This is the best dry rub for pork tenderloin that is quick to make with poultry seasoning, garlic powder, salt and pepper. It penetrates the meat with delicious savory flavor!

Dry rub for pork tenderloin show on the pork on a wood cutting board.

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Pork Tenderloin Rub Recipe

I like to keep the seasonings simple on my pork and this dry rub is the perfect fit. Not only can you use it for tenderloin, but it also tastes amazing on slow cooker ribs, pork loin and this baked pork chop recipe.

Dry rub for pork tenderloin is a blend of poultry seasoning, salt, pepper, and garlic powder. It not only gives herb crusted pork tenderloin and roasted pork tenderloin. amazing flavor, but it also makes the meat super tender!

Why I Love This Recipe

  • A dry rub is a mix of herbs and spices that enhances the flavor of the meat and helps a crust to form on the surface of your pork.
  • A savory rub is easily customizable much like my steak rub and dry rub for ribs. Add some brown sugar for a sweet and salty flavor or some red pepper flakes for heat.

Pork Tenderloin Dry Rub Ingredients

Pork tenderloin dry rub ingredients in bowl.
  • Poultry seasoning: A mix of spices with sage and thyme usually as the primary flavors. It can also contain rosemary, marjoram, and black pepper. Also, despite the name, it’s not just used for seasoning chicken!
  • Kosher salt: These are large flakes of salt that have a gentler saltiness than table salt. If you are going to substitute with table salt, you’ll want to use less. Generally, you would use ¾ teaspoon of table salt to replace 1 tablespoon of kosher salt. Salt is great for tenderizing meat.
  • Garlic powder: This powder has a milder and sweeter taste than raw garlic.
  • Black pepper: Gives the easy pork rub recipe a hint of spiciness.

How to Make Dry Rub for Pork Tenderloin

Dry rub for pork tenderloin in bowl.
  • Measure: Measure out all the ingredients into a small bowl.
  • Combine: Whisk them together using either a whisk or a fork. That’s it! So simple.

How to Apply Dry Rub to Pork Tenderloin

  1. Dry your pork tenderloin with paper towels then sprinkle the spice mixture all over the pork. Massage it in, gently pressing the pork tenderloin dry rub into the meat.
  2. At this stage, you can cook the tenderloin right away, or you can put it in the fridge and leave the flavors to develop for at least 30 minutes and up to 24 hours.
  3. Cook the pork tenderloin according to your favorite recipe instructions.

Cooking Options for Pork Tenderloin with Dry Rub

  • Air fryer: Cook pork tenderloin in the air fryer at 400°F for 17 minutes or until internal temperature reaches 145°F.
  • Oven roasted: Cook in the oven at 425°F for 15-18 minutes. The best dry rub for pork tenderloin adds so much flavor to the roasted pork tenderloin!
  • Grill: Heat grill to medium high heat and grill for 15-18 minutes flipping about halfway through (or when meat releases easily from the grates). Rest for 10 minutes.

Tips and Variations

  • Ratio of spice rub to pork: I find that 1 tablespoon of rub per 1 pound of pork works best.
  • How long to leave dry rub on pork: At least 30 minutes and no longer than 24 hours. The long the rub sits on the meat the more flavorful it will be.
  • More uses: My family loves this dry rub on pork tenderloin. It’s a long thin cut of pork that’s low in fat and rich in protein which makes it a great option for family dinners. You can use this rub on other cuts of pork like my grilled pork chops recipe, ribs, pork loin and it also tastes delicious on a whole chicken.
  • Other spices to add to homemade pork seasoning: Try onion powder instead of garlic powder, or both. Cumin and coriander will bring earthy flavors and smoked paprika, chili powder, and cayenne pepper will bring the heat while brown sugar adds sweet caramelization.

Storage

  • The best way to store dry rub is in a sealed container in a cool dry place. I keep mine in a cupboard. 
  • The rub will keep for a long time, but I recommend making a new batch after 6 months as the spices will lose their potency over time.
Applying dry rub to pork tenderloin.

Love homemade spice mixes? Try this Italian seasoning, hamburger seasoning or fajita seasoning!

dry rub on top of pork tenderloin

Dry Rub for Pork Tenderloin

5 from 12 votes
Recipe by: Jamielyn Nye
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 10
This is a simple dry rub for pork tenderloin that delivers big on savory flavor! It’s quick to make with just 4 ingredients. The perfect choice to enhance your favorite pork recipe!

Ingredients 

  • 1-2 teaspoons poultry seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper

Instructions

  • In a small bowl, whisk together poultry seasoning, salt, garlic powder, and pepper.
  • Rub seasonings into the meat. Cook according to pork tenderloin recipe directions.

Last step: Please leave a comment and rating after you make the recipe.

Notes

We love using this dry rub to make this easy herbed pork tenderloin recipe
Storing: Store in a sealed container in a cool dry place up to 6 months. 

Nutrition

Calories: 1kcal, Carbohydrates: 1g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 1g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 1g, Sodium: 233mg, Potassium: 5mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 6IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 3mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.