These simple air fryer turkey cutlets are a tasty dinner hit! Turkey breast steaks are marinaded in a flavorful sauce and then air fried until crisp on the outside and tender and juicy on the inside.

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Whether you are looking for something easy to make for weeknight family meals or an easier alternative to roast turkey for the holidays, these air fryer turkey steaks are a great option!

After marinating, these turkey steaks take 10 minutes to air fry. They are filled is sweet and savory flavors and will taste delicious with almost any side dish.

Even though turkey is a very lean meat that can easily become dry and tough, because we are cooking these steaks in the air fryer they will stay tender and moist on the inside every time!

Recipe ingredients

Turkey cutlets. Boneless skinless turkey breast steaks. If using frozen make sure to thaw beforehand.

Olive oil. Keeps the meat juicy and gives a nice flavor to the steaks.

Soy sauce. Adds a bold umami flavor to the sauce and is used to tenderize the meat as it marinates.

Honey. To add a touch of sweetness to the marinade.

Garlic. Minced and adds even more savory flavor. Feel free to add more garlic if you like.

Dried rosemary. A bold herb that pairs well with turkey.

Salt and black pepper. Just a little more seasoning to enhance the flavors of the meat and ingredients in the marinade.

How to make air fryer turkey cutlets

Marinade

Start by preparing the marinade. On your kitchen counter, set out all your ingredients so you can reach them easily. Grab a medium-sized mixing bowl. Pour in the olive oil, soy sauce, and honey.

Add the finely chopped or minced garlic, dried rosemary, black pepper, and salt. Mix everything with a fork or a whisk. Keep mixing until the honey blends well into the other ingredients.

Once your marinade is ready, it's time to get the turkey steaks ready. First, give them a quick rinse under cold tap water. Then, use paper towels to pat them dry. This helps the marinade stick to the turkey better.

Now, place your turkey steaks in a big plastic bag that you can seal or in a shallow dish. Pour your marinade over the turkey cutlets. If you're using a plastic bag, try to get most of the air out before sealing it. If you're using a dish, cover it with some cling film. Gently press or rub the marinade into the turkey, making sure it's well coated.

Put the marinating turkey steaks in the refrigerator. The longer they soak up the marinade, the more flavorful they'll be. Leaving them overnight is a great idea, but if you're short on time, even a couple of hours can make a difference.

Cooking instructions

When you're ready to cook, plug in your air fryer. Turn it on and set it to warm up at 360°F, which is about 180°C.

While the air fryer is heating, take the turkey steaks out of the fridge. Remove them from the bag or dish and let any extra marinade drip off. You don't want them to be too wet when they go into the air fryer or they might not turn out as crispy as you'd like.

Place the turkey steaks inside the air fryer. Lay them down so they're flat. Make sure they're not on top of each other or touching. If your air fryer isn't big enough for both, you'll need to cook them one at a time.

Cook the turkey steaks for about 6-8 minutes. Check them around the halfway point and, if you like, use tongs to flip them over. This can help them brown evenly.

To be sure your turkey steaks are fully cooked, poke the thickest part with a meat thermometer. It should show a reading of 165°F or 74°C.

Once they're cooked, take your turkey steaks out of the air fryer. Place them on a plate and wait for 3 or 4 minutes. This gives the juices inside the meat some time to settle, making your turkey steaks even more delicious.

Instructions for frozen turkey cutlets

1. In a mixing bowl, combine olive oil, soy sauce, honey, chopped garlic, dried rosemary, black pepper, and salt to create a sauce.
2. Preheat your air fryer to 375°F. If your model doesn't preheat, run it empty for about 3 minutes at the set temperature.
3. While the fryer heats, spread a bit of the sauce over each frozen cutlet using a pastry brush. Save some sauce for basting later.
4. Place the sauced cutlets in the air fryer basket in a single layer, avoiding overlap.
5. Cook for 12-15 minutes. Around the 6-minute mark, open the fryer, flip the cutlets with tongs, and brush on a bit more sauce.
6. Check for a golden-brown color and ensure they're heated throughout.
7. Once done, remove and let them rest for a few minutes.

What cut of meat is this

Turkey cutlets are the same as turkey steaks made by slicing boneless turkey breasts very thinly. They have a steak-like look and will cook much faster and quicker than a whole breast but are just as flavorful.

Turkey breast is very low in fat and if cooked improperly it can be very dry. I love to soak these steaks in my homemade honey garlic soy sauce marinade for a couple of hours to make sure they are as flavorful and juicy as possible.

Expert tips and notes

Pound the steaks with a meat mallet before placing them in the marinade. This is helpful if your steaks are on the thicker side and you want to make sure your meat is extra tender.

Avoid crowding your air fryer. Add as many turkey cutlets to your air fryer as you can without them stacked on top of each other. This will help them crisp up on the outside better and cook more evenly.

Allow your meat to rest before slicing and serving. Waiting 5 - 10 minutes before cutting into the turkey will allow the juices to redistribute into the meat instead of rushing out, leading to a juicer steak.

Substitutions

Turkey cutlets. If you can't find turkey cutlets in your grocery store, buy a whole turkey breast. Make the steaks by slicing the breast horizontally using a sharp knife.

Soy sauce. Use tamari, liquid aminos, or coconut aminos if you are gluten-free.

Honey. Replace with brown sugar or maple syrup. If using coconut aminos omit the sweetener since it's already very sweet.

Rosemary. Substitute with fresh or dried thyme, Italian seasoning, or poultry seasoning.

Frequently asked questions

Side dishes

Lots of side dishes will pair very well with cooked turkey cutlets in air fryer. Here i have a few to choose from, including some Holiday dishes:

Buttered Corn: Cook corn kernels (either fresh, frozen, or canned) in a pan with a dab of butter, salt, and pepper until they're hot and slightly golden.

Egg Salad: Mash hard-boiled eggs with mayonnaise, mustard, and chopped celery. Season with salt and pepper.

Sweet Potato Casserole: Mash baked sweet potatoes, mix with butter, brown sugar, and a hint of cinnamon. Top with marshmallows or pecan crumble and bake until golden.

Sausage and Herb Stuffing: Mix cubed bread with cooked sausage, sautéed onions, celery, sage, thyme, chicken broth, and bake until crispy on top.

Mashed Potatoes: Boil peeled and diced potatoes until tender. Drain, and then mash with butter, milk, salt, and pepper. For an added touch, mix in some roasted garlic.

How to store leftovers

Store leftover turkey cutlets in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat, warm in a 350°F oven until heated through, or microwave on medium power until hot. You can also place them back in air fryer and reheat for a few minutes at 360 degrees. Avoid overcooking to prevent drying out.

More fall and holidays recipes

• Turkey liver recipe
• Air fryer turkey tenderloin
• 3 ingredient pumpkin bread
• Amish pumpkin bread recipe
• How to make turkey wings fall off the bone
• Oreo pumpkin balls
• Butterscotch pumpkin bread
• Air fryer turkey nuggets
• Turkey deviled eggs (so much fun to make with kids!)

Hope you will like this air fryer turkey cutlets recipe as much as we do. Please rate the recipe if you made it and leave a comment below if you have any questions or suggestions.