Roasted Honey Garlic Pork Loin

Who can resist honey and garlic in a butter sauce? This is an easy recipe. The pork loin will be tender, juicy and deliciously flavored with honey, garlic and spices. 

Ingredients

4 to 5 lbs. pork loin, trim off fat
1 1/2 Tbs. olive oil, divided
2 tsp. salt
2 tsp. paprika
1 tsp. brown sugar
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. onion powder
1/2 to 1 tsp. rec chili powder, (optional)
1/2 tsp. black pepper
1 stick butter
6 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 c. honey
3 Tbs. soy sauce
2 Tbs. vinegar
1/2 tsp. black pepper
salt to taste
1/2 c. beef or chicken stock or broth
1/2 c. water
4 tsp. cornstarch

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°.

Dry off the pork loin with paper towels. 

Prepare the rub. In a small bowl, combine 1 tablespoon olive oil, paprika, salt, brown sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, red chili powder and black pepper.  Rub the mixture on all sides of the pork loin.

In a large skillet or pan, heat 2 teaspoons of olive oil. Sear the pork loin until golden brown on all sides. Be sure to turn the pork loin to keep the spices from burning.  Remove the pork loin to a large dish.

In the same skillet that you browned the pork loin in, melt butter. Be sure to scrape the flavorful bits off the bottom of the skillet. Add garlic cloves and sauté for 1 minute. 

Stir in honey, soy sauce, vinegar, black pepper and salt to taste and bring to a rapid simmer. Cook and stir for 1 minute.  Remove 1/2 cup of sauce to use for basting. 

Place the pork loin back into the roasting pan or skillet. Pour in the stock and water into the pan around the loin. 

Cover the roasting pan or skillet with a lid and roast for 20 minutes. Baste the pork loin with half of the reserved sauce. Bake uncovered for 15 minutes.  Remove the pork loin from the oven. Baste with the remaining sauce.  Bake another 10 to 15 minutes, or until the loin registers 145° with a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the meat. 

Remove pork loin to a serving platter and cover loosely with foil.  Let the pork loin rest 10 to 15 minutes while you prepare the gravy.

In a small bowl, combine 2 tablespoons water with 4 teaspoons cornstarch.  Stir until the cornstarch is dissolved. Whisk this into the remaining liquid in the roasting pan or skillet. Making sure you scrape the flavorful bits stuck on the bottom of the roasting pan.  Slowly add a fourth cup of water or stock into the pan, whisking constantly. If the sauce is too thick for you, slowly add another fourth cup of water or stock.  The consistency of the gravy should be like honey. 

Slice the pork loin and drizzle the honey garlic butter sauce mixture over the top.