Bacon-Wrapped Pesto Pork Tenderloin

Name: Bacon-Wrapped Pesto Pork Tenderloin
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 50 min
Yield: 4 servings.
Ingredients: 10 bacon strips; 1 pork tenderloin (1 pound); 1/4 teaspoon pepper; 1/3 cup prepared pesto; 1 cup shredded Italian cheese blend; 1 cup fresh baby spinach

I love to serve this family-favorite tenderloin—maybe because of the compliments that come with it! When the weather warms up, we grill it instead. —Megan Riofski, Frankfort, Illinois

Ingredients

10 bacon strips
1 pork tenderloin (1 pound)
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/3 cup prepared pesto
1 cup shredded Italian cheese blend
1 cup fresh baby spinach

Directions

Preheat oven to 425°. Arrange bacon strips lengthwise in a foil-lined 15x10x1-in. pan, overlapping slightly.
Cut tenderloin lengthwise through the center to within 1/2 in. of bottom. Open tenderloin flat; cover with plastic wrap. Pound with a meat mallet to 1/2-in. thickness. Remove plastic; place tenderloin on center of bacon, perpendicular to strips.
Sprinkle pepper over pork. Spread with pesto; layer with cheese and spinach. Close tenderloin; wrap with bacon, overlapping ends. Tie with kitchen string at 3-in. intervals. Secure ends with toothpicks.
In a 12-in. skillet, brown roast on all sides, about 8 minutes. Return to baking pan; roast in oven until a thermometer inserted in pork reads 145°, 17-20 minutes. Remove string and toothpicks; let stand 5 minutes before slicing.