How To Make Slow-Cooker Stuffed Turkey Tenderloins
Hearty, rib-sticking food doesn't have to pack a day's worth of calories. Gina Homolka, author of the wildly popular blog Skinnytaste, has a new collection of hearty slow-cooker recipes out that pump up the flavor and nutrition and cut out the fillers. Best of all, you can set it and forget it!
These turkey tenderloins, stuffed with butternut squash, cranberries, and pears, are like a mini Thanksgiving feast — from your slow cooker! They're perfect any time of year when you're craving a taste of the holidays. They're also great for smaller Turkey Day gatherings, when a whole bird is too much. You and your guests will, um, gobble them up!
How To Make Slow-Cooker Stuffed Turkey Tenderloins
Prep Time
35
minutes
Cook Time
2.33
hours
Servings
4
Total time: 2 hours, 55 minutes
Ingredients
- 1/2 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/3 cup chopped shallots
- 2 garlic cloves
- 1 cup butternut squash
- 1/2 cup fresh or frozen cranberries
- 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
- 1 small pear
- 3/4 cup chopped baby spinach
- 2 tablespoons chopped pecans
- 3 fresh sage leaves
- 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
- freshly ground black pepper
- 2 large boneless turkey tenderloins (1 1/2 pounds total)
- Olive oil spray (such as Bertolli) or a mister
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour (I like Bob's Red Mill)
- 2 teaspoons chicken or turkey bouillon (I like Better Than Bouillon)
- 4 fresh sage leaves
- 2 bay leaves
Directions
- In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium-low heat. Add the shallots and garlic and cook, stirring, until golden, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the butternut squash, cranberries, maple syrup, and 1 tablespoon water. Cover, reduce the heat to low, and cook until tender, about 8 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the pear, spinach, pecans, sage, 1⁄4 teaspoon of the salt, and pepper to taste.
- Cut a slit into the sides of the tenderloins, being careful not to cut all the way through. Season the inside and outside of the tenderloins with the remaining 1 1⁄4 teaspoons salt and pepper to taste. Stuff each turkey breast with about 1 cup of the squash mixture. Tie each tenderloin closed with 4 pieces of kitchen string, cutting off the extra string.
- Wipe the skillet clean and set it over medium-high heat. Spray with oil and carefully sear each turkey breast until browned, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Transfer to a slow cooker.
- Cook on low for 2 hours or until cooked through. Remove from slow cooker, let rest for 10 minutes, then slice and serve.