Is there anyone who doesn’t like chicken tenders? If you have a fussy family or need a meal in a hurry that’s guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser, chicken tenders are right on the money!
These 15 chicken tender recipes are sure to be a hit in your household, so read on for our favorite recipes!
Table of Contents
1. Sweet And Sour Chicken Tenders
This recipe is one of our favorites because it’s quick, easy, and delicious. It also makes a great appetizer if you serve them with chips.
The sweet and sour sauce adds just enough tanginess to make these tasty little morsels pop!
2. Honey Mustard Chicken Tenders
Honey mustard is an excellent addition to any dish, but when paired with chicken tenders, they become something special.
This recipe uses honey mustard as a marinade, which gives the chicken a nice flavor boost.
3. Garlic Parmesan Chicken Tenders
The combination of garlic, parmesan cheese, and herbs give this recipe its signature taste. We love how the flavors combine into a simple yet flavorful dish.
4. Lemon Pepper Chicken Tenders
Lemon pepper is another ingredient we use often, especially when making chicken tenders. It’s a perfect accompaniment to the lemon juice and zest in this recipe.
5. Buffalo Chicken Tenders
Buffalo wings are always a popular food item, and now you can enjoy them without all the extra calories by using chicken instead.
These chicken tenders are coated in buffalo sauce, giving them a unique flavor that will leave everyone asking for more.
6. Barbecue Chicken Tenders
Barbecue sauce has a lot going for it: it’s versatile, and it goes well with almost anything. When combined with chicken tenders, barbecue sauce creates a savory dish that’ll satisfy even the pickiest eater.
7. Ranch Chicken Tenders
Ranch dressing is a classic condiment that works perfectly with chicken tenders. They add a rich flavor to the meat while still being light and airy.
8. Cheesy Bacon-Chicken Tenders
Bacon and cheese go together like peanut butter and jelly, and this recipe proves it.
These chicken tenders get their cheesy goodness from bacon bits and shredded cheddar cheese.
9. Cajun Spiced Chicken Tenders
Cajun spices are some of our favorite seasonings, and they work beautifully with chicken tenders. They’re so good that we’ve included two different variations of this recipe.
10. Thai Peanut Chicken Tenders
Thai cuisine is known for its bold and spicy flavors, and this recipe takes advantage of those qualities.
The lemongrass, lime leaves, ginger, and chilies give the chicken a wonderful kick.
11. BBQ Pulled Chicken Tenders
Pulled pork is a traditional American dish, and now you can eat it guilt-free. Using pulled chicken instead of pork means you won’t have to worry about cholesterol.
12. Sesame Ginger Chicken Tenders
Sesame and ginger are some more of our favorite ingredients, and they combine wonderfully with chicken tenders.
The sesame seeds and scallions give the chicken a beautiful golden color.
13. Teriyaki Chicken Tenders
Teriyaki is a sticky and glossy sauce that goes so well with these gluten-free and paleo-friendly chicken tenders!
14. Crispy Fried Chicken Tenders
Fried chicken is a staple of southern U.S. culture, and now you don’t need to feel guilty about eating it.
Make sure you serve these crispy fried chicken tenders with plenty of napkins because they’re messy to eat!
15. Roasted Garlic & Herb Chicken Tenders
Roasting garlic intensifies its natural sweetness, and it adds an amazing depth of flavor to this chicken tenders recipe.
This is one of our favorites to make during the fall and winter months.
There you go! 15 fantastic chicken tender recipes to enjoy!
With all of these recipes, you can get in pre-battered or pre-cooked chicken tenders for a super quick and simple meal! But for more control over what goes into your food, as well as just making them taste ten times as good – try making them yourself!
How To Make Crispy Chicken Tenders
You Will Need:
1 lb boneless skinless chicken breast tenders (about 24)
2 eggs
3/4 cup flour
1 tsp salt
Pepper
Olive oil
Stale Bread
Directions:
1. Preheat the
2. Combine flour, corn starch, salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, thyme, and paprika in a large bowl. Whisk to combine.
