Everyone who has an Instant Pot seems to love it, and wonder how they ever did without this nifty gadget! Take this Hawaiian pork tenderloin recipe, for example, it’s amazing in an Instant Pot. It cooks beautifully and quickly too. This Instant Pot pork tenderloin is quick, easy, meaty, sweet – just wonderful. This tenderloin and pineapple recipe makes a great dinner. So, if you’re looking for a Hawaiian inspired recipe for the Instant Pot, there’s no way this one will disappoint you.
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An air fryer makes it a pleasure to cook pork tenderloin or pork loin. It’s a foolproof recipes for sweet and tangy tenderloin which is amazing with honey garlic sauce This is an easy pork tenderloin recipe you can’t help but love.
Why You’ll Like This
- True Hawaiian flavors: Pork is used often in Hawaiian cuisine, and then you have garlic, citrus, onion, and of course pineapple and onion, to add that unmistakable taste of Hawaii.
- Simple to make: The pork cooks to perfection in the Instant Pot and then you will add some more ingredients and pressure cook. All that’s left to do is prepare the easy sauce and you’re ready to eat!
- Great for a party: Party food is good food, often comfort food, but never boring food! For that reason, this dish is a solid choice. You can whip up a big batch quickly and easily and it’ll disappear fast – guaranteed!
Hawaiian Pork Instant Pot Ingredients
In addition to the meat, this easy Instant Pot dinner recipe calls for pineapple and onion. Chicken broth, garlic, lemon, ginger, and red pepper flakes add plenty of flavour to the Hawaiian pork tenderloin. And then just grab some cilantro for a colourful garnish.
You can add less or more red pepper flakes depending how spicy (or not!) you want it to be. I used pineapple rings and you can use those or crushed pineapple. Both kinds come in cans. You could even use fresh pineapple if you have it and it needs using up. This Instant Pot pulled pork Hawaiian style is very forgiving and makes any kind of pineapple delicious in this recipe.
How to Make Hawaiian Pork Tenderloin
For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card.
This pork tenderloin and pineapple recipe is perfect for the Instant Pot. It’s just a breeze to prepare this easy kalua pork Instant Pot dish – you might even feel like you’re cheating it’s that easy!
- Prepare the meat and cook it: First rub garlic paste over the pork. This not only flavours it but also gives the seasonings a sticky surface to cling to. Lemon, garlic, pepper, and onion stick to the garlic and will also flavour the meat during cooking. Sauté the pork in the Instant Pot until it’s golden.
- Add more ingredients: Add chicken broth, pineapple, ginger, and red pepper flakes. Now add the pineapple and onion on a wire rack in the Instant Pot and put the meat on top.
- Finishing up: While the pork is cooking you can make a cornstarch slurry to thicken the sauce. When everything is ready you can serve this Hawaiian pork tenderloin recipe with the pineapple sauce and some cilantro sprinkled on top.
Served warm, this Instant Pot pork makes a wonderful meal. It’s great for dinner or perhaps you want to whip up a batch for a potluck or to impress your friends.
What are Some Other Hawaiian Recipes?
Some cuisines are really misunderstood, with Italian, Chinese, British, and Hawaiian being some of them. Most people know pineapple is a popular ingredient in Hawaiian recipes but what else is there?
A lot of Hawaiian dishes were introduced from the Pacific Polynesian islands. Let’s start with Kalua pig which is especially famous there. The pork is slow-cooked in an underground oven. It’s rich and smoky and somewhat similar to pulled pork without the BBQ sauce. Poke is similar to sashimi but it’s cubes (not slices) of raw fish with various seasonings.
Another popular Hawaiian recipe is chicken long rice which has its origins in China. This is popular at luaus. Mung bean noodles are cooked in chicken broth and flavoured with ginger. Poi is Hawaii’s answer to potatoes, bread and pasta. It’s Hawaii’s go-to carb. This is a thick taro root paste which is pounded and baked or steamed. It is sticky pudding like in texture.
Tips for this Tenderloin and Pineapple Recipe
Now back to the Hawaiian pork tenderloin! You might want to find out some more about other Hawaiian delicacies but first let’s check out some tips for this Instant Pot pork tenderloin.
It’s important to sauté the meat before proceeding with the recipe. This locks in the flavour and gives it an attractive golden brown crust. The Instant Pot can sauté as well as pressure cook (and much more!) so you won’t have extra pots and pans to clean up after.
Make sure you are using pork tenderloin. It should be clearly labeled, otherwise ask the butcher for a tenderloin. This cut of meat is long and narrow. It’s typically 2½ inches or less in diameter.
You can get tenderloin with or without brine. Look for a vacuum-sealed package with brine. It helps keep the meat juicy and tender. Just discard the brine before starting the Hawaiian pork tenderloin recipe. You can cut the tenderloin in half so it fits better in the Instant Pot.
What Should I Serve with Hawaiian Pork Tenderloin?
This is a sweet-tasting Hawaiian inspired recipe so keep the sides savoury or neutral. Rice always goes well with this dish, so consider one of these Instant Pot rice recipes or you might prefer mashed potatoes. Hawaiian luau rice is especially good. Sauté some leftover white rice (basmati is good) in oil. Add coconut flakes, chopped nuts, garlic, ginger, and minced green onions. Chicken powder is good too.
