Stuffed Turkey Tenderloin

This Stuffed Turkey Tenderloin is the perfect fall comfort dish! It's made with tender turkey tenderloin stuffed with sweet potatoes, cranberries, apples, spinach, and maple syrup. You get all the sweet and savory flavors you'd find at Thanksgiving dinner all rolled up into one!

This Turkey Breast Tenderloin with Sweet Potato and Apple Stuffing is perfect for your next holiday meal or a cozy fall dinner! Although this recipe might seem fancy, it's so easy to make!

To make this beautiful stuffed turkey, all you need to do is butterfly the tenderloins, sauté the vegetables, stuff them, and bake. The hardest part of this recipe is honestly butterflying the turkey tenderloins, which isn't hard at all!

I'll walk you through step-by-step instructions so you can create this comforting meal that resembles an entire Thanksgiving dinner without the stress!

Looking for more turkey tenderloin recipes? You'll want to check out my Air Fryer Turkey Tenderloin, Grilled Turkey Breast Tenderloin, and Baked Turkey Tenderloin!

Why You Should Make Stuffed Turkey Breast Tenderloin

• Perfect for fall: The combination of sweet potatoes, apples, and cranberries makes this dish a cozy, seasonal meal ideal for autumn nights or holiday gatherings!
• Quick and low-stress: This recipe takes much less time than making a roast turkey or a whole turkey breast, but still just as juicy and delicious!
• Perfect for smaller crowds: This recipe feeds around 6 people, making it the perfect easy meal for an intimate Sunday dinner or holiday party where you still want to enjoy the coziness of turkey without the hassle!

Want to cook a whole turkey breast instead? Make this low-effort Crockpot Turkey Breast!

Ingredients and Substitutions

Here’s what you’ll need to make this delicious turkey recipe!

• Turkey Breast Tenderloins: This is the boneless, skinless part of the turkey breast. It's super tender and perfect for this recipe! Try to find unbrined turkey tenderloins, but if you can’t, just reduce the salt in this recipe. If you don't have turkey, you could use boneless skinless chicken breasts or pork tenderloins, pounding them out the same way you would the turkey.
• Shallot: I love using shallots when sautéing veggies as it adds a more mild flavor than onions. Red or yellow onions or even scallions would also work in this recipe.
• Garlic: Blends perfectly with the shallot and adds that hint of umami flavor that takes the veggies to the next level.
• Sweet Potatoes: These add a slightly sweet flavor and bulk to the stuffing. You could also use butternut squash or another fall squash for a similar effect!
• Apple: Adds a little sweetness and gives the stuffing a warm fall flavor! Feel free to use any type of apple you like. However, I think Granny Smith apples would be a bit too tart, but that's totally up to you! Pears would also be a delicious swap.
• Dried Cranberries: These are synonymous with fall and Thanksgiving, making them perfect for the stuffing!
• Baby Spinach: Adds a hint of green to the stuffing. If you're not a fan of spinach, feel free to leave it out or use kale or chard instead!
• Maple Syrup: Maple is a classic fall flavor and adds a little sweetness to the stuffing. Use pure maple syrup for best results. If you don't have maple syrup, brown sugar or honey works too!
• Chicken Broth: This helps to cook the sweet potatoes a little bit before baking, so they're not too crunchy. I also pour it into the baking dish to add flavor and help the turkey tenderloins cook.
• Poultry Seasoning: Use any kind of poultry seasoning you like. You can also make your own with a blend of white pepper, nutmeg, marjoram, rosemary, thyme, and sage.

How to Make This Stuffed Turkey Tenderloin Recipe

If you’ve ever stuffed a chicken breast before, you can totally make this recipe!

1. Prep the Turkey Tenderloins

First, preheat your oven to 400°F. Then, place tenderloins on a large cutting board. Using a sharp knife, slice them horizontally a couple of inches, but don't cut all the way through—you want to butterfly them so they open up flat. Then, give them a light pound with the flat side of a meat mallet to even out the thickness, and season both sides with some salt and pepper.

