This simple turkey tenderloin recipe is oven baked and ready in under an hour! The turkey tenderloin marinade is packed with flavor from the garlic, herbs, brown sugar, and apple cider vinegar.
Oh my goodness, the marinade for these melt in your mouth turkey tenderloins is incredible. It’s a beautiful mixture of savory herbs, fresh garlic, apple cider vinegar, and just a hint of sweetness from the brown sugar.
The baked turkey tenderloins soak up all of that flavor, and then crisp up beautifully and caramelize just a bit when they’re seared before baking.
I love baking it at a high heat after it’s pan fried because it locks all of those juices in. Flavorful and juicy turkey is what we’re after, and this recipe does not disappoint! Once they finish resting after baking you won’t believe how juicy and flavorful they are. This recipe is such an easy and simple way to prepare a delicious holiday main dish.
Try slicing it into medallions and serving it with gravy (like this Turkey Gravy without Drippings), cranberry sauce (or this easy homemade Cranberry Relish), creamy mashed potatoes, and vegetables. The combination makes a quick and easy Thanksgiving dinner that’s so delicious!
Turkey Tenderloin Marinade: A combination of olive oil, apple cider vinegar, light brown sugar, fresh garlic, dried thyme, dried oregano, paprika, fine sea salt, and ground black pepper makes the most delicious marinade!
It has an amazing herby flavor that really pops with the hints of brown sugar and apple cider vinegar. The combination of flavors in this marinade almost makes it taste glazed.
If you love garlic as much as I do, feel free to double up on the amount. I’m one of those people that thinks there can never be too much garlic, and I often add more to this recipe.
Turkey: We’re using turkey tenderloins in this recipe. I used turkey loins that are about 1/2 pound each, but you can use turkey tenderloins that are up to 1 pound each.
Oil: I used olive oil to sear the turkey in the skillet. Feel free to use your favorite neutral tasting cooking oil.
This simple turkey tenderloin recipe is oven baked and ready in under an hour! The turkey tenderloin marinade is packed with flavor from the garlic, herbs, brown sugar, and apple cider vinegar.
*I baked my 1/2 pound turkey tenderloins for 17 minutes. If your tenderloins are larger you will need extra baking time. I would recommend baking 1 pound turkey tenderloins for 25-30 minutes at 400F, then using an instant read meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the thickest part. The temperature should read 160F because it will continue to cook to 165F as it rests under the tented foil. If the turkey has not reached 160F, place it back in the oven and bake it for another 4 minutes until the 160F temperature has been reached. Pay close attention to the temperature at this point. It can overbake quickly, which causes dry turkey. Once the turkey reads 160F on the instant read meat thermometer, remove it from the oven, tent it with aluminum foil, and let it rest for 10 minutes.
** If you dont have an oven safe skillet, use a Dutch oven. If you don’t have a Dutch oven, sear the tenderloins in a nonstick skillet then transfer them to an oven safe dish.
Cooking the perfect turkey for your holiday meal can seem like a daunting task. With so many options and sizes to choose from, how do you know what size Butterball turkey to buy? In this comprehensive guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know about Butterball turkey sizes so you can choose the right one for your gathering.
An Overview of Butterball Turkey Sizes
Butterball offers whole turkeys ranging from 8 pounds up to over 30 pounds to accommodate both small gatherings and large parties Here’s a quick rundown of the most common Butterball turkey sizes
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Small Butterball turkeys (8-16 lbs): Perfect for gatherings of 4-8 people. Varieties include Lil’ Butterball and small frozen young turkeys.
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Medium Butterball turkeys (16-24 lbs) Comfortably feeds 8-12 people. Medium frozen young turkeys fall in this range
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Large Butterball turkeys (24-30 lbs): Provides plenty for parties of 12-16 guests. This includes large frozen young turkeys.
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X-large Butterball turkeys (30+ lbs): Extra-large birds for crowds of 18+ people. Jumbo frozen young turkeys are over 30 lbs.
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Turkey breasts (3-8 lbs): Allows for smaller parties or meal leftovers.
Average Weights of Common Butterball Turkey Options
Here’s a more detailed look at the typical weight ranges for some of Butterball’s most popular whole turkey and turkey breast choices:
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Lil’ Butterball turkeys (8-16 lbs): Small whole turkeys perfect for 4-8 people.
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Frozen young turkeys (Small: 8-16 lbs, Medium: 16-24 lbs, Large: 24-30 lbs, X-Large: Over 30 lbs): All-natural, minimally processed whole turkeys in a variety of sizes.
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Turkey breasts (3-8 lbs): Boneless or bone-in turkey breast provides white meat without carving a whole bird.
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Frozen whole turkey breast (5-7 lbs): Typically 5-7 pounds and feeds smaller groups or provides leftovers. Cooks faster than a whole turkey.
So a Lil’ Butterball may weigh around 12 pounds on average. A medium frozen young turkey averages about 20 pounds. And a turkey breast ranges from 3-5 pounds typically.
How Much Turkey Per Person?
A common guideline is to plan for 1-1.5 pounds of turkey meat per person. However, you may need slightly more or less depending on your menu and guests:
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For just turkey meat, allow 3⁄4-1 pound per person.
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With bones/stuffing, plan for 1-1.25 pounds per person.
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For lots of leftovers, buy 1.25-1.5 pounds per guest.
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With other main dishes, you may need just 1⁄2-3⁄4 pound per serving.
In general, a 16-24 pound Butterball turkey can easily feed 8-12 people with extra meat. Adjust up or down based on your number of servings needed.
What Impacts the Weight of a Turkey?
There are several factors that determine the final weight of a whole turkey or turkey breast:
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Breed – Heritage breeds tend to be smaller while commercial broad-breasted turkeys are larger.
