When it comes to seasoning turkey tenderloins, you can go in a few different directions. The two methods I like are made by using a simple seasoning mixture and using a simple marinade. The first one, coating them with a thin layer of seasoning, is the method I used in my Roasted Turkey Tenderloin recipe.
The second method, which I am covering here, is made by marinating turkey breast tenderloins in a soy sauce-based marinade for a few hours. The result is nothing short of a miracle with the most delicious and melt-in-your-mouth tender turkey tenderloins. Yes, there is a bit of advance prep and wait, but I think it is totally worth it.
Marinating turkey breast is a great way to infuse flavor and moisture into the meat before cooking But how long should you marinate turkey breast to get the best results? Here’s a complete guide to marinating times for optimal turkey flavor
Why Marinate Turkey Breast?
Marinating serves several important purposes when preparing turkey breast
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It tenderizes the meat by breaking down muscle fibers Marinades often contain acidic ingredients like wine, vinegar, yogurt, citrus juice which act as natural meat tenderizers.
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It adds flavor to the turkey. Spices, herbs, sauces in the marinade penetrate into the meat adding delicious flavors.
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It helps keep the turkey moist during cooking. The liquid in the marinade bastes the meat from inside out.
So marinating is highly recommended especially for lean turkey breast which can easily dry out during cooking.
How Long to Marinate Turkey Breast
For best results, plan to marinate turkey breast for:
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At least 4 hours: This allows the flavor to start penetrating into the meat. Marinating for 4-8 hours will give you good results.
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12-24 hours: Marinating turkey overnight or for a full day gives the best flavor infusion. Most marinade recipes recommend 12-24 hours.
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2-3 days max: Don’t marinate for more than 2-3 days as the acid in the marinade can start to breakdown and mush up the meat.
Keep these timeframes in mind when planning your meal. For weeknight dinners, a 4-8 hour marination often works well. For more flavor and weekends meals, go for the overnight 12-24 hour marinade.
Here are more tips on marinating duration:
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Whole turkey breast: Go for the longer marinating time of 24-36 hours to allow flavor to penetrate deep into the thick meat.
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Boneless turkey breast: Tend to marinate faster than bone-in. Plan for 12-18 hours marination time.
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Cut up turkey breast: Pieces and slices marinate quickest in 4-12 hours depending on thickness.
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Firmer cuts: Need longer marinating time compared to tender cuts. Marinate tough cuts like breast and thighs longer than 24 hours.
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Thinner cuts: Absorb marinade quickly. Tenderloins, cutlets may only need 2-6 hours of marinating time.
Marinade Tips for Best Results
Follow these tips to get the most out of marinating:
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Marinate in the fridge: Keep turkey marinating in the refrigerator at 40°F or below to prevent bacteria growth. Don’t marinate at room temperature.
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Use a non-reactive dish: Glass, stainless steel and plastic containers won’t react with the marinade. Avoid aluminum.
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Submerge turkey fully: Ensure meat is completely immersed and coated for even marinating. Turn or stir periodically.
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Pierce meat: Prick turkey all over with a fork to allow marinade to penetrate deeper and faster into the thick cuts.
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Remove from marinade: Pat turkey dry and discard used marinade before cooking to prevent burning or bacteria growth.
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Create a flavorful marinade: Use bold ingredients like garlic, spices, herbs, acidic elements for maximum impact. Oil helps ingredients stick.
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Reinforce flavor: Rub additional herbs, spices, seasoning on turkey along with marinating for a flavor boost.
Marinade Ideas for Turkey Breast
You can marinate turkey breast in many flavor profiles. Try spice rubs, herb blends, sauces and international marinades.
Simple marinades
- Lemon juice, garlic, olive oil
- Red wine vinegar, rosemary, garlic
- Soy sauce, sesame oil, ginger
Flavored oils
- Basil infused olive oil
- Chili oil
- Garlic confit oil
Yogurt mixtures
- Yogurt, lemon, garlic, dill
- Yogurt, curry powder, garlic
- Yogurt, tandoori spices
Fruit based
- Orange juice, honey, thyme
- Pineapple juice, brown sugar, ginger
- Cranberry juice, orange zest
Ethnic styles
- Mojo criollo – cumin, garlic, citrus, oregano
- Jerk – allspice, thyme, habanero
- Mediterranean – olives, sun dried tomatoes, oregano
Spice rubs
- Moroccan – cumin, cinnamon, coriander
- Jamaican – allspice, cloves, nutmeg
- Indian – garam masala, ginger, yogurt
So get creative with global flavors and spice blends to marinate your turkey breast. Adjust marinating time based on thickness of cuts to infuse the flavors deep into the meat before cooking. 12-24 hours is ideal for most marinades. With the right marinating time, your turkey breast will turn out juicy, tender and packed with flavor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to some common questions about marinating turkey breast:
How long can you marinate turkey in the fridge?
