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This Air Fryer Turkey Tenderloin Recipe is a quick way to make juicy, boneless turkey without roasting a whole bird. I season the outside, cook it in the air fryer, then let it rest before slicing.
Cooking turkey tenderloin in the air fryer works well for Thanksgiving for two, smaller holiday meals, or a simple dinner. For a hands-off version of the same cut, try my Crockpot Turkey Tenderloin.
Why You’ll Love This Air Fryer Turkey Tenderloin
- Quick boneless turkey: Turkey tenderloin cooks faster than a whole turkey breast.
- Good for smaller meals: It works for Thanksgiving for two, holiday dinners, or weeknight meals.
- Works with packaged tenderloin: Many turkey tenderloins are sold pre-brined or pre-marinated, which saves prep time.
- Simple seasoning: You can use the seasoning blend in the recipe card or swap in poultry seasoning as a shortcut.
For more holiday ideas, browse my Thanksgiving recipes or my Christmas dinner recipes.
Ingredients Needed
Here’s what you’ll need to make turkey tenderloin in the air fryer. Scroll to the recipe card for the exact amounts.
- Pre-brined turkey breast tenderloins: I use a 1.5-pound package of turkey breast tenderloins. Butterball, Jennie-O, and other store-bought options are often sold pre-brined or pre-marinated, which helps keep the lean turkey tender.
- Seasoning blend: Use the Bragg’s herb seasoning, onion powder, garlic powder, smoked paprika, black pepper, and sea salt listed in the recipe card. Or, use poultry seasoning in place of the Bragg’s blend and the added spices, salt, and pepper.
- Olive oil or avocado oil: Helps the seasoning stick and helps the outside brown.
What Is Turkey Tenderloin?
Turkey tenderloin is a boneless, lean cut from the turkey breast. It is often sold as turkey breast tenderloin, so both names usually mean the same thing.
Since it is smaller and boneless, it cooks faster than a whole turkey breast. It is a good option when you want white meat without making a larger turkey main.
Using Pre-Brined Turkey Tenderloin
This recipe is written for pre-brined turkey tenderloin, so you do not need to brine it again. Pat the turkey dry, season the outside, and air fry it. If your turkey tenderloin is fresh and not already brined or marinated, add flavor before cooking. You can use the buttermilk brine from my Pressure Cooker Turkey Breast Recipe or the marinade from my Air Fryer Turkey Thighs.
How to Make Turkey Tenderloin in the Air Fryer
Dry and Season the Turkey
Pat the turkey tenderloins dry before adding oil and seasoning. This helps the seasoning stick and keeps extra moisture from slowing down browning.
Air Fry in a Single Layer
Place the tenderloins in the air fryer basket with space around them. The hot air needs room to move so the turkey cooks evenly.
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Check the Thickest Part
Turkey tenderloin is lean, so use a meat thermometer instead of guessing. Cook it until the thickest part reaches 165 degrees.
Rest Before Slicing
Let the turkey rest before slicing. This helps the juices settle so the meat stays tender.
How Long to Cook Turkey Tenderloin in the Air Fryer
The cook time depends on the thickness of the turkey tenderloin and your air fryer model. For this recipe, I use a 1.5-pound package of turkey breast tenderloins. Use the recipe card timing as a starting point, then check the thickest part with a meat thermometer. Since turkey tenderloin is lean, this is the best way to keep it from overcooking.
Tips for Juicy Air Fryer Turkey Tenderloin
- Rest before slicing: This helps the turkey stay juicy.
- Check the package first: Skip extra brining when the turkey is already brined or marinated.
- Choose one seasoning option: Use the seasoning blend in the recipe card or swap in poultry seasoning as the shortcut. You do not need both.
- Pat it dry: Drying the turkey helps the seasoning stick.
- Use oil: Oil helps the seasoning coat the turkey and helps the outside brown.
- Do not crowd the basket: Air fry the tenderloins in a single layer.
