Slow Cooker Hot Honey Turkey Tenderloin

📝Shopping list

To make this easy recipe you will need these simple ingredients available in any grocery store:

• Honey
• Lime juice
• Hot pepper flakes
• Chili powder
• Garlic cloves -  minced
• Salt
• Turkey breast tenderloins

You have found it!   The best way to make a delicious turkey dinner!  No need to wait for special occasions.  This amazing recipe lets you have a juicy turkey tenderloin meal on a busy weeknight with minimal effort.  

🔪Instructions

This great recipe involves just a few simple steps:

Preparing your slow cooker

Prepare your slow cooker by coating it with a non-stick agent.  Any nonstick cooking spray or oil will work. Olive oil and avocado oil are my go-to coatings. 

 NOTE: some slow cooker inserts come with a nonstick surface.  Use of a non-stick agent is still suggested. However, oil is sometimes recommended rather than spray to protect the longevity of the non-stick surface.  Check your slow cooker's manual if you have any concerns. 

Alternatively, you can choose to use a slow cooker liner.  

Cooking

• 🍗 Add all ingredients other than turkey to your slow cooker and use a rubber whisk to combine
• 🍗Place turkey tenderloins into slow cooker and fully coat with the sauce ingredients
• 🍗Cover and cook on low heat for 4-6 hours or high for 2-4 hours.  Turkey is ready to serve when it reaches an internal temperature of 165℉.
• 🍗Remove turkey tenderloin from slow cooker and slice to serve.  
• 🍗Place sauce from slow cooker into a gravy boat or small pitcher so it can be poured over sliced turkey.  It also makes a great dipping sauce! 

TIP: Do not overcook.  White meat turkey can get dry and rubbery when overcooked.  To avoid dry turkey breasts try shredding it rather than slicing it.  Mixing shredded turkey into the sauce will help to compensate if your turkey is a bit dry.  

🍽Serving suggestions

On top of 

• Rice (cilantro lime rice is a great combo with the hot honey)
• Quinoa
• Mashed potatoes
• Cauliflower rice
• Mashed cauliflower
• Rice noodles
• Pasta

The honey glaze this easy turkey tenderloin recipe makes is to die for!  You will want to serve over something that will soak up as much saucy goodness as possible.

Next to

• Cooked vegetables like steamed broccoli, whole dijon mustard cauliflower, air fryer green beans, or zucchini and squash parmesan.
• A fresh, crisp garden salad
• Crusty bread loaf or baguettes.  

Underneath

• Chopped parsley
• Minced chives
• Sliced green onion
• A sprinkle of sesame seeds

NOTE:  Leftovers are just the start of another delicious dish!  Try serving leftovers on a crusty brioche as a sweet and spicy sandwich

🔁Substitutions

• Chicken breasts are a great alternative in this recipe.  The cooking time may change a bit.  Use your meat thermometer to confirm when your dish is ready to serve.
• Use ½ teaspoon garlic powder in place of fresh minced garlic
• For a totally different flavor, try swapping garlic for onion powder
• 2 teaspoons soy sauce can be used in place of the salt.  The flavor will be a bit deeper and richer. 
• To lower the heat in your hot honey sauce, cut the red pepper flakes and chili powder in half
• Feeling super lazy?  Skip making your own sauce and use a prepared hot honey sauce! 

Storing

Once your turkey tenderloins reach room temperature, store them in the refrigerator in an airtight container.  They will last for 3-4 days this way.  

Freezing is also a perfect way to store these tenderloins.  They will stay good for 2-3 months when frozen.

😉Hints & hacks

1. This crock pot turkey tenderloin recipe makes enough sauce for about 3 lbs of tenderloins - if you want to double the recipe.  It may require some additional cooking time, but every slow cooker is different.  The first time you make this, be sure to use a meat thermometer to monitor the finish time of the turkey.  
2. This is an easy meal to prep in advance  Just add all the main ingredients and seasonings to a zip-top bag and store in the refrigerator overnight.  When you are ready to cook, toss it in your slow cooker and go!
3. Store leftovers of this slow-cooker hot honey turkey in individual serving-sized containers for easy grab-and-go future meals.
4. Confirm your slow cooker bone-in turkey breast is finished cooking by using a meat thermometer. Turkey is safe to eat when it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
5. I always suggest the use of a slow cooker liner for easy cleanup. I like to buy mine in bulk for a cheaper per-piece price.
6. In the market for a new crock pot? I love mine! The built-in thermometer is especially helpful with this recipe!