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This creamy balsamic pork tenderloin recipe is a comforting meal that’s ready in 25 minutes! Tender pork is coated in an irresistible balsamic portobello mushroom sauce.
For something without mushrooms, try my Creamy Pork Tenderloin Medallions or Creamy Brandy Apple Pork Tenderloin instead.
Why you’ll love it
If you’ve never cooked with balsamic vinegar before, it creates a bit of magic in sauces! It actually mellows out and gently sweetens in the sauce. This easy pork tenderloin recipe was originally posted in 2016, and it’s one of my favorite ways to cook pork.
The melt-in-your mouth, juicy pork tenderloin medallions are smothered with a rich and creamy sauce that’s overflowing with portobello mushrooms. It’s simple, uses only a handful of everyday ingredients, and is a fantastic way to dress up pork for a cozy weeknight meal.
What you’ll need
- Pork tenderloin – this cut of meat is extra lean and cooks fast. Note that it cannot be swapped with pork loin.
- Garlic powder – along with salt & pepper, it infuses flavor right into the meat
- Flour – for dredging and getting a nice crust
- Butter and olive oil – for pan frying and getting that great sear
- Portobello mushrooms – I use baby bellas
- Chicken broth – the savory base of the sauce
- Balsamic vinegar – the star of the sauce. It mellows out and gives that sweeter, caramelized signature taste!
- Italian seasoning – it’s a blend of delicious dried herbs in a single jar
- Heavy cream – to add a touch of luxuriousness
Helpful tips
- A pork tenderloin that’s a bit more or a bit less than a pound in weight will be just fine for this recipe. Just be sure not to buy a pork loin.
- Overcooked shoe leather pork is no fun, so don’t cook it for much longer than it needs. Pink pork is perfectly safe to eat (mind you, your pork isn’t likely to be pink using my suggested cooking times below). Use an instant read meat thermometer if you’re unsure (pork is safe at 145F).
How to make balsamic pork tenderloin
This is an overview with step-by-step photos. Full ingredients & instructions are in the recipe card below.
Cut the pork into medallions. Season them with salt & pepper and the garlic powder, then dredge in flour. Heat up the oil and half the butter in a skillet. Sear the pork, then transfer to a plate. Add the remaining butter and the mushrooms.
Sauté for about 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Add in the broth, vinegar, and Italian seasoning, letting it bubble for a couple of minutes. Pour in the cream, and return the pork to the pan. Let it simmer until the meat is cooked through. Season with salt & pepper as needed.
Tools for this recipe
Check out Natasha’s favorite kitchen essentials, gadgets, and cookware!
- This is the cast iron skillet I used for this recipe.
- A sharp chef’s knife is a must-have for any home cook.
- This is my favorite cutting board that I used for slicing the mushrooms.
Substitutions and variations
- Add a few cloves of garlic when sautéing the mushrooms if you want it extra garlicky.
- For an elegant touch, you could replace the chicken broth with dry white wine or half the broth (1/4 cup) with brandy.
- I strongly recommend not substituting the cream for something lower fat. The vinegar could curdle it, and the sauce will end up thinner.
- It’s just fine to change up the variety of mushrooms for another kind.
What to serve with creamy pork tenderloin
- The creamy balsamic sauce is perfect with Mashed Potatoes. Rice like my Stick of Butter Rice or egg noodles also go well, as do Green Beans or Easy Roasted Cauliflower.
- For a salad pairing, try spring mix with my Creamy Balsamic Dressing. You could also go all out and make a Caesar Salad and some Garlic Bread.
Leftovers and storage
- Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.
- Reheat in a saucepan over a low heat until warmed through, slowly so that it doesn’t overcook.
- I wouldn’t recommend freezing this one.
If you made this pork tenderloin in a creamy balsamic sauce, leave a star rating and review below! Ask any questions you may have. You can also find me on Instagram.
Creamy Balsamic Pork Tenderloin
Ingredients
- 1 pound pork tenderloin
- Salt & pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- Flour for dredging
- 2 tablespoons butter divided
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 12 ounces portobello mushrooms sliced (I used baby bellas)
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 1/4 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 cup heavy/whipping cream
Instructions
- Cut the pork into 1" medallions. Sprinkle them with salt & pepper and the garlic powder on both sides and coat each piece in flour.
- Add 1 tablespoon of the butter and the olive oil to a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the pork to the skillet once it's hot and cook for 3-4 minutes/side, then transfer to a plate.
- Add the remaining tablespoon of butter and the mushrooms to the pan. Sauté for about 5 minutes, stirring often.
- Add the chicken broth, balsamic vinegar, and Italian seasoning to the pan. Let it bubble for 2 minutes.
- Add in the cream and return the pork to the skillet. Reduce heat to medium and let the sauce simmer for another 5 minutes or until it thickens up a bit and the pork is fully cooked. Season with extra salt & pepper if needed.
Notes
- You can replace half or all of the chicken broth with dry white wine if desired.
- This recipe also appears on page 89 of the Salt & Lavender: Everyday Essentials hardcover cookbook.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
© Salt & Lavender Inc. Content and photographs are copyrighted. Sharing this blog post is much appreciated, but copying and pasting full recipes without authorization to social media is strictly prohibited.
This recipe was originally published on June 22, 2016. It’s been updated with new photos and better instructions but is the same great recipe!
Excellent Meal. Little extra liquid, cause wanted more gravy with mashed potatoes. Egg noodles leave recipe alone.
Pleased you enjoyed it, Dennis!! 🙂
I made this tonight with egg noodles and green beans. It was awesome. The only change I made was to add a few shakes of red pepper flakes, because I add them to everything. A hit with all family members.
Fantastic!! 🙂 Thanks for your review!!
I have made this twice in n the last two weeks. My family loves it. I am thinking about making the sauce and pouring it over meatloaf. Thank you so much for the recipe.
Wonderful!! Good idea. 🙂
Our family really liked this meal. It was easy and quick to make. My daughter wanted to drink the sauce she liked it so much!
Yay!! That’s great to hear.
I made this for dinner tonight and it was absolutely delicious! I doubled the recipe to fit my family and everyone loved it! The only change I made to your recipe was instead of having mashed potatoes on the side, I had baby Dutch yellow potatoes, so I boiled them first to just fork tender and added them to the sauce. Such a great dish and a new way to eat pork! Thank you for sharing your recipe!
I’m so happy you all enjoyed it, Samantha!! Thanks for taking the time to write me a review. XO
Is there a way to make this ahead of time
You could, but I’d be sure to warm it up slowly over a low heat so the cream sauce doesn’t separate and the pork doesn’t end up overcooking and drying out.
I made this tonight and it was delicious and will add it to my favorites, my fiancé loved it too! I used half a pork roast and and sliced it in 1/2 in. slices, added a splash of white wine. So good
Thrilled to hear you both enjoyed it, Laurie!
One of my favorite dishes so we make it somewhat often. Make it exactly as written and serve with egg noodles. So delish!
Love to hear that, Maggie!
I made this for dinner and it was SO BOMBIN’!!! Everything about it was perfect. I made homemade cheesy mashed potatoes and served the pork and sauce over the potatoes alongside baby brown sugar glazed carrots and corn on the cobb. So so good! Thank you for the recipe!
Wonderful!! 🙂 You’re welcome! Thanks for your kind review.
Loved this recipe. Just added a little white wine after the mushrooms to deglaze the pan. There was such a lot of gooey stuff stuck to the pan and the wine released it from the bottom and soaked into the mushrooms. A beautiful way to use pork.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!!