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- Hey, munchies, I get more requests
for budget recipes than anything
and today I'm sharing how you can make the same protein
for three different family dinners for about $20.
Thanks to The National Pork Board for sponsoring this video.
Did you know that a whole boneless pork loin
is actually only about $2 a pound?
I got this one at Costco
and they're pretty much always selling it for this deal.
It may look intimidating
but it's actually really easy to manage
and I'm going to show you how to turn the one loin
into three different dinners for your entire family
and each recipe only needs four ingredients.
First, I cut it into three rows
as I'm going to save two for whole roasts
and the last one for chops
then I trim the fat and silver skin.
You don't have to but some people prefer it
and it honestly takes less than five minutes
for this whole loin.
The first recipe I'm sharing is a honey Dijon roast pork.
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Season the entire roast with salt and pepper.
Mix together some Dijon mustard, honey and tarragon
or you could really use any herb you prefer.
Set that aside.
In a large oven safe pan over medium high heat,
I add a bit of oil and sear the loin on all sides.
Searing is going to add more flavor and a crispy outside
but it actually doesn't affect the juiciness of the pork
so you can really skip this step if you're short on time
and still get a tasty roast.
Brush with the mustard sauce
and roast in the oven for 35 to 45 minutes
then let it rest for about three minutes before slicing.
A lot of people think pork
has to be completely cooked through but that's not true.
It only needs to get to 145 degrees Fahrenheit
and can have a blush pink center.
It doesn't need to be completely white
and will actually have more flavor that way too.
Roasting a pork loin is my personal favorite prep method.
It ends up very juicy and flavorful
and that honey mustard on the outside has an herby touch
that makes the traditional flavor
feel more elegant and intentional.
Pork is packed with protein and nutrients
so it's a great option to add
for a well-rounded family dinner
and because of how easy pork is to prepare,
the protein content and its affordability,
you could totally use this or any of these easy recipes
for meal prepping too.
The next preparation is a maple bacon pork loin
and it is even easier because it is a slow cooker recipe.
I mix together maple syrup and coconut sugar
and brush that on top of the pork then I wrap it with bacon.
You can go all the way around or just over the top.
It's up to you.
Place that in a slow cooker
and let it go over low heat for four to five hours.
If needed, you can broil the pork at the end
to crisp up that bacon.
Wow, this tastes as impressive as it looks.
Because it's cooked low and slow,
it's practically falling apart when you serve it.
Tender and delicious, sweet and savory
and actually, pork loin and tenderloin
are learner cuts of pork so that bacon is just helping
to balance the flavors of the cuts.
Pork can really take on a variety of flavor profiles
depending on the seasoning and marinades
so feel free to get creative
with flavors you know your family likes
because it's hard to go wrong.
That is a pretty fancy looking dinner
considering how easy it is
and the truth is pork is very simple and quick to prepare
when done properly.
The last method is the quickest.
We're making ranch flavored pork chops.
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I cut the last roast into chops
around an inch to an inch and a half.
I drizzle oil over the chops
and then add ranch powder or seasoning.
You can totally make your own or use the packet
with a dash or paprika and toss to coat.
If you wanna add salt, you can
but if you're using a pre-made seasoning,
it's likely got plenty of salt.
I am going to grill them on a grill pan over the stove
for six to eight minutes on each side
until the pork is just slightly pink in the center
at 145 degrees Fahrenheit followed by a three minute rest.
You can of course grill outside
or even bake these in the oven at 400 degrees Fahrenheit
for about 20 minutes.
Those grill marks though.
If I am cooking on the grill, I want that char.
It adds so much flavor
and almost glues the ranch flavor to the pork
and it was so dang easy.
So as you can see, whole boneless pork loin
is really a very versatile cut
that can be prepared in multiple ways.
Don't be afraid of it.
It's going to give you more lean protein for your dollar
and can help you get more dinners out of a single cut.
I hope you can try one of these out
and maybe you can get creative, keep it budget friendly
and use your favorite marinade or seasonings
with pork chops next time.
I hope you enjoyed this episode.
Again, thank you to The National Pork Board
for sponsoring this video.
I will see you Thursday for a brand new meal prep episode
and remember, it's all a matter of mind over munch.