10+ Chicken Tenderloin Recipes You’ll Love to Cook and Share

Chicken tenderloins are a quick and easy option when you want a tasty meal without spending too much time in the kitchen. They cook faster than other parts of the chicken and can be used in all sorts of dishes.

You can make simple, healthy meals or go for something with more flavor, depending on what you’re in the mood for and what’s in your fridge.

Whether you like baking, pan-searing, or something else, chicken tenderloin recipes give you a lot of options to keep meals interesting. You don’t need a long list of ingredients to whip up something delicious.

These recipes are perfect for busy weeknights or when you just want to keep things easy.

Ingredients

• Chicken tenderloins
• Salt
• Pepper
• Olive oil

Cooking Instructions

1. Season the chicken tenderloins with salt and pepper.
2. Heat olive oil in a pan over medium heat (about 350°F / 175°C).
3. Cook the tenderloins for about 3-4 minutes on each side until fully cooked.
4. Remove from heat and let rest for a few minutes before serving.

1) Garlic Butter Chicken Tenders

Garlic butter chicken tenders are quick and packed with flavor. You just cook the chicken in a buttery garlic sauce that keeps them juicy.

This whole recipe takes about 15 minutes. Season the chicken with salt, pepper, and a few spices, then cook it in a skillet with melted butter and garlic.

Serve with veggies or rice—whatever you’ve got handy.

Ingredients:

• Chicken tenderloins
• Butter
• Garlic cloves
• Salt
• Black pepper
• Italian seasoning
• Paprika

Cooking Instructions:

1. Pat chicken tenderloins dry and season with salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, and paprika.
2. Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat (about 350°F / 175°C).
3. Add garlic and cook until fragrant.
4. Add chicken and cook 4-5 minutes per side until fully cooked.
5. Serve warm.

2) Oven-Baked Teriyaki Chicken Tenderloins

Oven-baked teriyaki chicken tenderloins are simple and full of sweet-savory flavor. No need for a crispy coating here—the sauce does all the work.

Season your chicken with garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Then, coat the tenderloins with a homemade teriyaki sauce using soy sauce, honey, and ginger.

Pop them in the oven until cooked through. It’s a quick meal that works great with steamed veggies or rice.

Ingredients

• 1 lb chicken tenderloins
• ¼ cup soy sauce
• 2 tbsp honey
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp grated fresh ginger
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
2. Season chicken with garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
3. Mix soy sauce, honey, and ginger to make the teriyaki sauce.
4. Place chicken in a baking dish and pour sauce over it.
5. Bake for 20-25 minutes until chicken is cooked through.
6. Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Find more tips for this recipe at Baked Teriyaki Chicken here.

3) Pan-Seared Chicken Tenderloin with Paprika

Pan-seared chicken tenderloin with paprika is about as easy as it gets. Coat your chicken with olive oil, salt, pepper, and paprika for color and flavor.

Sear it in a hot skillet so the outside turns golden while the inside stays juicy. The whole process takes less than 10 minutes.

Medium-high heat is your friend here—hot enough for a good sear, but not so hot you burn the spices.

Ingredients

• 1 pound chicken tenderloins
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper

Cooking Instructions

1. Coat chicken with olive oil, paprika, salt, and pepper.
2. Heat a skillet over medium-high heat.
3. Add chicken to the skillet and cook for 3-4 minutes on each side.
4. Check that the chicken reaches 165°F (74°C) inside.
5. Remove and let rest for a few minutes before serving.

For more details, see this Pan-Seared Chicken Tenderloin Recipe.

4) Chicken Tenderloin Stir-Fry

Chicken tenderloin stir-fry is fast, healthy, and pretty hard to mess up. It cooks quickly and goes great with fresh veggies.

Cut your chicken into bite-sized pieces. Stir-fry them in a hot pan with a little oil, then add your favorite vegetables and a simple sauce.

Dinner’s ready in about 20 minutes. Serve over rice or noodles if you’re feeling hungry.

Ingredients

• 1 pound chicken tenderloin
• 2 teaspoons soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon cornstarch
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• Mixed vegetables (like bell peppers, broccoli, carrots)

Cooking Instructions

1. Cut chicken tenderloins into small pieces.
2. Mix soy sauce, cornstarch, and sugar in a bowl.
3. Heat olive oil in a pan over medium-high heat (about 375°F/190°C).
4. Cook chicken until no longer pink, about 5-7 minutes.
5. Add vegetables and stir-fry for 3-5 minutes.
6. Pour sauce over chicken and veggies, stir well until sauce thickens.
7. Serve hot with rice or noodles.

You can swap out the veggies or tweak the sauce however you like.

For more tips, check out this easy chicken tenderloin stir-fry recipe.

5) Chicken Tenderloin Salad with Honey Mustard Dressing

Chicken tenderloin salad with honey mustard dressing is fresh and full of flavor. Cook the chicken until it’s golden and slice it up.

Toss the chicken with crunchy greens like romaine or spinach. The honey mustard dressing is sweet, tangy, and super easy—just honey, Dijon, and a splash of apple cider vinegar.

Add extra veggies or nuts if you want more crunch. This salad is a solid lunch or light dinner.

Ingredients

• 12 ounces chicken tenderloins
• 3 tablespoons Dijon mustard
• 3 tablespoons honey
• 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
• 1 head romaine lettuce or mixed greens

Cooking Instructions

1. Cook chicken tenderloins in a skillet over medium heat until golden and cooked to 165°F (74°C).
2. In a bowl, whisk honey, Dijon mustard, and apple cider vinegar to make the dressing.
3. Chop lettuce and place in a large bowl.
4. Slice cooked chicken and add to the greens.
5. Drizzle dressing over the salad and toss gently before serving.

