Savor the Rich Flavors of Pork Tenderloin with Lemon Herb Pan Sauce
Embark on a delightful cooking adventure with this Pork Tenderloin with Lemon Herb Pan Sauce recipe, merging juicy pork with a vibrant, savory sauce.

Whether it’s a cozy weeknight dinner or a special gathering, this dish brings restaurant-style elegance to your home kitchen.
Ideal for an enjoyable evening or a celebratory meal, this recipe captures the essence of succulent pork tenderloin paired with zesty herbs and lemon. Ready to elevate your mealtime with a splash of flavor? Let’s dive into this straightforward and utterly rewarding recipe.
Flavorful and Savory: Your Go-To Pork Tenderloin with Lemon Herb Pan Sauce
This Pork Tenderloin with Lemon Herb Pan Sauce not only highlights tender pork but also elevates it with a bright lemon-herb butter sauce. Furthermore, it’s not just a meal—it’s a refined home cookware experience made simple enough for any home cook to master.
Here’s how you can deliver that juicy tenderloin and mouth-watering lemon herb sauce, complete with pro tips to ensure every bite is perfect.
Pro Tips for Perfect Pork Tenderloin with Lemon Herb Pan Sauce:
- Preheat Properly: Get your oven to 400°F for an ideal roast time and texture.
- Sear First, Then Roast: Searing creates a flavorful crust, and roasting finishes the cook inside.
- Use Fresh Herbs & Lemon: Add sprigs of rosemary and thyme along with lemon quarters to infuse freshness.
- Deglaze the Pan: After roasting, use white wine and broth to lift the browned bits—this builds the flavor base for the sauce.
- Serve Immediately: Slice the pork against the grain and pour the lemon herb pan sauce on top for best presentation and taste.

Pork Tenderloin with Lemon Herb Pan Sauce — Recipe Details
- Preparation time: 10 minutes
- Cooking time: ~25–30 minutes (plus resting)
- Servings: 4
- Equipment: Oven-safe skillet (cast iron preferred), meat thermometer, mixing bowl
With this dish, your kitchen transforms into a haven of savory delights, embodying the spirit of the Pork Tenderloin with Lemon Herb Pan Sauce recipe in full.
Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 ½ lb pork tenderloin
- 3 cloves garlic, crushed
- 1 small lemon, cut into quarters
- 3 sprigs fresh rosemary
- 6-8 small sprigs fresh thyme
- 2 tablespoon butter
- ½ cup chicken broth or vegetable broth (divided)
- ⅓ cup white wine
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon grainy mustard (or use Dijon if grainy isn’t available)
- Kosher salt
- Ground pepper
- ½ teaspoon cornstarch (optional, if you need to thicken the sauce)
- 2 tablespoon water (optional for cornstarch mixture)
Serving suggestions:
- Mashed potatoes
- Cooked green beans
Directions:
- Preheat the Oven: Begin by preheating your oven to 400°F.
- Prepare the Pork: Remove the tenderloin from its packaging and pat it dry. Add a pinch of kosher salt to each side of the tenderloin.
Note: Don’t over-season at this point because the drippings will become part of the pan sauce. You can adjust salt later while making the sauce. - Sear the Tenderloin: In a cast iron or oven-safe skillet, add the olive oil and heat until it’s shimmering. Carefully add the tenderloin and sear each side for 1½–2 minutes.
- Add Flavor Elements: Remove the pan from heat on the stovetop. Add the lemon wedges, crushed garlic cloves, rosemary and thyme sprigs, and 2 tablespoon of chicken broth.
- Roast in the Oven: Place the pork loin in the preheated oven and roast for about 25 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 140°F (ideal is 145°F, but the tenderloin will continue to cook while resting).
- Rest the Meat: Remove the tenderloin from the oven and place it on a plate. Loosely cover with foil and let it rest. Meanwhile, place the skillet back on the stovetop.
- Make the Lemon Herb Pan Sauce: Turn the burner on to medium-high. Deglaze the skillet with about ⅓ cup of white wine. Scrape the browned bits from the pan and allow the sauce to reduce. Add the remaining chicken broth, butter, and both mustards. Whisk until thoroughly combined, and allow it to reduce and slightly thicken—about 2-3 minutes.
