Marinated in soy sauce, spicy brown mustard and spices these chicken tenderloins are perfectly juicy and great for meal prep. Pair them with rice and veggies, add them to a greek side salad, wraps and even sandwiches throughout the week.
They’re also great paired with your favorite dipping sauces as a deliciously lighter alternative to breaded chicken tenders. For easy meal planning, make a bunch of these and blackened chicken in the air fryer and switch them out during the week.
Pair with sugar-free bbq sauce or homemade cottage cheese ranch dressing and dip away. This simple recipe can be used for many things, so make a lot and store it for the week.
Chicken tenders are a versatile and budget-friendly staple that can be used in so many quick and easy weeknight dinners. If you’re someone who buys chicken tenders often but finds yourself making the same few dishes, this article is for you!
Because I’m a busy mom who is always looking for creative ways to use food, I put together a list of my 19 favorite chicken tender recipes and cooking ideas. With so many global flavors, cooking styles, and easy ingredient swaps, you’ll never get tired of making chicken tenders.
Easy Oven-Baked Chicken Tenders
To make chicken tenders, all you have to do is coat them in breadcrumbs, Parmesan, and spices, then bake them. You don’t have to deep fry chicken to get it crispy and golden. Dip them in ranch, barbecue, or Buffalo sauce, which are some of my favorite sauces.
Chicken Finger Sandwiches
To make a simple sandwich, put chicken fingers that have been baked in the oven and are nice and crispy on potato rolls. Top with lettuce, tomato, and mayo. Add cheese, bacon, or avocado to jazz it up.
Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas
Peel and cut peppers, onions, and chicken tenders into strips. Mix the vegetables with lime juice, oil, and spices, and roast them all on one sheet pan to make cleanup easy. Stuff into tortillas or eat as is.
Chicken Tender Salad
Chop cooked chicken tenders and toss with greens, tomatoes, shredded cheese, avocado, and your favorite dressing for a filling main-dish salad. I also love to add things like bacon, hard-boiled eggs, or croutons.
Chicken Tender Tacos
Warm corn or flour tortillas and fill with chopped chicken tenders, shredded lettuce, pico de gallo, avocado, and a drizzle of Mexican crema. Add guacamole, salsa, or cheese for more flavor.
Chicken Tender Stir Fry
Slice chicken tenders into thin strips and stir fry in a skillet with vegetables and teriyaki or sesame garlic sauce. Serve over rice for a quick and easy weekday meal
Chicken Tender Wraps
Spread hummus, spinach or lettuce, chopped chicken tenders, shredded carrots, and cucumber slices on a tortilla. Roll it up for an easy, healthy wrap.
Chicken Tender Soup
Simmer chopped chicken tenders in chicken broth with carrots, celery, onion, and pasta or rice. Season with garlic, oregano, salt, and pepper. Finish with lemon juice and parsley.
Chicken Tender Kebabs
Alternate pieces of chicken tenders, cherry tomatoes, bell peppers, mushrooms, and onion on skewers. Brush with barbecue sauce and grill.
Chicken Tender Pizza
Top prepared pizza crust with pizza sauce, mozzarella, and chopped chicken tenders. Feel free to add onions, mushrooms, or any other favorite toppings.
Chicken Tender Casserole
Mix chopped chicken tenders with cream of chicken soup, vegetables, and stuffing mix or crackers. Top with shredded cheese and bake until bubbly and browned.
Chicken Tender Enchiladas
Fill tortillas with chopped chicken tenders, enchilada sauce, cheese, and diced onion. Roll up and place in a baking dish. Cover with more sauce and cheese then bake.
Chicken Tender Pasta
Toss cooked pasta with chopped chicken tenders, pesto or Alfredo sauce, tomatoes, spinach or broccoli, and Parmesan.
Chicken Tender Pot Pie
Make a creamy chicken pot pie filling using chopped chicken tenders, frozen vegetables, and gravy. Spoon into a prepared pie crust, top with more crust, and bake.
Chicken Tender Quesadillas
Fill tortillas with shredded cheese, chopped chicken tenders, and diced onions and peppers. Cook in a skillet until the tortillas are crispy and cheese melts.
Chicken Tender Fried Rice
Stir fry chopped chicken tenders, vegetables, and cooked rice in sesame oil and soy sauce. Crack an egg into the rice towards the end for extra protein.
Buffalo Chicken Tender Wraps
Coat chicken tenders in Buffalo wing sauce then chop and wrap in tortillas with shredded lettuce, tomato, and ranch or blue cheese dressing.
Chicken Tender Kabobs with Peanut Sauce
Alternate chicken tenders, pineapple chunks, bell peppers, and red onion on skewers. Grill and serve with peanut sauce for dipping.
Chicken tenders offer so much versatility. With just a few simple ingredients like breadcrumbs, tortillas, rice, pasta, or lettuce you can transform chicken tenders into totally different dishes. Next time you have a pack of tenders in the fridge or freezer, try one of these 19 delicious recipes to liven up your weeknight dinner rotation. Your family will thank you for shaking up the usual chicken tender routine!
Let’s make this easy chicken recipe:
Grasp the tendon with a paper towel (1), put it between the tines of a fork (2), and pull down until it slides out of the meat that it was attached to.
Place the tenderloins in a sealable airtight container and add the soy sauce, olive oil, spicy brown mustard, garlic powder and ground ginger ( 3). Put the lid on and shake so everything is evenly covered ( 4). Let set overnight OR just be sure to let it marinate while you preheat the oven.
Step 3: bake the chicken
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Spray a baking sheet with olive oil spray or nonstick cooking spray. Take the tenderloins out of the dish with the marinade and arrange them evenly in the pan. Place in the preheated oven and bake for 15-17 minutes or until cooked through and no longer pink ( 6).
Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. These are awesome for meal prep because they go with just about anything. Reheat in the microwave or air fryer.
Serve this with your favorite veggies, air fryer smashed potatoes or greek yogurt mashed potatoes. Cut it up and add to wraps, on top of a salad or sandwiches. Throw it inside chicken fried rice or leave as is and dip in honey mustard, ranch or bbq.
Yes! Preheat air fryer to 400 degrees F. Arrange in a single layer and cook for 5-6 minutes on each side.
If you make this recipe, please leave a rating and/or comment! Tag me on Instagram @ohsnapmacros, I love hearing from you!
Ya Don’t Know Until Ya Dan-O: Blackened Chicken Tenders
FAQ
What are chicken tenders good for?
Chicken tenders are a good source of lean protein and provide essential vitamins and minerals, making them a versatile and convenient addition to a balanced diet.
What does soaking chicken tenders in milk do?
Soak chicken in milk: If you want your chicken to be extra tender and juicy, soak it in milk or buttermilk for at least 15 to 30 minutes before baking. The enzymes in the milk help break down the protein in the meat, creating a super tender result.
What is a good sauce to have with chicken tenders?
Try adding a little BBQ sauce, yellow mustard, Dijon mustard, or honey mustard, to change up the flavor. To add some heat try adding Sriracha, sweet chili sauce, spicy ketchup, or your favorite hot sauce.
How to eat leftover chicken tenders?
Place them on a plate and dip them in your favorite sauce. I like mine with my jalapeno ranch dip, barbecue sauce, honey mustard, or ranch dressing. Add to salads like this wild rice salad to make them fuller and get more protein. Add them to wraps, or sandwiches for an easy lunch.