Air fryer turkey tenderloin is the perfect way to enjoy homemade turkey in about 30 minutes. No need to fuss with the oven or a large whole turkey. Turkey breast tenderloins are lean, boneless, skinless and super easy to cook.
You’ll absolutely love the simplicity of this recipe. If you love a good turkey dinner, then this recipe is for you![feast_advanced_jump_to]
Cooking turkey breast in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to prepare delicious and juicy white meat without the hassle of roasting a whole bird. Air frying locks in moisture while creating a beautifully browned crispy exterior in a fraction of the time it takes to oven roast. Follow this simple guide for foolproof air fried boneless turkey breast every time.
Benefits of Cooking Boneless Turkey Breast in an Air Fryer
There are several advantages to using an air fryer instead of the oven when preparing boneless turkey breast:
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Cooks Much Faster Air frying turkey breast takes only 30-40 minutes total, while oven roasting takes at least 1-2 hours. This makes air frying turkey breast ideal for weeknight dinners
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Super Juicy and Tender: The air fryer’s rapid, high-heat airflow crisps up the outside while keeping the inside remarkably moist and tender. No more dry, overcooked turkey!
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Less Mess and Easier Cleanup: With oven roasting, you have to deal with a hot roasting pan covered in drippings. The air fryer contains any mess and wipes clean easily.
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More Flavor: Air frying allows you to add flavorful rubs, herbs, and marinades that really permeate the meat.
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Healthier: With less added oils or fats needed, air fried turkey breast is lower in calories and fat versus deep frying.
Picking the Right Boneless Turkey Breast
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Weight: For an air fryer, you’ll want a turkey breast in the 2-4 lb range. Breasts larger than 5 lbs likely won’t fit.
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Boneless vs Bone-In: Both boneless and bone-in turkey breast work well in the air fryer. Go with whichever you prefer.
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Skin-On or Skinless: Again this comes down to preference. Skin-on will get crisper.
Seasoning Your Turkey Breast
Adding flavor through spices, herbs, marinades or dry rubs is key when air frying boneless turkey breast. Here are some tasty seasoning options:
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Olive oil, salt, pepper, rosemary, sage: Classic herb flavors.
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Brown sugar, chili powder, paprika, cumin: Sweet and smoky.
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Orange juice, garlic, thyme: Bright citrus notes.
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** Soy sauce, sesame oil, ginger:** Asian flavors.
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Mustard, garlic, onion powder: Bold and tangy.
Aim for 1-2 teaspoons of dried herbs/spices or 2-4 tablespoons of wet ingredients like olive oil or mustard per 1 lb of turkey.
Step-By-Step Guide
1. Pat the Turkey Breast Dry
- Remove turkey breast from packaging and pat very dry with paper towels. Drying the surface helps the skin get crispy.
2. Apply Seasonings
- Rub your desired herbs, spices, oil, mustard or marinade all over the breast. Make sure to get into every nook and cranny.
3. Preheat and Prepare Air Fryer
- Preheat air fryer to 370°F. Lightly grease the air fryer basket with oil or cooking spray.
4. Cook Turkey Breast
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Place breast in air fryer basket skin-side up if skin-on. Air fry for 15 minutes.
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Flip breast and air fry 15 more minutes. Bone-in breasts may take 5-10 minutes longer.
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Turkey is done when instant read thermometer inserted in thickest part reaches 165°F.
5. Let Turkey Rest
- When finished cooking, let rest 10 minutes before slicing to allow juices to redistribute.
And that’s it! Your perfectly air fried boneless turkey breast is ready to slice and serve.
Tips for the Best Results
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For even cooking, trim off any excess fat or loose skin before air frying.
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Cut slits into the thicker end of breast to help heat penetrate inside.
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Brine the breast in saltwater before cooking for extra moisture.
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If breast is larger than 4 lbs, cut in half crosswise before air frying.
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For crisper skin, air fry at 400°F skin-side down halfway through.
Get Creative with Leftovers
Leftover sliced turkey breast makes for easy lunches and dinners later in the week. Some delicious options:
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Turkey sandwiches with cranberry sauce and stuffing.
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Turkey salad with grapes, pecans, and balsamic vinaigrette.
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Tacos with turkey, guacamole, peppers and onion.
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Turkey fried rice with peas, carrots and egg.
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Turkey pizza with pesto, roasted veggies and cheese.
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Turkey noodle soup with carrots, celery, and broth.
With the simple steps above, you’ll see why air fried turkey breast is so quick and easy with deliciously moist meat every time. Ditch the whole bird and enjoy turkey breast any night of the week with your air fryer.
