How to Cook Turkey Tenderloin with Easy Garlic Gravy
- Low Carb
Wondering how to cook turkey tenderloin? This simple turkey tenderloin recipe is perfect for a small Thanksgiving gathering but also great for a quick weeknight meal! It’s easy to make in only 25 minutes total. Top with my quick and easy garlic gravy for a simple, yet impressive main dish. Enjoy!
How to Cook Turkey Tenderloin
These melt in your mouth turkey tenderloins are so easy to make with just a handful of simple ingredients. Just 5 minutes to add the seasonings, let them rest in the refrigerator overnight, sear them on the stovetop for 5 minutes, then roast in the oven for 10-13 minutes. That’s it!!
I pair this delicious roast turkey tenderloin with my quick and easy garlic gravy that comes together in just 15 minutes. I make it when the turkey is cooking so everything for this easy meal is ready together.
This easy turkey tenderloin recipe is perfect for a special occasion or an easy weeknight meal!
Having a small gathering for Thanksgiving this holiday season and just not in the mood to make a whole turkey? I’ve gotcha covered.
This delicious turkey breast tenderloin has all the yummy flavors of a classic Thanksgiving turkey without all the hassle of cooking a whole bird. Your family or smaller group of guests will love it! And you’ll love the ease to make and clean up. It’s a win-win I’d say.
But why stop at Thanksgiving dinner? This recipe for how to cook turkey tenderloin is perfect for a quick weeknight main course for fall and winter. I don’t know about you, but if I can get a delicious turkey dinner with mashed potatoes and gravy on a cold weeknight, then I’m one happy lady.
What is turkey tenderloin?
Turkey tenderloin is the thick strip of meat from between the turkey breast and the breast bone. The skinless portion of the turkey breast. It’s the same thing as a chicken tender but from a turkey!
The turkey tenderloin is similar in composition to the breast, but this white meat is much more tender since it’s a less used muscle. Keep in mind that it is lean, just like the turkey breast, and can easily dry out if overcooked.
Is turkey tenderloin similar to a pork tenderloin? Not really. They are both generally lean meats, but pork tenderloin has a little more fat content and less protein.
They are also from different parts of the animal, with the pork tenderloin coming from the back area of the pig and the turkey tenderloin coming from the breast bone of the turkey.
Turkey tenderloins can usually be found at your local grocery store or butcher.
Ingredients to make the best turkey tenderloin recipe
Turkey Tenderloin:
-2 turkey tenderloins (approx. 1.5 lb total)
-3/4 tsp fine sea salt
-½ Tbsp poultry seasoning
-2 Tbsp avocado oil (or olive oil)
-Chopped parsley for garnish, optional
Quick & Easy Gravy:
-¼ cup butter
-¼ cup all-purpose flour
-2 cloves garlic, finely grated or pressed with garlic press
-2 cups beef broth, room temperature (can sub turkey or chicken broth)
-¼ tsp fine sea salt
How to cook turkey tenderloin in the oven
(printable recipe card below!)
1. Dry brine turkey. Dry turkey tenderloins well with a paper towel and season evenly on all sides with salt and poultry seasoning. Refrigerate uncovered overnight. This extra step will give you some truly amazing flavor!
2. Preheat oven to 400ºF. A high temperature is key to keeping this lean meat it nice and juicy.
3. Sear. Remove turkey tenderloins from the refrigerator. Heat oil in a large oven-proof skillet over high heat (I use a cast iron skillet). Once hot, sear the sides of the turkey tenderloins for 5 minutes total to brown all sides. If you don’t have an oven-proof skillet, you can sear the turkey in any skillet then transfer to a baking dish for roasting.
4. Roast. Place skillet in oven on middle rack and roast for 10-13 minutes or until the internal temperature in the centers reach 160ºF. Cooking times can vary based on weight of your turkey loin.
5. Rest. Remove tenderloins to a cutting board and rest for at least 5 minutes before slicing against the grain just like chicken breasts. You can finish making the gravy as the turkey rests.
6. Serve with gravy and your favorite sides like mashed potatoes and broccoli or asparagus.
How to make quick and easy garlic gravy with just a few simple steps
1. Make roux. Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add flour and whisk. Gently stir and scrape the bottom continuously for 5 minutes to prevent burning.
