Air Fryer Braided BBQ Pork Tenderloin Recipe
Upgrade dinner with this Air Fryer Braided BBQ Pork Tenderloin! Braiding the meat creates a perfectly caramelized crust while keeping the inside incredibly juicy. It looks like a gourmet competition dish, but it takes under 30 minutes.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings
Ingredients
- 2 Pork Tenderloins, silver skin removed
- 1 Tablespoon Olive oil, divided
- 3 Tablespoons light brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon ground mustard powder
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 –1/2 teaspoon cayenne
- 4 Tablespoons BBQ sauce
Instructions
- In a bowl, whisk together the light brown sugar, smoked paprika, oregano, garlic powder, mustard powder, black pepper, salt, onion powder, and cayenne. Set aside.
- On a cutting board, pat the pork loins dry. Taking a sharp knife, cut each pork loin into 3 strips, but DO NOT cut to the end. Leave one end fully intact (leave about 1” intact).
- Once they are split, sprinkle each slice liberally with the seasoning mix. Flip the meat over and season the other side. You may have some seasoning left over, but that’s ok! Allow the meat to rest for about 20 minutes so the seasoning can melt into it.
- When it’s time to air fry, preheat the air fryer to 400°F (205 °C). Once it’s at temperature, lightly spray the bottom of the air fryer, then carefully place the braided pork tenderloin into the basket. My air fryer fits one braid at a time. Do not overcrowd. Drizzle about 1/2 of the olive oil over each braid, then sprinkle a little more seasoning on top. Set the timer for 16 minutes (if yours is bigger, you may need 19 minutes).
- Halfway through, carefully flip. At 16 minutes, open up the air fryer, flip again, and brush half of the BBQ sauce on each pork tenderloin. Pop it back into the air fryer for 2-3 more minutes or until the internal temperature reads 145°F (63°C). Carefully remove from the air fryer and allow to rest for 5-10 minutes before slicing and serving. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.