Smoked pork tenderloin wrapped in bacon is an easy, tasty dinner that slow-cooks on the smoker to crispy perfection. It’s a gorgeous, show-stopping piece of meat that will have your pork-lovin’ dinner guests squealing with delight!
This smoked bacon wrapped pork tenderloin is one of our favorite bacon dinner recipes because it has so much flavor and is very simple to put together. Pre-cooking the bacon strips for a few minutes in the oven before wrapping them around the pork makes them extra crispy and perfectly browned.
Don’t have a smoker or pellet grill? No problem! This recipe can easily be prepared in the oven. Just scroll down for directions.
If you love smoky flavors, be sure to check out How to Cook Bacon on a Pellet Grill and our Smoked Baked Beans with Bacon. And for more “meat wrapped in meat,” you might also enjoy this Bacon Weave Meatloaf, savory Turkey Tenderloins Wrapped in Bacon, and these ever-popular Bacon Wrapped Little Smokies appetizers!
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Contents
Want to get right to the good stuff? Click on any of these headings to jump ahead:
- Why This Recipe is Worth Making
- Ingredients and Substitutions
- Equipment Needed
- Step by Step Instructions
- Pro Recipe Tips
- How to Store, Freeze and Reheat Leftovers
- Oven Roasted Bacon Wrapped Pork Tenderloin
- Recipe Variations
- FAQs
- What to Serve with Bacon Wrapped Pork Tenderloin
- Smoked Pork Tenderloin Wrapped in Bacon Recipe
Why This Recipe is Worth Making
- The crispy bacon perfectly compliments the smoky flavor of the meat.
- The bacon adds incredible flavor and keeps the pork so juicy while it’s cooking.
- Partially pre-cooking the bacon before smoking makes it come out perfectly golden brown and crispy around the pork.
- Using wood in your smoker adds another level of subtle, sweet deliciousness that enhances the flavor of the pork.
Ingredients and Substitutions
Here’s what you’ll need to prepare this bacon-wrapped pork:
Pork tenderloin – Look in the store for a tenderloin of around 1.5 pounds, which is perfect for 4 people. The one pictured above is from Beeler’s Pure Pork, purchased at Natural Grocers (not a sponsored mention, just two companies I like).
Bacon – Regular sliced bacon works best in this recipe, as it’s thin enough to cook to crispy perfection in the moderate temperature of the smoker. If you only have thick-sliced bacon, pre-cook it for another 5 minutes when it’s in the oven.
Seasoning rub – I used Traeger Pork and Poultry Rub with Apple and Honey to give the smoked pork loin even more flavor.
You can use your favorite rub, or make your own pork rub using this simple formula: Combine 1 teaspoon each of smoked paprika, sugar, freshly ground black pepper, kosher salt, garlic powder, and onion powder. This will make 2 tablespoons of rub, which is the exact amount you need for this recipe.
Garlic – I used one large clove of minced garlic. Feel free to omit or add more, depending on what your tastebuds prefer.
Fresh lime – A squeeze of lime adds the touch of acid that perfectly compliments the rich fat of the bacon.
Equipment Needed
Smoker – This recipe works well with all types of smokers, whether you have an electric, vertical charcoal, Big Green Egg, Kamado, ceramic, pellet, propane, offset charcoal or cabinet-type smoker.
Being able to keep the smoker at a consistent temperature of 250 degrees F is the key to success with this dish.
Meathead Goldwyn has a great overview of how to buy a smoker with recommendations and reviews at Amazing Ribs.
Here at the BENSA test kitchen, we use this Camp Chef SmokePro Pellet Grill and Smoker.
Wood – You’ll need wood chunks, chips or pellets to add the smoky flavor to this pork. Feel free to use your favorite type.
Cherry or apple wood will add a slightly sweeter flavor that compliments this recipe well, while hickory wood chunks or chips will add more of a traditional smoke flavor. We used a blend of maple and cherry pellets with our smoker.
Sharp boning knife – to remove the silver skin and membrane from the pork loin. You want a curved knife with a thin blade to trim the pork without removing the meat.
Baking sheet with an oven-safe cooking rack – This will elevate the bacon wrapped tenderloin so that it gets hit with the smoke and heat on all sides.
Make sure to use an oven-proof baking rack (we like this one) and not a cooling rack, as those are sometimes treated with nonstick coatings or made from metal that is not safe to heat at higher temperatures.
Aluminum foil – will help protect the baking pan, reflect the heat, and make clean up easy. Either regular or heavy duty foil is fine for this recipe.
