Orange Cranberry Pork Loin (Roast Pork Loin) Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (2024)

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Orange Cranberry Pork Loin (Roast Pork Loin) Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (1)

By: Becky Hardin

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Orange Cranberry Pork Loin is the perfect holiday main dish! This roast pork loin is juicy, delicious, and super festive. Add this roasted pork recipe to your Thanksgiving and Christmas tables!

Orange Cranberry Pork Loin (Roast Pork Loin) Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (2)

Table of Contents

What’s in this Roast Pork Loin Recipe?

Maybe you don’t like turkey, or maybe you just want to change things up this year. Either way, this delicious roasted pork will fit just perfectly at the center of the holiday table.

  • Pork Loin Roast: You’ll need a 3-pound boneless pork loin for this recipe.
  • Olive Oil: Helps the salt and pepper adhere to the roast.
  • Salt + Pepper: Enhance the natural flavor of the roast.
  • Orange Juice: Adds a refreshing citrus flavor to the sauce.
  • Apple Cider Vinegar: Adds a sweet and acidic flavor to the sauce.
  • Sweet Orange Marmalade: Enhances the citrus flavor of the sauce.
  • Whole Cranberry Sauce: Adds a sweet and tart flavor to the sauce.

Pro Tip: Let the pork loin sit out while preheating the oven. You don’t want it to be cold when it goes in the oven.

Variations on Pork Loin Roast

The great thing about this roast is that you can flavor it with just about any kind of sauce you like! Swap the orange juice out for pineapple or apple juice, the apple cider vinegar for white wine or balsamic, and the marmalade for any flavor of jam you love. Feel free to get creative!

Orange Cranberry Pork Loin (Roast Pork Loin) Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (3)

Orange Cranberry Pork Loin (Roast Pork Loin) Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (4)

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Is a pork loin the same as a tenderloin?

Nope! Pork loin is wider, flatter, and can be boneless or bone-in; whereas tenderloin is a long, narrow, boneless cut of meat from along the backbone

What temperature should pork loin roast be cooked at?

We cook this roast at 375°F!

Is it better to roast a pork loin covered or uncovered?

I prefer to roast mine uncovered to make it easier to baste throughout the cooking process. If your roast is browning too much, you can tent it with foil for the remainder of the cook time.

Orange Cranberry Pork Loin (Roast Pork Loin) Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (5)

How to Store and Reheat

Store leftover roast pork loin in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in a 300°F oven covered with foil until warmed through.

How to Freeze

Freeze roast pork loin in an airtight container or Ziplock bag for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

Serving Suggestions

This orange cranberry pork loin roast recipe fits in perfectly with all of the usual holiday sides! The flavor mixes perfectly with classic Thanksgiving side dishes, so no need to change up the entire meal if you don’t want to. I love it served with baked sweet potatoes, cheesy potato casserole, green bean casserole, cheesy broccoli and cauliflower gratin, or slow cooker mashed potatoes.

Orange Cranberry Pork Loin (Roast Pork Loin) Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (6)

5-Star Review

“I made it for Christmas, it was festive and delicious. Everyone loved it. I’ll definitely make it again.” – Rina

Recipe

Orange Cranberry Pork Loin Recipe (Roast Pork Loin)

4.52 from 236 votes

Author: Becky Hardin

Prep: 15 minutes minutes

Cook: 1 hour hour

Total: 1 hour hour 15 minutes minutes

Orange Cranberry Pork Loin (Roast Pork Loin) Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (7)

Serves6

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Skip the turkey this year and make this amazing Orange Cranberry Pork Loin recipe instead. It's so flavorful and just as festive!

Orange Cranberry Pork Loin (Roast Pork Loin) Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (8)

Email This Recipe

Enter your email and we’ll send the recipe directly to you!

By submitting this form, you consent to receive emails from The Cookie Rookie.

Ingredients

  • 3 pounds boneless pork loin roast
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • teaspoons kosher salt to taste
  • Freshly ground black pepper to taste

For the Sauce

  • ¾ cup orange juice divided
  • ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
  • 8 ounces sweet orange marmalade (½ jar)
  • 7 ounces whole cranberry sauce (½ can)

Recommended Equipment

  • Roasting Pan

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375°F.

