How to Cook Butterball Turkey Breast Tenderloins? [+ Storing & Serving Tips]
I’m always on the hunt for easy yet impressive recipes to add to my repertoire, especially when the holidays roll around. I just want a simple turkey dish that will satisfy my small family without requiring hours of work or generating leftovers for weeks. These tender cuts of meat are perfect for a special occasion but also easy enough for a casual family dinner.
With some seasoning and the proper cooking technique, you’ll enjoy a delicious, juicy turkey dinner in under an hour. And the best part? There’s minimal cleanup since these tenderloins produce little waste. Let’s get cooking!
How to Cook Butterball Turkey Breast Tenderloins?
Let’s have a look at my step-by-step process for cooking the perfect butterball turkey breast tenderloins. Once you’ve mastered this recipe, you’ll be cooking like a pro in no time.
Step 1: Choose the Right Butterball Turkey Breast Tenderloins
Butterball turkey breast tenderloins are delicious, juicy, and super easy to make. The key is choosing tenderloins that will feed everyone and still have leftovers.
For a group of 4 to 6 adults, I usually go with a 1.5 to 2-pound tenderloin. That gives you plenty for dinner, with enough leftover turkey for sandwiches, salads, or soup.
Check the ‘sell by’ date to ensure you have enough time to cook and eat it within 7 days of purchasing. The closer to the date, the fresher the meat, so buy it as close to when you plan to cook it as possible.
Step 2: Prepare the Meat & Preheat the Oven
To get started, the first thing I do is take the turkey breast tenderloins out of the fridge about 30 minutes before cooking to bring them to room temperature. This helps them cook more evenly.
While the meat is resting, preheat the oven to 400 °F (200 °C). I like to use an oven-safe skillet or roasting pan and line it with foil for easy cleanup.
Next, pat the tenderloins dry with paper towels or a clean kitchen towel. Season them generously on all sides with salt and pepper. If desired, you can also rub the meat with olive oil.
If you want to boost the flavor a bit more, you can also add some fresh or dried herbs to the salt and pepper rub. For example, rosemary has an earthy, piney flavor that pairs well with turkey, while fresh or dried thyme adds an aromatic, minty flavor. Plus, savory sage is a classic pairing for turkey.
For extra flavor, try inserting slivers of garlic into small slits in the meat. The garlic will permeate the turkey as it cooks.
Step 3: Roast the Tenderloins
Place the tenderloins in your skillet or roasting pan once the oven is preheated and the meat has rested. For nicely browned meat, sear the tenderloins in a hot skillet on the stovetop for 2-3 minutes per side before transferring to the oven.
Roast the tenderloins for about 25-35 minutes until the thickest part of the meat reaches an internal temperature of 165 °F (75 °C). However, the exact time will depend on the size of your tenderloins.
Let the cooked turkey breast rest for 5-10 minutes before slicing and serving. This allows the juices to redistribute and helps the meat retain moisture.
What to Serve with Butterball Turkey Breast Tenderloins?
To serve with the tenderloins, I like to make mashed potatoes, stuffing, green beans, cranberry sauce, and rolls.
The leftovers also pair great in turkey noodle soup, turkey tetrazzini, turkey pot pie, or turkey chili.
The possibilities are endless when it comes to serving suggestions for Butterball turkey breast tenderloins.
Homemade stuffing with herbs and vegetables is always a crowd-pleaser, while sautéed green beans with almonds or bacon will add nutrition and crunch. Homemade dinner rolls, biscuits, or cornbread are perfect for sopping up gravy. When it comes to sauces, a rich turkey gravy made from drippings is really all you need, while tangy cranberry sauce provides a burst of flavor to balance the savory turkey.
Lastly, salads. A simple mixed green salad with veggies and a light vinaigrette is always a good option, or hearty roasted veggies on a bed of greens make a satisfying meal.
How to Store Leftovers?
After enjoying your delicious turkey tenderloins, you’ll likely have leftovers to save for later. As the cook, it’s essential to store the leftovers to stay fresh and safe properly.
Allow the leftovers to cool completely, then portion them into shallow containers or bags. This allows for quick cooling and reheating.
Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours of cooking. Bacteria grow rapidly at room temperature, so chilling the food quickly is critical.
Use leftovers within 3 to 4 days. While properly stored leftovers can last up to a week, the quality and taste start to deteriorate over time.
For the best quality, freeze leftovers you won’t eat within 4 days, and then simply reheat them straight from the freezer — no need to thaw them first. They will last up to 3 months in the freezer. [1]
By following these best practices for storing and reheating leftovers, you’ll enjoy your turkey tenderloins for days without worry. And your kitchen will smell amazing each time you reheat — almost like cooking a fresh turkey all over again!
So, what do you think? Will you give a chance to Butterball Turkey Breast Tenderloins? I would love to read about your experiences in the comments below!
Roasted Butterball Turkey Breast Tenderloins
Ingredients
- 1 pack Butterball Turkey Breast Tenderloin
- 1 tbsp Olive OIl
- 1 tsp Dried Rosemary
- ½ tsp Dried Thyme
- Salt and Pepper to Taste
Instructions
- First, take the turkey breast tenderloins out of the fridge about 30 minutes before cooking to bring them to room temperature. This helps them cook more evenly.
- While the meat is resting, preheat the oven to 400 °F (200 °C).
- Prepare an oven-safe skillet or roasting pan and line it with foil for easy cleanup.
- Next, pat the tenderloins dry with paper towels or a clean kitchen towel. Mix the seasonings with olive oil and rub the mixture into your tenderloins.
- For nicely browned meat, sear the tenderloins in a hot skillet on the stovetop for 2-3 minutes per side before transferring to the oven.
- Then, place the tenderloins in your skillet or roasting pan once the oven is preheated and the meat has rested.
- Roast the tenderloins for about 25-35 minutes until the thickest part of the meat reaches an internal temperature of 165 °F (75 °C). However, the exact time will depend on the size of your tenderloins.
- Let the cooked turkey breast rest for 5-10 minutes before slicing and serving.
- Enjoy your tenderloins with one of the serving suggestions from the article!
Nutrition
Before diving into the nutritional details, please review our Nutritional Disclaimer page for important context and clarifications.
