This air fryer turkey tenderloin recipe makes juicy, flavorful turkey with the most delicious caramelized crust. It's quick enough for an easy weeknight meal and special enough to serve at a holiday meal without the stress of roasting a whole bird.
I'll be honest, on Thanksgiving I usually look forward to the side dishes the most. But this easy air fryer turkey tenderloin recipe has completely changed how I think about cooking turkey for the holidays. With just a few minutes of prep and less than 30 minutes of cooking time, you get juicy, tender meat - no basting or babysitting required. Pair it with your favorite sides, and you've got a cozy holiday-worthy meal any day of the week.
This easy turkey tenderloin recipe is perfect for a gluten free main dish for Thanksgiving dinner, especially if you are the only person following a gluten-free diet. If you're looking for some fun side dishes to try with your turkey, I recommend my gluten free stuffing or these easy Instant Pot sweet potatoes.
Ingredient Notes
This delicious turkey dinner uses just a few simple ingredients, which you probably already have in your pantry. It is naturally gluten free and dairy free as written.
- Boneless, Skinless Turkey Tenderloin - My grocery store carries Butterball turkey tenderloins year round, which happen to be gluten free. These make a great weeknight meal even when it's not the holiday season. There are some tenderloins that come pre-marinated, so make sure to select a plain one for this recipe. If you're following a gluten free diet, double check your brand is gluten free.
See recipe card for full list of ingredients with measurements.
How to Make a Turkey Tenderloin in the Air Fryer
This air fryer turkey recipe is so easy to make and it only requires a fraction of the time of roasting a whole turkey. You can swap out the spice rub ingredients with your favorite rub to change the flavors too!
STEP 1: In a small bowl, mix all spices together with a fork. Add the olive oil to the bowl and stir into the seasoning mix until well incorporated to make a wet rub.
STEP 2: With clean hands or a pastry brush, rub the seasoning mixture onto both sides of the turkey tenderloin.
STEP 3: Place turkey in the air fryer basket or on the air fryer tray in a single layer, making sure the sides of the turkey tenderloins are not touching. Leaving room for air to circulate between the meat will help it to cook evenly.
Cook the turkey for about about 24-26 minutes, flipping halfway for even browning.
Expert Tip
Turkey tenderloin is done when the internal temperature reaches 165F degrees measured on an instant read thermometer. You may need to add a little bit of additional time depending on the size of your tenderloins.
Storage
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Leftover turkey tenderloin is delicious added to soups or salads through the week for an easy dinner or quick lunch.
You can also freeze leftover turkey in a freezer-safe bag for up to 6 months.
You can also use leftover turkey tenderloin in my turkey and rice soup or this cozy turkey pot pie!
More main dish recipes to try:
If you try this recipe, please leave a 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 star rating and let me know how you liked it in the comments below.
Recipe
Air Fryer Turkey Tenderloin
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 ½ pounds Boneless Skinless Turkey Tenderloin
- 1 Tablespoon Brown Sugar
- 1 teaspoon Kosher Salt
- 1 teaspoon Rosemary
- ½ teaspoon Garlic Powder
- ¼ teaspoon Onion Powder
- ¼ teaspoon Paprika
- 2 tablespoons Olive Oil
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 350 °F (177 °C).
- In a small bowl, mix all spices together with a fork. Add the olive oil to the bowl and stir into the seasoning mix until well incorporated to make a wet rub.1 Tablespoon Brown Sugar, 1 teaspoon Kosher Salt, 1 teaspoon Rosemary, ½ teaspoon Garlic Powder, ¼ teaspoon Onion Powder, ¼ teaspoon Paprika, 2 tablespoons Olive Oil
- With clean hands or a pastry brush, rub the wet rub onto both sides of the turkey tenderloin.1 ½ pounds Boneless Skinless Turkey Tenderloin
- Place turkey in the air fryer basket or on the air fryer tray in a single layer, making sure the sides of the turkey tenderloins are not touching. Leaving room for air to circulate between the meat will help it to cook evenly.
- Cook the turkey for about about 24-26 minutes, flipping halfway for even browning. Turkey tenderloin is done when the internal temperature reaches 165 °F (74 °C) measured on a meat thermometer. Be sure to measure the temperature, you may need to add a little bit of additional time depending on the size of your tenderloins.
- Allow the tenderloin to rest for 5-10 minutes before slicing for the juiciest meat.
Notes
Tiffany is the recipe developer, stylist and food photographer behind Well Fed Baker. As a lifelong baker who had to go gluten free and dairy free in 2016, Tiffany strives to share allergen friendly recipes that never feel like they are free from anything.
Anonymous says
This is the most juicy turkey I’ve ever eaten!