  • Place pork in a shallow roasting pan or grill pan and pat dry with a paper towel.

    3 pounds boneless pork loin roast

  • Rub all sides with olive oil.

    2 tablespoons olive oil

  • Season with salt and pepper on all sides.

    2¼ teaspoons kosher salt, Freshly ground black pepper

  • Sear each side over high heat for 2 minutes per side, 10 minutes total.

  • While searing, make your sauce: In a medium bowl, stir together the ½ cup orange juice, vinegar, marmalade, and cranberry sauce.

    ¾ cup orange juice, ¼ cup apple cider vinegar, 8 ounces sweet orange marmalade, 7 ounces whole cranberry sauce

  • Place seared pork in a large roasting pan and pour sauce over the pork.

  • Roast for 60-80 minutes, or until internal temperature reaches 140-145°F in the most central part of the pork. Baste every 20 minutes in the orange juice mixture.

  • Remove from oven and place pork on a foil tented plate to cool/rest for 10 minutes.

  • While pork is resting, add the remaining ¼ cup of orange juice to the juices left over from cooking. If your roasting pan is stovetop safe you can just keep all the sauces in the pan or if not, add to a saucepan.

  • Bring sauce to a boil and then reduce to a simmer while pork rests.

  • Slice and serve pork, drizzled with more sauce and garnished with orange slices and fresh cranberries.

Last step! Don’t forget to show me a pic of what you made! Upload an image or tag me @thecookierookie on Instagram!

Becky’s tips

  • Let the pork loin sit out while preheating the oven. You don’t want it to be cold when it goes in the oven.
  • Use an instant read thermometer to ensure the internal temp has reached at least 145°F before consuming.

Storage:Store orange cranberry pork loin in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 502kcal (25%) Carbohydrates: 42g (14%) Protein: 51g (102%) Fat: 14g (22%) Saturated Fat: 3g (19%) Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g Monounsaturated Fat: 7g Cholesterol: 143mg (48%) Sodium: 1007mg (44%) Potassium: 941mg (27%) Fiber: 1g (4%) Sugar: 36g (40%) Vitamin A: 99IU (2%) Vitamin C: 18mg (22%) Calcium: 31mg (3%) Iron: 2mg (11%)

Did You Make This?I want to see! Be sure to upload an image below & tag @thecookierookie on social media!

Orange Cranberry Pork Loin (Roast Pork Loin) Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (9)

Orange Cranberry Pork Loin (Roast Pork Loin) Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (10)

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More Roasted Pork Recipes We Love

  • Roasted Pork Tenderloin
  • Stuffing Stuffed Pork Roast
  • Honey Mustard Pork Tenderloin
  • Bacon Wrapped Pork Tenderloin
  • Honey Glazed Pork Loin
Orange Cranberry Pork Loin (Roast Pork Loin) Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (11)

Meet Becky Hardin

Becky Hardin is a wife and mother living in Saint Louis Missouri. She founded The Cookie Rookie in 2012 as a creative way to share recipes. Now, she is a trusted resource for easy cooking around the world, being featured in Taste of Home, The Kitchn, ABC’s Home and Family, and more. Here at The Cookie Rookie she is the editor in chief of all recipes and continues to enjoy sharing her passion for cooking for busy families. She has since founded two additional food blogs, Easy Chicken Recipes and Easy Dessert Recipes.

Orange Cranberry Pork Loin (Roast Pork Loin) Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (12)

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44 Comments

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Orange Cranberry Pork Loin (Roast Pork Loin) Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (14)

Kate B

Posted on 12/23/2023

I’ll need to make 2 porks loins. If I cook them in the same slow cooker do I need double the fluid, use the same amount, or somewhere in between?

Reply

Samantha Marceau

Posted on 1/2/2024

Reply to Kate B

We recommend using a larger crockpot to accommodate the meat and doubling the fluid!

Reply

Orange Cranberry Pork Loin (Roast Pork Loin) Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (16)

Tracy Johnson

Posted on 11/23/2023

Made this for thanksgiving today and it was the star of the show. Everyone raved about how much they loved it. I told them I would be sure and let you know how delicious it was.Orange Cranberry Pork Loin (Roast Pork Loin) Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (17)

Reply

Samantha Marceau

Posted on 11/27/2023

Reply to Tracy Johnson

We’re so happy to hear it was a hit, Tracy!!

