How to Grill Turkey Breast Tenderloin Perfectly Every Time

Turkey tenderloin is a delicious, lean cut of meat that’s perfect for grilling. When seasoned and cooked properly, turkey tenderloin can be unbelievably juicy, flavorful and tender. Follow this simple guide to learn how to grill turkey breast tenderloin to perfection.

Ingredients

• 1-2 lbs turkey tenderloin
• Olive oil
• Salt and pepper
• Spices and herbs of your choice (common options: garlic powder, thyme, rosemary, sage, paprika, cumin, chili powder)
• Worcestershire sauce
• BBQ sauce or glaze

Prep the Turkey

• Pat the tenderloin dry with paper towels You want the surface nice and dry so the seasoning and olive oil stick to the meat.

• Brush all over with olive oil This helps the seasoning stick and keeps the turkey moist

• Generously season all over with salt, pepper and any additional spices and herbs you want. Popular seasoning combos include garlic powder, thyme and rosemary or paprika, chili powder and cumin.

• For extra flavor, you can marinate the tenderloin for 30 mins-1 hour in Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, olive oil and seasonings.

Heat up the Grill

• Preheat your gas or charcoal grill to medium-high heat, around 400°F.

• Clean the grill grates thoroughly. Any food residue left on can stick to the tenderloin.

• Oil the hot grates just before putting the turkey on. This prevents sticking. Use a grill brush or paper towel dipped in vegetable oil.

Grill the Tenderloin

• Place the tenderloin directly over the heat. Resist the urge to move it around. You want nice grill marks to develop.

• Grill for 4-6 minutes until you see grill marks. Then flip.

• Continue grilling for another 4-6 minutes, with the lid closed as much as possible. This helps the turkey cook evenly.

• Flip only once more until the internal temperature reaches 165°F. The tenderloin will firm up and get opaque as it cooks.

• Turkey breast should take 10-15 minutes total to grill. Time varies based on thickness.

• If flames flare up, move to a cooler part of the grill. Charring could make the turkey bitter.

• Resist cutting into the turkey to check doneness until it’s fully cooked. This causes the juices to run out.

Let It Rest

• When the turkey breast reaches 165°F, transfer it to a clean plate or cutting board.

• Loosely tent foil over the top and let rest 5-10 minutes before cutting into it.

• This allows the juices to reabsorb back into the meat. If you skip this step, the tenderloin will be dry.

Add Sauce and Carve

• After resting, brush or drizzle your favorite BBQ sauce, glaze or marinade over the turkey.

• Slice into 1/2 inch thick pieces, across the grain.

• Serve warm or at room temperature. Enjoy!

Turkey Tenderloin Grilling Tips

Follow these tips and tricks for the most flavorful, juicy grilled turkey breast every time.

Choose the right size: Look for tenderloins that are 1-2 lbs each. Much larger and they will be difficult to cook through without burning or drying out.

Preheat adequately: Give your grill 10-15 minutes to heat up before adding the turkey. If the grates aren’t hot enough, the turkey will stick.

Use a meat thermometer: It’s the only way to accurately determine doneness, especially with thick cuts. Chicken thermometers also work for turkey.

Clean oiled grates: Coat hot grates with an oil-dipped paper towel right before grilling. This prevents food residue from causing sticking.

Flip only once or twice: Resist the urge to move the tenderloins around. Let those grill marks develop. Flip only 1-2 times total.

Close the lid: Cooking with the lid down allows the tenderloin to cook faster and more evenly. Open only briefly to flip and check.

Let rest before cutting: Never cut into turkey straight off the grill. Letting it rest allows juices to reabsorb so meat stays tender and moist.

Slice against the grain: Cutting thin slices against the muscle grain makes turkey more tender to chew.

Common Mistakes

It’s easy to dry out or overcook turkey tenderloin if you aren’t careful. Avoid these pitfalls:

• Not heating grill adequately before cooking

• Putting cold meat straight onto hot grates

• Cooking over direct high heat the entire time

• Moving the tenderloins around too much

• Cutting to check doneness before turkey is fully cooked

• Forgetting to let it rest before slicing into it

• Cutting with the muscle grain instead of against it

What to Serve with Grilled Turkey Tenderloin

Turkey tenderloin is very versatile when it comes to sides. These are some excellent options:

• Grilled vegetables – zucchini, squash, bell peppers, eggplant

• Roasted potatoes or sweet potatoes

• Rice pilaf or risotto

• Pasta salad

• Baked beans

• Corn on the cob

• Dinner rolls or biscuits

• Mixed green salad

• Fresh fruit

Make a Complete Turkey Tenderloin Dinner

Put together a full meal by rounding out your grilled turkey tenderloin with these sides for a satisfying dinner:

Appetizer: Grilled or chilled shrimp cocktail

Side: Loaded baked potato salad

Vegetable: Grilled squash and zucchini

Bread: Buttered dinner rolls

Dessert: Fresh fruit salad

With juicy grilled turkey as the star and simple fresh sides, you have an easy summer dinner ready in under an hour from start to finish.

Marinade and Glaze Ideas

One way to add big flavor to turkey tenderloin is marinating before grilling or brushing with a glaze. Try these tasty combos:

Jamaican Jerk Marinade: Brown sugar, jerk seasoning, lime, garlic, orange juice, soy sauce

Mediterranean Marinade: Lemon, garlic, olive oil, oregano, parsley

Tex Mex Marinade: Lime juice, chili powder, cumin, garlic, brown sugar

Hawaiian Glaze: Pineapple juice, brown sugar, soy sauce, ginger

Spicy Sriracha Glaze: Sriracha, brown sugar, lime juice, garlic

Honey Mustard Glaze: Honey, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, garlic

Grilled Turkey Tenderloin Recipe

This simple recipe for juicy grilled turkey tenderloin is infused with garlic, herbs and lemon.

Prep Time: 30 mins

Grill Time: 12-15 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs turkey breast tenderloin
• 1⁄4 cup olive oil
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• 2 tsp dried oregano
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1 1⁄2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 1⁄4 tsp garlic powder
• Lemon slices for garnish

Instructions:

1. In a small bowl, combine olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, oregano, thyme, salt, pepper and garlic powder. Mix well.

2. Place turkey tenderloins in a shallow baking dish. Coat all over with marinade mixture. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes, flipping once halfway through.

3. Preheat grill to medium-high heat, around 400°F. Oil grates.

4. Remove turkey from marinade, letting excess drip off. Discard used marinade.

5. Grill tenderloins for 6 minutes per side, until internal temperature reaches 165°F.

6. Transfer to a plate and tent foil over top. Let rest 5 minutes then slice. Garnish with lemon.

FAQs

Get answers to common questions about grilling turkey tenderloin:

What are turkey tenderloins?

Turkey tenderloins are a pair of cylindrical-shaped cuts of white meat that come from under the turkey breast. They are very lean and tender.

What is the best way to grill turkey tenderloin?

Sear over direct medium-high heat for grill marks, then finish cooking over indirect heat with the grill lid closed to prevent drying out.

How long does it take to grill turkey tenderloin?

Turkey breasts 1-2 lbs in size will typically take 10-15 minutes total to grill over direct then indirect heat to an internal temp of 165°F.

What temperature should turkey tenderloin be when done?

Cook until the thickest part of the tenderloin reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.

**How do you keep turkey tenderlo