10+ Chicken Tender Recipes Easy and Delicious Ideas for Every Meal

Chicken tenders are a favorite for a reason—they’re quick, simple, and just about everyone likes them. These little strips of chicken cook fast and you can make them in all sorts of ways.

Whether you want them crispy, baked, or fried, chicken tenders make a solid meal or snack. You don’t need to be a kitchen wizard to whip up something delicious.

You’ll find plenty of easy recipes that fit your mood and skill level, so making awesome chicken tenders at home isn’t hard. Most recipes call for things you probably already have in your pantry, and the steps aren’t complicated.

1) Garlic Butter Chicken Tenders

Garlic butter chicken tenders are one of those meals that come together fast and taste like you put in way more effort. The butter keeps the chicken moist, while the garlic gives it that classic, savory kick.

You just cook the chicken on the stovetop—10 to 20 minutes, tops. Season your tenderloins with salt, pepper, and maybe some herbs if you’re feeling fancy.

That garlic butter sauce? It’s rich and flavorful, and honestly, it does most of the heavy lifting for you.

This recipe is family-friendly and uses stuff you probably already have. Serve it with rice, veggies, or a salad and you’re set.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb chicken tenders
• 3 tbsp butter
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning or paprika (optional)

Cooking Instructions:

1. Pat chicken dry and sprinkle with salt, pepper, and herbs if you want.
2. Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat.
3. Toss in garlic and let it cook for about a minute.
4. Add chicken and cook 3-4 minutes per side, until golden and cooked through (165°F/74°C).
5. Spoon that garlicky butter over the chicken before serving.

For more, see garlic butter chicken tenders recipe details.

2) Buttermilk Fried Chicken Tenders

Buttermilk fried chicken tenders are hard to beat. Soaking the chicken in seasoned buttermilk keeps it juicy and gives it a nice tang.

After marinating, coat the tenders in a spiced flour mix. Fry them up until they’re golden and crisp on the outside.

Want more flavor? Toss extra spices into the flour or buttermilk. Serve with your favorite dipping sauce—ranch never fails.

Ingredients

• 2 lbs chicken tenders
• 2 cups buttermilk
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• Oil for frying

Cooking Instructions

1. Mix buttermilk, salt, pepper, paprika, and garlic powder.
2. Let the chicken soak in the buttermilk for at least an hour.
3. Heat oil to 350°F (175°C) in a deep pan.
4. Coat chicken in flour.
5. Fry for 4-5 minutes per side, until golden brown.
6. Drain on paper towels.

For more details, see a buttermilk fried chicken tenders recipe.

3) Truly Crispy Oven Baked Chicken Tenders

You don’t have to fry chicken tenders to get them crispy. Toasting your breadcrumbs before coating makes a huge difference.

Use panko breadcrumbs for extra crunch. Toast them in the oven until they turn a light golden brown.

Dip your chicken in flour, then egg, then those toasted breadcrumbs. Bake at 400°F (200°C) until they’re cooked through and crunchy.

Ingredients

• 1 pound chicken tenders
• 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
• ½ cup all-purpose flour
• 2 large eggs
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Cooking spray or oil

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
2. Toast panko on a baking sheet for 5-7 minutes until golden.
3. Season flour with salt and pepper.
4. Dip chicken in flour, then eggs, then panko.
5. Place on a greased baking sheet and spray lightly with oil.
6. Bake for 15-20 minutes until golden and cooked through.

For more tips, visit Truly Crispy Oven Baked Chicken Tenders.

4) Sticky Honey Garlic Chicken Tenders

Sticky honey garlic chicken tenders are a game-changer. The sauce is just honey, soy sauce, and garlic—nothing fancy, but it really works.

You’ll have this on the table in about 20 to 30 minutes. Sear the chicken, then coat it in the sticky sauce.

The sweet and savory combo hits the spot. Serve with rice or veggies if you want to make it a meal.

Ingredients

• 1 lb chicken tenders
• 2/3 cup honey
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• Pinch of red pepper flakes (optional)
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 tbsp oil

Cooking Instructions

1. Season chicken with salt and pepper.
2. Heat oil in a pan over medium heat.
3. Cook chicken 4-5 minutes per side until browned and cooked through.
4. Whisk honey, soy sauce, garlic, and pepper flakes together.
5. Pour sauce over chicken and cook 2-3 minutes until sticky.
6. Serve hot.

For more tips, check out this sticky honey garlic chicken tenders recipe.

5) Pan-Seared Chicken Tenderloins with Paprika

Pan-seared chicken tenderloins with paprika are quick and flavorful. Just coat the chicken with olive oil, salt, pepper, and paprika—no breading needed.

Cook the chicken in a hot skillet for about 8 to 10 minutes. Flip halfway to get both sides golden.

The result? Juicy chicken with a mild smoky taste. Pair with veggies or rice for an easy meal.

Ingredients

• 1 pound chicken tenderloins
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Cooking Instructions

1. Toss chicken with olive oil, paprika, salt, and pepper.
2. Heat a skillet over medium heat.
3. Cook chicken for 4-5 minutes on each side.
4. Make sure they hit 165°F (74°C) inside.
5. Serve right away.

For more tips, see pan-seared chicken tenderloin ideas at Allrecipes.

6) Oven Baked Teriyaki Chicken Tenderloins

Oven baked teriyaki chicken tenderloins are super simple and come out juicy. Just coat the chicken in a quick teriyaki sauce—soy sauce, garlic, ginger, and a little sugar.

Bake at 400°F (200°C) for 20-25 minutes. The flavors soak in, and you get that sweet-savory thing going on.

