Turkey is a tradition, but that doesn’t mean you have to make it the same way every year. This year, enjoy something a little different when you make this easy and delicious Air Fryer Turkey Tenderloin Recipe. It comes together in less than 30 minutes with just five ingredients!
Serve this delicious seasoned turkey tenderloin for an easy weeknight meal or at the holidays alongside a trio of salads, such as Roasted Sweet Potato Salad, a simple shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad, and a festive and colorful Thanksgiving Fruit Salad. It’s the perfect way to enjoy traditional foods in different ways during the holiday season.
Prepping a Thanksgiving meal can be a sobering experience for a home cook. There’s the cost. The time. And the speed with which everyone gulps it down. Let’s not get into the pile of dirty dishes lying in your wake.
If you want to enjoy your Thanksgiving dinner a little more this year, consider this delicious recipe for Air Fryer Turkey Tenderloin. It cooks in about half an hour with a few simple ingredients, making for a lean protein main dish that won’t break the bank.
Why Make This
It’s simple. No worrying about brining a whole turkey (or fitting it in the oven!), this air fryer turkey breast recipe is comes together in a few simple steps. Season the sides of the turkey tenderloins with your favorite spice rub, roast in the air fryer, and then glaze them with an apricot vinaigrette. This is an easy turkey recipe that you could serve for busy weeknights as well as at holiday gatherings.
It’s delicious. A skinless turkey tenderloin is the most tender part of the entire turkey, a part of the turkey breast that is really tender meat. Seasoned with spices and sweetened with a glaze, it’s super flavorful. It’s a great option for a smaller crowd at Thanksgiving or for taking to a Friendsgiving Party.
There’s no waste. It’s rare for a family to enjoy all of a roast turkey. Some part of it inevitably goes to waste. But with a succulent turkey tenderloin, nothing will be wasted and you’ll save money, too. This is a great dish to make to keep your holiday budget-friendly.
It’s quick! This air fryer turkey tenderloin recipe cooks up so quickly, in a small fraction of the time it would take to roast a turkey or even a bone-in turkey breast.
Ingredients
You only need five ingredients for this easy turkey tenderloin recipe:
turkey tenderloins – The tenderloin is part of the turkey breast. I have only found these in a 24-ounce package from Jennie-O, oftentimes on clearance at my local Ralphs grocery store. If you can’t find them, you can substitute a boneless, skinless turkey breast instead. Look for them on sale and stash extra in the freezer for future meals.
oil – You can use any cooking oil or an olive oil spray. You want to coat the tenders with the oil and to help the spice blend adhere.
spice blend – I like to use a homemade seasoning mixture, like Cajun Spice Blend or my Homemade Seasoned Salt. If you don’t have time to make a blend and don’t have one on hand, you can use salt, black pepper, onion powder, and poultry seasoning.
apricot preserves – Feel free to use apricot jam or another fruit preserves. As always, shop your kitchen and use what you have.
apple cider vinegar – This thins the preserves so that it’s spreadable and adds a little acid to offset the sweetness in the glaze. You can use another vinegar if you like.
optional garnish – Fresh herbs are beautiful for garnishing the finished platter for your holiday meal.
Step-by-Step Instructions
This Air Fryer Turkey Tenderloin recipe couldn’t be easier. Here’s how to prepare it:
1. Remove the tenderloins from the package and pat them dry with paper towels. Rub the tenderloins with oil and then sprinkle generously with the spice mix.
2. Line the air fryer basket with parchment paper and place the tenderloins inside in a single layer. Cook at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes.
3. Meanwhile in a small bowl, whisk together the preserves and vinegar. Brush the tenderloins with the glaze and cook for 5 minutes. Brush with more glaze and cook another 5 minutes or until the meat reaches an internal temperature of 155 degrees when checked with an instant read meat thermometer. Note the cook time may vary if you have very large pieces of meat.
4. Remove the air fryer tray from the fryer and allow the meat to rest for 10 minutes, tented with aluminum foil. Transfer to a cutting board to slice slicing. Serve hot with your favorite sides.
Promptly refrigerate leftover turkey tenderloin in an airtight container. Store leftovers for up 3-4 days. Freeze for longer storage.
FAQs
The tenderloin is a small portion of the turkey breast.
As part of the breast, the tenderloin is considered white meat and therefore cooks more quickly than legs or thigh meat.
Freeze it in the package prior to cooking or you can freeze it after it’s cooked. Package cooked turkey in meal-size portions. Chill it in the fridge and then store in the freezer for up to 6 weeks. Thaw and serve cold or reheat as you like.
Side Dishes to Serve
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Air Fryer Turkey Tenderloin Recipe
Equipment
- small bowl
Ingredients
- 24 oz turkey tenderloin
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 teaspoon favorite seasoning blend
- ⅓ cup apricot jam or preserves
- 2 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
Instructions
- Remove the tenderloins from the package and pat them dry with paper towels. Rub the tenderloins with oil and then sprinkle generously with the spice mix.24 oz turkey tenderloin, 1 tablespoon olive oil, 2 teaspoon favorite seasoning blend
- Line the air fryer basket with parchment paper and place the tenderloins inside in a single layer. Cook at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes.
- Meanwhile in a small bowl, whisk together the preserves and vinegar. Brush the tenderloins with the glaze and cook for 5 minutes. Brush with more glaze and cook another 5 minutes or until the meat reaches an internal temperature of 155 degrees when checked with an instant read meat thermometer. Note the cook time may vary if you have very large pieces of meat.⅓ cup apricot jam or preserves, 2 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- Remove the air fryer tray from the fryer and allow the meat to rest for 10 minutes, tented with aluminum foil. Transfer to a cutting board to slice slicing. Serve hot with your favorite sides.
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