Whether it’s a holiday meal or just a regular weeknight, you’ll love this juicy Air Fryer Turkey Tenderloin recipe. Turkey tenderloins are a lean protein that are perfect for air fryer cooking.

sliced air fryer turkey tenderloins on a serving platter.

Keep your boneless, skinless turkey tenderloins moist by cooking them in your air fryer. They’ll be less likely to get dried out as they would in a normal oven. The circulating hot air of the air fryer will cook them faster with less loss of moisture.

It’s as simple as seasoning the turkey tenderloins and into the air fryer they go! Not only do I use my air fryer on a daily basis, but I love to bring it out for Thanksgiving and the holidays. It’s easy to use and it frees up valuable space in the oven.

See my list of the best Air Fryer Thanksgiving recipes.

All you actually need for a juicy and flavorful turkey breast is olive oil and seasonings. The air fryer will then work its magic and you’re left with a moist and flavorful turkey breast.

You can also make Instant Pot Turkey Tenderloins if you prefer to use the pressure cooker.

Air Fryer Turkey Tenderloin Benefits

  • You only need 10 minutes of prep time for this recipe! Just coat the turkey with olive oil and seasonings and it’s ready to cook.
  • It’s much easier than cooking a whole turkey. If you’re having a small Thanksgiving dinner this year, then this recipe is perfect for that. On the flip side if you’re not sure you will have enough white meat from your bird this is a great recipe to make sure you do.
  • The hot air circulates the turkey breasts and keeps them moist without drying them out.

Ingredients

ingredients for air fryer turkey tenderloin.
  • Turkey tenderloins – A turkey tenderloin is essentially a boneless, skinless turkey breast. It’s actually a portion of the breast but is often used interchangeably. It’s a tender cut of meat and when cooked right is incredibly juicy too! If you can’t find turkey tenderloins, you can use boneless, skinless chicken breasts. You will need to reduce the cooking time since turkey tenderloins are often much bigger.
  • Olive oil – Olive oil helps the seasoning adhere to the turkey breasts and encourages the outside to crisp up slightly.
  • Seasoning – I used thyme, rosemary, and garlic powder for more traditional Thanksgiving flavors but you can really use any seasoning mix you want, including poultry seasoning. You can also use fresh herbs instead of dried herbs if you wish. Just remember to use salt and black pepper!

Please see the recipe card at the end of this post for the exact ingredients and measurements.

Recipe Steps

how to cook turkey breasts in the air fryer.

Step One

In a small bowl, combine all the seasonings and set aside.

Please see the recipe card at the end of this post for the exact ingredients and measurements.

Step Two

Place your turkey tenderloins on a flat surface and coat them with olive oil. You can also use an oil spray if you prefer.

Step Three

Use your hands or a spoon and use the seasoning mixture to season both sides of the turkey tenderloins.

Step Four

Place the seasoned turkey tenderloins inside your air fryer basket in a single layer and set the temperature to 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 25 minutes.

After 25 minutes is up, turn the turkey tenderloins over and cook for an additional 15 to 20 minutes or until a meat thermometer or instant read thermometer shows that the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

Use tongs to transfer the tenderloins to a cutting board. Let the turkey rest for a few minutes before slicing. Serve and enjoy!

I hope you enjoy this air fryer turkey breast recipe as much as I do. This is one of those great recipes that tastes a lot fancier than it is. The delicious juicy turkey breast tenderloin is nice enough to serve for Thanksgiving dinner.

Serve the turkey with your favorite sides, including these Roasted Sweet Potatoes. Or smother it with my Dairy-Free Gravy Recipe.

sliced air fryer turkey tenderloin on plate with green beans.

Recipe Tips

  • Turkey tenderloins are different than turkey breasts. The tenderloins are boneless and are cut from the turkey breast.
  • If you can’t find turkey tenderloins, you can substitute boneless, skinless chicken breasts or boneless turkey breast for this recipe. Look for chicken breasts that are large and weight at least 0.50 pounds each to ensure they don’t get overcooked (or you can reduce the cook time if they are smaller).
  • Some air fryers need to be preheated. Be sure to read the manufacturer’s guide for your specific air fryer model to determine if it needs to be preheated.
  • Store any leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Or, use them up in this recipe for Instant Pot Turkey Vegetable Soup.
cooked turkey tenderloins in air fryer basket.

