Instant Pot Turkey Tenderloins
Here’s how to make tender and juicy Instant Pot Turkey Tenderloins. Easily slice and serve your boneless turkey for Thanksgiving or any other occasion. Turkey tenderloins cooked in the pressure cooker are tender and flavorful!
Turkey is classic for Thanksgiving and winter holidays, but it can be enjoyed at any time of year.
The whole turkey is usually what people look forward to the most during the holiday season, and this recipe allows you to have an easy-to-slice main dish without dealing with skin, bones, or a large cooking vessel. The flavor is mild enough to work with any of your favorite side dishes.
Turkey tenderloins are cut from the turkey breast meat, and they are a smaller cut which makes them perfect for smaller gatherings or for cooking at other times of the year than the holidays. Lean white meat is always really popular during any good turkey dinner.
You can also make this Instant Pot Turkey Tenderloin recipe for an easy meal prep dish and not just for a special occasion like Thanksgiving. You can serve the turkey tenderloin sliced, or shred it for tacos, salads, or enchiladas (see my recipe for Leftover Thanksgiving Turkey Tacos). Boneless turkey breast is just so versatile.
Instant Pot Turkey Tenderloin Benefits
- You only need 40 minutes from prepping to serving! This main dish is ready in no time.
- Using the Instant Pot for the main portion of the meal allows you to use the oven to bake side dishes.
- Turkey is a lean protein we don’t always think to use outside of the holiday season. This easy recipe will help you make it at any time of year.
Recipe Ingredients
Turkey breast tenderloin or boneless turkey breasts, are a lean source of protein. Pressure cooking them helps retain moisture and results in the juiciest turkey.
Look for turkey tenderloins (or boneless turkey breasts) in the meat section of your local grocery store. You may need to ask the butcher for this specific cut.
Olive oil allows the seasonings to stick to the turkey and adds healthy fat.
Italian seasoning adds just a bit more flavor with salt and pepper and will complement many side dishes. Feel free to use your favorite seasonings, such as fresh rosemary, garlic powder, onion powder, or just salt and black pepper.
See my related article on the best substitutes for Italian seasoning.
And, don’t miss the full recipe in the recipe card at the end of this post.
How to Cook Turkey Tenderloins in the Instant Pot
Step One
Dry the turkey breasts or tenderloins with a paper towel, then coat them in olive oil.
Please see the recipe card at the end of this post for the exact ingredients and measurements.
Step Two
Sprinkled combined seasoning on top of turkey tenderloins.
Step Three
Add water to bottom of the Instant Pot electric pressure cooker with the trivet in place.
Place the turkey tenderloins on the trivet.
Step Four
Lock the lid and pressure cook on high pressure for 10 minutes cook time.
Let the pressure release naturally for 10 minutes (using the natural pressure release) before releasing any remaining pressure (using the quick release).
Carefully remove your Instant Pot turkey breast to a cutting board. Slice and serve! Or, cover with aluminum foil until you are ready for your delicious meal.
I hope your family agrees that this is an excellent and easy turkey tenderloin recipe that is perfect for a small holiday gathering or a smaller crowd. Top it with my Dairy-Free Gravy recipe.
If this is your Thanksgiving turkey, don’t forget to serve it with sides like Instant Pot Baby Potatoes, Instant Pot Candied Yams, Instant Pot Cranberry Relish, or Instant Pot Pumpkin Custard.
Recipe Tips
- You can cut this recipe in half if you prefer to cook just one turkey tenderloin at a time. The cook time remains the same.
- The total cook time for this recipe includes 10 minutes for the pot to come up to pressure, plus 10 minutes of natural release time.
- Store leftover cooked turkey in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Serve cold or re-heated. Or, use it up in this recipe for Instant Pot Turkey Vegetable Soup.
- Feel free to get creative with your seasonings? Use your favorite fresh or dried herbs. Or, see my list of the best substitutes for Italian seasoning.
Recipe FAQs
Yes! You can make your holiday (or any day!) easier by cooking this turkey tenderloin ahead of time. Simply gently reheat in the oven with some broth, in a covered dish.
A turkey breast usually has the bone-in. The turkey tenderloin is a section of the turkey breast that is boneless. If you want to cook a turkey breast in the Instant Pot, you will need to increase the cooking time to ensure it gets cooked through.
Outside of serving it as a main dish for a Thanksgiving dinner, turkey is an excellent lean protein that can be served like cooked chicken. Use it in this clean eating chicken salad, or shred it and put it into tacos or a leftover turkey vegetable soup. The possibilities are endless.
Yes, but you won’t get much flavor benefit since the turkey will not be touching the liquid on the bottom of the pot.
You can always use a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the meat to ensure that the internal temperature has reached 165 degrees F.
More Healthy Turkey Recipes You Might Like
- Air Fryer Turkey Tenderloin
- Turkey Meatloaf Muffins
- Air Fryer Turkey Bacon
- Lentil Turkey Soup
- Instant Pot No Bean Turkey Chili
Don’t Miss These Instant Pot Resources
Instant Pot Turkey Tenderloins
Here’s how to make tender and juicy Instant Pot Turkey Tenderloins. Easily slice and serve your boneless turkey for Thanksgiving or any other occasion. This is a great meal prep recipe since you can use the leftovers for sandwiches or salads.
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
Ingredients
- 2 12–ounce turkey tenderloins (or boneless turkey breasts or boneless chicken breasts)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano or Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 cup water (for cooking)
Instructions
- Pat both sides of the turkey tenderloin dry with a clean paper towel.
- Then, use your hands or a pastry brush to coat both sides of the turkey with the olive oil.
- In a small bowl, combine the dried oregano, salt and pepper. Stir to combine and then sprinkle on top of the turkey.
- Place the trivet in a 6-quart Instant Pot and add a cup of water.
- Place the turkey tenderloins on top of the trivet.
- Lock on the lid and set the time to 10 minutes at high pressure.
- When the cooking time is complete, let the pressure come down naturally for 10 minutes. Then, use the quick release to get rid of any remaining pressure.
- Remove the lid and use tongs to transfer the turkey to a cutting board. Slice and serve hot.
Equipment
Buy Now → Notes
- You can cut this recipe in half if you prefer to cook just one turkey tenderloin at a time. The cook time remains the same.
- The total cook time for this recipe includes 10 minutes for the pot to come up to pressure, plus 10 minutes of natural release time.
- Store leftover cooked turkey in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Serve cold or re-heated.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Instant Pot
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Nutrition
- Serving Size:
- Calories: 189
- Sugar: 0 g
- Sodium: 259.7 mg
- Fat: 11.1 g
- Saturated Fat: 2.6 g
- Carbohydrates: 0.2 g
- Fiber: 0.1 g
- Protein: 22.3 g
- Cholesterol: 78.2 mg
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About the Author: Carrie Forrest is the author of the best-selling Instant Pot-authorized cookbook, The Healthy Meal Prep Instant Pot Cookbook. She has a master’s degree in public health with a specialty in nutrition and receives nearly 10 million annual visitors to her site. Send Carrie a message through her contact form.
Super easy, quick and delicious!
I have a 2 year old and she LOVES this recipe!
Thank you 😊👍🏻
Simple, moist, tasty. One tenderloin for dinner, one for salad tomorrow. Took about 15minutes to prepare.
I’ve made this as part of my weekly meal prep for several weeks in a row and it’s so easy and delicious!