My Pork Tenderloin Sandwich recipe is a midwestern classic that you will absolutely adore. Simple ingredients come together in this budget-friendly dinner win!
My husband and I always seem to forget about sandwiches when we are planning dinner, but they are the absolute best. There are so many great spins on sandwiches, and this pork tenderloin version is going to be a total win in your house. Don’t miss all the step-by-step photos so these are as easy for you as you need them to be.
How to Make a Breaded Pork Tenderloin Sandwich
Here is a brief overview of how this fried pork tenderloin sandwich recipe comes together. For the full recipe including all measurements, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
- Prepare the tenderloins. Trim the fat off of the tenderloin then cut it into four pieces. Pound each piece thin. Read more on this below.
- Prepare your breading station. Whisk together the flour, salt, onion powder, garlic powder, and black pepper, then add the mixture to a plate. Whisk together the buttermilk and egg in a shallow dish and place to the right of the flour plate. Crush the crackers and add them to a third dish.
- Bread the tenderloins. Working with one piece of pork at a time, press them into the flour mixture. Then dip in the buttermilk mixture. Finally, dip them in the cracker mixture so they are fully coated. Transfer to a plate and refrigerate for 10 minutes.
- Fry the pork. Heat the oil in a large heavy-bottomed skillet. Cook two pieces of pork at a time for three minutes on each side or until they reach 145 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Put the sandwiches together. Spread mayo on each hamburger bun. Add the pork and top with red onions and pickle slices. Enjoy!
Preparing Your Pork Tenderloin
When buying your pork for this recipe, you want to make sure you get a boneless pork tenderloin. This is not the same as a pork loin. Pork tenderloins are a smaller, more tender cut of pork which works perfectly in this sandwich recipe. Once you have your tenderloin, here is how you will cut it to make pork sandwiches.
- Start by cutting your tenderloin into four pieces.
- Working with one piece at a time, put each piece in between two pieces of plastic wrap. Pound it thin using a meat mallet or rolling pin. You want the pieces to be about 1/4 inch thick.
- Repeat with the other three pieces of pork.
- Pat each piece dry before proceeding with the recipe.
How to Make Buttermilk
If you don’t normally keep buttermilk on hand, I have a great hack for you! Combining milk with vinegar or lemon juice makes the perfect replacement in this recipe. By mixing them together and letting them sit for about five minutes, the milk curdles slightly, thickens, and has a tangy flavor similar to traditional buttermilk.
How to Make Buttermilk
Tips For Cooking Pork
It is important to pay attention to the internal temperature of the pork as it cooks, not just how long it’s been cooking. Pork is considered fully cooked at 145 degrees Fahrenheit. This takes about three minutes on each side, but I recommend using an instant read thermometer so you know exactly when the thickest part of your pork tenderloin is done.
Transfer the cooked tenderloins to a wire rack over a foil-lined baking sheet and tent with foil. This will allow any excess grease to drip and be caught and will keep the tenderloins warm while you cook the others.
Storing and Reheating Leftovers
Store any leftover fried pork tenderloins in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. I’ve found these to be best reheated in the air fryer. Build the sandwiches fresh using a reheated pork tenderloin.
What to Serve With Pork Tenderloin Sandwiches
- Air Fryer Potato Wedges: These come together in air fryer while you are working on the sandwiches, but they can also be made in the oven.
- Easy French Fries: Homemade fries are so easy to make, and you don’t even need to fry them for them to be crispy!
- Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad: This salad comes together ahead of time, and you can pull it out when your sandwiches are done for a lighter side dish.
If you make this breaded pork tenderloin recipe or any of my other recipes, I’d love to hear what you think! I love reading your comments about how you enjoy my recipes.
Pork Tenderloin Sandwich
Ingredients
- 1 pound pork tenderloin (453.6 grams)
- 1/2 cup all purpose flour (60 grams)
- 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt (3/4 teaspoon table salt)
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- 1 large egg
- 3 cups crushed Ritz crackers
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 4 burger buns
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- pickle slices
- 1/4 medium red onion sliced thin
Instructions
- Trim the pork tenderloin of any excess fat. Cut the tenderloin into four equal pieces. (Refer to the pictures in the post.) Working with one piece of tenderloin at a time, place the pieces between plastic wrap and pound thin (1/4 inch thickness). Pat very dry.1 pound pork tenderloin
- Whisk together the flour, salt, onion powder, garlic powder, and black pepper. Add to a plate.1/2 cup all purpose flour, 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt, 1/2 teaspoon onion powder, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- Whisk together the buttermilk and egg in a shallow dish and place to the right of the flour plate.1/2 cup buttermilk, 1 large egg
- Add the crushed cracker crumbs to a plate and place to the right of the buttermilk mixture.3 cups crushed Ritz crackers
- Working with one piece of pork at a time, dredge them through the flour mixture. Then dip in the buttermilk mixture. Finally, dip them in the cracker mixture so they are fully coated. Transfer to a plate and refrigerate for 10 minutes.
- Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil and set a wire cooling rack in it.
- Heat the oil in a large heavy-bottomed skillet until it reaches 350 degrees Fahrenheit with an instant-read thermometer. Fry 2 pieces of pork at a time for 3 minutes on each side or until they reach 145 degrees Fahrenheit. Transfer them to the cooling rack and tent with foil. Repeat with the remaining pork.1/2 cup vegetable oil
- Slather the hamburger buns with 2 tablespoons of mayo each. Add the pork and top with red onions and pickle slices.4 burger buns, 1/2 cup mayonnaise, pickle slices, 1/4 medium red onion
Notes
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