What to Serve With Air Fryer Turkey Tenderloin
Turkey tenderloin is lean, so I like serving it with something creamy, saucy, or buttery. For a holiday plate, add turkey gravy, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes with cheese, or cornbread dressing. Those sides help the sliced tenderloin feel more like a Thanksgiving main.
For vegetables, keep it simple with collard greens with bacon or fresh green beans with bacon. Both work well with turkey without making the plate too heavy.
If you’re making this for a smaller holiday dinner, add homemade cornbread and one vegetable side. For lower-carb comfort-food sides, try almond flour cornbread, mashed cauliflower, or cauliflower mac and cheese.
More Thanksgiving Turkey Recipes
Here are more turkey recipes to help you choose the best main dish for your holiday meal:
- Crockpot Turkey Tenderloin: A hands-off way to cook turkey tenderloin.
- Air Fryer Turkey Breast: A larger white meat option with crisp skin.
- Pressure Cooker Turkey Breast Recipe: Turkey breast with drippings for gravy.
- Air Fryer Turkey Thighs: A dark meat option with crispy skin.
- Air Fryer Turkey Wings: Another air fryer option for crispy dark meat.
- Baked Turkey Wings: A Southern-style oven option.
- Crockpot Turkey Wings: A hands-off dark meat option with pan juices.
How to Store, Freeze, and Reheat
- Store leftover turkey tenderloin in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days.
- To reheat, warm the turkey gently so it does not dry out. If it is already sliced, add a little broth, butter, or gravy before reheating.
- Freeze leftover turkey tenderloin in a freezer-safe bag or container. Thaw it in the refrigerator before reheating.
Air Fryer Turkey Tenderloin FAQs
Yes. Turkey tenderloin is a boneless cut from the turkey breast, so it is often sold as turkey breast tenderloin.
The exact time depends on the thickness of the tenderloin and your air fryer model. Use the recipe card timing as a guide and cook until the thickest part reaches 165 degrees.
Turkey tenderloin is done when the thickest part reaches 165 degrees. Use a meat thermometer so you do not overcook the lean meat.
For this recipe, thaw the turkey tenderloin first. Thawed turkey cooks more evenly and the seasoning sticks better. For frozen pre-seasoned turkey tenderloin, follow the package directions.
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Air Fryer Turkey Tenderloin Recipe
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Recommended Equipment
Ingredients
- 1.5 lbs Turkey breast tenderloin, these come packaged with two and are already pre-brined
- 1.5 tsp 24 Herbs Sprinkle Seasoning (Salt-free)
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 tsp Natural Ancient Sea Salt, use DRDAVINAHS to save!
- 2 tbsp olive oil, or avocado oil
Instructions
- Pat the turkey tenderloins dry with a paper towel.
- Mix the spices in a small bowl – this helps with applying the spice mix evenly over the meat.
- Add the turkey, oil and spices to a bowl. Toss evenly to coat.
- Preheat the air fryer at 400 degrees for 5 minutes – this helps to give the meat somewhat of a sear.
- Add the turkey tenderloin to the air fryer basket
- Turn the heat down to 360 degrees and cook for 10 minutes per side.
- Rest for 5-10 minutes with the air fryer basket removed or the air fryer door open.
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Recipe Notes
- Brine or marinate fresh turkey tenderloin: This recipe uses pre-brined turkey tenderloin. If yours is not already brined or marinated, brine or marinate it first for more flavor. You can use my buttermilk turkey brine or the marinade from my Air Fryer Turkey Thighs.
- Use one seasoning option: Use the seasoning blend listed in the recipe card, or swap in poultry seasoning as the full seasoning shortcut.
- Pat it dry before seasoning: This helps the oil and seasoning stick to the outside.
- Do not overcook: Turkey tenderloin is lean. Use a meat thermometer and cook until the thickest part reaches 165 degrees.
- Let it rest before slicing: Resting helps keep the turkey juicy.
- Reheat gently: Add a little broth, butter, or gravy when reheating sliced turkey so it does not dry out.
Nutrition Details
The nutrition facts come from entering the recipe ingredients into a database of food ingredients. They may vary for any recipe based on the exact product used.
