How to Cook Chicken Tenderloins on the Stove Top

You can learn how to cook chicken tenderloin six different ways and get perfect results each time.

If you know how to cook chicken tenderloins, you can make a WHOLE LOTTA YUM meals in no time! You can do it in the oven, on the stove, in the Instant Pot, or with an air fryer.

Scroll down to the recipe card at the bottom to get our popular baked chicken tenders recipe!

Chicken tenderloins are a quick and easy protein to cook for dinner. Also known as chicken tenders or chicken strips, they cook up juicy and delicious in about 15 minutes on the stovetop.

Chicken tenderloins refer to the tender muscle attached to the underside of a chicken breast. When buying chicken, sometimes the tenderloin is still attached to the breast and other times it is removed and sold separately.

When cooking chicken tenderloins on the stove, you don’t need many other things. Just seasoning, olive oil or butter, and the chicken will turn out deliciously pan-fried. The outside will get nice and brown, while the inside will stay juicy and tender.

Here is everything you need to know to cook chicken tenderloins on the stove right, along with some ideas for how to serve them.

Benefits of Cooking Chicken Tenderloins on the Stove

There are several benefits to cooking chicken tenderloins in a skillet on the stovetop:

Quick: Chicken tenderloins are one of the fastest proteins you can make for dinner. They cook all the way through in just 12 to 15 minutes.
Needs few things: raw chicken tenderloins, olive oil or butter, and any seasoning you like are all you need. Spices don’t have to be fancy; salt and pepper are enough.
Adds nice browning – Pan frying causes the exterior of the chicken to brown and get a little crispy in spots while the interior stays juicy. This adds great flavor.
Versatile for meals – Cooked chicken tenderloins are tasty on their own or can be chopped up for meals like chicken salad, pasta dishes, soups, and more.
Easy to double or triple – Making extra chicken tenderloins on the stove takes the same amount of time whether you make a single batch or a triple batch. Meal prep made easy!
Minimal dishes – With just a skillet and spatula needed, clean up is a breeze after enjoying these quick chicken dinners.

Ingredients Needed

Cooking chicken tenderloins on the stove couldn’t be simpler in terms of ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need:

Chicken tenderloins (also sold as chicken tenders or chicken strips)
Olive oil or butter for cooking
Seasonings of your choice

When buying the chicken, you can find raw chicken tenderloins sold separately in the meat department or freezer section. Or, buy chicken breasts and remove the tenderloin yourself.

For 1 pound of chicken tenderloins, you’ll need:

2-3 teaspoons olive oil or butter
1-2 teaspoons seasoning blend

Some easy seasoning ideas include lemon pepper, Italian seasoning, taco seasoning, ranch seasoning, jerk seasoning, or just salt and pepper.

Step-by-Step Cooking Instructions

Follow these simple steps for perfectly pan-fried chicken tenderloins every time.

1. Pat the Chicken Dry

Rinse the chicken tenderloins under cool water and pat them completely dry with paper towels. Ensuring the chicken is dry before cooking helps get an evenly browned exterior.

2. Season the Chicken

Place the chicken in a bowl or zip top bag. Add olive oil or melted butter and your desired seasonings.
Toss to coat the chicken evenly. Add more seasoning if needed.

3. Heat the Skillet

Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add just enough olive oil to lightly coat the bottom of the pan.

4. Cook the Chicken

Carefully add the chicken pieces to the hot skillet in a single layer, working in batches if needed.
Cook for 2-3 minutes without stirring. Resist the urge to move the chicken so it can get a nice sear.
After 2-3 minutes, flip each piece and cook an additional 2-3 minutes on the second side.
Chicken is fully cooked when the internal temperature reaches 165°F. The total stovetop cooking time is 12-15 minutes.

5. Remove and Serve

Use tongs to transfer the cooked chicken tenderloins to a clean platter.
Sprinkle with a little extra salt if desired. Enjoy immediately.

And that’s it – perfectly pan-seared chicken tenderloins ready in about 15 minutes!