Reply

Orange Cranberry Pork Loin (Roast Pork Loin) Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (20)

Leigh Lawrence

Posted on 11/23/2023

The pork was perfectly cooked and tender. However the sauce was way too sweet, I did not care for the sauce.Orange Cranberry Pork Loin (Roast Pork Loin) Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (21)

Reply

Samantha Marceau

Posted on 11/27/2023

Reply to Leigh Lawrence

Sorry to hear this recipe wasn’t quite to your tastes, Leigh!

Reply

Orange Cranberry Pork Loin (Roast Pork Loin) Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (23)

Shelley

Posted on 1/15/2023

can you make this in a crockpot?

1

Reply

Samantha Marceau

Posted on 1/17/2023

Reply to Shelley

Yes! Sear the pork loin, then cook on low with the sauce poured over it for 5-6 hours, or until 145°F internally.

1

Reply

Samantha Marceau

Posted on 1/2/2023

Yes, pork tenderloin takes about 25 minutes per pound!

1

Reply

Orange Cranberry Pork Loin (Roast Pork Loin) Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (26)

Bela

Posted on 12/24/2022

Do I need to cook the cranberries before garnishing them with oranges over the roast or I could place them raw?

Reply

Samantha Marceau

Posted on 1/2/2023

Reply to Bela

Either is fine!

Reply

Orange Cranberry Pork Loin (Roast Pork Loin) Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (28)

Kels P

Posted on 12/13/2022

Made this for a last minute Thanksgiving. We didn’t have a technical roasting pan, but the dish still
Turned out delicious. I want to try this in a proper roasting pan.Orange Cranberry Pork Loin (Roast Pork Loin) Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (29)

Reply

Samantha Marceau

Posted on 12/14/2022

Reply to Kels P

So glad you enjoyed it, Kels!

Reply

Orange Cranberry Pork Loin (Roast Pork Loin) Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (31)

Karen Higel

Posted on 11/25/2022

So excited to make this pork loin tomorrow for a late Thanksgiving dinner with my grandkids. Looks amazing! Question: should I cover the roast while cooking, or leave open?Orange Cranberry Pork Loin (Roast Pork Loin) Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (32)

Reply

Samantha Marceau

Posted on 11/28/2022

Reply to Karen Higel

Cover if it’s browning too much!

Reply

Orange Cranberry Pork Loin (Roast Pork Loin) Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (34)

Michelle

Posted on 1/11/2022

I made this for our Christmas dinner and it was a complete hit! I can think of so many other things that sauce would be wonderful on. Do you know how long it would keep in the refrigerator if I made a batch to use for other things?

2

Reply

Orange Cranberry Pork Loin (Roast Pork Loin) Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (35)

Becky Hardin

Posted on 1/12/2022

Reply to Michelle

About 3-5 days!

Reply

Orange Cranberry Pork Loin (Roast Pork Loin) Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (36)

Marina

Posted on 12/17/2021

I’m going to make this for Christmas dinner. Looks delicious! I see rosemary on your platter but not in the recipe. Was it just added for presentation?

Reply

Orange Cranberry Pork Loin (Roast Pork Loin) Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (37)

Becky Hardin

Posted on 12/22/2021

Reply to Marina

Just for looks!

Reply

Orange Cranberry Pork Loin (Roast Pork Loin) Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to tender pork loin? ›

Once the pork loin roast reaches 145°F on an instant-read thermometer, remove it from the oven, and let it rest on a cutting board for 20 minutes. This gives the meat time to reabsorb all its juices. You can also brine the pork before you cook it, which ensures the meat stays tender, juicy, and well-seasoned.

What's the difference between pork tenderloin and pork loin roast? ›

Pork tenderloins benefit from quick cooking methods. Grill or broil it whole, or cut into slices of medallions. No matter the cut, pork should be cooked to an internal temperature of 145 to 160 degrees Fahrenheit. Pork tenderloin is considerably smaller and leaner than pork loin, which means it cooks more quickly.

Does pork loin get more tender the longer you cook it? ›

At 400 degrees F, a 1-pound pork tenderloin will cook in 8 to 10 minutes after being seared on the stove. Unlike tough, fatty cuts of meat (like the shoulder used for Slow Cooker Pulled Pork), leaner cuts like pork tenderloin do not become more tender the longer they cook.

