Air Fryer Turkey Tenderloin

Name: Air Fryer Turkey Tenderloin
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 35 min
Ingredients: 1 ½ pounds turkey breast tenderloin ((they usually come 2 in a pack)); 1 Tablespoon oil; 2 Tablespoons honey; ½ teaspoon dried thyme; ½ teaspoon dried rosemary; ½ teaspoon oregano; ½ teaspoon dried sage; ½ teaspoon garlic powder; ½ teaspoon onion powder; ½ teaspoon coarse kosher salt; ½ teaspoon black pepper

JUMP TO RECIPE

This recipe for Air Fryer Turkey Tenderloins is not only simple to prepare but incredibly tender and flavorful! The air fryer locks in that moisture so no dry turkey here!

A QUICK TURKEY DINNER RECIPE

I love this Air Fryer Turkey Tenderloin recipe since it really is so versatile. You don’t even have to wait for Thanksgiving! However, it is especially great for Thanksgiving when you don’t need to cook for as many people or want to keep the dinner super simple. These turkey tenderloins cook quickly, allowing you to serve a full, delicious meal without spending hours in the kitchen. The bonus? Cleanup is a breeze, leaving you more time to spend with friends and family- making it a win-win dinner for everybody!

Sliced Air Fryer Turkey Tenderloins on a cutting board.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

Is browning the turkey absolutely required?

It can be optional if you really want it to be. The browning process is about giving the turkey the beautiful color you see in my pics, but if that’s not important to you, you can skip it and just toss the turkey right in the Air Fryer.

Are turkey tenderloins just turkey breast?

So, technically turkey tenderloins are just a portion of turkey breast. They do look like boneless, skinless chicken breasts but larger. But most of us think of tenderloins differently because we don’t often buy turkey tenderloins as much as other meats and they all look a little different. Chicken tenderloins are small slivers of chicken pieces. Beef and pork tenderloins are longer sections of meat. Generally, when we talk about turkey breast, people usually think of bone-in, skin on kind or the boneless Turkey Breast Roasts.

Can I do this with a bone-in turkey breast?

I am sure you could but I have not personally tested it. You’d obviously want to get one that would fit into your air fryer. I just can’t really give you a time since I have not made a whole turkey breast in the air fryer yet. The goal is to get it to 165F degrees. So when I test recipes, I am checking at regular interviews to know when it is done and that is how I come up with times. You can never go wrong as long as you have a meat thermometer (paid affiliate link).

How do I make this in the oven?

I will refer you to my post on How to Convert Air Fryer Recipes to Oven.

Can this be made in a slow cooker?

I have a recipe for Slow Cooker Turkey Breast if you want to reference how I make that version. But basically you will follow all instructions and instead of cooking in the air fryer, you will cook it on low for about 5-6 hours (ensuring the turkey reaches an internal temperature of 165F degrees.) It may fall apart though as a lot of poultry does when cooked in a slow cooker.

How do I know when these Air Fryer Turkey Breasts are done?

Make sure to use a meat thermometer in the turkey tenderloins, as you want to make sure the turkey tenderloins reaches 165° F in the thickest part of the tenderloin. If they haven’t reached the proper temp, they need more time in the Air Fryer. You also don’t want to overcook the turkey so that it dries out. For food safety, it needs to be at the sweet spot of 165° F (or just a bit over is fine.)

What to serve with turkey?

Air Fryer Turkey Tenderloins pair well with a variety of sides. It obviously pairs perfectly with your favorite Thanksgiving sides!
Here are some other tasty options I like to serve:
– Roasted Vegetables: Try a mix of root vegetables like carrots, parsnips, sweet potatoes, and brussels sprouts.
– Garlic Mashed Potatoes
– Green Beans
– Cranberry Sauce
– Acorn Squash
– Garlic Butter Rice
– Sweet Potato Casserole
– Buttery Dinner Rolls
– Brussels Sprouts Caesar Salad
– Macaroni and Cheese

How to store leftover turkey tenderloins?

Allow the cooked turkey to cool to room temperature. Place in an airtight container for up to 5 days in the fridge. You can freeze the turkey for up to 2 months in a freezer safe container.

Looking down on the Air Fryer Turkey Tenderloins in the basket.

INGREDIENTS NEEDED: (SEE RECIPE CARD BELOW FOR THE FULL RECIPE)

turkey breast tenderloin– if you haven’t made turkey breast tenderloins, these turkey tenderloins (not a paid affiliate) are my favorite to get and they’re the ones I use to make my Sheet Pan Turkey Dinner. I can easily find them at my local Wal-Mart and sometimes Aldi carries them. You can use boneless, skinless turkey breast if you can find them instead of turkey tenderloins.
oil
honey– instead of honey, you can use brown sugar, or omit the honey altogether. The sugar in the honey (or brown sugar) just helps with the caramelization process and gives it that gorgeous golden brown color. It’s not going to give it a strong sweetness. If you choose to omit it, the turkey may not be the same color or have that same caramelization that you see in my photos.
dried thyme, dried rosemary, dried sage – these are your typical poultry seasoning flavors. You can substitute these three seasonings for poultry seasoning (1 1/2 teaspoons) if that is all you have on hand.
oregano
garlic powder – feel free to use your favorite seasonings here. I have found that this combo really gives it that signature turkey flavor we all know and love but this is very easily customizable.
onion powder
kosher salt and black pepper

Turkey tenderloins, oil, honey, dried thyme, oregano, dried rosemary, sage, garlic powder ,onion powder, kosher salt, and black pepper.

HOW TO MAKE AIR FRYER TURKEY TENDERLOINS:

Coat both sides of the turkey tenderloins with the oil. Drizzle a little honey on top of each tenderloin. Add the seasonings to each side of the turkey tenderloins. Heat up a cast iron skillet over medium heat. When hot, add the turkey tenderloins (the oil already on the turkey should keep it from sticking but you can always add a little bit of extra oil to the pan if necessary.) Cook each side for 2-4 minutes or until each side is golden brown.

Turkey tenders in a skillet with honey, oil, and herbs and browned turkey tenders in a cast iron skillet.

Transfer the turkey to the air fryer. Cook for 15 minutes at 350F degrees or until the meat thermometer (paid affiliate link) reaches an internal temperature of 165° F. (You do not need to preheat your air fryer first.) Check the turkey every 3 minutes after 15 minutes, as you do not want to overcook the turkey (it will get dry if overcooked.)

A few Turkey Tenderloins made in the air fryer and a set of tongs getting ready to remove cooked turkey tenderloins.

Remove the turkey and allow it to rest for 8-10 minutes. Cooling is important to keep the juices in the turkey instead of running out when you slice it. Slice the turkey. Serve and enjoy.