2. Add garlic and gently stir/scrape the bottom for 1 minute.
3. Add beef broth and salt and whisk well. Increase heat to high and bring to a boil, stirring about once per minute. Once boiling, reduce heat to medium and allow to cook until thickened, about 5 minutes, stirring every minute (it should be simmering during this time. If not, increase the heat until you have small bubbles).
Helpful Cooking Tips:
- To add more flavor to your gravy, you can use a mushroom powder and/or fish sauce. About 1 tsp of each. You can also add a touch of garlic powder at the end if you want more garlic flavor.
- Tested with standard size tenderloins weighing 0.73lb & 0.82lb. Roasting time in my oven was 10 minutes for 0.73lb and 12 minutes for 0.82lb. Total roasting time will vary based on the size of the tenderloins, so I always recommend using a leave-in meat thermometer.
- Reduce salt if tenderloins are smaller or if you follow a reduced sodium diet.
What to serve with this easy turkey tenderloin recipe
- Quick and easy garlic gravy
- Mashed potatoes (one of my favorite side dishes and essential to complete my holiday meal!)
- Green beans
- Asparagus
- Maple Bacon Brussels Sprouts (arguably the best part of Thanksgiving dinner)
- Green salad
- Cranberry sauce
- Pumpkin Pie Sweet Potato Casserole with Coconut Pecan Topping (I love the combo of sweet potatoes and maple syrup!)
- Green Bean Casserole
- Roasted red potatoes
How long does leftover turkey last?
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. You can also freeze for up to 6 months.
Leftover turkey tenderloin and gravy can be reheated in the oven, air fryer, or microwave.
Another great leftover option is to thinly slice it and use it cold on sandwiches for the week! The best way to thinly slice your tender turkey is with a mandoline, but a sharp chef’s knife is also a great option.
To slice with a mandoline, you will want to par freeze the cooked turkey until it’s slightly hard (1-3 hours depending on your freezer temp). This will make slicing easier.
There are also home meat slicers available if you want to make sandwich meats at home on a regular basis.
Leftover turkey salad (my fave!) is also a great way to use up leftovers that the whole family will love!
How do you cook turkey so that it’s juicy, not dry?
When it comes to cooking turkey tenderloins, the secret to getting them perfect and juicy is to use a meat thermometer and cook to 160 degrees F. There’s no way around it if you’re looking for perfect results every time.
I know it sounds annoying and like an unnecessary step, but trust me, you won’t regret it. And get ready to wow your guests or family with your perfectly cooked turkey. They’re all going to want to know the secret the first time they try it!
For the most affordable, reliable leave-in meat thermometer, check out this one. If you are looking to splurge, this one is the top of the line and you don’t have to mess with any wires.
I definitely recommend splurging if you can swing it. Especially if you cook a lot of meats like I do.
These top of the line meat thermometers are perfect to use in the oven, on the smoker, on the grill, in the air fryer, or even in the crockpot!
Speaking of cooking lots of meats, have you tried my Melt in Your Mouth Roast Beef recipe? It’s been made by tens of thousands of readers and has an average rating of 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️!! This roast beef is a great recipe for special occasions or Sunday dinner.
If you’re looking for the cheapest option, you can use an instant-read thermometer like this one if that’s all you have on hand, but I wouldn’t recommend it. A leave-in thermometer is a much better option for turkey recipes like this with a short cook time.
How to Cook Turkey Tenderloin: Another cooking option – the Air Fryer!
If you want to cook your turkey tenderloin without searing it first, look no further than the air fryer!
This alternative to baked turkey tenderloins is equally as easy… maybe even easier. Air frying will give you that perfectly browned outside and juicy inside.
Just air fry at 375ºF (medium-high heat) for about 20 minutes or until the centers reach 160ºF. An air fryer is similar to a convection oven, so the temperature is reduced.
Alternative ingredients to try out for this turkey tenderloin recipe
- Black pepper – If you’re a pepper lover than feel free to add some to the turkey seasonings and/or the gravy!
- White pepper – Perfect for the gravy if you don’t want specs of black in it. I do prefer the taste of black pepper though.
- Garlic powder can be used in place of fresh garlic to make the gravy if you want it to be silky smooth and/or you don’t have fresh garlic.
- Brown sugar – You can use some brown sugar or coconut sugar in the seasoning before dry brining to give you some sweetness and that yummy caramelization on the outside. Mix the poultry seasoning, salt, and sugar together in a small bowl, then sprinkle on the meat for an even coating. Want to take it to the next level? Try maple sugar! You can thank me later.
