The air fryer pork fillet or pork tenderloin is juicy on the inside and brown and spicy on the outside. This is a fuss-free recipe ready in less than 30 minutes.
Cooking a pork fillet is generally an easy task, and making air fryer pork fillet is even easier. All you have to do is to season the meat, and air fry it for less than 20 minutes flipping once. Really! That's it!
And the result? A nice, juicy piece of meat, slightly crispy on the outside, perfect for a quick weeknight dinner. And if you like pork fillet, but don't have an air fryer, try this amazing cast-iron pork tenderloin, the apricot glazed tenderloin, or the pistachio-crusted pork.
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Recipe ingredients
Pork fillet (pork tenderloin): The filet or pork tender is a lean, long, boneless piece of meat cut from the muscle that runs alongside the backbone of the animal.
Not to be confused with the pork loin, which is also rather lean, but much larger. The loin is cut from the back of the pig; it can come with bones or without.
The piece I had weighed about 500 g/ 1 lb and I was able to easily fit it in one piece in the basket of the air fryer. If your piece is much larger, cut it in half; you will definitely be able to fit the pieces into the basket.
This amount was enough to feed 2 adults and 2 children, so two pieces would be more than enough for 4-6 adults.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
How to cook pork fillet in the air fryer?
Prepare the meat:
- Step #1: Remove the silver skin; it is tough and chewy. Place the blade of a small, sharp knife under the silver skin and cut a little piece of skin that you can hold on to. Run the knife under the skin, working at an angle.
- Step #2: Carefully remove the silverskin without cutting into the meat underneath. The skin should come away in a long strip.
- Step #3: Mix the spices in a small bowl.
- Step #4: Coat the meat with the oil and rub it well with the spice mixture.
- Step #5: Place the fillet into the basket in the preheated air fryer basket.
- Step #6: Air fry for 10 minutes, flip, and cook for 7 more minutes.
Cooking time for air-fried pork fillet
The cooking time depends on the thickness of the tenderloin pieces. It is best to check that the recommended internal temperature has been achieved by using a meat thermometer (the Amazon link opens in a new tab). The temperature should be 63-70ยฐC/ 145-160ยฐF.
The temperature will rise slightly after you remove the meat from the pan, so if you remove it when at 63ยฐC/ 145ยฐF; it will be at 65ยฐC/ 149ยฐF once you serve it.
According to USDA (link opens in a new tab), pork is considered safe to eat when it has an internal temperature of 145ยฐF/ 63ยฐC. At this point, it will be medium-rare and quite pink. Donโt overcook the pork out of fear it might not be safely cooked.
Recipe FAQs
Yes, it's preferable to do that. It's tough and chewy, and it will shrink during cooking, making the meat look weird.
Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for about 3 days.
Freeze the slices in an airtight container or freezer bag for up to 3 months. Defrost in the fridge and reheat before serving.
Air Fryer: Reheat slices for a few minutes until hot.
Stovetop:ย Heat a little oil in a pan and flip the slices for a few minutes until hot.
Oven:ย Wrap the slices in aluminum foil and reheat at 180ยฐC/ 350ยฐF until hot.
Air Fryer Pork Fillet
Ingredients
- 1 lb pork fillet (tenderloin), 450 g, Note
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
- ยฝ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon sweet paprika
- ยฝ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ยผ teaspoon hot paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ยฝ teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
Instructions
- Trim pork fillet: Remove the excess fat and the silverskin on the pork tenderloin.
- Preheat the air fryer, if necessary, and according to the machine's instructions. I need to preheat my air fryer for 3 minutes at 190ยฐC/ 370ยฐF.
- Season pork: Mix all the spices. Coat the meat with the oil and rub it well with the spices. Place into the basket.
- Air fry for 10 minutes, flip, and cook for 7 more minutes. The cooking time depends on the thickness of the meat pieces. It is best to check that the recommended internal temperature has been achieved by using a meat thermometer. The temperature should be 63-70ยฐC/ 145-160ยฐF. The temperature will rise slightly after you remove the meat from the pan, so if you remove it when at 63 C/ 145 F, it will have a temperature of 65 C/ 149 F once you serve it.
- Let rest for 5 minutes, slice, and serve.
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