Instant read thermometer – If your smoker has a probe, use it to monitor the internal temperature of the pork as it smokes. If not, this Thermopro Professional Instant Thermometer is fast and accurate.
Sharp carving knife to cut the finished tenderloin in slices.
Step by Step Instructions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and fit it with a wire baking rack.
Trim the excess fat, silver skin and membrane from the pork tenderloin. Rub it with the garlic.
Sprinkle on both sides with the seasoning mixture and black pepper. Allow to sit for 20 minutes to absorb the seasonings.
Prepare your smoker according to the manufacturer’s directions, adding wood or wood chips, if using. Preheat it to 225 degrees Fahrenheit.
Meanwhile, spread six bacon strips on the wire rack. Bake in the oven for about 10 minutes, until the edges start to curl and some of the bacon fat is rendered. Blot with paper towels.
Wrap the tenderloin with the bacon, tucking the ends underneath. (You don’t need toothpicks.) I like to leave a little space between the strips of bacon, so that the pork can breathe while it cooks. This also helps the bacon get crispier.
Place the bacon wrapped tenderloin to the wire rack in the prepared baking sheet.
If you’re using a temperature probe, insert it now. Put the whole tray on the smoker.
Cook until the internal temperature reaches 143 degrees F. Remove the pork tenderloin out of the smoker.
Isn’t it beautiful?
Tent with foil and let rest for 10 minutes. The pork will continue to rise in temperature a couple more degrees as it rests, and should reach the recommended internal temperature of 145 degrees F.
Transfer to a platter for carving or cut in individual servings.
For maximum flavor, pat the tenderloin dry with paper towels before seasoning it with the dry rub.
Pork tenderloin can easily overcook, so when the temperature begins to approach 140 degrees F watch it carefully. If you’re using an instant thermometer, check the internal temperature every 10 minutes or so when it starts getting close. Be sure to pull it off the smoker the minute it reaches 143 degrees F.
Any leftover pork tenderloin can be used in sandwiches, wraps, soups, casseroles, or as a topping for pasta or pizza.
Oven Roasted Bacon Wrapped Pork Tenderloin
Don’t have a smoker or pellet grill? No problem! This recipe can easily be prepared in the oven.
Follow the directions in the Recipe Card through Step 5, but instead of lighting a smoker preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. After wrapping the pork tenderloin in partially cooked bacon and arranging it on the baking rack, cook in the oven and roast until an instant-read thermometer registers 143 degrees F, about 40 minutes.
(Check after about 10 minutes of cooking, and cover the roast loosely with foil when the bacon is golden brown to prevent it from overcooking.)
After removing the roast from the oven, tent it loosely with foil and let it rest for 10 minutes to distribute the juices and finish cooking.
How to Store, Freeze and Reheat Leftovers
Wrap any leftover pork tenderloin tightly, and refrigerate for up to 3 days.
You can also freeze leftovers, tightly wrapped, for up to a month. For best results, thaw in the refrigerator overnight.
To reheat, wrap the leftover pork tenderloin loosely in foil and place on a baking sheet. Cook in a 350 degree F oven until hot.
Recipe Variations
Maple Glazed Pork Tenderloin – Drizzle maple syrup over the bacon and brush it on evenly before putting the tenderloin in the smoker.
Barbecue – Brush the bacon-wrapped tenderloin with your favorite barbecue sauce about halfway through cooking. Serve the finished dish with additional BBQ sauce on the side.
Brown Sugar Bourbon – In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine 3 packed tablespoons of dark brown sugar and 1 1/2 tablespoons bourbon. Cook, stirring, until the sugar is dissolved. Cool and brush the glaze evenly over the bacon before smoking the tenderloin.
FAQs
Oh yes, it certainly is–especially when you wrap it in delicious, savory strips of bacon!
The perfect internal temperature, when the pork is cooked through but still juicy, is 145 degrees F.
The total cooking/smoking time will depend on the thickness of the tenderloin and bacon plus the inside temperature of your smoker. A rough estimate is that it will probably take somewhere between 1 and 2 hours.
These two cuts are sometimes confused, but they are cut from different parts of the animal. Pork tenderloin is a boneless, long narrow cut of pork, while pork loin is sold either bone-in or boneless, and is a larger, flatter, cut that usually has a fat cap surrounding the meat.
