Bake a basic pork loin topped with a mixture of sun-dried tomato butter and capers to make a delicious tomato caper pork dinner.
Looking for delicious pork recipes that are easy to prepare and packed with flavor? This tomato caper pork recipe features tender pork loin cooked in a rich caper sauce with sun-dried tomatoes and fresh herbs. Perfect for the entire family and ready in under 30 minutes!
Tomato Caper Pork doesn’t look the most appetizing, but it is one of our favorite ways to make a pork loin. We got the recipe many years ago from one of the stands at a Publix store.
One of the original ingredients is something only available from a Publix store. Now that we are in Texas and there aren’t Publix stores, we have had to improvise. The recipe calls for a sun-dried tomato butter that they sell, so we made our own.
It’s not exactly the same, but I made my own sun-dried tomato butter. I also purchased a plain pork loin since we are adding our own flavors to the meat. Tomato caper pork is an easy recipe to make and comes together quickly. As long as you have an oven-proof skillet, it can be made in one pan. This means easy cleanup as well!
Tips for Cooking Pork Loin Perfectly
- Always use a heavy skillet or small pan to achieve a nice sear and maintain even heat distribution.
- Pat pork dry before cooking so the seasoning sticks better to the meat.Â
- Cooking over medium-high heat ensures the pork loin gets a great crust without drying out inside.
- Letting the pork rest under aluminum foil helps retain juices and results in tender meat.
- For a lighter sauce, add a splash of white wine or heavy cream, depending on your preference.
- Use a cast-iron skillet or oven-safe pan so it can go straight from the stovetop to the oven.
Why Choose This Tomato Caper Pork Recipe?
This recipe is not only quick and easy but also uses wholesome ingredients that are perfect for a meal kit or meal delivery option. Whether you’re cooking for yourself or the entire family, it delivers balanced nutrition and flavor. Plus, the use of sun-dried tomatoes and caper sauce gives it an interesting Mediterranean twist.
Variations: Customize Your Tomato Caper Pork Recipe
Feel free to experiment with this pork loin recipe to suit your taste or dietary needs. Here are some delicious variations you can try:
- Swap Pork Tenderloin for Pork Chops: Adjust cooking time slightly as tenderloin cooks faster.
- Add Fresh Sage Leaves: Incorporate fresh sage leaves into the sauce for an earthy, aromatic flavor that complements the capers and tomatoes.
- Use Heavy Cream for a Richer Sauce: Stir in a splash of heavy cream after reducing the tomato paste and sun-dried tomatoes for a creamy twist on the classic sauce.
- Add Lemon Juice and Zest: Enhance the citrus notes by adding lemon juice and a bit of lemon zest to brighten the sauce.
- Sun-Dried Tomatoes Variation: Try using oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes for a richer taste, or rehydrate dry ones in warm water before adding.
- Spicy Kick: Add a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes or a dash of hot sauce for some heat.
- Herb Mix: Experiment with other herbs like thyme, rosemary, or oregano to add new layers of flavor.
These such modifications allow you to tailor the dish to your preferences or what you have on hand, ensuring you always have a tasty and versatile pork dinner option.
Serving Suggestions: Perfect Pairings for Tomato Caper Pork
This flavorful tomato caper pork pairs beautifully with a variety of sides to create a well-rounded meal for the entire family. Here are some ideas to elevate your dish:
- Creamy Mashed Potatoes: The rich, tangy caper sauce complements smooth mashed potatoes perfectly.
- Steamed or Roasted Vegetables: Asparagus, green beans, or broccoli add freshness and crunch.
- Rice or Couscous: Light grains soak up the savory sauce and make the meal more filling.
- Crusty Bread: Ideal for dipping into the delicious tomato and caper sauce.
- Simple Green Salad: A crisp salad with lemon vinaigrette adds brightness and balance.
- Lemon Wedges: Serve alongside the pork to squeeze fresh lemon juice over the top for an extra zesty kick.
