Instant Pot turkey tenderloin with gravy comes out moist and delicious with a thick sauce made at the end. If you don’t want to make an entire pressure cooker turkey, this is the answer. Shred and add pasta for a casserole if you want a complete one pot meal with it too.
Whether it’s Thanksgiving, Christmas, or you just want to make an Instant Pot turkey tenderloin throughout the year, it’s great. Tender and fork tender, here are some easy Instant Pot recipe tips to follow.
If you only have a few people in your family, it might be just what you want to cook for the holidays. Now that my oldest daughter is off to college I have had to learn how to cook for less. I mean we love leftovers but not a weeks worth so here we go… This is a great alternative to a whole Instant Pot turkey recently.
Yes you can also make a smaller Instant Pot turkey breast but if you want to skip all the bones this is what you need to buy. If it is frozen still you can still save dinner y’all. If you have never tried this you will be surprised to know that the timing doesn’t change, seriously. Biggest thing is it needs to fit and be the size listed below.
Ninja Foodi Turkey Tenderloin Recipe
Yes, you can find this in the meat department of your local grocery store too. If you’ve never looked it’s there, if not ask your butcher if he can order a few in for you. They freeze well too so buy a couple! If you only have a Crockpot Express, that works. Using your Ninja Foodi you will attach the lid that is not attached for this one and use pressure cooker button.
Instant Pot Frozen Turkey Tenderloin
Similar to when we have made Instant Pot Frozen Turkey Breast there really isn’t a change in cook time if your meat is right out of the freezer or fresh. Yes, you heard that right. Now there are variations if yours is rather large vs. the size listed below you would want to add a few minutes but in general you will be good to go.
FAQ
Nope. For one thing they are boneless and skinless. Coming from the part of the breast that is not used much, it is the most tender cut.
It is in fact white, and the tenderest strip. It is the underused muscle of the turkey.
As far as seasonings, this was kept light. Like I said, add what you like but if you are making gravy at the end remember that there will be a punch of flavor in that. If you love minced garlic in everything, add some of that on top as well. Use the flavors you love. Then we’re going to shred our meat and add pasta to it too so you’ll need some shells or penne too for that.
You only need a bit of liquid when cooking this turkey breast tenderloin because it will emit some broth when it cooks too. If you want to slice it once it’s done and serve it that way you can, but it will likely fall apart once the turkey is cooked.
How to Make the Gravy
Now there will be drippings from the meat at the bottom when done so all you need to do is remove the meat and whisk in the dry gravy packet with a bit more broth or water to make pressure cooker gravy in the pot to serve together.
Here are quick step by step directions but there is a printable recipe card at the bottom. Place tenderloins into the Instant Pot. Add in onions, paprika, salt, and pepper. Pour in 1 c. broth. Place lid on and set valve to sealed position.
What temperature should turkey tenderloin be?
The internal meat temperature should reach 165 degrees F to be safe to consume. Use a meat thermometer, remove from heat source, and stick it into the thickest part.
Instant Pot Turkey Tenderloin and Noodles
If you want to make into a casserole style dish with pasta, slice and then dice meat into smaller pieces after resting. Add meat back into the pot when gravy is done and stir to coat. Meanwhile cook pasta separately as directed on the package in boiling water with a touch of olive oil so noodles don’t stick. Add into pot with diced turkey and gravy. Stir together and serve.
I am not picky about what type of small noodles I use, whatever is in my cupboard gets used. My preference is to drain when they are still a bit al dente. They will continue to soften in the thick sauce so then they’re great. It makes a great Instant Pot casserole I tell you. You could even add some canned corn and put the lid on to warm it all together.
Really the possibilities if you go this far are endless. If you have leftover turkey you can skip the first step entirely and just dice what you have. Make the gravy and throw in the pasta.
Instant Pot Turkey Tenderloin
Equipment
Ingredients
Instructions
- Place tenderloins into the Instant Pot. Add in onions, paprika, salt, and pepper. Pour in 1 c. broth. Place lid on and set valve to sealed position. Pressure cook high, set timer to 30 minutes. Allow to naturally release for 5 minutes, then release rest of pressure.
- If serving as slices, remove turkey, allow to rest for 5 minutes, slice and serve. For gravy, add 2 cups of water to the liquid already in the pot. Turn on saute mode. Add in three packages of gravy mix. Whisk together. Let come to a boil and thicken, serve on top.
- If you want to make into a casserole style dish with pasta, slice and then dice meat into smaller pieces after resting. Add meat back into the pot when gravy is done and stir to coat.
- Meanwhile cook pasta separately as directed on the package. Add into pot with diced turkey and gravy. Stir together and serve.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How to reheat turkey tenderloin
Wrap what needs to be heated in tinfoil. Put it into a preheated 275 degree F oven. Bake until it is 130 F inside or warmer if you prefer. Warm leftover gravy or broth and pour over it to make it nice and moist again. Serve over Instant Pot mashed potatoes or with our popular Jiffy cream corn casserole recipe
If it’s holiday time for you, enjoy my friends. Making this in February, I hope you enjoy it just as much as you did late last year. Make any changes to this that turned out amazing? Let me know, we’d love to try your version as well!
What to make with leftover turkey meat
After the holidays, our Turkey Pot Pie Soup is always on the menu. Kinda’ like a chowder it is warm delicious comfort food on a spoon.Instant Pot turkey soup has a bit of a Mexican angle with a thick stock.
- But there’s more….. If you have even more you need to use up and love batch cooking, make a few leftover turkey pot pies. Eat one now and freeze the rest so you have a few more meals ready to bake a serve later.
Great recipe. I did adjust to make homemade gravy from the broth. Added low salt chicken bouillon to taste and pepper. Turned out delicious. I also added carrots and celery into the instant with the turkey for flavoring. Thanks.
Great idea
Do you put the turkey on the rack or into the liquid?
@Dean,
I placed two tenderloins on the trivet because I wanted to slice the meat. I figured if I left the tenderloins in the liquid then the liquid would absorb too much into the meat. Raising them turned out much better for slicing.
How would I make this so it’s like a pulled or shredded barbeque type. With a barbeque sauce flavor…
I would use the same timing. Instead of 1 c broth use 1 c bbq sauce + 1/4 c water and that should work.