Serve with rice or steamed veggies if you’re feeling healthy.

Ingredients

• 1 pound chicken tenderloins
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons cold water

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
2. Whisk soy sauce, brown sugar, rice vinegar, garlic, ginger, and cornstarch slurry.
3. Put chicken in a baking dish and pour sauce over.
4. Bake 20-25 minutes until cooked through.
5. Spoon extra sauce on top before serving.

Try this easy recipe for a quick teriyaki meal you’ll enjoy!

For more guidance, visit Baked Teriyaki Chicken Tenders Recipe.

7) Fried Chicken Tenders with Seasoned Batter

These fried chicken tenders have a crispy shell and stay juicy inside. The seasoned batter adds flavor without being too much.

Mix garlic powder, paprika, onion powder, seasoned salt, and black pepper into your flour. That’s all you really need.

Heat oil to 350°F (175°C). Fry the tenders until golden and cooked through—usually about 8-10 minutes.

Ingredients

• Chicken tenders
• Garlic powder
• Paprika
• Onion powder
• Seasoned salt
• Black pepper
• Flour (for batter)
• Oil for frying

Cooking Instructions

1. Mix spices with flour in a bowl.
2. Dip chicken tenders in the seasoned flour.
3. Heat oil to 350°F (175°C).
4. Fry tenders 8-10 minutes until golden.
5. Let them drain on paper towels.

8) Tuscan Style Chicken Tenders

Tuscan style chicken tenders come together in a creamy sauce with spinach and sun-dried tomatoes. The sauce is rich but not too heavy.

Quickly sear the tenders to lock in the juices, then simmer them in the sauce. This dish works well as a main or over pasta or rice.

The mix of garlic, cream, and Italian spices makes it a go-to for weeknight dinners. It only takes about 20 minutes.

You’ll get tender chicken and fresh spinach in every bite. If you’re feeding a crowd, bake a big batch of tenders, then add the sauce.

Ingredients

• 1 lb chicken tenders
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
• 2 cups fresh spinach
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. Heat some olive oil in a skillet over medium heat.

2. Sprinkle salt and pepper on the chicken tenders.

3. Sear the chicken for 2-3 minutes on each side until they turn golden.

4. Take them out and set aside for now.

5. Toss garlic into the same skillet and cook until it smells amazing.

6. Pour in heavy cream and add sun-dried tomatoes.

7. Let the sauce simmer for 3-5 minutes, giving it time to thicken up.

8. Stir in spinach and Parmesan cheese until the spinach wilts.

9. Put the chicken back in the skillet.

10. Cook for another 5 minutes, making sure the chicken hits 165°F (74°C).

11. Serve while it’s warm.

For more details on creamy Tuscan chicken, check out this Tuscan chicken recipe.

9) Chicken Parmesan Tenders

Chicken Parmesan tenders are such a fun, easy way to get that classic chicken parm flavor. You bread and bake the tenders with cheese and herbs—nothing too fancy, but it always hits the spot.

This dish works for a quick meal that somehow still feels a bit special.
Serve them with pasta, a salad, or just eat them straight off the pan.

Inside, they stay juicy, and the outside gets crispy and cheesy.
You don’t need much to pull these together.

Skip frying and use the oven at 400°F (200°C) for about 15-20 minutes.
It’s less messy and a bit healthier, which is always a plus.

Ingredients

• 6 chicken breast tenders
• 1 cup seasoned bread crumbs
• ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 large egg
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste
• ½ cup shredded mozzarella (optional)

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).

2. Crack the egg into a bowl and beat it.

3. Mix the bread crumbs and Parmesan in another dish.

4. Dip the chicken tenders in the egg, then coat them in the breadcrumb mix.

5. Place the tenders on a greased baking sheet.

6. Drizzle a little olive oil over the top.

7. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until they turn golden and are cooked through.

8. If you want, sprinkle mozzarella on top in the last couple of minutes.

10) Mongolian Chicken Tenders

Mongolian chicken tenders are all about that crispy bite.
You coat chicken in cornstarch, fry it until it’s golden, then toss it in a sweet and savory sauce.

The sauce comes together with garlic, ginger, soy sauce, and a bit of brown sugar.
It’s got that restaurant-style flavor, but you can totally make it at home.

These cook up fast, so they’re perfect when you want something tasty on a weeknight.
Serve them over rice or noodles—either works.

Ingredients

• 1 pound chicken breast tenders, cut into strips
• ¼ cup cornstarch
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic
• 1 teaspoon minced ginger
• ½ cup soy sauce
• ¼ cup brown sugar
• Optional: sliced green onions for garnish

Cooking Instructions

1. Coat the chicken strips in cornstarch. Make sure each piece gets an even layer.

2. Heat oil in a pan over medium-high heat. Aim for about 350°F (175°C), but honestly, if you don’t have a thermometer, just wait until the oil shimmers.

3. Fry the chicken until it’s crispy and cooked through. This usually takes about 5-7 minutes—don’t walk away, it goes fast.

4. Take the chicken out and set it aside.

5. In the same pan, toss in the garlic and ginger. Sauté for a minute, just until it smells amazing.

6. Pour in the soy sauce and sprinkle in the brown sugar. Stir until the sugar dissolves—it’s quick.

7. Put the chicken back in and toss it around so it gets coated in the sauce.

8. Cook for another 2-3 minutes. You’ll see the sauce thicken up and stick to the chicken.

9. Serve it hot over rice or noodles. If you’re feeling fancy, add some green onions on top.

This whole thing takes less than 30 minutes, and honestly, it tastes best right away. Curious for more? Peek at the Mongolian chicken recipe.