I might have mentioned once or twice before how much I love my Instant Pot! I also love this Hawaiian pork tenderloin recipe. This Instant Pot pork tenderloin is quick, easy, meaty, sweet – just amazing! This tenderloin and pineapple recipe makes a great dinner. It’s a really easy Instant Pot dinner recipe. I created this tasty dish when I was looking for a Hawaiian inspired recipe for the Instant Pot.
Instant Pot Pork Tenderloin 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.
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.
How to Make Hawaiian Pork Tenderloin
This pork tenderloin and pineapple recipe is perfect for the Instant Pot. 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 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. While the pork is cooking you can make a cornstarch slurry to thicken the sauce. When everything is ready you can serve this Hawaiian inspired recipe with the pineapple sauce and some cilantro sprinkled on top.
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 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.
If you like this Hawaiian inspired recipe, you might also like this Juicy Greek Lemon Baked Pork Chops, Butter Herbed Shrimp and Juicy Pan Seared Pork Chops or The BEST EVER Instant Pot Creamy Macaroni and Cheese.
Flavourful Instant Pot Hawaiian Pork Tenderloin Recipe
Flavourful Instant Pot Hawaiian Pork Tenderloin
Ingredients
- 1 pork tenderloin
- 2 Tbsp. garlic paste
- 1 Tbsp. lemon zest
- 1 Tbsp. pepper fresh cracked peppercorn
- 1 Tsp. garlic powder
- 1 Tsp. onion powder
- 1 Tsp. onion minced
- 1 Can pineapple crushed
- 1 Tbsp. ginger paste
- 1 Tbsp. red pepper flakes
- 1/2 red onion
- 1 sprig cilantro garnish
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, cracked peppercorn, 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. 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.
- 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.
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.
I’m so happy I found this Hawaiian 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.
If you are looking for other easy pork recipes, you might also like to try this Delicious Gluten Free Pulled Pork & Dairy Free Coleslaw.
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.