Crispy Pork Tenderloin and from scratch Easy Peasy Cheesy Pasta. Is pork cheaper than chicken?

The answer is yes - does that surprise you? Pork is definitely budget-friendly, versatile, and an excellent value. This Pork Tenderloin has virtually zero waste. I’m going to coat it in a Panko & Parmesan breading and make it a crispy, juicy, succulent treat, and I’ll share a few tips to keep that flavorful coating from cooking off or peeling away when it’s browned in the fat. Let’s pair the crispy Pork medallions with a homemade, creamy, cheesy pasta that is simple, quick, delicious, and NOT loaded with sodium & preservatives. Real food. Real Simple. Real Good.

Ingredients List
3-4 lbs Pork Tenderloin
8 ounces elbow pasta, (or substitute your favorite small pasta)
2 cups Panko (plain)
½ cup Parmesan, finely grated
6 Tbls butter
1 cup flour
2 cups milk (divided)
½ cup sour cream
2 eggs
5-6 slices American Cheese
1 ½ cups grated cheddar or cheese blend of your choice
Garlic Herb Salt, Salt & Pepper, Onion Powder, and Parsley
Ghee, butter, or neutral oil for browning the meat.
Side Vegetable (Using a frozen medley is pretty convenient, and one with some green color makes for a visually pleasing meal)

Pork Medallions
Trim the tenderloins and slice 1 ½ inches thick. Season on both sides with a light application of garlic herb salt and pepper.

Bowl 1: Mix 1 cup flour with 1 tsp salt (fine salt if you have it), and 1/2 tsp white pepper.
Bowl 2: Whisk together 1 egg and ½ cup milk.
Bowl 3: Mix the panko and parmesan together.

Dredge each medallion in the flour, then the egg & milk, and then the panko. Brown on medium high heat in Ghee, butter, or a neutral oil. The medallions will finish cooking in the oven so you are just browning them at this point. Place the browned medallions on a sheet pan that has a rack and bake in a 375° oven for 20 minutes.

Cheesy Pasta
Cook the pasta according to the directions on the box, drain and set aside. In a medium sauce pan, melt 6 tbls of butter, add ¼ cup flour, whisk together and cook for 3-4 minutes. Whisk in 1 ½ cups milk and cook until it thickens. Add 1 tsp onion powder, ½ tsp salt & pepper, 1 Tbs parsley, and ½ cup sour cream, and mix until blended & heated through. Add the American Cheese and grated cheeses and stir until creamy. In a lightly buttered baking dish add the pasta and mix in the cheese sauce. Top with a bit more grated cheese, cover and bake in a 375° oven for 20 minutes.