This easy air fryer turkey tenderloin recipe yields tender meat bursting with delicious caramelized flavor. Simple enough for an easy weeknight meal, but special enough for a holiday gathering, this will be the best turkey you eat all year.
The holiday season is almost upon us, and as soon as the weather starts to cool I inevitably start thinking about Thanksgiving dinner. I must admit, usually I am most excited about my favorite side dishes on Thanksgiving - perfect mashed potatoes, delicious roasted sweet potatoes and brussels sprouts, green beans, the list goes on. I like eating turkey, but cooking a whole turkey is time-consuming, and I'd rather be chatting with my family during our Thanksgiving celebration than stuck next to the oven with my baster.
Well, this delicious recipe for air fryer turkey breast tenderloins has me rethinking my holiday menu. This is one of the easiest turkey recipes I have ever made. The air fryer is a perfect way to cook turkey - the hot air seals in all the juices and caramelizes the brown sugar rub, leaving the meat tender and juicy with no basting or fuss. With only about 5 minutes of prep, and less than a half hour of cook time, this easy turkey recipe would be a great option for a smaller holiday meal. Serve this up with some of your favorite sides, and you can enjoy a mini Thanksgiving feast any day of the week!
You Will Love This
- A perfect recipe for your next small holiday gathering that takes less time and attention than a traditional turkey dinner.
- Take a break from chicken breast and try turkey tenderloin for a delicious lean protein any regular weeknight.
- White meat can be prone to drying out, but the air fryer cooking process produces the best results - the quick cooking time creates caramelized crisp skin and tender juicy meat.
Ingredients
Gather up your ingredients. For this recipe, you will need:
- Boneless skinless turkey breast tenderloin: Usually, turkey tenderloin comes in a pack with two tenderloins, and will be in the fresh meat section at your local grocery store. Sometimes they come already marinated, but be sure to get plain tenderloins for this recipe.
- Olive oil
- Spices, including brown sugar, kosher salt, garlic powder, onion powder, rosemary and paprika: Feel free to substitute Italian seasoning for the rosemary. I like dry herbs for this rub, but you can garnish the turkey with fresh herbs after cooking for a pretty presentation and some yummy aromatics!
Instructions
Step One: Preheat the air fryer to 350 degrees F. In a small bowl, mix all spices together with a fork. Add the olive oil to the bowl and stir into the seasoning mix until well incorporated to make a wet rub.
Step Two: With clean hands or a pastry brush, rub the spice and olive oil mixture onto both sides of the turkey tenderloin. Place turkey in the air fryer basket or on the air fryer tray in a single layer, making sure the sides of the turkey tenderloins are not touching. Leaving room for air to circulate between the meat will help it to cook evenly.
Step Three: Cook the turkey for about about 24-26 minutes, flipping halfway for even browning. Turkey tenderloin is done when the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F measured on a meat thermometer. You may need to add a little bit of additional time depending on the size of your tenderloins.
Storage
Turkey tenderloin can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Leftover turkey tenderloin is delicious added to soups or salads through the week for an easy dinner or quick lunch.
Recipe
Air Fryer Turkey Tenderloin
Ingredients
- 1.3 pounds boneless skinless turkey tenderloins
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon rosemary
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon paprika
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 350 degrees F. In a small bowl, mix all spices together with a fork. Add the olive oil to the bowl and stir into the seasoning mix until well incorporated to make a wet rub.
- With clean hands or a pastry brush, rub the wet rub onto both sides of the turkey tenderloin. Place turkey in the air fryer basket or on the air fryer tray in a single layer, making sure the sides of the turkey tenderloins are not touching. Leaving room for air to circulate between the meat will help it to cook evenly.
- Cook the turkey for about about 24-26 minutes, flipping halfway for even browning. Turkey tenderloin is done when the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F measured on a meat thermometer. Be sure to measure the temperature, you may need to add a little bit of additional time depending on the size of your tenderloins.
Tony
This was GOOD! Great flavor and the air fryer made the turkey so moist.