Most recipes recommend marinating poultry for 6-24 hours in the refrigerator at 40°F or below. Marinating longer than 2 days can cause the meat to become mushy.
Can you marinate turkey too long?
Marinating longer than 2 days can lead to mushy meat texture. For best results, marinate turkey breast for 12-24 hours.
How long should I marinate a whole turkey breast?
For a whole turkey breast, marinate for 24-36 hours to allow the flavor to fully penetrate the thick meat.
How long does cut up turkey breast need to marinate?
Cut up turkey breast pieces and slices marinate faster than whole breast, usually 4-12 hours depending on thickness.
Do I need to marinate turkey breast?
Marinating is highly recommended as it tenderizes, adds flavor and keeps the lean breast meat juicy. But you can roast an unmarinated breast, just watch closely for doneness.
What’s the best marinade for turkey breast?
Great marinades contain acid, oil, herbs/spices. Try yogurt, citrus, vinegar, garlic, olive oil, spices like cumin, cinnamon, herbs like thyme, rosemary.
Following these tips on marinating times and techniques will lead to juicy, flavorful turkey breast every time. Once you nail the perfect marinade, turkey breast will be a hit at any meal!
How Long Should I Marinate Turkey Breast Fillets?
Before baking turkey breast tenderloins, I recommend marinating them for 2-4 hours or up to 8 hours. Any longer, the turkey tenderloin marinade’s soy sauce will begin to degrade the quality of the meat, turning it tough or mushy.
You don’t need to be an expert in turkey recipes to make the best marinade for turkey tenderloin. Give your baked turkey breast tenderloin recipe great flavor with these easy tips.
- Tenderloin size: I designed this marinated turkey breast fillet recipe for two, 4-ounce (~113 grams) turkey tenders. However, if your tenderloins are larger, you can easily multiply this marinade recipe to accommodate the extra turkey.
- Make ahead: This baked turkey tenderloin marinade is a godsend for quick meal prep. You can prepare this turkey marinade up to one day in advance. Then, store it in an airtight container in the fridge until the next day when you’re ready to use it.
- Multiple uses: The good thing about this turkey tenderloin marinade is that it can be used for other turkey parts such as turkey wings, turkey cutlets, turkey breasts, and turkey thighs. Simply adjust the amount based on the weight of your meat. Additionally, this easy marinade can be used for any cooking method, including grilling, roasting, cooking on the stove, in a slow cooker, air fryer, or in an Instant Pot.
- Extra seasoning and optional garnishes: While it is optional, I like to finish off my baked marinated turkey tenderloins with a sprinkle of coarse sea salt and a small amount of ground pepper. And for garnish, you can use fresh rosemary or fresh sage leaves and serve it with a favorite side dish (i.e. roasted potatoes) to make it visually impressive.
Marinades are mostly used to add a flavor to the meat and are usually made by mixing oil with some sort of an acidic ingredient (like soy sauce, lemon juice, or apple cider vinegar) and various spices and seasonings. The marinading time usually varies between 2 hours to 8 hours. On the other hand, brine is used to add moisture and properly salt the turkey meat by soaking it in a salty mixture for a longer period of time (usually 24 hours).
If you are using this turkey tenderloin marinade recipe, the answer is yes! Marinating each part of the turkey for up to 8 hours is the key to preparing flavorful turkey tenderloin.
Your turkey tenderloin temp. when done should reach 165 degrees F. However, I believe the best way to cook turkey breast fillets is by removing them from the oven when their internal temperature reaches 155 degrees F. Then, let the marinated turkey breast tenderloin rest under a tin foil tent, and its temperature should reach 165 degrees F. after 10 minutes.
Ingredients You Will Need?
To make this marinade for turkey tenderloin, gather olive oil, soy sauce, fresh lemon juice, Dijon mustard, brown sugar, onion powder, paprika, dried thyme, dried sage, black pepper, and minced garlic.
To complete your oven-roasted turkey tenderloin, you will also need two turkey tenderloins that weigh about 4 ounces (~113 grams) each.
Making my go-to marinade for turkey breast tenderloin does not require many ingredients, but if you are missing an ingredient, you can substitute with the following ingredients:
- Sugar: Coconut sugar is a natural sweetener substitute for brown sugar in this easy turkey tenderloin recipe. It doesn’t add a coconut-y taste while still offering the sweetness that we are after.
- Lime juice: Lime juice makes an excellent substitute for lemon juice.
- Garlic: You can use 1 tablespoon of garlic powder as a substitute for garlic cloves.
- Italian seasoning: Missing a few ingredients for your turkey tenderloin seasoning? Don’t stress! Italian seasoning can be used in place of ingredients like sage and thyme.