If you want bread with this easy Instant Pot dinner recipe, you have some options. Hawaiian bread is typically sweet so you might not want that with the sweetness of this Instant Pot pork tenderloin. If you do, you could enjoy one Hawaiian bread roll and one savoury roll perhaps.
Steamed or sautéed veggies would also be great with Hawaiian pork tenderloin. Yet another idea is to make crisp coleslaw with carrot and cabbage. Add Hawaiian flavour with soy sauce, sesame oil, rice wine vinegar, and honey. A splash of lime and some sesame seeds would be good in there too.
How to Store Pork Tenderloin Recipes
- Store: Leftovers can be refrigerated in an airtight container and will keep for up to 3 days.
- Freeze: If you prefer to freeze leftovers, use freezer-safe bags and thaw individual portions. Thaw and use within 3 months.
- Thaw and reheat: Thaw in the refrigerator overnight and reheat in the microwave.
Pork Loin Roast FAQs
Although similar and both cuts of pork, loin and tenderloin aren’t the same and aren’t interchangeable in many recipes. They’re visibly quite different. Tenderloin comes in a long, thin shape and is usually less than 3 inches across, with very little fat. Pork loin is thick and wide and has a strip of white fat running along it. It would work but it’s better to use tenderloin. If you really want to use loin though, you’ll need a longer cookie time.
You certainly can, and Hawaiian pork recipes predate the invention of the Instant Pot anyway. So, to cook it conventionally, use a regular pot instead of an Instant Pot to cook and sauté, and just cook it for longer rather than using the Instant Pot’s “sauté” feature. Pressure cooking does save time but is not essential when making pork tenderloins.
Instant Pot Pineapple Pork Tenderloin Recipe
Flavourful Instant Pot Hawaiian Pork Tenderloin
Ingredients
- 1 pork tenderloin
- 2 Tablespoons garlic paste
- 1 Tablespoon lemon zest
- 1 Tablespoon black pepper
- 1 Teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 Teaspoon onion powder
- 1 Teaspoon yellow onion minced
- 1/4 Cup chicken broth
- 20 Ounces canned crushed pineapple
- 1 Tablespoon ginger paste
- 1 Tablespoon red pepper flakes
- 1/2 red onion
- 1 Sprig cilantro garnish
- honey to taste (optional)
- 4 fresh or canned pineapple rings
Instructions
- Pat pork tenderloin dry and rub with garlic paste. This will act as an adhesive for the seasoning and will let the garlic seep into the meat while cooking.
- In a small bowl, combine lemon zest, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and minced onion. Rub seasoning onto the pork tenderloin.
- Set the Instant Pot to sauté. Add 1 Tbsp. of coconut oil to the Instant Pot. Once melted, add the pork tenderloin.
- Cook for 3 minutes, flip, and cook 3 more minutes. Remove the tenderloin and turn off Instant Pot.
- Deglaze the bottom of the Instant Pot with chicken broth. Pour in crushed pineapple, ginger paste, and red pepper flakes. Add honey if using. Stir to combine. Place the wire rack into the Instant Pot.
- Add sliced pineapple and red onions atop the wire rack and rest the tenderloin on top. Seal the Instant Pot.
- Set the Instant Pot to manual high pressure. Cook for 3 minutes. Allow natural release for 5 minutes, then quick release remaining pressure.
- Remove the wire rack and pork from the Instant Pot and place onto a wooden cutting board. Let rest for 5 minutes. Be sure the internal temperature has reached 145 degrees F.
- Turn instant pot to sauté. Add 2 Tbsp. cornstarch and whisk to thicken, about 2 minutes. Turn off the Instant Pot and pour sauce into a bowl.
- Cut the tenderloin into 1” slices. Garnish with fresh chopped cilantro and serve with pineapple glaze.
Nutrition
The nutrition information provided are only estimates based on an online nutritional calculator. I am not a certified nutritionist. Please consult a professional nutritionist or doctor for accurate information and any dietary restrictions and concerns you may have.
I’m so happy with this Hawaiian pineapple pork tenderloin recipe. It’s so easy to make and the side dish options are endless. Leftovers can be sliced and made into sandwiches the next day or you could chop the pork and toss it in tomorrow’s pilaf or pasta dinner with some veggies. It will become one of your favorite Hawaiian-inspired recipes.
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Bella Bucchiotti
Bella Bucchiotti of xoxoBella is a storyteller, food lover, dog mom and adventure seeker living on the Pacific coast. She shares her passion for recipes, dogs, sustainability, adventures, travel and philanthropy, in hopes of encouraging followers to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places and stand for a cause. Bella lives with Type 1 Diabetes and Celiac Disease.
Bella Bucchiotti is a freelance food, travel, and lifestyle writer for MSN and the Associated Press Wire.
This looks just so delicious! I love pineapple and pork together.
What a great recipe! I love how quickly things cook in the IP. Looks delish!
Tenderloin is one of my all time favorite things to cook. Can’t wait to try this recipe!
This looks delicious! I need to get the instant pot and make it, maybe with the prime days 😁😉
I ALWAYS seem to mess up pork. I cannot wait to try this in my IP!
This instant pot pork recipe looks AMAZING! The meat is so soft and tender and loaded with flavors.
This seems easy enough to figure out, but the Ingredients list does not contain and “pineapple slices”- just the crushed pineapple. Thank goodness for the helpful pictures! Thanks!
Oops, sorry about that, all fixed now!