Turkey Tenderloin

This flavorful turkey tenderloin is a wonderful dinner recipe! Make this delicious meal for any night of the week. You're going to love how simple it is to throw together.

Turkey Tenderloin Recipe

Turkey tenderloin is such an easy meal and it has tons of flavor! Even though this is a super lean cut of meat, it always turns out juicy and tender. It's a hearty and healthy dinner and is seriously so simple to make.

While I love making this as an easy weeknight meal, it's also a great alternative to a whole turkey during the holiday season. A Thanksgiving turkey is of course a classic, but if you have a smaller crowd sometimes it's just way too much to make an entire turkey.

That's where turkey tenderloin comes in! It's a great option to still eat those holiday meal favorites without all of the crazy work. You can make a Thanksgiving dinner that is just as good as one with a full turkey.

Pair with sides like homemade cranberry sauce, delicious drop biscuits, and all of your other favorite holiday sides! It's a tasty protein that will go well with pretty much anything.

Why You'll Love this Recipe

What's not to love about this easy turkey tenderloin recipe? It is the best way to ensure you get tender turkey every single time:

• Turkey tenderloin is a super easy meal for weeknights! Just pop it into the oven and let it cook until flavorful, tender, and juicy.
• This lean cut of meat packs all the protein with a lower fat content and caloric intake. It's a wonderful healthy option for dinner.
• The easy butter seasoning blend gives this tenderloin so much flavor. I love marinating meat, but you can cut that marinating time out with a super flavorful seasoning mixture!

Ingredients

This simple turkey tenderloin recipe is chock full of delicious ingredients that you likely already have in your spice cabinet. Here is a list of everything you need to make this easy meal:

• avocado oil 
• unsalted butter
• red pepper flakes
• sweet paprika
• light brown sugar
• dried thyme
• dried rosemary 
• oregano
• garlic powder
• onion powder
• coarse kosher salt
• black pepper
• turkey tenderloin
• thyme sprigs

Substitutions and Variations

You can totally use a marinade with this turkey tenderloin if you want! The marinade ingredients in this pork tenderloin marinade would work great with turkey.

Fresh herbs would pair wonderfully with the other seasonings in this recipe! Use some fresh oregano, fresh parsley, or any other flavorful options.

Melted butter is my favorite way to prepare the seasoning mixture for the outside of the tenderloin, but you can use olive oil or avocado oil if you prefer.

Can't find turkey tenderloin? Not to worry! You can use this exact recipe on boneless turkey breast. It is also a really tasty spice rub mixture to use on chicken breast too.

How to Make Turkey Tenderloin

Here's how to make this turkey tenderloin recipe:

First, preheat your oven to 400°F (204°C) and then add the avocado oil to a large skillet and heat over medium heat.

To a bowl add the butter and seasonings, then mix until combined. 

Add the turkey tenderloin to the bowl of seasonings and coat evenly on all sides until fully covered in the butter sauce. 

Transfer the tenderloin to a skillet. Cook each side of the tenderloin for 2-4 minutes or until golden brown. 

Once seared, transfer the skillet to the oven and cook the turkey for 20-30 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).

Transfer the cooked tenderloin to a cutting board and let rest for 10 minutes before slicing. This helps the meat retain the juices!

Then slice and serve with your favorite side dishes! (We love instant pot mashed potatoes and steamed broccoli.)

How to Store Leftover Turkey Tenderloin

Allow the tenderloin to cool completely before storing. Then wrap in plastic wrap or aluminum foil, or place leftovers into plastic zip top bag or airtight container. Store in the fridge for 4-5 days. You can also freeze leftover turkey tenderloin for up to 3 months.

If frozen, allow leftovers to thaw before reheating. To reheat, place into the oven until the tenderloin reaches a safe internal temperature. I do not recommend reheating in the microwave as the tenderloin could get pretty tough.

What to Serve with Turkey Tenderloin

Serve this delicious turkey dinner recipe with many of your favorite sides. Sauteed zucchini or grilled asparagus keeps this meal low carb and healthy! Cozy parmesan risotto is a favorite to serve with this lean meat too.

Serving this as an alternative to a roasted turkey for Thanksgiving? Then pair it with classic holiday sides like easy cheesy potatoes, healthy sweet potato casserole, and green bean casserole. And don't forget the tasty turkey gravy! It is actually a wonderful option to serve to a smaller crowd and is way less daunting than preparing a whole turkey.

Tips for Success

With these simple tips and tricks, you can make this dinner a success:

• Don't forget to the let the tenderloin rest before slicing! Your turkey tenderloin will likely be pretty dry if you slice it too early.
• In order to avoid over-cooking the tenderloin, check it at the 20 minute mark and see if it's at temp. If not, check it again at the 25 minute mark and then again at the 30 minute mark and so on, until the tenderloin is fully cooked!
• Searing the tenderloin is a key step, so don't skip it. This will lock in the juices of the meat before you pop it into the oven, resulting in a tender and flavorful tenderloin.

FAQ

More Easy Dinner Recipes

• Turkey Sloppy Joes
• Grilled Pork Chops
• Chicken Fajita Tacos
• Instant Pot Stuffed Peppers