Should I brown pork loin before baking? ›

4. Not browning before roasting. The goal of any pork loin roast should be two-fold: a crisp crust and a rosy, juicy interior. Skipping a pan sear before roasting all but guarantees you'll miss out on the former.

What is the best ingredient to tenderize pork? ›

To tenderize pork before cooking it, try breaking up the tough muscle by hitting it with a meat mallet evenly across the surface of the meat. Then, if you want your pork to be extra tender, you can marinate it in a tenderizing marinade made with acids, like citrus juices, vinegar, or wine.

How to cook pork loin without drying out? ›

Grilling
  1. First, use a high-heat area to quickly brown the meat on all sides. ...
  2. Next, move the loin to a low-heat area of the grill and cover it with foil.
  3. Now, you can roast the pork using indirect cooking for approximately one to one and a half hours, or about 20 minutes per pound of meat.
Oct 3, 2023

Which is healthier, pork loin or tenderloin? ›

Pork tenderloin may be the trimmest of them all, but the loin cuts, including pork chops and roasts, are the next leanest with 147 calories and a smidge over 5 grams of fat per 3-ounce serving.

Is pork loin roast a good cut of meat? ›

Center-Cut Loin Roast: This popular boneless roast is juicy, tender, and evenly shaped with somewhat less fat than the center-cut rib roast. We prefer the more flavorful boneless blade-end roast, but the two cuts can be used interchangeably. Make sure to buy a center-cut roast with a decent fat cap on top.

Is pork loin better than steak? ›

Both pork and beef are high in proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals. However, beef tends to have more calories, saturated fat, and cholesterol than pork. Pork may be a better choice, then, if you're trying to manage your blood cholesterol levels.

What spice goes well with pork? ›

Cumin is a favourite in curries, but it also works incredibly well with pork. It is a go-to savoury spice for a reason: its distinct, earthy flavour. You wouldn't necessarily just season pork with cumin, but mixing it with other seasonings like ginger and lime can enhance the flavour significantly.

How do you keep pork moist when baking? ›

How to Keep Pork Chops from Drying Out? Brine Them! After you bring your pork chops home, time to brine! Brining pork chops is one of the best ways way to guarantee a juicy cooked pork chop.

What tenderizes pork loin? ›

Salt and moisture are key

Salt can help break down protein fibers in meat so that the meat is more tender and is able to retain more moisture. Even just sprinkling salt on your tenderloin for 15 minutes before cooking can have a dramatic effect on the juiciness of your tenderloin.

Should I wash pork loin before cooking? ›

Washing beef, pork, lamb, or veal before cooking it is not recommended. Bacteria in raw meat and poultry juices can be spread to other foods, utensils, and surfaces. We call this cross-contamination. Some consumers think they are removing bacteria and making their meat or poultry safe.

Should pork loin sit out before cooking? ›

Meat juices inside can not react when we cook cold meat. We need room temperature for a juicy and tender steak. If you want to cook a tasty, delicious pork tenderloin in your oven, keeping all the flavors, you need to take it out of the refrigerator one hour before.

Do you seal pork before roasting? ›

Pan fry pork fillet in 1 tbsp oil for 4-5 minutes to seal the meat on all sides. Transfer to the oven and cook for 5 minutes per 100g.

Is it better to cook pork loin slow or fast? ›

Pork loin should be slow slow-roasted in order to become tender. It should not be cooked quickly or roasted at high temperatures. Pork tenderloin cooks quite quickly at higher temperatures, anywhere from 350 degrees to 425 degrees F.

How do Chinese make pork so tender? ›

How do you tenderise pork for stir fry? Velveting is a Chinese technique that helps keep meat tender during stir frying. Adding cornstarch and bicarb to your meat during the marinating process helps to coat your meat, giving it a velvety feel that makes the meat feel extra soft.

What is the best cooking method for loin? ›

CG: Roasting is the most natural way to cook a pork loin, and it's the easiest and the quickest to get into the oven. I like to sear the outside and then roast it, or you can just roast it as is. The indirect method of cooking preserves pork loin's inherent juiciness and tenderness.

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