Roasted Apple Pork Loin with Honey and Rosemary

Sweet and salted roasted apple pork loin in an orange honey glaze unifies all the flavours in this easy main dish, resulting in tender, juicy meat. Serve this tasty entrée with a side of mashed potatoes and roasted vegetables for this year’s holiday gatherings!

Why roasted apple pork loin is so great

Apples and pork have travelled together for a long time, from ancient times. Think about how you probably grew up eating apple sauce with pork. Apples have an acidic quality that helps digest fat in meat such as pork.

This pork loin recipe is quick to assemble in just 10 minutes, using a few ingredients and easy steps. Then let the oven do the rest of the work as the flavours tenderise the meat, making the pork incredibly juicy and flavorful.

What apples are best for cooking with pork

Pork is a salty meat, and what are the best apples that go with pork? We recommend a sweeter apple, such as Cortland, Golden Delicious, and Honeycrisp, that holds its shape during cooking.

Roasted pork loin ingredients

• • meat thermometer
  • pork loin – about 2 pounds or a little over
  • cinnamon
  • salt and pepper
  • apples such as
  • sweet onion
  • oranges
  • honey
  • fresh rosemary

How to make apple orange honey pork loin in the oven

STEP 1: To make an apple pork loin, first season the pork loin with cinnamon, salt, and pepper. You can mix the three ingredients in a small bowl and then sprinkle them together on the top of the loin.

STEP 2: Slice the apples and an onion into ¼ inch slices. Spread them out on the bottom of a large baking dish (about 9×13 inches) that is large enough to hold the pork loin.

STEP 3: Add the pork loin on top of the apples and onions. Add a few of the sliced apples on top of the meat.

STEP 4: Squeeze the juice of two oranges around and on top of the pork.

STEP 5: Drizzle the pork with honey, then add fresh rosemary leaves, diced on top (about one tablespoon) or add sprigs to the sides.

STEP 6: Bake until the internal temperature reaches 140 degrees F, about 55-60 minutes at 400 degrees F. It will continue to cook out of the oven about 5 degrees more as it sets. Use a meat thermometer to make sure the pork is cooked to a safe temperature. It is safe to eat when it reaches 145°F.

How do you keep pork loin from drying out

Pork loin has a layer of fat on one side. Cook the apple pork loin fat-side up. This allows the fat to drip down, keeping the pork moist and juicy without drying out. You can trim away the fat right before serving. Optionally, pork loin can be covered in foil to prevent the meat from drying out and hold in the juices. Cooking it with apples on top also helps to keep this pork recipe moist.

How do I know if pork cooked

Pork meat continues to cook for 5 to 10 degrees after it is removed from the heat. Pork loin is fully cooked when its internal temperature reaches 145 degrees F. Use a ChefsTemp thermometer to check for doneness, and ensure that the pork is at a food-safe temperature.

For more information, please refer to our meat-cooking chart.

Roasted Apple Pork Loin with Honey and Rosemary

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cooking Time: 55-60 minutes

Servings: 5-6

Ingredients

• • meat thermometer
  • 2 pounds pork loin (or a little over is fine)
  • ½ teaspoon cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 Honeycrisp apples
  • 1 sweet onion
  • 2 oranges
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • fresh rosemary

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Season the pork loin with cinnamon, salt, and pepper. You can mix the three ingredients in a small bowl and then sprinkle them together on the top of the loin.

Slice the apples and an onion into ¼ inch slices. Spread them out on the bottom of a large baking dish (about 9×13 inches) that is large enough to hold the pork loin.

Add the pork loin to the baking dish, with the fat side up, on top of the apples and onions. Top the meat with a few of the apple slices.

Squeeze the juice of 2 oranges over and onto the pork.

Drizzle the pork with honey, then add fresh rosemary leaves, diced on top (about one tablespoon), or add sprigs to the sides.

Bake for 55-60 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 140 degrees F. It will continue to cook once removed from the oven, about 5 to 10 degrees more as it sets. Use a meat thermometer to make sure the pork is cooked to a safe temperature. It is safe to eat when it reaches at least 145 degrees F in the centre.

Notes:

The pork will continue to cook slightly after it is removed from the oven, so it is important not to overcook it. Remove it at 140 degrees F., cover and recheck with a meat thermometer in a few minutes. It will be juicy and tender.