What to Serve with Bacon Wrapped Pork Tenderloin
Any of these tasty side dishes pair well with smoked pork:
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Smoked Pork Tenderloin Wrapped in Bacon
Equipment
- Smoker
- Sharp boning knife
- Baking sheet fitted with a wire baking rack
- aluminum foil
- Instant-read thermometer
- Sharp carving knife
Ingredients
- 1 1.5 pound pork tenderloin
- 6 strips regular sliced bacon
- 2 tablespoons pork rub seasoning*
- 1 clove garlic peeled and minced
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 lime cut in wedges
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and fit it with a wire baking rack.
- Use a sharp boning knife to trim the excess fat, silver skin and membrane from the pork tenderloin. Rub the minced garlic into the tenderloin. Sprinkle on both sides with the seasoning mixture and black pepper. Allow to sit for 20 minutes to absorb the seasonings.
- Meanwhile, spread six bacon strips on the wire rack. Bake in the oven for about 10 minutes, until the edges start to curl and some of the bacon fat is rendered. Blot with paper towels.
- Prepare your smoker according to the manufacturer’s directions, adding wood or wood chips, if using. Preheat it to 225 degrees F.
- Wrap the tenderloin with the partially cooked bacon strips, leaving about 1/3 to 1/2 inch between strips and tucking the ends underneath. Put the bacon wrapped tenderloin on the wire rack in the prepared baking sheet. Put in the smoker. If using a probe, insert it now.
- Smoke the bacon wrapped tenderloin until an internal temperature measures 143 degrees F. Remove from the heat, tent with aluminum boil and allow to rest for 10 minutes. The pork will continue cooking as it rests and should reach an internal temperature of 145 degrees F.
- Slice the pork tenderloin with a sharp carving knife and serve accompanied with lime wedges.
Notes
ADD YOUR OWN PRIVATE NOTES
Whenever you come back to this recipe, you’ll be able to see your notes!
Nutrition
Got questions? Just ask! I’m happy to help. If you enjoy this recipe for smoked pork tenderloin wrapped in bacon, I’d be thrilled if you clicked the little stars above and gave it a 5-star recipe rating.
You might also enjoy the Smoked Bacon Wrapped Pork Tenderloin web story.
If you post your creations on social media, tag #BENSABaconLovers so I can share! Thank you for your support. – Eliza
Nutrition Disclaimer: All nutritional information shared on this site is an approximation. I am not a certified nutritionist, and any nutritional information should be used as a general guideline.
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My mouth is watering looking at these photos. What a delicious-looking recipe. I think I will have to invest in a smoker!
Thank you for giving me the idea to develop this recipe, my friend! We are really enjoying the flavors of food cooked in the smoker, and I’m sure your family would, too, because everything you cook is so good!
Anything wrapped in bacon is good with me. This looks really good.
I like how you smoked it – it looks absolutely stunning!
Love how easy this recipe is. It’s perfect for our family!
Your smoked pork looks delicious, I like how you’ve precooked the bacon before wrapping around the pork. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you, Sarah, and you’re right – that bacon pre-cook step makes all the difference in creating a crispy bacon exterior!
Hubby lives and dies by his smoker and this was an amazing addition to his recipes!! Bacon and the pork tenderloin are a perfect pairing! SO GOOD!
Thanks so much, Casey. Glad you like the recipe, and I bet you get to enjoy a lot of tasty food created by your smokin’ husband!
It was so tender and moist. A great tenderloin recipe.
I really enjoy the way the smoky flavors infuse into the pork. This recipe is a winner in my book!
Just when I think you can’t come up with another delicious bacon recipe, you do it again! I can’t wait to try this. I buy the pre-seasoned pork tenderloins, but I’m sure that the bacon is going to level up those flavors exponentially!
My hubby LOVES this recipe! Thank you!
delish and easy to make pork tenderloin wrapped in bacon – just in time for the holidays
I love how tender, moist and flavorful this recipe turned out to be!! It was so tasty!!
Amazing! The bacon makes the pork tenderloin so juicy and flavorful!
This smoked pork looks so delicious, awesome dinner idea!
I’ll have to try that rub seasoning. Thanks for the recipe.
Perfectly moist and flavorful! Will make again!
This was off the charts amazing! I never thought pork tenderloin could be so tender. We didn’t even need a knife. The flavor was superb. We used apple wood chips and the bourbon brown sugar glaze. Can’t wait to make it again.
Ann, your comment absolutely made my day and I shared it on our Facebook Bacon Recipes group, too. Thank you so much for taking the time to let me know you loved the recipe! (It’s one of our favorites, too!)