This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my privacy policy.
Chicken Tender Recipes
I love chicken breasts, especially chicken tenders because they are the tenderest portion of the chicken breast.
What is a chicken tender?
They are the long strips of meat attached to the underside of chicken breasts.
Every chicken has two tenders. They are often detached from chicken breasts and sold separately as tenderloins.
They are commonly used for making chicken strips, chicken fingers or chicken fillets, breaded and deep-fried or baked in the oven.
Other Recipes You Might Like
How to Make Chicken Tenders?
This is one of the best breast tender recipes, made in a skillet with spices, garlic butter, salt, lemon juice and herb.
While I love them deep-fried, skillet cooking produces juicy and amazing results. I love a well-seasoned cast-iron skillet for this recipe.
The perfect heat to cook tenders is high heat. This is an easy chicken tenders recipe and perfect for lunch or dinner.
DO NOT overcook because the texture will turn dry and tough.
Cook’s Tips
To make your chicken juicy and tender, follow the tips below:
- Use a cast-iron skillet because it heats up evenly and retains the heat well.
- Cook the tenders on high heat so they are seared to brown on the outside while retaining the juice inside.
- Add lemon juice to the chicken to make them extra juicy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Eat the Tendon (ligament) Attached to Tenders?
There is a tendon attached to the breast tender. They are like little white ligament at the end of the piece of chicken.
I usually trim it off with a knife or a pair of kitchen scissors before cooking. It’s slightly chewy in texture and it’s tasteless.
Avoid pulling off the tendon by hand as stripping away the entire tendon will make the chicken tender fall apart.
Can I Use Chicken Breasts to Make This Recipe?
Absolutely! Tenders are part of the chicken breasts but they are sold separately.
If you use regular chicken breasts, cut the breasts meat into strips similar to the tenders.
Is It Healthy?
Yes, breast tenders are very healthy because they are lean white meat with little fat contents.
They are also skinless and boneless, lower in calories because there is no skin attached to them.
How Many Calories per Serving?
This recipe is only 311 calories per serving.
What to Serve with Breast Tenders?
Serve this dish with side dishes. For a healthy meal and easy weeknight dinner, I recommend the following recipes.
For more great recipes like this, sign up for our newsletter. We’ll send daily recipes you’ll love!
Sign up for our newsletter!
Garlic Butter Chicken Tenders (The Best!)
Ingredients
- 1 lb. chicken tenders
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 3 dashes cayenne powder
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter (room temperature)
- 3 - 4 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 teaspoon bottled Italian seasoning (Simply Organic or McCormick brand)
- salt (to taste)
- 1/2 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon chopped parsley
- lemon wedges
Instructions
- Season the chicken tenders with smoked paprika and cayenne pepper. Set aside.
- Heat up a cast-iron skillet (preferred) on high heat and add 3 tablespoons of butter. As soon as the butter melts and starts to sizzle, add the chicken tenders. Cook uninterrupted for 1-2 minutes, then turn over and start cooking the other side.
- Push the chicken tenders to the side of the skillet. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of butter follow by the minced garlic on the empty space on the skillet. Add the Italian seasoning on top of the chicken tenders and stir to combine well with the chicken and garlic.
- Add salt and lemon juice and continue to cook the chicken tenders until they are slightly charred on the both sides. Add the chopped parsley, stir to combine well. Turn off the heat and serve immediately with lemon wedges. Squeeze the lemon juice on top before serving.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Notice: Nutrition is auto-calculated, using Spoonacular, for your convenience. Where relevant, we recommend using your own nutrition calculations.
This as delicious and super easy. Thank you!
Thanks.
So absolutely delicious! I added some white wine and it became even better !
Awesome!
This was easy and delicious. I did have trouble getting a char going but it was great even though I failed at that haha
I’ll make this again!
I made this and it was good. I added too much cayenne pepper but I’ll make this again.
Awesome, yes cayenne pepper is spicy!
This has become one ☝️ d our go to meals, especially when funds are tight. We use a little more butter and garlic pepper. I serve with buttered egg noodles, and a steamed veggie ( like broccoli and cheese) and garlic pepper sliced French or baguette bread
Awesome!
I love the appearance of the food. It looks so good but I must have done something wrong because the lemon overpowered everything and I couldn’t taste the paprika. I blame me for this and hope to make this again soon and try a few other ideas to lighten the lemon and bring out the other flavors. Any tips would be appreciated. Thank you.
Just made these for tea, my 4yr old came through asking what smelled so good. Delicious, we both wolfed these down so tender! Love your recipes xx
Thanks.
This looks amazing, I love anything chicken and this looks so easy to make, will definitely have to try this.
Thanks.
would think these would be great as an appetizer or for a game day food. thx. for posting, can’t wait to make them.
This is the easiest recipe but so delicious. I have made this three times now. I passed it on to a friend and now she says it’s her “go to” for a quick, tasty meal. Thank you!
Thanks.
Amazing and easy! Smoked paprika added depth as did deglazing the pan with white wine. Used only 3 Tbs. butter. Came out great!
Thank you for posting!
Thanks.
I like your white wine idea!
Hi! This chicken looks yummy! I can’t wait to try it! Do you have a side dish recipe of yours you can suggest to pair with this? What do you typically serve with this chicken?
Check the section: WHAT TO SERVE WITH BREAST TENDERS?
Elizabeth: Try the stick butter recipe (butter, cup of rice, can of consomme and can of french onion soup). Just google it. It’s a delicious side to this chicken.
–Shawna
I tried the oven roasted carrots and they were good.
Awesome!