These sides highlight the Mediterranean flavors of the dish and make a satisfying dinner that everyone will enjoy.
Garnish Ideas to Elevate Your Tomato Caper Pork
- Fresh Parsley: A classic choice, finely chopped parsley adds a burst of color and a fresh, herbaceous note.
- Lemon Wedges: Perfect for squeezing over the pork right before eating, adding a bright citrus zing.
- Sage Leaves: Lightly sauté or crisp whole sage leaves for an aromatic, crunchy garnish.
- Cracked Black Pepper: A final sprinkle of freshly ground black pepper enhances the dish’s depth.
- Sun-Dried Tomato Strips: Thinly sliced sun-dried tomatoes can add texture and intensified tomato flavor.
- Grated Parmesan: For a savory twist, sprinkle a small amount of Parmesan cheese on top just before serving.
These simple garnishes make your dish look restaurant-quality and amplify the delicious flavors.
Tomato Caper Pork Step by Step
Ingredients
- 1 lb pork tenderloin
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp pepper
- 1/4 cup butter (softened)
- 1 tbsp sun-dried tomatoes
- 1 tbsp capers
- 1 tbsp parsley (chopped)
Preparation
Take the pork loin and chop it into slices that are about 1/2″ thick. Coat the pork with one tablespoon oil and a pinch of salt and pepper. Preheat the oven to 375F and heat a saute pan over medium-high heat with a bit of oil. Cook the pork on each side for about 2-3 mins. The pork will not be cooked through, you are just searing it on each side.
Add the softened butter and sun-dried tomatoes to a food processor. Pulse until the tomatoes are chopped and combined with the butter. Then add the capers to chop and combine those with the butter mixture.
Cover the pork with half of the tomato butter.
Bake it for about 10-12 minutes, or until the pork is cooked all the way through.
Remove the pork from the oven and top with the remaining butter mixture and sprinkle with parsley. I like to serve this with Sun-Dried Tomato Basil Orzo as a side dish.
Tomato Caper Pork Leftvers
Storage: To keep your tomato caper pork fresh, store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Properly stored, the pork loin and sauce will stay good for up to 3-4 days. Make sure to let the food cool slightly before sealing to avoid excess moisture buildup.
Reheating: When reheating leftovers, use a heavy skillet or microwave on medium power to gently warm the pork without drying it out. Reheat over medium-high heat for just a few minutes, adding a splash of water or broth if the sauce has thickened too much. Covering the pan with aluminum foil can help retain moisture during reheating.
Freezing: If you want to save your meal for later, this recipe freezes well. Place cooled pork loin and sauce in a freezer-safe container or heavy-duty freezer bag. Label with the date and freeze for up to 2 months. To thaw, move to the refrigerator overnight and reheat gently on the stove or microwave as described above, ensuring even warming throughout.
Recipe
Originally Published On: December 19, 2017
Last Updated On: May 30, 2025
Tomato Caper Pork
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup butter (softened)
- 1 tbsp sun-dried tomatoes
- 1 tbsp capers
- 1 lb pork tenderloin
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1 tbsp parsley (chopped)
Recommended Equipment
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375F
- Heat large sauté pan over medium-high heat
- Cut pork into slices
- Coat pork with oil, salt, and pepper
- Place pork in pan and cook 2-3 minutes on each side
- In a food processor, combine butter, tomatoes, and capers
- Transfer pork to baking sheet
- Coat pork with half of butter mixture
- Bake 10-12 minutes or until pork is cooked through
- Top pork with remaining butter mixture and sprinkle with parsley
All nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutrition content will vary based on brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes, and more.
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Sundried tomato butter sounds amazing. I love making different styles and flavors of better and serving it up. I have never done pork loin. I might have to try!
It’s so good! This is the only time I have ever tried flavored butter, but I bet different ones are also just as yummy!
Oh my goodness! You had me at “tomato and capers,” one of my favorite flavor combo’s. I made a lot of pork tenderloin but it never occurred to me to put this sort of recipe together. I think my family will love it.
