The Best Turkey Tenderloin Recipes
Making turkey tenderloins is super easy! These are the best turkey tenderloin recipes, with tips and tricks on how to store, serve, use leftovers, and other helpful tips.
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Turkey tenderloins have become my new obsession. I'm always a sucker for some marinated chicken breasts, but once I discovered turkey tenderloins, I've never looked back.
When most people think of turkey, they probably picture a huge bird roasting in the oven for the holidays. Although I love a good roasted turkey on Thanksgiving, I love some tender turkey tenderloins!
They make the perfect base for so many recipes because they can be customized to whatever flavors you like! You don't have to stick with just Thanksgiving, either. You can make these recipes year-round when you want to take a break from chicken breasts. They're perfect for weeknight meals or even a small Thanksgiving feast, where cooking a whole turkey is too much hassle.
Want more turkey recipes? Try these Crockpot Boneless Turkey Breast, Ground Turkey and Butternut Squash Skillet, and Slow Cooker Turkey Meatballs!
Why You'll Love These Turkey Tenderloin Recipes
Here are a few reasons why we're obsessed with these recipes:
- Simple: You only need a few basic ingredients to dress up turkey tenderloins–nothing complicated here!
- Healthy: Since turkey tenderloin is lean, it's a great option for those who want to keep things on the leaner side without skimping on flavor!
- Perfect for any time of year: Whether you need a basic protein for weeknight meals or don't feel like cooking a whole turkey for Thanksgiving, these turkey tenderloin recipes are perfect!
What is Turkey Tenderloin?
Turkey tenderloin is the boneless, white meat part of the turkey breast. It's a lean cut of meat that's perfect for any of your favorite recipes! You can even use it instead of chicken breasts for a slightly different flavor profile.
Tips and Tricks for Making Turkey Tenderloin
Here are some simple tips and tricks to make the best turkey tenderloin recipes:
- Check the temp: Turkey can dry out easily, so it's best to use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature. I suggest cooking the turkey to 155 degrees even though it's recommended to cook it to 165 degrees because the turkey will continue to cook as it rests!
- Marinate: Since turkey can become dry, it's best to use a turkey tenderloin marinade to penetrate the meat with delicious flavors unless you're cooking them in the slow cooker. Any type of marinade with an acid, fat, and sugar will help break down the muscle fibers and add flavor to the meat, so you're left with juicy turkey tenderloin!
- Let it rest: I always like to tent cooked turkey tenderloins with aluminum foil while the tenderloins rest so the juices redistribute back into the meat.
- Brining: Some turkey tenderloins come in packages with a brine in them. I like to go for the ones without a brine so I can add my own flavors! If you can't find any without a brine, just dump it out, pat the tenderloins dry, and cut out the salt in the marinade recipe.
- Sear: Unless you're using a slow cooker, I recommend searing the tenderloins first to get a nice crispy crust and lock in the flavors from the marinade!
Best Turkey Tenderloin Recipes
These are some of the best turkey tenderloin recipes you'll find on the internet! No need to scour Pinterest or Google to find what you need. From baking them in the oven to cooking them in the air fryer, this list has everything you need to make the juiciest, most flavorful turkey tenderloins!
Baked Turkey Tenderloin
Slow Cooker Turkey Tenderloin
Air Fryer Turkey Tenderloin
Instant Pot Turkey Tenderloin
Grilled Turkey Breast Tenderloin
Stuffed Turkey Tenderloin
Pan Seared Turkey Tenderloin
Turkey Tenderloin with Gravy
What type of marinade is best for turkey tenderloins?
My turkey tenderloin marinade uses soy sauce, olive oil, Dijon mustard, maple syrup, garlic, apple cider vinegar, salt, pepper, and dried rosemary and thyme. This combination pairs perfectly with turkey because the maple syrup and apple cider vinegar create that warm, cozy flavor, while the herbs provide a similar flavor to poultry seasoning.
You don't just have to use this marinade, though. Any combination of oil, acid, and sugar will work! I’ve used brown sugar, mustard, and olive oil before, and it’s turned out beautifully!
What To Serve With Turkey Tenderloin
Serve any of these recipes with your favorite side dishes to make the ultimate cozy meal.
- Holiday: Apple Cranberry Sauce, Healthy Green Bean Casserole, Healthy Cornbread Sausage Stuffing, and Mashed Potatoes.