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Gender – Toms (males) are much bigger than hens (females).
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Age – Younger birds are smaller, older turkeys are heavier.
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Diet – What the birds eat impacts growth rate and size.
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Free range – Turkeys with more room to roam are often heavier.
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Enhanced or not – Sodium solutions add weight to “enhanced” turkeys.
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Bone-in or boneless – Boneless turkey breasts are lighter.
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Time of year – Turkeys are lighter in summer, heavier in winter.
So breed, age, diet, housing, enhancing, bone-in vs boneless, and season all contribute to a turkey’s final weight. This explains the wide range of sizes available.
Checking the Weight of Your Turkey
When buying a frozen turkey, the packaging should clearly state the total weight. But you can double check once thawed:
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Weigh on a kitchen scale for the most accurate reading.
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Check the specifications on the website/packaging for typical weight ranges.
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Estimate the meat weight since whole turkeys are about 75% meat, 25% bone.
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Read popup timers calibrated by weight to determine target cook times.
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Consider the size when thawing and how much meat is leftover.
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Inspect the overall size and volume when storing and roasting.
Checking packaging, weighing, and looking at turkey size are the best ways to verify weight and pick the perfect size for your gathering.
Typical Weight Ranges for Popular Butterball Products
To summarize, here are the typical weights for some of Butterball’s most popular whole and portioned turkey options:
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Lil’ Butterball – 8 to 16 lbs
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Small frozen young turkey – 8 to 16 lbs
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Medium frozen young turkey – 16 to 24 lbs
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Large frozen young turkey – 24 to 30 lbs
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X-large frozen young turkey – Over 30 lbs
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Frozen whole turkey breast – 5 to 7 lbs
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Turkey breast roast – 3 to 8 lbs
So a small or Lil’ Butterball weighs about 12 pounds on average. A medium turkey around 20 pounds. And a turkey breast 3-5 pounds. Use these Butterball turkey weight ranges to pick the perfect size for your holiday meal!
From petite 8-pound Lil’ Butterballs to giant 30-pound extra large birds, Butterball offers a tremendous variety of whole turkey sizes perfect for gatherings of all sizes. Taking turkey meat portions into account, a 16-24 pound Butterball turkey can comfortably serve 8-12 people. Factors like breed, age, and diet impact final turkey weights. Checking packaging weights and visually inspecting turkey sizes makes it easy to choose just the right Butterball turkey for your next festive, delicious holiday dinner.
Are Turkey Tenderloins Tender?
Yes! Because turkey tenderloins are a muscle that aren’t weight bearing and don’t get as much of a workout as the other muscles in the turkey, they’re not as tough as other cuts of turkey. That means that it’s the part of the turkey that’s the most tender.
Is Turkey Tenderloin The Same As Turkey Breast?
No. The turkey tenderloin is the cut of meat underneath the turkey breast. It’s a boneless and skinless cut of meat, while the turkey breast is often sold bone-in and skin-on.
Butterball Turkey Talk-Line: Turkey Temps to Know
FAQ
How much does a frozen turkey weigh?
Butterball Whole Turkey Frozen – Weight Between 20-24 Lb – tomthumb.
How much does a turkey weigh from the store?
One of the main differences is size. Toms are grown to an average live weight of 41 pounds, while hens average 17 pounds.Dec 11, 2019
How many pounds is a Lil Butterball turkey?
Li’L Butterball Young Turkey, Under 10 Pounds, Tender and Juicy Frozen, USDA Grade A | Publix Super Markets. Publix Super Markets Inc.
How much does a Butterball boneless turkey breast weigh?
Butterball Turkey Breast Roast, Boneless, 4.75 lbs.
How much does a Butterball turkey weigh?
Small Butterball Turkeys Approximately 8 to 16 pounds Perfect smaller households of 4-8 people. Varieties include Lil’ Butterball and small frozen young turkeys Medium Butterball Turkeys Approximately 16 to 24 pounds Feeds 8-12 people comfortably Medium frozen young turkeys are in this size range. Large Butterball Turkeys: Around 24 to 30 pounds.
How much does a 15 lb Butterball turkey cost?
On average, Americans can expect to pay $35.40 for a 15-pound turkey this year — an average of $2.36 per pound. How much is Butterball turkeys? Turkey prices: $0.87 per pound for Butterball frozen premium all-natural turkeys. How much would a 10lb turkey cost? How many people will a 16 lb Butterball turkey feed?
What is a Li’l Butterball turkey?
Perfect for smaller gatherings, a Li’l Butterball is a small whole turkey. Li’l Butterball turkeys have all the wow factor of a traditional whole turkey, but at a smaller weight so they cook faster and provide fewer servings. Frozen Li’l Butterball turkey is all natural* and gluten free.
Where can I buy Butterball turkey?
Kroger – Regular holiday promotions and loyalty card deals on Butterball. Costco – Big savings buying large, bulk frozen Butterball turkeys.
Are Butterball whole turkeys pre-brined?
Butterball whole turkeys are individually pre-brined for juiciness, tenderness and flavor. You and your guests will savor every bite! When you don’t have time to thaw, choose fresh, all natural* Butterball whole turkey. Whole fresh turkeys are pre-brined for a juicy and tender finish and less mess and prep work.
Can Butterball turkey be cooked from frozen?
**Cook from frozen (Pre-Stuffed): Pre-Stuffed Butterball Turkey that must be cooked from frozen (Do not thaw) ^^Cook from frozen Unstuffed: Butterball turkey that is designed to be cooked from frozen. The perfect holiday meal for your group and budget is just a click away. and prepare! Are Butterball turkeys good?