6) Air Fryer Crumbed Chicken Tenderloins

Crumbed chicken tenderloins in the air fryer are ridiculously easy. Dip the chicken in beaten egg, then coat it in breadcrumbs mixed with a bit of oil for that extra crunch.

Preheat your air fryer to 350°F (175°C). Arrange the chicken in a single layer and cook for about 15 to 20 minutes, flipping halfway.

You get crispy, juicy chicken with hardly any oil. It’s a weeknight lifesaver.

Ingredients

• Chicken tenderloins
• Eggs
• Breadcrumbs
• Olive oil or cooking oil

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat air fryer to 350°F (175°C).
2. Whisk eggs in a bowl.
3. Mix breadcrumbs with a small amount of oil.
4. Dip chicken in egg, then coat with breadcrumb mixture.
5. Place chicken in air fryer basket in a single layer.
6. Cook for 15-20 minutes, turning halfway, until golden and cooked through.

7) Buttermilk Fried Chicken Tenders

Buttermilk fried chicken tenders are all about juicy, crispy goodness. Marinate the chicken in buttermilk to keep it tender and give it a little tang.

Coat the tenders in seasoned flour or breadcrumbs. Fry until golden brown and crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside.

Serve these with your favorite dipping sauce—ranch, honey mustard, you name it.

Ingredients

• 1 lb chicken tenderloins
• 2 cups buttermilk
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp paprika
• Oil for frying

Cooking Instructions

1. Marinate the chicken in buttermilk for at least 1 hour.
2. Mix flour, breadcrumbs, salt, pepper, and paprika in a bowl.
3. Heat oil to 350°F (175°C).
4. Coat chicken in the flour mixture.
5. Fry chicken pieces for 4-6 minutes until golden brown.
6. Drain on paper towels before serving.

Learn more about buttermilk fried chicken tenders here.

8) Chicken Tenderloin Piccata with Lemon-Butter Sauce

Chicken tenderloin piccata is simple but feels a little fancy. Lightly coat and pan-fry the chicken until it’s crispy, then top with a lemon-butter sauce that’s tangy and bright.

Capers add a nice bite to the sauce. Serve with rice, pasta, or even some steamed veggies.

This recipe keeps the chicken juicy with a crisp crust. It’s a good one for when you want something easy but a bit special.

Ingredients

• Chicken tenderloins
• All-purpose flour
• Butter
• Olive oil
• Fresh lemon juice
• Capers
• Garlic (minced)
• Salt and pepper

Cooking Instructions

1. Pat the chicken tenderloins dry. Season both sides with salt and pepper.

2. Dredge each piece in flour. Shake off any extra so you don’t end up with clumps.

3. Heat butter and olive oil in a skillet over medium heat.

4. Add the chicken and cook for about 3 minutes on each side. You want them golden and cooked through.

5. Take the chicken out and keep it warm somewhere.

6. Toss garlic, lemon juice, and capers into the pan. Stir for a minute or two.

7. Add a bit more butter and let it melt. The sauce should thicken up just a little.

8. Pour the sauce over the chicken. Serve it while it’s hot.

For more details, check out this Chicken Tenderloin Piccata recipe.

9) Broccoli and Chicken Tenderloin Casserole

Here’s a straightforward way to put chicken tenderloins and broccoli together for dinner. Layer the chicken in your baking dish first, then pile on broccoli—fresh or frozen both work. Salt and pepper as you like.

Now, grab a bowl and mix up a sauce with sour cream, cheese, and some condensed soup. Pour that over the chicken and broccoli. It keeps everything moist and ties the flavors together.

Pop it in the oven and bake until the top turns golden and everything bubbles up. That’s it.

Ingredients

• 8 chicken tenderloin pieces
• 1 package (10 oz) frozen broccoli
• 1 can condensed cream soup (like cream of chicken)
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 to 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese
• Salt and pepper to taste
• ¼ cup milk

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).

2. Lay the chicken tenderloins in a baking dish.

3. Spread the broccoli evenly over the chicken.

4. In a bowl, mix together the soup, sour cream, cheese, milk, salt, and pepper.

5. Pour that mixture over the broccoli and chicken.

6. Bake uncovered for 30 to 35 minutes, until it’s hot and bubbly.

10) Spicy Cajun Chicken Tenderloins

Spicy Cajun chicken tenderloins are honestly so easy to whip up. Just grab your chicken and toss it with a mix of paprika, cayenne, garlic salt, and poultry seasoning.

That spice blend really wakes up the flavor—bold, zesty, and not fussy at all. You don’t need a culinary degree for this, just a bit of enthusiasm.

You can bake these for a juicy bite, or fry them if you’re after a crispy edge. Both methods work, and honestly, it depends on your mood (or maybe how much you want to clean up after).

Serve them up with your favorite dipping sauce or just go for it solo. They go well with rice, veggies, or a crisp salad—whatever you’ve got on hand.

Ingredients:

• 1.5 lbs chicken tenderloins
• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon poultry seasoning
• 3/4 teaspoon garlic salt
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 stick butter, melted (optional)

Cooking Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
2. In a bowl, mix the flour and all the spices.
3. Coat each chicken tenderloin with the spice mixture.
4. Place them on a baking sheet and drizzle with melted butter if you’re feeling fancy.
5. Bake for 15–20 minutes, until they’re cooked through.
6. For frying, heat oil in a pan and cook the tenderloins for 3–4 minutes per side, until golden and cooked inside.