diff --git a/docs/customizing.rst b/docs/customizing.rst
index 88ae5c683..25ed6b891 100644
--- a/docs/customizing.rst
+++ b/docs/customizing.rst
@@ -113,6 +113,8 @@ By default menu is constructed based on your classes and in a reversed navbar. L
                             category="Others", category_label=lazy_gettext('Other'), category_label='fa-envelope')
             # Add a link
             appbuilder.add_link("google", href="www.google.com", icon = "fa-google-plus")
+            # Add a link that opens in a new tab
+            appbuilder.add_link("Flask documentation", href="https://flask-appbuilder.readthedocs.io", icon="fa-book", target="_blank")
 		
 	- Add separators::
 
diff --git a/examples/quickexternalurl/run.py b/examples/quickexternalurl/run.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..bd96c78c8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/quickexternalurl/run.py
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+import os
+
+from flask import Flask
+from flask_appbuilder import AppBuilder, SQLA
+
+app = Flask(__name__)
+
+basedir = os.path.abspath(os.path.dirname(__file__))
+app.config["SQLALCHEMY_DATABASE_URI"] = "sqlite:///" + os.path.join(basedir, "app.db")
+app.config["CSRF_ENABLED"] = True
+app.config["SECRET_KEY"] = "thisismyscretkey"
+
+db = SQLA(app)
+appbuilder = AppBuilder(app, db.session)
+
+appbuilder.add_link("Flask documentation", href="https://flask-appbuilder.readthedocs.io", icon="fa-book", target="_blank")
+
+app.run(host="0.0.0.0", port=8080, debug=True)
diff --git a/flask_appbuilder/base.py b/flask_appbuilder/base.py
index 14aedfc6d..12e73938c 100644
--- a/flask_appbuilder/base.py
+++ b/flask_appbuilder/base.py
@@ -472,6 +472,7 @@ def add_link(
         category_label: str = "",
         baseview: Optional["AbstractViewApi"] = None,
         cond: Optional[Callable[..., bool]] = None,
+        target: str = "_self",
     ) -> None:
         """
         Add your own links to menu using this method
@@ -501,6 +502,11 @@ def add_link(
             then this link will be a part of the menu. Otherwise, it
             will not be included in the menu items. Defaults to
             :code:`None`, meaning the item will always be present.
+        :param target:
+            Target for the HTML <a> tag. This allows for links to
+            open in a new page or tab and even in seperate iframes.
+            Options are: :code:`_blank`, :code:`_self`, :code:`_parent`,
+            :code:`_top` or a custom iframe. Defaults to :code:`_self`
         """
         if self.menu is None:
             return
@@ -514,6 +520,7 @@ def add_link(
             category_label=category_label,
             baseview=baseview,
             cond=cond,
+            target=target,
         )
         if self.app:
             self._add_permissions_menu(name)
diff --git a/flask_appbuilder/menu.py b/flask_appbuilder/menu.py
index 9c86be9b9..0fdb8ee06 100644
--- a/flask_appbuilder/menu.py
+++ b/flask_appbuilder/menu.py
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 
 class MenuItem(object):
     def __init__(
-        self, name, href="", icon="", label="", childs=None, baseview=None, cond=None
+        self, name, href="", icon="", label="", childs=None, baseview=None, cond=None, target="_self"
     ):
         self.name = name
         self.href = href
@@ -19,10 +19,15 @@ def __init__(
         self.childs = childs or []
         self.baseview = baseview
         self.cond = cond
+        self.target = target
 
     def should_render(self) -> bool:
         return bool(self.cond()) if self.cond is not None else True
 
+    def get_target(self) -> str:
+        """Returns the target for a HTML <a> tag. Defaults to _self"""
+        return self.target
+
     def get_url(self):
         if not self.href:
             if not self.baseview:
@@ -94,6 +99,7 @@ def get_data(self, menu=None):
                         "icon": item.icon,
                         "label": __(str(item.label)),
                         "url": item.get_url(),
+                        "target": item.get_target(),
                     }
                 )
         return ret_list
@@ -135,6 +141,7 @@ def add_link(
         category_label="",
         baseview=None,
         cond=None,
+        target="_self",
     ):
         label = label or name
         category_label = category_label or category
@@ -147,6 +154,7 @@ def add_link(
                     label=label,
                     baseview=baseview,
                     cond=cond,
+                    target=target,
                 )
             )
         else:
@@ -159,6 +167,7 @@ def add_link(
                     label=label,
                     baseview=baseview,
                     cond=cond,
+                    target=target,
                 )
                 menu_item.childs.append(new_menu_item)
             else:
@@ -172,6 +181,7 @@ def add_link(
                     label=label,
                     baseview=baseview,
                     cond=cond,
+                    target=target,
                 )
                 self.find(category).childs.append(new_menu_item)
 
diff --git a/flask_appbuilder/templates/appbuilder/navbar_menu.html b/flask_appbuilder/templates/appbuilder/navbar_menu.html
index ab6aa1cd4..d49571716 100644
--- a/flask_appbuilder/templates/appbuilder/navbar_menu.html
+++ b/flask_appbuilder/templates/appbuilder/navbar_menu.html
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 {% macro menu_item(item) %}
-    <a tabindex="-1" href="{{item.get_url()}}">
+    <a tabindex="-1" href="{{item.get_url()}}" target="{{item.get_target()}}">
        {% if item.icon %}
         <i class="fa fa-fw {{item.icon}}"></i>&nbsp;
     {% endif %}