Bacon-Wrapped Stuffed Pork Tenderloin

Bacon-wrapped pork tenderloin stuffed with apples, onions, and herbs! Fancy enough for a dinner party, but easy to make. Ready in under 60 minutes.

By
Sally Vargas
Sally Vargas
Sally Vargas

Sally is the author of four cookbooks and is a regular correspondent for the Boston Globe Wednesday Food Section. She also is a food photographer.

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Updated November 29, 2023
Sally Vargas
bacon wrapped pork loin served on platter with apples
Sally Vargas

The Trick to Stuffed Pork Tenderloin Recipes: Bacon

Making stuffed pork tenderloin recipes are easier than you may think and they make a terrific party dish, especially around the holidays.

Here's my trick: Instead of tying the stuffed tenderloin together with twine, just wrap it in bacon instead. It’s less demanding, and the bacon makes this an especially rich and flavorful meal. Plus everything is better with bacon, right?

bacon wrapped pork loin served on platter with apples
Sally Vargas

Bacon-Wrapped Pork Loin Tips

This bacon-wrapped pork loin seems fancy-ish, but is actually quite quick and easy. Roast a tray of potatoes in the oven at the same time, and dinner is all set.

  • Either fresh or day-old bread is fine to use for the stuffing portion of this recipe. Just don't be tempted to substitute store-bought breadcrumbs; they don't have the right flavor or texture for this dish.
  • Butterflying the pork loin might sound tricky, but in fact just means cutting it down the length partway through. Just be careful not to cut all the way through!
  • Open the butterflied pork loin like a book and then pound it with a meat tenderizer or a rolling pin until slightly flattened. This makes it easier to wrap the tenderloin around the stuffing and hold it closed while you wrap it with bacon.

If you think of pork tenderloin as dry and bland, then you have to try this stuffed bacon wrapped pork loin recipe. Filled with herby stuffing and wrapped with bacon, you will definitely have something to write home about.

Bacon-Wrapped Stuffed Pork Tenderloin

Prep Time 20 mins
Cook Time 20 mins
Total Time 40 mins
Servings 4 servings

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil

  • 1 medium apple, peeled and cut into small dice (about 1 cup)

  • 1/4 medium yellow onion, finely chopped (about 1/3 cup)

  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary

  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme

  • 1 to 2 thick slices bread (enough to make 1/2 cup coarse breadcrumbs)

  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

  • 1/8 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste

  • 1/8 teaspoon pepper, plus more to taste

  • 1 pork tenderloin (1 to 1 1/4 pounds)

  • 8 to 10 strips bacon (about 12 ounces), cut in half

Special Equipment

  • Food processor

Method

  1. Heat the oven to 450F:

    Have on hand a rimmed baking sheet.

  2. Make the stuffing:

    In a skillet over medium heat, heat the oil. Add the apple, onion, rosemary, and thyme, and cook for 7 to 9 minutes, or until softened. Meanwhile, pulse the bread slices in a food processor until you make coarse crumbs. You should have about 1/2 cup of breadcrumbs.

    Remove the pan with the onions and apples from the heat, and stir in the breadcrumbs, mustard, salt, and pepper. Set aside to cool briefly.

    making stuffing for bacon wrapped pork loin
    Sally Vargas
  3. Butterfly the tenderloin:

    Cut a deep lengthwise slit down the center of the tenderloin, stopping about 1/2-inch from the bottom of the roast. Open it up like a book. Cover with a piece of plastic wrap, and with a mallet or rolling pin, gently pound it until it is of an even thickness.

    preparing meat for bacon wrapped pork loin
    Sally Vargas
    how to stuff a pork loin
    Sally Vargas
  4. Stuff the tenderloin:

    Spread the stuffing in a line along the center of the meat. Bring the edges of the meat together to return it to its original shape. Secure with toothpicks.

    stuffed pork tenderloin recipes
    Sally Vargas
  5. Wrap the bacon slices around the meat:

    Lay out the bacon slices on a cutting board, overlapping them slightly. Place the tenderloin on top with the toothpicks facing up. Removing the toothpicks as you work, wrap the bacon slices around the pork to form a log. Place the tenderloin, bacon seam side down, on the baking sheet.

    preparing a bacon wrapped tenderloin
    Sally Vargas
    bacon wrapped pork loin
    Sally Vargas
  6. Roast the tenderloin:

    Roast for 20 to 25 minutes, or until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center of the meat registers 145F to 150F and the bacon is brown and crisp. If the roast is ready before the bacon browns, place the tenderloin under the broiler for 3 to 5 minutes to brown the bacon.

  7. Let the tenderloin rest for 10 minutes before cutting into slices:

    Serve with the pan juices spooned over top if desired.

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Nutrition Facts (per serving)
735 Calories
43g Fat
16g Carbs
67g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 735
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 43g 55%
Saturated Fat 13g 66%
Cholesterol 188mg 63%
Sodium 1740mg 76%
Total Carbohydrate 16g 6%
Dietary Fiber 2g 7%
Total Sugars 6g
Protein 67g
Vitamin C 4mg 21%
Calcium 49mg 4%
Iron 3mg 18%
Potassium 1127mg 24%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.