- Apple cider vinegar – Want even more flavor? Spritz the turkey tenderloins with a bit of apple cider vinegar after searing and before roasting! This is a similar technique to what we use in the bbq world for the tastiest meats like brisket and ribs! I love this brand of apple cider vinegar.
- Cooking spray – An easy way to make your turkey even more appetizing when serving is to quickly spritz with olive oil spray. Spritz a super light layer right before serving if your meat is looking dry or dull at all. Turkey tenderloin is a lean cut of meat, so after slicing it can start to look dry (even when it’s actually super juicy).
- Kosher salt – You can use kosher salt instead, but keep in mind that you might need a little more to get the right amount of saltiness, as kosher salt is usually coarser than fine sea salt. I recommend sea salt in 99% of my recipes due to the amazing health benefits!
- Spice rub/dry rub – If you want a flavor other than classic Thanksgiving turkey, try a spice rub for your dry brine! The flavor possibilities of this dish are really countless, so feel free to experiment! If your spice blend contains salt, make sure you reduce or even omit the salt called for in this recipe.
- Dijon mustard and/or onion powder – You can add a tsp of Dijon mustard and a 1/4 tsp of onion powder to your gravy at the end for a more tangy flavor.
- Soy sauce – You can use soy sauce to make a delicious marinade for turkey if you want to try something other than a dry brine. Just combine with a few simple marinade ingredients like garlic, honey, and ginger to make a really yummy slow cooker turkey tenderloin (crock pot turkey tenderloin).
- Lemon or lime juice – Fresh lemon juice can be a really nice addition to your turkey after cooking. Just squeeze a bit of lemon juice over the sliced turkey for some added brightness. Try lime juice if you’re using a spice blend like this one.
Looking for some more easy weeknight main dishes? Check these out!
- Perfectly Baked Chicken Thighs
- Boneless Pork Ribs (Country Style Ribs) made in the oven
- Salisbury Steak Meatballs with Mushroom Gravy
- Maple Bourbon Pork Tenderloin (so good!!)
- Crock Pot Pork Loin with Honey Garlic Glaze
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How to Cook Turkey Tenderloin with Easy Garlic Gravy
- Low Carb
Ingredients
Turkey Tenderloin:
- 2 turkey tenderloins, approx. 1.5 lb total
- 3/4 tsp fine sea salt
- ½ Tbsp poultry seasoning
- 2 Tbsp avocado oil
- Chopped parsley for garnish (optional)
Quick & Easy Garlic Gravy:
- ¼ cup butter
- ¼ cup flour
- 2 cloves garlic, finely grated or pressed with garlic press
- 2 cups organic beef broth, room temperature
- ¼ tsp fine sea salt
Instructions
Turkey Tenderloin
- Dry brine turkey. Dry turkey tenderloins well and season evenly on all sides with salt and poultry seasoning. Refrigerate uncovered overnight.
- Preheat oven to 400ºF.
- Sear. Remove turkey tenderloins from the refrigerator. Heat oil in a large oven-proof skillet over high heat. Once hot, sear the tenderloins for 5 minutes total to brown all sides.
- Roast. Place skillet in oven on middle rack and roast for 10-13 minutes or until the centers reach 160ºF.
- Rest. Remove tenderloins to a cutting board and rest for at least 5 minutes before slicing against the grain.
- Serve with gravy and your favorite sides like mashed potatoes and broccoli or green beans.
Quick & Easy Garlic Gravy
- Make roux. Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add flour and whisk. Stir and scrape the bottom continuously for 5 minutes to prevent burning.
- Add garlic and stir/scrape the bottom for 1 minute.
- Add beef broth and salt and whisk well. Increase heat to high and bring to a boil, stirring about once per minute. Once boiling, reduce heat to medium and allow cook until thickened, about 5 minutes, stirring every minute (it should be simmering during this time. If not, the increase the heat until you have small bubbles).
- Serve. Once thickened, remove from heat and pour over sliced turkey and mashed potatoes.
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Notes
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This was really good. Will be making again. Skipped the gravy this time but it was so tender it did not really need it. Maybe I’ll make it next time. Thanks for the recipie
YUMMMM!!!!! 🖤
I’ve been looking for an alternative to a whole turkey for thanksgiving and this looks great. I’ll give it a try this year since it is just me and my husband at home these days. Will report back on how it turns out!