Well-cooked turkey tenderloin is a great dinner option and an easy recipe to prepare for a special occasion. Turkey tenderloin is a simple and delicious meal paired with traditional fall flavors like rosemary, sage or cranberry.

Depending on the marinades or spices you choose on your tenderloin, many sides and vegetables pair well with turkey, including rice, potatoes, broccoli and kale. Adding a turkey tenderloin to your regular dinner rotation or as part of your weekly meal preparation is a healthy, tasty option.

What Is a Turkey Tenderloin?

Turkey tenderloin is a skinless, boneless portion of the turkey breast. It is one of the most tender and moist parts of a turkey. The turkey tenderloin is a versatile cut of meat and can be marinated and cooked in many different ways. The tenderloin is a staple in diverse cuisines, a testament to its versatility.

Turkey tenderloin is white meat and is similar to chicken breast. Depending on the weight, a turkey tenderloin costs between ten and thirteen dollars at your average neighborhood grocery store.

What Ingredients Does Turkey Tenderloin Recipe Need? 

A turkey tenderloin can be marinated, basted, or smoked, so whichever recipe you decide on will list the specific ingredients and cooking supplies that you’ll need to properly prepare a turkey tenderloin.

One of the best marinades for a turkey tenderloin is also one of the easiest to prepare. Combine olive oil, orange juice, apple cider vinegar, minced garlic, rosemary, salt, pepper, and brown sugar in a large bowl. Place the turkey tenderloin in the marinade and allow it to sit for four to 24 hours before cooking.

Marinating a turkey tenderloin is an important piece of the puzzle to ensure that the piece of meat is as flavorful as it can be. Whether you decide to bake, grill, smoke, or use an air fryer for cooking your turkey breast tenderloin, the first step is using a marinade.

If you decide to bake, grill, or smoke your turkey breast tenderloin, then you may also want to prepare a basting liquid. Basting a piece of meat while it cooks ensures that moisture remains inside the turkey breast tenderloin for a tasty dish. Usually, a basting liquid will be similar to a marinade and will include some type of vinegar, herbs and water.

Turkey Tenderloin Recipe

Turkey tenderloin is a skinless, boneless portion of the turkey breast. It is one of the most tender and moist parts of a turkey. The turkey tenderloin is a versatile cut of meat and can be marinated and cooked in many different ways. The tenderloin is a staple in diverse cuisines, a testament to its versatility.

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Prep Time 5 mins

Cook Time 20 mins

Total Time 25 mins

Course Chicken, Main Course

Cuisine American

Servings 5 people

Calories 100 kcal

Ingredients

  

• 1-1½ pounds Turkey tenderloin
• 100 ml Olive oil
• 100 ml Orange juice
• 30 ml Apple cider vinegar
• ¼ Tbsp Minced garlic
• 1 Tbsp Rosemary and salt
• 1 Tbsp Brown sugar
• ¾ Tbsp Black pepper

Instructions

 

• When cooking a turkey tenderloin, it is important to ensure that the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees internally.

  About how to cook Turkey Tenderloin, we have 3 options, you can choose the way you feel the most suitable.

If you cook the turkey tenderloin in the oven:

• Roast the turkey between 325°F to 350°F. Higher temperatures may render the meat dry. Home cooks can use a glass baking dish for the tenderloin, but generally, cooks can use all oven-safe dishware as long as the tenderloin comfortably fits inside the container.

If you are grilling or smoking the turkey tenderloin:

• Spray your grill with a cooking oil spray or cut an onion and rub it on the grill top to avoid your tenderloin sticking to the grill's surface.
• A turkey breast tenderloin is an excellent cut of meat to prepare on the grill, but using an acidic baster will help the piece of meat remain moist during the assumed longer cooking process.

If you are using a smoker:

• The wood you choose to cook with can influence the flavor of the turkey tenderloin. If you are marinating with sage or rosemary, then using hickory wood to smoke your meat is a tasty complimentary flavor.

After:

• With more and more homes adding an air fryer to their list of kitchen gadgets, it's important to note that home cooks with an air fryer can quickly prepare a turkey breast tenderloin.
• By setting your air fryer to 400 degrees and setting the timer for twenty minutes, you can cook a two-pound turkey tenderloin in under thirty minutes. Just be aware of overcooking and drying out the turkey breast.

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Tips & Tricks for Turkey Tenderloin Recipe

TIP 1: Turkey breast tenderloin is great when paired with sauces. From a holiday version with cranberry sauce or a spicy version with a gochujang sauce, turkey breast tenderloin pairs well with many flavors.

TIP 2: Be sure to have a meat thermometer in your kitchen. It will ensure that your turkey tenderloin is perfectly cooked each time, no matter your preferred cooking method.

TIP 3: If you have leftover turkey tenderloin, you can use it in other recipes like turkey salad!

TIP 4: Some grocery stores carry brands that offer marinated tenderloins! It is a great shortcut to lots of flavors–lemon herb and mesquite are popular options.

TRICK 1: The spice aisle at your local grocery store usually offers pre-mixed poultry spices that are perfect for seasoning or marinating your turkey tenderloin. Try the basil, thyme, and lemon spice blend or the citrus and onion marinade–or both!

TRICK 2: For every 5 pounds of turkey, it takes about 24 hours to thaw, so if you are preparing a once-frozen turkey tenderloin, be sure to allow enough time for the tenderloin to thaw properly.

TRICK 3: If your tenderloin is dry once it is cooked, then slice it and plate it on top of a broth-based sauce, like a warm au jus or a simple vegetable or vegetable broth.

Nutritional Information of Turkey Tenderloin Recipe

Turkey Breast Tenderloin is nearly fat-free. Turkey is lean meat that is high in protein, with about 20 grams per serving. One serving size of a turkey tenderloin is about 110 grams; while marinades and sauces can increase calorie count, the turkey alone is about 100 calories per person.

Conclusion

Preparing a turkey tenderloin is an easy way to impress your family and friends with a tasty meal. With some preparation and a meat thermometer, your turkey tenderloin will be flavorful and moist. A turkey breast tenderloin pairs perfectly with autumn vegetables like apples, butternut squash, and pumpkin.

While many people associate a whole turkey as a staple on a Thanksgiving menu, a turkey breast tenderloin is an excellent alternative, especially for a small gathering. So, pick up a turkey tenderloin at your local grocery store on your next visit, whether it’s a weeknight dinner or a holiday celebration.