Easy Herb-Roasted Turkey Tenderloin: Your Juiciest Thanksgiving Dinner for Two

Preparing a delicious holiday meal doesn’t have to be complicated, especially when you’re cooking for a smaller crowd. This incredible Turkey Tenderloin recipe simplifies your Thanksgiving or any special dinner, offering a juicy, flavorful turkey breast slathered with aromatic herb butter and perfectly roasted in under an hour. The best part? You’ll use the rich pan drippings to create a luscious, homemade turkey gravy, making this the ideal size and method for an unforgettable Thanksgiving dinner for two (or a small family gathering).

For many, the turkey is the star of the Thanksgiving table, but cooking a whole bird for just two people can be a daunting and often wasteful task. Traditional whole turkeys are rarely found under 10 pounds, leaving you with an overwhelming amount of leftovers – which, while delicious, might not be what you’re aiming for. While options like stuffed Cornish hens offer a smaller alternative, sometimes only turkey will do.

The perfect solution for a manageable yet impressive turkey feast is this turkey tenderloin recipe. Utilizing a 1.5-pound turkey tenderloin, this recipe delivers all the classic flavors without the fuss of a full-sized bird. If you’re looking for a slightly more traditional approach, complete with stuffing, consider my stuffed turkey breast recipe. However, when simplicity and speed are key, a boneless turkey tenderloin is unparalleled.

This recipe is designed for ease and maximum flavor. Forget about lengthy brining, constant basting, or elaborate marinating steps that require hours of waiting. We’re all familiar with the frustration of starting a recipe only to discover it needs to sit for half a day! Here, the process is streamlined: a simple, flavorful homemade herb butter rub is applied to the tenderloin, and it goes straight into the oven. In less than an hour, you’ll have a beautifully roasted, juicy turkey ready to serve.

While brining and marinating certainly add depth, they also demand significant planning and extra time. This herb butter turkey tenderloin bypasses those steps without sacrificing flavor. The rich butter, fresh garlic, and aromatic herbs infuse the lean turkey meat as it roasts, creating a tender and moist result every time. Once you slather your tenderloin with the homemade herb butter, simply place it on a roasting pan and let your oven do the work.

Your small Thanksgiving turkey, complete with golden-brown skin (if present) and succulent white meat, will be ready to carve in no time! Enhance your meal by serving it alongside classic holiday favorites such as cranberry stuffing and creamy mashed potatoes for two. To truly complete the experience, don’t forget the gravy. Even with a smaller cut of meat, you’ll collect about a tablespoon of intensely flavorful drippings from the roasting pan. This seemingly small amount is precisely what you need to make a rich, homemade turkey gravy from drippings – a quintessential element of any turkey dinner.

What is Turkey Tenderloin? The Perfect Cut for a Small Roast

Turkey tenderloin is a lean, boneless, and skinless strip of white meat cut from the breast of a whole turkey. As its name suggests, it is one of the most tender parts of the bird, making it an excellent choice for quick-cooking and flavorful results. Unlike a full turkey breast, which can be quite large and often comes with skin and bone, tenderloins are typically sold in convenient, smaller packages, usually weighing around 1.5 pounds (containing two individual tenderloins).

Its compact size and lack of bone or skin make it incredibly versatile and easy to prepare. It cooks much faster than a whole turkey or even a bone-in breast, making it perfect not just for holidays, but also for a delicious and healthy weeknight dinner or a special Sunday meal any time of the year. When you choose turkey tenderloin, you’re opting for a consistently tender, juicy, and adaptable cut of meat that minimizes cooking time and effort.

Essential Ingredients for Your Herb Butter Turkey Tenderloin

To create this incredibly simple yet profoundly flavorful turkey tenderloin, you’ll only need a handful of fresh ingredients. The magic truly happens when these elements combine to form the rich herb butter rub:

• Turkey Tenderloin: Look for pre-sealed packages, typically around 1.5 pounds, which usually contain two individual tenderloin pieces. Ensure you’re selecting boneless, skinless turkey tenderloin, not a bone-in, skin-on turkey breast. While you could technically cut your own, pre-packaged tenderloins are convenient and ready to use.
• Unsalted Butter: This is crucial for controlling the overall sodium content of your dish. Using unsalted butter allows you to adjust the seasoning precisely to your taste without the risk of an overly salty rub. Make sure it’s softened to room temperature for easy mixing and spreading.
• Garlic: Freshly minced garlic is a cornerstone of flavor in this rub. Its pungent, aromatic notes penetrate the turkey as it roasts, adding depth and a classic savory aroma that complements poultry beautifully.
• Fresh Herbs: Opt for hearty, robust herbs that stand up well to roasting. Thyme, rosemary, and sage are classic choices for poultry and create a wonderfully fragrant rub. You can use a single herb or a combination of all three. Many grocery stores offer “poultry bouquet” packs that contain a mix of these herbs, making your selection even easier. Fresh herbs will provide the most vibrant flavor.
• Salt and Pepper: Essential seasonings to enhance all the other flavors. Kosher salt is often preferred for its clean taste and larger crystals, which make it easier to control seasoning. Freshly ground black pepper adds a subtle kick.

