$10 Pork Tenderloin Orzo with Asparagus

📝 Ingredients

• 23 oz flavored pork tenderloin, cut into 1-inch pieces (I used lemon garlic flavored)
• 1/2 box orzo
• 2 cups chicken broth
• Garlic salt, to taste
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1/2 lemon
• Asparagus, ends trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
• 1 tablespoon EVOO or avocado oil spray

👩‍🍳 Directions

1. 1

   Toast the orzo. Heat 1 tablespoon of EVOO in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the orzo and cook for a few minutes, stirring occasionally, until the orzo becomes slightly toasted.

2. 2

   Add the broth. Pour in the chicken broth and season with a few sprinkles of garlic salt. Stir and bring the mixture to a simmer.

3. 3

   Add the asparagus. Once the orzo begins simmering, add the asparagus and stir. Continue cooking until the orzo is tender and the asparagus is cooked through.

4. 4

   Finish the orzo. Stir in the butter until melted, then squeeze in the juice from half a lemon. Stir to combine. Taste and add more garlic salt if needed.

5. 5

   Cook the pork. While the orzo is cooking, heat a separate skillet over medium-high heat. Add about 1 tablespoon of EVOO or spray the pan with avocado oil spray.

6. 6

   Sear the pork. Add the pork tenderloin pieces to the hot skillet in a single layer. Cook for about 4 minutes on one side, or until browned around the edges. Flip and continue cooking until the pork reaches an internal temperature of 145°F.

7. 7

   Serve. Remove the pork from the skillet and serve it over the lemony orzo and asparagus.

💡 Tips for Success

• Cut the pork into similar-sized pieces: Keeping the pieces around 1 inch helps them cook evenly and quickly.
• Don't skip toasting the orzo: A few minutes in the skillet before adding the broth gives the orzo a slightly nutty flavor and adds another layer of flavor to the dish.
• Don't overcook the pork: Since the pieces are small, they cook quickly. Remove them from the heat once they reach 145°F.
• Use flavored pork tenderloin: This is the hack! A pre-seasoned or flavored pork tenderloin adds tons of flavor without needing a long list of seasonings. Lemon garlic is especially good with the orzo and asparagus.
• Make it a $10 dinner: Look for flavored pork tenderloins on sale and use pantry staples you already have on hand to keep the cost of this meal low.