Cajun Air Fryer Turkey Tenderloins
Published Nov 30, 2022 Updated Jul 11, 2023
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What Makes This Recipe Great
Making a large, whole turkey is a lot of work. Seasoning, basting, and checking for three hours means spending your whole day in the kitchen. These air fryer turkey tenderloins are everything you love about juicy, white meat turkey, without all the work. Ready in just 30 minutes, they are boneless, skinless, lean and so tender. They are gluten-free, paleo, dairy-free and can be tailored to keto.
Seasoned with a delicious, homemade cajun seasoning and glazed with honey and brown sugar. This mouth-watering turkey tenderloin recipe makes a fabulous turkey dinner any time of the year.
Ingredient Notes
Turkey Tenderloins
Turkey Breast Tenderloins: I made this recipe with turkey tenderloins. Feel free to swap for pork tenderloins if preferred.
Olive Oil: You can use avocado oil or olive oil for this recipe. I recommend using a spray version for the air fryer basket.
Chicken Broth: You can also use chicken stock or bone broth.
Honey: For keto, use a sugar-free syrup of choice.
Coconut Aminos: You can substitute this for Worcestershire sauce if you prefer.
Brown Sugar: For a low-sugar option, you can also use brown monk fruit sweetener
Cornstarch: Optional for thickening.
Cajun Seasoning
My homemade cajun seasoning includes paprika, garlic powder, salt, pepper, onion powder, oregano, cayenne pepper, and dried thyme.
Recipe Step by Step
- Rinse and pat turkey breast tenderloins dry with paper towels.
- Mix the seasoning together in a small bowl. Brush olive oil on all sides of the turkey breast and season well.
- Spray your air fryer basket with avocado oil or olive oil. Place seasoned turkey tenderloins into an air fryer basket. Air fry at 400° for 20-25min. Flip once during cooking.
- Check the internal temperature. Check with an instant-read meat thermometer. This turkey tenderloin recipe is done when it reaches an internal temperature of 165°(F).
- While the turkey tenderloins are cooking, make the honey glaze. Combine the chicken broth, honey, brown sugar, and coconut aminos (or Worcestershire sauce) in a small pot over medium-high heat.
- Bring to a simmer, stirring regularly. Reduce the heat to medium-low and continue to simmer for about 20 minutes. If the sauce hasn’t thickened, add 2 teaspoons of cornstarch dissolved into 1 tablespoon of water.
- Remove the turkey from the air fryer and let rest for 5 minutes before slicing.
- Drizzle the air fryer turkey breast with the honey glaze and garnish with fresh parsley. Enjoy!
Pro Tips
Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Serving: Serve this turkey tenderloin recipe with your favorite side dish, or try one of mine. Southern Green Beans, Broccoli Salad, and/or Cheesy Garlic Herb Biscuits.
Oven Method: If you don’t have an air fryer, feel free to make these in the oven. Preheat the oven to 375F and cook for 25-30 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165°.
Recipe FAQs
Yes! Simply substitute the honey and brown sugar for a sugar-free syrup and Swerve. This will make this turkey tenderloin recipe totally keto-friendly!
The tenderloin is the boneless, skinless part of the turkey breast. It’s the most tender, juicy white meat that turkey offers.
Check the turkey tenderloin with an instant-read meat thermometer. When the internal temperature reaches 165F the turkey is cooked.
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Cajun Air Fryer Turkey Tenderloins
Ingredients
- 2 Turkey breast tenderloins 1lb each (comes in a pack of 2)
- 1 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/3 cup chicken broth
- 1 1/2 tablespoon butter can use vegan for dairy-free
- 1/4 cup honey or sugar-free syrup of choice
- 1 tablespoon coconut aminos or Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar or brown monk fruit sweetener
- OPTIONAL 1/2 teaspoon xanthan gum* for thickening
Cajun Seasoning:
- 1 1/2 tbsp paprika
- 1 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper for less spice, use 1/4 teaspoon
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
Instructions
Air Fryer
- Rinse and pat turkey breast tenderloins dry with paper towels.
- Mix the seasoning together in a small bowl. Brush olive oil on all sides of the turkey breast and season well.
- Spray your air fryer basket with avocado oil or olive oil. Place seasoned turkey tenderloins into an air fryer basket. Cook at 400° for 20-25min. Flip once during cooking.
- Check the internal temperature. Check with an instant-read meat thermometer. It is finished cooking once it reaches an internal temperature of 165°(F).
- While the turkey tenderloins are cooking, make the honey glaze. Combine the butter, chicken broth, honey, brown sugar swerve, and coconut aminos (or Worcestershire sauce) in a small pot over medium-high heat.
- Bring to a simmer, stirring regularly. Reduce the heat to medium-low and continue to simmer slowly until reduced and thick about 20 minutes. If you need the sauce thicker, add 2 teaspoons of cornstarch dissolved into 1 tablespoon of water.
- Remove the turkey from the air fryer and let rest for 5 minutes before slicing.
- Drizzle with the honey glaze and garnish with fresh parsley. Enjoy!
Oven
- Preheat oven to 400F and prepare a baking sheet pan with a large piece of parchment paper.
- Rinse and pat turkey breast tenderloins dry with paper towels.
- Mix the seasoning together in a small bowl. Brush olive oil on all sides of the turkey breast and season well.
- Bake the turkey tenderloins in the oven for 15 minutes and flip and cook another 15-20 minutes.
- Check the internal temperature. Check with an instant-read meat thermometer. It is finished cooking once it reaches an internal temperature of 165°(F).
- While the turkey tenderloins are cooking, make the honey glaze. Combine the chicken broth, honey, brown sugar, and coconut aminos (or Worcestershire sauce) in a small pot over medium-high heat.
- Bring to a simmer, stirring regularly. Reduce the heat to medium-low and continue to simmer slowly until reduced and thick about 20 minutes. If you need the sauce thicker, add 2 teaspoons of cornstarch dissolved into 1 tablespoon of water.
- Remove the turkey from the oven and let rest for 5 minutes before slicing.
- Drizzle with the honey glaze and garnish with fresh parsley. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
