy and can be prepared by even the least experienced chef. Simply roast it for a delicious addition to any dinner.
This recipe doubles the pork through wrapping strips of bacon around the loin and then oven roasting. The bacon drippings will help tenderize the loin and keep it from drying out during roasting - not to mention the phenomenal flavor enhancement.
Bacon Wrapped Pork Loin
Step 1: Prep Tenderloin
Preheat oven to 400F
Place one sheet of aluminum foil, about 15” long, on a sheet pan. Using:
12 oz bacon
Create a bacon bed by placing strips of bacon horizontally across tinfoil-covered sheet pan.
Tip: place the strips close enough together that they almost overlap on the long sides
Select:
1 (~2 lb) boneless pork tenderloin
Place in the center of the prepared bacon bed. Season all over with:
Garlic salt
Selecting one piece of bacon at a time and rotating between left and right, create a “braided” design over the top of the pork loin:
Bring up the end of the slice of bacon and wrap around the pork loin at a slight angle
Next, select the bacon end from the opposite side and wrap over the loin, also covering the end of the first strip
Repeat, rotating between the two sides, with remaining bacon strips to create the appearance of a braid down the center of the pork loin (see recipe photo)
Secure the end of the final strip with a wooden toothpick if needed
Step 2: Roast Tenderloin
Lightly cover the prepared pork loin with aluminum foil, transfer to the preheated oven:
Roast the loin at 400F for 15 minutes
Remove aluminum foil (retain for later), return loin to oven and roast for an additional 20 minutes, or until internal temperature is 145F
Remove from oven and cover with the retained foil
Rest for 10 minutes then slice to serve
Brenda’s tips:
Serving size: 4-8 servings
Note: any size of tenderloin can be used in this recipe, just be sure to adjust cooking time so that the tenderloin is cooked to 145F
Plan ~20 minutes per pound when cooking a pork tenderloin
For additional flavor, marinade pork loin for ~8 hours in a mixture of garlic and soy sauce prior to wrapping in bacon
Or give the loin a good rubdown with salt and refrigerate for ~8 hours before roasting
Window to B’s kitchen . . .