Stovetop Cooking Tips

Use a skillet large enough to hold the chicken in a single layer. Overcrowding will cause it to steam instead of brown.
Allow the oil to fully heat before adding the chicken. Hot oil helps promote browning.
Resist the urge to move the chicken for the first 2-3 minutes. Let it sear undisturbed to get a nice crust.
Use a thin metal spatula to flip the chicken. Plastic can stick.
Cook over medium-high heat. Too high of heat may burn the exterior before the inside cooks through.
Wash hands and cooking utensils immediately after handling raw chicken to prevent cross contamination.

Serve Chicken Tenderloins 3 Ways

Chicken tenderloins are so versatile. Here are a few serving ideas:

As a Main Dish

Enjoy the chicken tenderloins as a main course protein. Quick side dishes that pair nicely include:

Roasted potatoes or sweet potato wedges
Sauteed vegetables like zucchini or broccoli
Rice pilaf or cauliflower rice
A fresh green salad

Offer ranch or bbq sauce for dipping.

In a Chicken Salad

Chop or shred the cooked chicken and use it to make chicken salad. Just combine with mayo, chopped celery, seasonings, and any other desired ingredients. Enjoy in a sandwich or over a salad.

Over a Salad

Slice the chicken into strips. Layer it over a fresh salad along with your favorite veggies, cheese, nuts, dressing, and other toppings.

Meal Prep Chicken Tenderloins

Chicken tenderloins are perfect for meal prepping. To meal prep:

Prepare a triple batch of chicken tenderloins on the stove. Let cool.
Portion into individual meal prep containers along with veggies, carbs, etc.
Refrigerate for up to 4 days or freeze for longer storage.
Reheat in the microwave or oven as needed.

Having pre-made protein ready to go makes it so easy to assemble healthy lunches and dinners throughout the busy work week.

More Quick Stovetop Chicken Recipes

If you love fast and easy chicken dinners made on the stovetop, try these recipes:

Lemon Chicken Piccata – sauteed chicken breasts in a lemony pan sauce
Chicken Fajitas – classic Tex-mex chicken strips with bell peppers and onions
Chicken Parmesan – breaded chicken topped with marinara and mozzarella
Sesame Chicken – coated in an easy homemade sweet and savory sauce
Teriyaki Chicken – a flavorful Asian inspired chicken dish

The next time you need a fast, budget-friendly dinner, turn to quick cooking chicken tenderloins made right on the stovetop. In just 15 minutes you can have a meal the whole family will love.

how to cook chicken tenderloins on stove

What is Chicken Tenderloin?

There is a small, tender muscle under the meat of the chicken breast that is attached to the bottom of the breast itself. This is called the chicken tenderloin. Sometimes when you buy chicken breasts the tenderloin is attached, and othertimes its not.

Chicken tenders and tenderloins are the raw, fresh, or frozen boneless pieces. They are NOT the precooked, frozen ones that are breaded and in the freezer section (though we do include one air fryer precooked breaded recipe on the list).

Regardless, you can also buy just the uncooked chicken tenderloins like we did for all of these recipes.

To make most of our chicken tender recipes, you’ll need raw chicken, a fat (like butter, olive oil, or cooking spray), and to season it.

chicken tenderloin (or raw chicken tenders or chicken tenders that don’t have any bones or skin and are cut into strips)
butter – melted or olive oil
Our chicken rub recipe is great, but you can also use your favorite store-bought brand. This rub is for dry-rubbed wings, but we use it on all kinds of chicken.
You can add extra seasonings like cayenne pepper, smoked paprika, onion powder, lemon juice, red pepper flakes, or garlic powder or fresh garlic.

Whether you are keeping things simple with just salt and pepper, getting adventurous with Cajun or Mexican seasoning, or going for something savory with a mix of Italian herbs, theyre super easy to change the flavor depending on your mood.

Cooking chicken breast tenderloin (6 Ways!)

In our home, we love chicken tenders! This cut of meat is often cheaper than other chicken cuts and they cook up super fast – often in 10-minutes or less. You can even cook chicken tenderloin pieces from frozen when you need something in a pinch.