How Many Servings Does Turkey Tenderloin Make? Adjusting for Your Meal

As this blog often caters to recipes for two, let’s clarify the serving size for turkey tenderloin. A typical pre-sealed 1.5-pound package of turkey tenderloin usually contains two separate pieces. Each individual tenderloin piece yields approximately two servings, meaning a full 1.5-pound package will comfortably serve about four people.

This four-serving quantity is excellent for a regular Sunday dinner, but for a lavish holiday feast like Thanksgiving, where numerous side dishes are also served, you might find that two people are perfectly satisfied with one tenderloin. If you’re indeed cooking for just two and prefer fewer leftovers, you have a couple of options: you can either cook only one tenderloin and freeze the other for a future meal, or cook both and enjoy the delicious leftovers later. Leftover turkey tenderloin is fantastic for making dishes like my chicken pot pie for two. If you opt to cook just one tenderloin, remember to halve the amount of herb butter, or make the full batch and save the rest to spread on garlic bread!

How to Cook Perfectly Roasted Turkey Tenderloin

Preparing your herb-roasted turkey tenderloin is straightforward and quick, ensuring a delicious meal with minimal effort. Here’s a detailed guide to achieve perfect results:

1. Prepare Your Roasting Setup: Begin by preheating your oven to 400°F (200°C). Crucially, gather a roasting pan with a rack. Line the pan with aluminum foil for easier cleanup, then lightly grease both the rack and the foil with cooking spray. The rack is essential as it elevates the turkey, allowing hot air to circulate evenly around it and ensures the juices drip into the pan below, which are vital for your gravy. If you don’t have a dedicated roasting pan with a rack, a cooling rack placed over a rimmed baking sheet works just as well.
2. Create the Herb Butter Rub: In a small mixing bowl, combine the softened butter, minced garlic, chopped fresh herbs (thyme, rosemary, and/or sage), salt, and black pepper. Mix thoroughly until the butter is smooth and easily spreadable. If your butter is too firm, microwave it for just 5-8 seconds to soften it further, but be careful not to fully melt it.
3. Apply the Rub and Roast: Evenly rub the herb butter mixture all over both turkey tenderloins, ensuring they are well coated. Place the seasoned tenderloins directly on top of the prepared roasting rack.
4. Bake to Perfection: Transfer the roasting pan to your preheated oven and bake for 40-45 minutes. The most important indicator of doneness is the internal temperature. Use a reliable meat thermometer to ensure the thickest part of the turkey reaches 160°F (71°C). It’s important to remove the turkey at this point, as it will continue to cook while resting, reaching the safe temperature of 165°F (74°C).
5. Rest and Make Gravy: Once the turkey is out of the oven, carefully tent it loosely with foil to keep it warm and allow it to rest for 10 minutes. This resting period is critical; it allows the juices to redistribute throughout the meat, resulting in a significantly juicier and more tender turkey. While the turkey rests, quickly collect the flavorful drippings left in the pan (you’ll typically have about a tablespoon) and use them to whip up your homemade turkey gravy.
6. Slice and Serve: After resting, slice the turkey tenderloin against the grain into thick, medallions. Drizzle generously with your freshly made turkey gravy and serve immediately with your chosen sides.

Storing Leftovers: Any leftover turkey can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. It’s fantastic for sandwiches, salads, or adding to other dishes!

What To Serve With Your Roasted Turkey Tenderloin

Turkey tenderloin, especially when prepared with aromatic herbs, pairs beautifully with a wide array of classic side dishes. While it’s a natural fit for Thanksgiving, these accompaniments are delicious any time of year. Here are some of my favorite holiday-inspired pairings to make your meal complete:

• Stovetop Scalloped Potatoes: These creamy, cheesy potatoes are a fantastic alternative to oven-baked varieties, freeing up crucial oven space. Cook them on the stovetop while your turkey roasts, ensuring everything finishes at the same time.
• Au Gratin Potatoes For Two: If you do have oven space to spare, these garlic parmesan au gratin potatoes are incredibly rich and satisfying. They can often be baked alongside your turkey, provided your oven can accommodate both at 400°F.
• Sweet Potato Casserole For Two: A quintessential holiday dish featuring mashed sweet potatoes topped with a golden, toasted marshmallow topping. It brings a lovely sweetness and festive touch to your plate.
• Green Bean Casserole Without Mushroom Soup: Elevate this classic with a homemade version that skips the canned soup, offering a fresher, more gourmet take on a beloved side.
• Homemade Cranberry Sauce: A vibrant, tangy cranberry sauce is the perfect counterpoint to the rich turkey. This small-batch recipe yields just enough for 2-4 servings, and any extras are delicious on cranberry baked Brie.
• Small Pumpkin Pie: No Thanksgiving meal is complete without a slice of pie! This small pumpkin pie recipe is perfect for two, ensuring you end your meal on a sweet, traditional note without excessive leftovers.