Instant Pot turkey tenderloin comes out moist and delicious with a thick gravy made at the end. Shred and add pasta for a casserole 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. (affiliate links present)
Turkey Tenderloin Recipe
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, or Instant Pot turkey breast. Skip the bones entirely and try this!
Let’s start with a few basic tips:
- Make sure to Bookmark our InstaPot recipes page. We add new ones each week!
- Then PRINT this —–> Instant Pot cooking times cheat sheet that will help you understand how long meat, vegetables and beans take to cook in your pressure cooker.
- This is a great InstaPot cookbook and set of wooden utensils are great to grab too.
- I HIGHLY recommend you buy this non stick pot. It is easier to clean and will avoid the burn message too.
For reference, this is the pressure cooker I have and use for all recipe creations.
Turkey Breast Tenderloin
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!
Here are a few questions you might be asking yourself right now:
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.
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.
It is in fact white, and the tenderest strip. It is the underused muscle of the turkey.
Feel free to season it as you wish before adding it into your pot. You can use your Crockpot Express or Ninja Foodi pot to make this too, any electric pressure cooker will do.
Turkey Tenderloin Instant Pot
As far as seasonings, this was kept light. Like I said, add what you like but if you are making Instant Pot gravy at the end remember that there will be a punch of flavor in that.
- Turkey tenderloin – used 2
- Onion
- Salt and pepper
- Paprika
- Chicken broth or your choice
- Gravy packet
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.
Ninja Foodi Turkey Tenderloin
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 Cook Turkey Tenderloin
Here are quick step by step directions but there is a printable recipe card at the bottom.
Time needed: 30 minutes.
Instant Pot Turkey Tenderloin
- Prepare
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.
- Cook
Lock the lid. Set the vent to sealing. Turn the Instant Pot to pressure cook high pressure, for 30 minute cooking time. Allow to naturally release for 5 minutes when done.
- Serve
If serving as slices, remove turkey, allow to rest for 5 minutes, slice and serve.
- Make gravy
For gravy, add 1 1/2 cups of water (or 2 if you want it thinner) to the liquid already in the pot. Turn pot set to saute mode. Add in three packages of gravy mix. Whisk together. Let come to a boil and thicken, serve on top and in a small bowl on the side too.
We prefer to take meat out, shred and dice into smaller pieces. Then add it into the gravy so it’s nicely coated.
Instant Pot Turkey Tenderloin with Gravy
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 Frozen
If yours isn’t defrosted yet the cook time doesn’t vary too much. I would just add 5 minutes and make sure to naturally release at the end all the way to keep it nice and moist. That will take about 15 minutes at the very end but will make a big difference at how fork tender it will become.
Looking for other Instant Pot turkey recipes? Whether you made it this way or made slow cooker turkey recipes, here are a few you can use precooked turkey or chicken in that we love:
- 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. Topped with avocado with a side of easy dinner rolls, it’s a fave too.
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.
Want to see a few of my favorite things that I am totally obsessed with or visit my Etsy shop?? Take a peek and see how many you might already have…twinsies!
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How do you 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 mashed potatoes or with our popular 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!
Instant Pot Turkey Breast Tenderloin
Instant Pot Turkey Tenderloin
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.
Dean
Wednesday 14th of April 2021
Do you put the turkey on the rack or into the liquid?
Tracy
Sunday 17th of January 2021
How would I make this so it's like a pulled or shredded barbeque type. With a barbeque sauce flavor...
The Typical Mom
Monday 18th of January 2021
I would use the same timing. Instead of 1 c broth use 1 c bbq sauce + 1/4 c water and that should work.