- Sides: Roasted Green Beans, Honey Roasted Sweet Potatoes, Honey Roasted Baby Carrots, and Roasted Delicata Squash.
- Gravy: Make a homemade turkey gravy to drizzle on top!
Storage and Reheating
Here's how to store and reheat leftover turkey tenderloin.
- Store: Store leftover turkey tenderloin in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. Just make sure to let the turkey thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.
- Reheat: Pop some slices into a microwave-safe dish with a splash of broth and reheat for 1-2 minutes or until the turkey is warm. You can also reheat the slices in a baking dish with a little broth covered with foil in the oven at 350 degrees for 10-15 minutes.
Ways to Use Leftovers
Forget boring leftovers! Use these ideas to give new life to leftover turkey:
- Tacos: I love making some leftover turkey tacos and topping them with cranberry jalapeno relish for a fun twist!
- Quesadillas: Give your leftovers a Mexican twist with these Turkey Quesadillas!
- Soup: Chop or shred leftover turkey and toss it into this Slow Cooker Turkey Soup for a cozy spin.
- Sandwiches: Slice up leftover turkey tenderloins and layer them on some bread with cranberry jalapeno cream cheese dip to make a turkey sandwich!
- Salads: Dice up some turkey and place it on top of an Arugula and Apple Salad with Goat Cheese and Pecans!
- Bowls: Make some Sweet Potato Bowls and add some sliced turkey tenderloin on top.
How to Cook Turkey Tenderloin
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Ingredients
- 2 lbs turkey breast tenderloin (2 ~1 lb tenderloins)
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 2 tbsp maple syrup
- 2 tbsp dijon mustard
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/2 tsp dried thyme
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper (more to taste)
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Instructions
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Combine the olive oil, apple cider vinegar, maple syrup, dijon mustard, garlic, thyme, salt, and pepper. Marinade the turkey tenderloins in this mixture for at least 30-45 minutes, ideally overnight. When ready to cook, preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Heat an oven-safe heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Add a touch of olive oil.
Sear the turkey tenderloins on all sides, about 1-2 minutes on each side until nicely browned. Place the skillet in the oven, uncovered. Cook for 25-35 minutes until the turkey is 160 degrees. The exact cooking time will depend on the thickness of the turkey. If you like a really juicy turkey breast, you may want to take it out a bit earlier at 155 degrees, but this isn’t the recommended temperature of the USDA. Remember it will continue to cook as it rests. Let the turkey tenderloin rest for 10 minutes. While the turkey rests, it will come up to the 165 degrees temperature recommended by the USDA.
Turn the Instant Pot on “Saute” mode. Add the butter and olive oil. Once melted and hot, add the turkey tenderloins and sear for 1-2 minutes per side until golden brown. Remove and set aside. Add 1/2 onion, 2 roughly chopped carrots, and 2 roughly chopped celery stalks to the bottom of the slow cooker. Pour in 1 cup of chicken broth. Place the turkey tenderloins on top. Close the Instant Pot and cook on high pressure for 8 minutes. Let naturally release for 10 minutes. Remove the turkey tenderloin from the Instant Pot and let rest. Cover it loosely with foil to keep warm. Discard the carrot, celery, and onion.
Add the turkey tenderloins, marinade, and 1 cup chicken broth to the slow cooker. Turn to coat on both sides. Cook on low for 3-4 hours or until the internal temperature reaches 160 in the thickest part. Remove and let rest for 10 minutes before slicing. Serve with cooking liquid drizzled over top or thicken the sauce.
Preheat the grill over medium high heat. Make sure the grill grates are clean and oiled if needed. Cook for 6-8 minutes per side (depending on thickness) until the internal temperature reaches 155 degrees. Remove the turkey tenderloins from the grill and let them rest for about 10 minutes, tented with foil. The internal temperature will rise to 165 degrees during this time. Slice and drizzle with extra marinade, if desired.
When ready to cook, preheat the air fryer to 375 degrees. Once preheated, open the air fryer and spray with cooking spray. Let excess marinade drip off. Add the turkey breast tenderloins and cook for 20-25 minutes, until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees. You can also cook these in the marinade if you like. It will not be as crispy on the outside but stays super juicy and moist. Flip the turkey after 12 minutes. Let the turkey rest for 5 minutes. Then slice and serve.
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
The Nutritional Values provided are estimates only and may vary based on the preparation method.