This is the only time I ever use capers, but I want to find a few more recipes that use them.
We eat pork here weekly so this recipe has my attention. My husband likes capers so he may enjoy this recipe too.
My husband loves capers, this is the only time I use capers but I need to find more recipes with it.
This looks so yummy! I love pork.
Me too! And it’s one of the things that my boys will eat consistently.
The tomato and caper topping sounds delicious.
It’s so yummy!
This looks really delicious. I really like the slightly sweet from the tomatoes and the saltiness from the capers. Great balance.
You’re right, they balance each other out so well in this meal.
This looks very delicious and I am pretty sure the sundried tomatoes bring a special flavor. I am always trying new recipe and this one, I have to try it. Hopefully, it will look as pretty as yours. Bon appetit.
Yes, the sundried tomatoes are what makes this recipe. If you make it, don’t worry about how pretty, as long as it tastes good!
this looks good, i would love to try it
thank you for sharing
I hope you enjoy it as much as we do!
I’ve never tried capers in my food before. I guess I should pass this along to my friend so she could make it for me.
This is the only thing we have tried with capers before, so I am on the hunt for other recipes with them as well.
This is another great way of making pork loin. I love pork and tomatoes!
There’s really so much you can do with a pork loin. It’s almost as versatile as chicken!
This reminds me a lot of a dish we use to make at an italian restaurant that I used to work at a few years ago. You can’t go wrong with tomatoes and caper, they pretty much go with everything and elevate a dish in the most elegant way!
I didn’t think about it, but this does lean towards an Italian meal. And yes, they both are great ways to add so much to an otherwise plain meal.
Wow you have so many amazing recipes that I think my daughter would LOVE to try. This is one of those.
Awesome, I hope your daughter enjoys the meal!
I don’t eat too much pork but if a recipe involves tomato I have to try it!
And these are sun-dried tomatoes, so they have even more flavor than a regular tomato!
I love capers as they always add a bit of zest to a dish. I think you have used them beautifully in this dish.
Thank you! Capers are a great way to add just a little something extra to a meal and work well with the tomatoes in this one.
I’m pretty picky about what I put sun dried tomatoes on, but I think that it sounds delicious on a pork loin! I wonder if I could cook it as a solid loin and just smother the top.
I haven’t tried that, but I don’t see why it wouldn’t work. I like slicing it because there’s more surface area to let the flavors absorb into the meat. But if you were to bake it in a glass dish with the tomato-butter it may still soak in enough.
Yummy Tomato Caper Pork it looks easy to make I would love to make this recipe at home I start to learn cooking I think this is perfect to try this recipe 🙂
This would be a great recipe to give a shot. It has a little bit of a challenge, but I think a beginner cook could master this one. And it looks like you spent a lot more time and effort on it at the end!
Pork is the only meat my girls will happily eat as leftovers for lunch. So with school starting up, will def have to try this soon!
I’ve had this straight out of the refrigerator before as leftovers. It isn’t quite as good as when it’s warm, but still tasted fine to be able to put in lunchboxes since they won’t be able to heat it at school.
I love the unique combination of ingredients to the dish. It is simple, yet complex at the same time. Perfect for a delicious easy weeknight meal!
That pretty much describes this meal! The ingredients are ones not normally used, but it’s still a simple recipe to make.
I really like the tomato and capers combination, it sounds delicious to me. My boyfriend would definitely be delighted with such a dish.
They work so well together. I wasn’t sure at first since they are such different flavors, but I think that’s why it works so well.
It may not look appetizing but with that coat of butter, it made it all mouth watering! Always a pleasure to see what you come up with these recipes, Stephanie
I agree, not the best looking dish, but it’s delicious!
Love your logo design….. and this recipe, never tried anything with sun dried tomatoes. I only ever try pork when my husband makes me to, I’ll save this to show him
Thank you! The logo idea came from something my oldest brought home from preschool a few years ago. The sun-dried tomatoes add a bit of tang to the recipe, so they work well in the butter.