3. Add eggs to a separate bowl.
4. Blitz up some breadcrumbs for a third bowl. These three bowls will be your dipping station.
5. Dip each piece of chicken in the egg mixture, then roll in the dry mix. Dip again in the egg, and lastly in the breadcrumbs.
Repeat the process until all pieces are coated.
6. Transfer chicken tenders to the prepared pan and bake for 15 minutes. Flip the chicken and cook for 10 more minutes.
7. Remove from the
Chicken Tenders Recipe Tips
• If you want to add extra flavor to your chicken tenders, consider adding chopped fresh herbs such as rosemary, sage, oregano, basil, parsley, or thyme.
• You can also use any type of flour in place of the cornstarch. Try using whole wheat flour, almond flour, chickpea flour, spelled flour, oat flour, rice flour, potato starch, tapioca starch, arrowroot starch, or even gluten-free flour blends.
• For best results, use organic chicken tenders. They’re much healthier than their non-organic counterparts.
• Don’t skip the step of coating the chicken tenders in egg first. It helps ensure that they’ll stay crisp when baked.
• If you prefer a crunchier crust on your chicken tenders, sprinkle some crushed panko crumbs on top after flipping them.
• If you’d like to serve your chicken tenders with a side salad, toss together some greens, tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, onions, and dressing right before serving.
• If you have leftover chicken tenders, wrap them tightly in foil and freeze them for later.
• If you want to add even more flavor to your chicken tenders, marinate them overnight in a mixture of 1/4 cup soy sauce, 2 tablespoons rice vinegar, 2 teaspoons sugar, 2 cloves minced garlic, 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger, and 1 teaspoon sesame oil. Let sit at least 30 minutes before using.
• For extra crunch, sprinkle on crushed red pepper flakes.
• You can also use leftover rotisserie chicken for this recipe. Just cut off any bones and shred the meat.
• Feel free to experiment with other herbs like rosemary, oregano, basil, etc.
Tired Of Dry Chicken? Tips To Keep Your Chicken Tenders Juicy
If you’re looking for ways to keep your chicken tender and moist while cooking, there are several things you can do.
First, make sure you don’t overcook it. When you grill or sauté chicken tenders, cook them over medium heat for about 5-10 minutes per side. The longer you cook them, the drier they get.
Next, try not to let them sit around too long. After removing them from the
Finally, if you’d like to prevent them from drying out completely, coat them with a little bit of olive oil.
This way, they’ll still taste good but will be less likely to become tough.
Frying your chicken tenders is great for locking in the moisture and leaving you with extra juicy and delicious bites.
However, frying done wrong tends to dry out the chicken tenders making them hard to eat if you overcook them, plus it’s not the healthiest way to eat them!
To avoid this problem, simply bake them instead. To make your chicken tenders, you need to start with boneless, skinless chicken breasts. Cut them into strips and then flatten them slightly.
Don’t skimp on the seasoning! Use salt, pepper, and whatever spices you prefer.
How To Deal With Picky Eaters
If you’re a parent, then you know how hard it is to get your kids to eat healthily.
It can be frustrating and even downright stressful when they refuse to try new foods or just don’t want the same old thing every day.
But as much as we might wish otherwise, our children aren’t going to magically change their eating habits just because we tell them to.
Instead, we have to take charge of the situation and show them how to prepare healthy meals without getting bored.
Here are some tips to help you deal with picky eaters:
1. Be patient. Kids are often slow to adapt to new food experiences. So don’t expect them to suddenly love everything you serve up. They may need time to adjust.
2. Use small portions. Kids can easily get overwhelmed when there is lots of new food they don’t like on the plate. Use small portions and they can try without getting stressed out.
3. Try using fun ingredients. For example, add some yogurt to oatmeal.
Final Thoughts
There you have it! 15 great recipes for chicken tenders and some tips to get you started on pleasing the whole family!