If the sauce doesn’t thicken as desired, combine ½ teaspoon of cornstarch with 2 tablespoon of water, then stir it into the sauce and cook briefly until thickened.
Once thickened, taste for salt and add pepper and adjust as needed. Remove the lemon wedges, garlic cloves, and herb stems before serving—they’ve done their job and won’t be eaten. Turn the burner off—your sauce is ready. - Check Internal Temperature & Slice: Confirm the tenderloin has reached 145°F internally. Then slice the pork against the grain for optimal tenderness.
- Serve: Arrange the sliced pork on plates and pour the lemon herb pan sauce over top. Pair with mashed potatoes and cooked green beans for a complete meal.
Ready to Relish!
This Pork Tenderloin with Lemon Herb Pan Sauce offers a superb taste experience and brings the elegance of a fine-dining dish into the comfort of your home. With fresh herbs, bright lemon, and a rich pan sauce, this meal is sure to impress.
If you enjoy this recipe, you might like trying other delicious dishes such as this one featuring flavorful vegetables or a comforting casserole. You could also explore a classic bread-bake side dish for pairing.
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Pork Tenderloin with Lemon Herb Pan Sauce
With this dish, your kitchen transforms into a haven of savory delights, embodying the spirit of the Pork Tenderloin with Lemon Herb Pan Sauce recipe in full.
- Total Time: 34 minute
- Yield: 4 1x
Ingredients
-
1 tbsp olive oil
-
1 ½ lb pork tenderloin
-
3 cloves garlic, crushed
-
1 small lemon, cut into quarters
-
3 sprigs fresh rosemary
-
6-8 small sprigs fresh thyme
-
2 tbsp butter
-
½ cup chicken broth or vegetable broth (divided)
-
⅓ cup white wine
-
1 tsp Dijon mustard
-
1 tsp grainy mustard (or use Dijon if grainy isn’t available)
-
Kosher salt
-
Ground pepper
-
½ tsp cornstarch (optional, if you need to thicken the sauce)
-
2 tbsp water (optional for cornstarch mixture)
Serving suggestions:
-
Mashed potatoes
-
Cooked green beans
Instructions
-
Preheat the Oven: Begin by preheating your oven to 400°F.
-
Prepare the Pork: Remove the tenderloin from its packaging and pat it dry. Add a pinch of kosher salt to each side of the tenderloin.
Note: Don’t over-season at this point because the drippings will become part of the pan sauce. You can adjust salt later while making the sauce. -
Sear the Tenderloin: In a cast iron or oven-safe skillet, add the olive oil and heat until it’s shimmering. Carefully add the tenderloin and sear each side for 1½–2 minutes.
-
Add Flavor Elements: Remove the pan from heat on the stovetop. Add the lemon wedges, crushed garlic cloves, rosemary and thyme sprigs, and 2 tablespoon of chicken broth.
-
Roast in the Oven: Place the pork loin in the preheated oven and roast for about 25 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 140°F (ideal is 145°F, but the tenderloin will continue to cook while resting).
-
Rest the Meat: Remove the tenderloin from the oven and place it on a plate. Loosely cover with foil and let it rest. Meanwhile, place the skillet back on the stovetop.
-
Make the Lemon Herb Pan Sauce: Turn the burner on to medium-high. Deglaze the skillet with about ⅓ cup of white wine. Scrape the browned bits from the pan and allow the sauce to reduce. Add the remaining chicken broth, butter, and both mustards. Whisk until thoroughly combined, and allow it to reduce and slightly thicken—about 2-3 minutes.
If the sauce doesn’t thicken as desired, combine ½ teaspoon of cornstarch with 2 tablespoon of water, then stir it into the sauce and cook briefly until thickened.
Once thickened, taste for salt and add pepper and adjust as needed. Remove the lemon wedges, garlic cloves, and herb stems before serving—they’ve done their job and won’t be eaten. Turn the burner off—your sauce is ready. -
Check Internal Temperature & Slice: Confirm the tenderloin has reached 145°F internally. Then slice the pork against the grain for optimal tenderness.
-
Serve: Arrange the sliced pork on plates and pour the lemon herb pan sauce over top. Pair with mashed potatoes and cooked green beans for a complete meal.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: ~25–30 minutes (plus resting)