Recipe FAQs

What temperature should turkey tenderloins be cooked to?

Turkey tenderloins or breasts should be cooked to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit to kill any harmful bacteria. This applies to all poultry products. However if the thermometer reads 160 when you pull it out it usually will carry-over cook to the necessary 165 degrees F.

What are turkey tenderloins?

Technically turkey tenderloins are only a portion of the turkey breast while whole turkey breasts typically have the bone-in and skin-on. The term turkey tenderloins is often used interchangeably with boneless, skinless turkey breasts.

Can I layer or overlap turkey tenderloins in the air fryer?

It is best not to overlap the turkey tenderloins. They won’t cook evenly since the hot air won’t circulate the meat effectively. It is best to cook the meat in batches if you have too many to fit into the air fryer basket.

What brand of air fryer do you recommend?

I have a few favorites. See my complete list of the best air fryers under $100.

Can I cook a pork tenderloin this way?

Yes, but the temperature and cooking time may vary. See my recipe for Air Fryer Pork Loin.

air fried turkey tenderloins sliced on a platter.

More Easy Air Fryer Recipes You Might Like

Or, check out my entire index of clean eating air fryer recipes.

I hope you make this recipe! If you do, please leave a comment and a starred review below.

And, consider following me on social media so we can stay connected. I’m on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and YouTube!

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air fryer sliced turkey tenderloins

Air Fryer Turkey Tenderloin

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

5 from 2 reviews

Whether it’s a holiday meal or just a regular weeknight, you’ll love this juicy Air Fryer Turkey Tenderloin recipe. Turkey tenderloins are a lean protein that are perfect for air fryer cooking.

  • Total Time: 55 minutes
  • Yield: 4 1x

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 12 turkey tenderloins (between 0.50 to 1 pounds each)
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

Instructions

  1. In a small bowl, combine the thyme, rosemary, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Set aside.
  2. Then, place your turkey tenderloins on a flat surface and use your hands or a pastry brush to coat the tenderloins with the olive oil.
  3. Use a spoon or your hands to divide the seasoning mixture from the bowl onto both sides of each turkey tenderloin, doing your best to season the turkey evenly.
  4. Place the tenderloins inside your air fryer basket and set the temperature to 350°F for 25 minutes.
  5. After the first 25 minutes, turn the turkey pieces over and cook for an additional 15-20 minutes, or until an instant read or meat thermometer reads an internal temperature of 165°F.
  6. Use tongs to transfer the cooked turkey tenderloins to a serving plate or a cutting board. Let the turkey rest for a few minutes before slicing and serving hot.

Notes

  1. Turkey tenderloins are different than turkey breasts. The tenderloins are boneless and skinless.
  2. If you can’t find turkey tenderloins , you can substitute boneless, skinless chicken breasts for this recipe. Look for chicken breasts that are large and weight at least 0.50 pounds each to ensure they don’t get overcooked (or you can reduce the cook time if they are smaller).
  3. Some air fryers need to be preheated. Be sure to read the manufacturer’s guide for your specific air fryer model to determine if it needs to be preheated.
  4. Store any leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1/4 of recipe
  • Calories: 179
  • Sugar: 0.1 g
  • Sodium: 436 mg
  • Fat: 5.5 g
  • Saturated Fat: 0.9 g
  • Carbohydrates: 0.8 g
  • Fiber: 0.2 g
  • Protein: 30.4 g
  • Cholesterol: 73.1 mg

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About the Author: Carrie Forrest has a master’s degree in public health with a specialty in nutrition. She is a top wellness and food blogger with nearly 10 million annual visitors to her site. Carrie has an incredible story of recovery from chronic illness and is passionate about helping other women transform their health. Send Carrie a message through her contact form.