2. Make the Stuffing

Now, it's time to make the stuffing! Heat up some olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Toss in the sliced shallots and let them cook for about 4-5 minutes until they get nice and translucent. After that, stir in the minced garlic, diced sweet potatoes, and apples. Let those cook for another couple of minutes, just until everything smells amazing.

3. Finish the Stuffing

Next, add the dried cranberries, maple syrup, poultry seasoning, and half of the chicken broth. Lower the heat to medium, cover the pan, and let it simmer for about 8-12 minutes until the sweet potatoes are tender. Once they're done, stir in the spinach and let it wilt down. Give the stuffing a taste and adjust the seasoning if you need to—it should be flavorful and balanced.

4. Stuff the Tenderloins

Now, take your stuffing and spread it in the center of each turkey tenderloin, leaving a little border around the edges. Carefully roll up the turkey and secure it with some pieces of kitchen twine or toothpicks. For an extra flavor boost, you can sear the stuffed tenderloins in a cast iron skillet to get a nice brown crust—highly recommend doing this!

5. Bake the Turkey

Place turkey tenderloins seam side down, in a baking dish. Pour the remaining chicken broth into the dish and cover it tightly with aluminum foil. Roast turkey in the oven for about 20-25 minutes, or until each turkey roll reaches an internal temperature of 155°F. Once done, let the turkey rest for about 10 minutes, covered with foil. By then, the internal temperature should hit 165°F, and you're ready to slice and serve!

Make This Dish Ahead of Time

You can make the stuffing and roll the turkey and pop it into the refrigerator for 1-2 days. Take it out 30 minutes to come to room temperature. Then, bake as instructed in the recipe!

If you want to clear up some oven or stove space, you can prep these sides ahead of time too for a low-stress holiday meal – green bean casserole, cornbread stuffing, and cranberry sauce.

Side Dish Ideas

There are so many ways to serve this delicious recipe! Here are some of my favorites:

• Holiday sides: Serve this with a potato cauliflower mash, easy roasted potatoes, green bean casserole, sausage cornbread sausage, or apple cranberry sauce.
• Roasted veggies: Whip up some roasted butternut squash and roasted green beans.
• Salads: This dish pairs perfectly with an arugula salad or a shaved Brussels sprouts salad.
• Bread: Any kind of dinner roll or garlic bread would be delicious as a side!

Tips for Perfect Stuffed Turkey

Here are some helpful tips for making this dish:

• Cook until tender: Make sure to cook the sweet potatoes until just tender before rolling them into the turkey to avoid undercooking.
• Tie it tight: Secure the turkey tightly with twine to prevent the filling from spilling out while roasting.
• Rest is best: Don't skip the resting period after roasting—this helps keep the turkey juicy!
• Check the temperature: Make sure you remove the turkey tenderloins as soon as they read 155ºF with a meat thermometer and let them rest for 5-10 minutes. This allows the carryover cooking to continue cooking the turkey until it reaches 165ºF without drying it out and redistributes its juices.
• Pat dry: Make sure to pat your turkey tenderloins dry first to remove excess moisture.
• Spray: Don't forget to spray your baking dish with cooking spray so the turkey tenderloins don't stick to the bottom.

Recipe Variations

Here are some easy variations to make this dish your own:

• Add some crunch: Adding chopped nuts, like pecans or walnuts, to the stuffing gives it a little extra crunch.
• Make it sweeter: Add more maple syrup or even dried cherries instead of cranberries.
• Add some fresh herbs: Fresh sprigs of rosemary or thyme would be delicious for an extra depth of flavor.
• Cheese: Adding goat cheese or feta would give the stuffing a slight tangy flavor.
• Celery: Feel free to add some diced celery and carrots to the stuffing for a more traditional flavor.
• Gravy: Make this simple gravy without drippings to drizzle over top for a holiday feel!

Leftovers and Meal Prep

This recipe is perfect for meal prepping as it makes a ton and will last 4-5 days in the fridge!

Store any leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days.

Reheat in the oven or microwave, and consider slicing the turkey to use in sandwiches or wraps.