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.
