Turkey Tenderloin In Air Fryer (& Other Cooking Methods)

This Turkey Tenderloin is rubbed with olive oil, garlic, spices, and herbs before cooking up to juicy, tender perfection in the Air Fryer! Cooks in only 45 minutes, making it a great option for Thanksgiving or even just an easy weeknight meal!

Serve up an unforgettable Thanksgiving dinner by pairing this Turkey Tenderloin with a few delicious sides like my Best Mashed Potatoes and Carrot Casserole! Then polish off the meal with a slice of creamy Pumpkin Cheesecake Pie!

Impress all your guests with this easy-to-make Air Fryer Turkey Tenderloin at this year’s Thanksgiving meal! The slices of moist, flavorful turkey that have been seasoned in a simple homemade rub will disappear quicker than the pies at dessert time!

What Is Turkey Tenderloin?

Turkey Tenderloin is the most tender cut of turkey that’s located right on the inside of the turkey breast. This cut of turkey stays perfectly tender when cooked, making it a great slice of meat for Thanksgiving!

Even though this Turkey Tenderloin is a great choice for Thanksgiving, it’s truly easy enough to make even on weeknights! Made with just pantry staple herbs and spices and ready in 45 minutes, it could even turn into being one of your go-to meals!

Why This Recipe Works!

• Multiple Cooking Methods! This recipe can be cooked in the air fryer, oven, crockpot, instant pot, and even in the smoker! We’re just featuring the air fryer method because it’s so simple!
• Frees Up Your Oven! Making this Air Fryer Turkey Tenderloin means your oven just gained a ton of free time! This means more time to bake up all those desserts, yeast rolls, and side dishes!
• Homemade Rub! Nothing beats the flavoring of garlic, herbs, and spices mixing together in your own homemade rub!
• Reasonable Serving Size! This Turkey Tenderloin serves up enough meat for a smaller Thanksgiving or Friendsgiving! Which is great when you don’t want to roast an entire turkey!

Ingredient Notes

This Turkey Tenderloin Recipe is super easy to make since it uses ingredients you likely already have on hand! With the one exception being the turkey tenderloin itself and the fresh herbs.

You should have no problem finding a turkey tenderloin at your local grocery store! Just keep in mind that you’ll want to check both the refrigerated and frozen sections at the grocery store.

Once you’ve selected your tenderloin it’s time to work on the homemade seasoning rub. To make this you’ll need garlic paste, minced thyme, minced sage, minced rosemary, salt, ground black pepper, chili powder, and paprika.

The spices and herbs are then whisked together with olive oil. This finished seasoning mixture is then rubbed all over the tenderloin before air frying.

How To Make Turkey Tenderloin In Air Fryer

1. Prepare the air fryer by preheating it and spraying the basket with olive oil or avacado oil spray.
2. Whisk together the oil, garlic, herbs, and spices in a small bowl.
3. Rub the seasoning all over the tenderloin and place it in the air fryer basket.
4. Air Fry the tenderloin for half of the cooking time. Then flip it over and finish cooking it.
5. Allow the turkey to rest before slicing and serving!

Alternative Cooking Methods

Turkey Tenderloin In Oven

1. Rub the seasoning mixture all over the tenderloin.
2. Sear the turkey in olive oil in an oven-safe skillet.
3. Place the skillet in the oven and bake.

Turkey Tenderloin In Crockpot

1. Create a bed of onions and garlic on the bottom of the crockpot.
2. Rub the seasoning mixture all over the tenderloin.
3. Place the turkey on top of the bed of onions and garlic.
4. Slow cook on low until the turkey is cooked all the way through.

Turkey Tenderloin In Smoker

1. Rub the seasoning mixture all over the tenderloin.
2. Place the seasoned turkey onto a foil lined roasting pan.
3. Cook in the smoker until done.

Instant Pot Turkey Tenderloin

1. Add chicken broth to the instant pot and fit it with the trivet insert.
2. Rub the seasoning mixture all over the tenderloin.
3. Place the turkey breast into the instant pot and cook at high pressure.
4. Release the pressure naturally and then serve!

Frequently Asked Questions

How Long Can I keep Cooked Turkey In The Fridge?

You can keep cooked Turkey Tenderloin in an airtight container in the fridge for up 3 to 4 days. The leftovers are absolutely delicious when used up in my Thanksgiving Leftovers Turkey Sliders!

How Do I Know When The Turkey Tenderloin Is Finished Cooking?

Use a meat thermometer and insert it into the thickest part of the meat. Once the internal temperature reads 165 degrees F it’s ready to enjoy!

How Many People Will This Recipe Feed?

This recipe uses 2 pounds of turkey tenderloin which will feed 4 people. If you’re looking to serve a larger number of people check out my Perfect Thanksgiving Roast Turkey Recipe!

Can I Cook More Than One Tenderloin At A Time In The Air Fryer?

Yes, as long your air fryer basket is big enough to hold more than one! Keep in mind there should be space between each tenderloin when cooking so that the air can circulate around them.

Does The Chili Powder Make The Flavoring Of This Turkey Spicy?

Not at all, the chili powder simply adds some dimensional flavor to the turkey. This heightens it from the traditional garlic and herb flavor profile.

How Can I Crisp Up The Tenderloin After Cooking It In The Crockpot?

Easy, after it has finished cooking in the crockpot transfer the tenderloin to a baking dish. Then place it in the oven on low broil until it reaches your desired coloring and crispiness.

Keep a close, watchful eye during this process. Broiling tends to happen very quickly and we don’t want to ruin the tenderloin!

Can I Use The Seasoning Rub As A Marinade?

You certainly can if you prefer a deeper flavor! I personally like the ease and quickness of this method and it still delivers incredible flavor!

What’s A Good Substitute For Garlic Paste?

The garlic paste can easily be replaced with 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of garlic powder.

Do I Have To Allow The Turkey To Rest After Cooking?

Yes, it’s important to allow the turkey a few minutes to rest before slicing and serving. The resting time allows the juices in the turkey to redistribute.

This creates the moist, juicy meat that we all look forward to on Thanksgiving!

This Turkey Breast Tenderloin is one of many great options to serve at the upcoming holiday meal! Here are more delicious turkey recipes to check out if you’re still on the hunt for the perfect Thanksgiving turkey!

• Instant Pot Turkey Breast – Juicy, tender turkey that’s ready to slice and enjoy after only 45 minutes of cooking!
• Perfect Thanksgiving Roast Turkey – Made with a lemon butter injection marinade that delivers perfectly moist and flavorful meat, great for a 12 to 25lb turkey!
• Slow Cooker Turkey Breast – Only 5 ingredients and very minimal prep is needed to slow cook this delicious turkey breast!
• Warm & Spicy Smoked Turkey Breast – This easy-to-make recipe makes for a tender, juicy turkey that’s cooked right in the smoker!
• Herb Roasted Turkey Breast – Herb-infused butter coats the entire turkey breast to ensure flavorful, moist meat that everyone will love!

Let’s Connect!

If you’ve tried this recipe, please let me know how you liked it in the comments below and leave a review. I love hearing from you!

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