Name: Pork Tenderloin Cordon Bleu
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 50 min
Ingredients: 2 Pork Tenderloins (8-12 ounces each) (They're usually sold two in packages of two); 1 1/2 tablespoons of butter; 1 1/2 tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil; 6-8 slices of ham (Boar's Head or Applegate are gluten free); 6-8 slices of swiss cheese; 2 tablespoons of gluten free Dijon mustard; salt to taste; pepper to taste; 1 cup of heavy whipping cream; 3/4 cup of grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese; 1 tablespoon of gluten free Dijon mustard

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You’re going to love this step by step tutorial for making a delicious low carb pork tenderloin cordon bleu. The pork tenderloin is stuffed with ham and Swiss cheese, tender roasted to perfection, and smothered in a creamy cordon bleu sauce.

The other day I picked up a pork tenderloin at the supermarket at a really good price. Usually, I love to simply sauté this cut of pork, but John and I were in the mood for something a little different.

I suggested stuffing it with ham and cheese. He suggested pairing it with a cream sauce similar to the one that’s usually paired with chicken cordon bleu.

Well, that sounded amazing. And we soon found out that it tasted amazing too.

I dubbed it pork tenderloin cordon bleu. But unlike traditional cordon bleu dishes, mine is low carb. Yes, you definitely have to try this recipe for your next low carb dinner.

What does cordon bleu mean?

Traditionally, a cordon bleu (“blue ribbon” in French) is a dish in which meat is wrapped around cheese or the meat has a cheese filling. The meat is then breaded and pan-fried or deep-fried. Nope, not low carb friendly.

So, to keep this recipe low carb, instead of frying, we’ll sear the pork tenderloin in butter and oil which gives the tenderloin a rich, caramelized flavor. No breadcrumbs needed.

And then we’ll roast it instead of frying.

Why you need a pork tenderloin for this recipe: the difference between a pork loin and pork tenderloin

Make sure to get a pork tenderloin for this dish, not a pork loin. Pork loin (like this recipe) and pork tenderloin are cut from different parts of the animal.

A loin roast whether it’s a blade, center, or sirloin roast, weighs 2 to 4 pounds and is wide enough that you can cut steak-like pieces from it.

On the other hand, pork tenderloin is a thin and small major muscle cut from along the central spine. It’s just as lean as a skinless chicken breast; very tender and flavorful.

overhead shot of pork tenderloin cordon bleu

Ingredients

two pork tenderloins (8-12 ounces each). They’re usually sold in packages of two.
butter
extra-virgin olive oil
salt and pepper
dijon mustard
Swiss cheese
ham

And for the sauce

heavy whipping cream
Parmigiano Reggiano cheese
Dijon mustard

Also, you’ll need cotton butcher’s twine to tie your tenderloins after stuffing them.

Instructions

*Free printable recipe card is available at the end of the post.

Ready? Here we go.

Preheat your oven to 375℉. Rinse your pork tenderloins and pat dry. Season with salt and pepper.

tenderloins browning in a skillet

Then add oil and butter to a large skillet and heat on high until hot, but not smoking. Place your tenderloins in the skillet and brown well on all sides.

You’ll want to get a good sear on the pork tenderloins before baking. This adds a rich, caramelized flavor that makes the pork tenderloin irresistible!

how to butterfly the tenderloin

Next, remove your tenderloins to a cutting board. You’re going to butterfly each tenderloin by slicing lengthwise, but not all the way through. Just so you can open them like the wings of a butterfly.

Spread Dijon mustard evenly down the center of each tenderloin.

Now for the fun part.

roll up cheese inside ham slices

Roll up the cheese inside the ham slices folding over the ends of the ham and then rolling it up to seal in the Swiss cheese. This prevents the cheese from melting out into your pan while you bake the pork.

stuff tenderloin with cheese roll-ups

You’ll want to be very generous with how much ham and cheese you stuff the tenderloin with. I used four ham and cheese roll-ups for each tenderloin so that when the tenderloin was done and ready to be sliced, every bite of pork was stuffed with ham and cheese.

stuffed tenderloins tied with cotton butcher's twine

To hold the stuffing inside the tenderloin, tie each tenderloin with cotton butcher’s twine at 2-inch intervals. The cotton will shrink in the oven, so don’t tie it so tight that it cuts deep into the meat.

How long do I cook them in the oven?

Transfer your tenderloins to a baking dish and roast for just 30 minutes. Then let the tenderloins rest for 10 minutes before slicing.

Snip and remove each string. Then slice each tenderloin crosswise to reveal spirals of delicious pork, melted cheese, and ribbons of sweet ham.

How to make the sauce

Now for the cordon bleu sauce.

Wipe the skillet clean so it will be ready for cooking your sauce.

Add cream to the pan (I always recommend organic cream) and bring it to a low boil for a few minutes. Then stir in your grated cheese (I use aged Parmigiano Reggiano) until the cheese has melted. Next, stir in your Dijon mustard.

Serve drizzled over your ham and cheese stuffed pork tenderloin slices.

What side dish goes well with this dish?

Because of the rich flavor in this dish, it goes really well with green veggies like Brussels sprouts or asparagus and a nice green side salad.

Pro tips and recipe notes

A quick recap of several of the tips I mentioned above:

You’ll want to get a good sear on the pork tenderloins before baking. This adds a rich, caramelized flavor that makes the pork tenderloin irresistible!
When you butterfly each tenderloin by slicing lengthwise, be sure to not cut all the way through just so you can open them like the wings of a butterfly.
Rolling the cheese up inside the ham helps keep all the cheese from melting out into your pan while you bake the pork.
You’ll want to be very generous with the ham and cheese roll ups. I used four ham and cheese roll ups for each tenderloin so that when the tenderloins are done and ready to be sliced, every slice is stuffed with ham and cheese.
Cotton twine will shrink in the oven, so don’t tie it so tight that it cuts deep into the meat.

There you go. An incredibly delicious pork tenderloin cordon bleu ready in less than an hour. As a bonus, it’s gluten free, keto, low carb, and paleo. Enjoy!

More low carb recipes

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Super Low Carb Cottage Pie With Cauliflower Mash – This is a low-carb version of cottage pie, replacing the usual mashed potato topping with cauliflower. The result? Absolutely mouthwatering.

Quick And Easy Beef Ragoût With Tomatoes And Pearl Onions – Every mouthful explodes with flavor in this quick and easy beef ragoût.

Slow Cooker Braised Short Ribs – These ribs simmer in your slow cooker in a beautiful red wine sauce until the meat is so tender and juicy it literally falls right off the bone.

Turkey Tenderloin Stuffed With Kale And Goat Cheese – This is an elegant dish and actually simple to prepare. You’re going to love this meal.

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