Let rest before slicing
Once the turkey tenderloins are done, carefully remove to a plate and let rest for 3-4 minutes. This gives the natural flavors and juices a chance to redistribute. Then you’re ready to slice and enjoy!
As with most traditional turkey dinners, there’s any number of classic ways to serve this wonderful dish. When it comes to turkey, I LOVE cranberry sauce. I like to scoop it all up with one fork and enjoy it together. We have a great recipe for Instant Pot Cranberry Sauce. Mashed potatoes are another favorite side dish for turkey and our Instant Pot Parmesan Garlic Mashed Potatoes are out of this world! Of course, you can stay with the air fryer and try our Air Fryer Asparagus or Air Fryer Garlic Herb Potatoes. Both are excellent with turkey breast tenderloin.
One of the things that makes a recipe such as this so versatile and good, is that it can be seasoned any number of ways. The recipe, as written, will give you a very savory flavor profile. Missing one of the ingredients? That’s ok! There’s not really any true substitutions necessary. If you don’t have the sage or rosemary or thyme, you can leave any of them out. You can also use an Italian blend seasoning and achieve a wonderful flavor profile. Marjoram and tarragon are also wonderful herbs with a savory flavor and are excellent as well.
What is turkey tenderloin?
Turkey breast tenderloins are very lean white meat from under the turkey breast. They are generally ½lb to 1lb in size, are rather narrow in shape and considered very tender. They are excellent for many styles of cooking and are ideal for a healthy air fryer meal.
Air Fryer Butterball Boneless Turkey Breast Roast 2017 Cooks Essentials Airfryer Thanksgiving
FAQ
How long does it take to air fry a boneless turkey breast?
- A 3-pound boneless turkey breast (like the Butterball turkey breast), cooks in the air fryer in 1 hour to 1 hour 10 minutes at 350 degrees F.
- A 4- to 6-pound bone-in turkey breast cooks in the air fryer in 40 to 50 minutes at 350 degrees F.
How long do you cook boneless breast in the air fryer?
- 6 to 7-ounce chicken breasts: about 10 to 11 minutes total.
- 8 to 9-ounce chicken breasts: about 11 to 12 minutes total.
- 10-ounce or larger chicken breasts: about 13 to 14 minutes total.
Is it better to air fry or bake turkey?
Roast your turkey in the air fryer = big savings on energy bills. It is estimated that the air fryer can be as much as 50% less expensive to run than the oven.
How long does it take to cook a turkey breast boneless?
When it comes to oven temperatures and timings, roast turkey breast has the same requirements as a whole roast turkey. So, at a temperature of 190C/170C fan/gas 5, you’ll need to cook it for 40 mins per kilo, plus an additional 20 mins.
Can you cook a boneless turkey breast in an air fryer?
You can cook a completely thawed boneless turkey breast that weighs 4 lbs or less in about an hour in the air fryer. Make sure the internal temperature of your cooked breast is at least 165 F for safety. What Ingredients do I Need to Make a Turkey Breast in the Air Fryer? What Equipment Do I Need to Make an Air Fryer Boneless Turkey Breast?
Are airfryers healthy?
Air fryers should be used sparingly, as very high temperatures when cooking food – especially those rich in starch, such as potatoes, cassava and other roots – can produce a chemical called acrylamide, which is harmful to the human body and has carcinogenic potential.
How many lb is a turkey breast in an air fryer?
Keep in mind that most air fryers will hold a 3-5 lb turkey breast, however, cooking times will vary depending on the size of the turkey breast and the type and size of your air fryer. See approximate cooking times in the cooking chart below.
What temperature should a turkey breast be cooked in an air fryer?
A: You should cook a turkey breast in an air fryer at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. This temperature will help to ensure that the turkey breast is cooked evenly and thoroughly. Q: What size air fryer do I need to cook a turkey breast? A: You will need an air fryer that is large enough to fit the turkey breast.
Can You air Fry a frozen turkey breast?
This simple air fryer frozen turkey breast recipe using a frozen turkey roast like Butterball takes little to no preparation time and comes juicy on the inside and golden on the outside. Remove the frozen turkey roast from the bag and remove all of its packaging. Wrap the turkey roast in aluminum foil.
How do you cook a thawed turkey breast in an air fryer?
Before cooking, pull the turkey breast from the refrigerator and allow it to sit at room temperature for 20 minutes to remove the chill. Pre-heat your air fryer to 360 degrees Fahrenheit. In a small bowl, mix dry seasonings together. Place thawed turkey on a plate. Pat dry with paper towels. Next, rub or brush turkey breast with the oil.