Need to shake up your weeknight cooking routine? This collection of easy chicken tenderloin recipes has all the inspiration you need! From copycat chicken tenders that taste just like your favorite restaurants to hearty casseroles and more, you’ll find so many new uses for this tasty lean protein. Get ready to find some new family favorites!

 

Do you feel like you’re stuck in a chicken rut? This collection of chicken tenderloin recipes is packed with mouthwatering ideas that are guaranteed to inspire you!

Craving some crispy chicken tenders to go with your favorite dipping sauce? Learn how to make copycat Cracker Barrel, Chili’s, and even Chick-Fil-A tenders right at home! Looking for a hearty casserole, cozy pasta dish, or something you can throw in the slow cooker? This list of some of my favorite chicken tender recipes has you covered.

What are chicken tenderloins?

Chicken tenderloins are located behind the chicken breast. They are smaller than chicken breasts and usually have a long and thin shape.

If you can’t find chicken tenderloins, you can cut a chicken breast into thin strips with a sharp knife.

Chicken tenderloin is a great lean protein that can take on so many different flavor profiles. You’ll be amazed once you see all the ways to use this versatile, budget-friendly meat. Get ready to find some instant family-favorites! 

1. Baked Chicken Tenderloins

For a simple meal everyone will enjoy, these flavorful chicken tenders are always a winner! They can be ready in just 30 minutes from start to finish, making them the perfect meal for a busy weeknight.

2. Air Fryer Chicken Tenders

Coated in crispy panko breadcrumbs and ready in less than half an hour, these fried chicken tenders will be loved by kids and adults alike! They’re crunchy on the outside, tender on the inside, and great with all your favorite dipping sauces like ranch dressing, zesty sauce, or blue cheese dip.

3. Chicken Scampi

Switch up your busy weeknight meal routine with this colorful, flavorful, super easy dish! You’ll fall in love with chicken tenders and colorful bell peppers served over a buttery garlic pasta made with cream and a touch of white wine.

4. Cheez-It Chicken Tenders

Once you try swapping out breadcrumbs for this crunchy Cheez-It cracker coating, you may never go back! They add so much cheesy flavor to the baked, crunchy chicken tenders and are delightfully simple to make.

5. Copycat Cracker Barrel Chicken Tenders

Would you believe the secret to this at-home recipe is a 3-ingredient marinade? That’s right! With Italian dressing, lime juice, and honey, you can make Cracker-Barrel-style chicken tenders right in your own kitchen.

6. Honey Garlic Chicken Tenders

No one can resist chicken tenders smothered in sticky sauce made with honey, hot sauce, garlic, and soy sauce! This is a quick dish that uses pantry staples and can be on the table in just 15 minutes.

7. Keto Chicken Tenders

Trying to keep it low carb? Ditch the breadcrumbs and use crushed pork rinds to coat your chicken instead! The tenders are crispy on the outside, tender and juicy on the inside, and keto approved.

8. Grilled Chicken Tenders

By marinating the chicken in a combination of lemon, garlic, herbs, and olive oil before grilling them to golden brown perfection, you’ll get tender and flavorful chicken you can enjoy on its own, in a salad, over pasta, and so much more!

9. Bacon Wrapped Chicken Tenders

What dish doesn’t taste amazing wrapped in bacon? Best of all, these fingers are sprinkled with brown sugar that caramelizes and turns into a sweet glaze as the dish cooks and adds that extra level of incredible flavor!

10. Honey Mustard Chicken Tenders

Whether you want to indulge your nostalgia or need a dish that even picky eaters will devour, honey mustard chicken is a classic for a reason. Dredge the tenderloins in honey mustard, coat in crispy panko, and bake to perfection!

11. Buffalo Chicken Tenders

These tenders get just the right amount of kick from the buffalo sauce. The air fryer helps them crisp up without the need to bake or fry, making them perfect for a game day appetizer or family dinner!

12. Lemon Garlic Parmesan Chicken Tenders

The whole family is going to go crazy for this amazing golden parmesan panko crumb! Marinate the chicken in flavors like lemon and garlic, apply the coating, then bake to crispy, tastes-like-they’re-deep-fried perfection.

13. Buttermilk Chicken Tenders

Buttermilk is one of the best ingredients for marinating chicken so that it turns out extra tender and juicy! The outsides are oh-so-crunchy while the insides practically melt in your mouth.

14. Lemon Pepper Chicken Tenders

Bright and zippy lemon flavor and the dreamy honey butter sauce drizzled on top make these tenders absolutely irresistible! They’re the kind of easy, crave worthy scratch-tenders that put fast food chicken to shame.

15. Sticky Chicken Tenders

If you have 5 ingredients and 15 minutes, that’s all you need to whip up these sweet and spicy chicken tenders! They’re great for an easy dinner, or you can make them bite-sized for a game day appetizer.

16. Blackened Chicken Tenders

Use the air fryer, oven, or stovetop to make amazing blackened tenders right at home! The Cajun-inspired seasoning is easy to make with spices from your own kitchen and adds incredible flavor.

17. Bisquick Chicken Tenders

Oven or air fry, these tasty fingers in just minutes for an instant family favorite! With the help of Bisquick mix, they take 20 minutes from start to finish and can be served with all your favorite dipping sauces. These will delight kids and adults alike!

18. Dorito Chicken Tenders

No one can resist breading made from cheesy Dorito chips! This 4-ingredient recipe is easy to throw together and will disappear in the blink of an eye. But if you’re lucky enough to have leftovers, they taste amazing the next day!

19. Cornflake Chicken Tenders

Cornflakes give the exterior of these chicken tenders the crunchiest coating! Best of all, you’ll bake these tenders instead of frying and they’ll still turn out crispy and delicious every time.

20. Honey Mustard Pretzel Chicken

Chicken tenders are dredged in a mouthwatering honey mustard sauce before being rolled in crushed pretzels, then baked on a single pan with potatoes for a sheet-pan dinner you’ll want to make again and again.

21. Rotisserie Seasoned Chicken Tenders

Craving that signature rotisserie flavor without the hassle of roasting an entire chicken? The right seasoning mix or rub is the key to tenderloins that taste incredible but are so much easier to make!

22. Coconut Chicken Tenders

Juicy chicken tenders are fried to golden, delicious perfection in sweet shaved coconut and panko crumbs for a flavor combination that will knock your socks off. Serve with a pina-colada-inspired pineapple and coconut milk sauce!

23. Chicken Crispers

This copycat Chili’s recipe will give you juicy, tender, flavorful chicken tenders right at home. And the simple batter is so good, you’ll be wondering what else you can fry up with this special blend.

24. Everything Bagel Chicken Tenders

Everyone’s favorite seasoning blend is here to make dinner a winner! Serve these easy chicken tenders with the sweet and tangy maple mustard dipping sauce for the ultimate taste combination.

25. Chicken And Mushroom Wild Rice Casserole

For a hearty set-it-and-forget-it meal, this delicious casserole recipe uses wild rice, chicken tenderloins, and mushrooms cooked in the slow cooker. Using broth instead of water adds so much flavor to the rice!

26. Honey BBQ Chicken Tenderloins

Sweet, sticky, and oh-so-delicious, you’re going to want to make this chicken strips recipe for game days, tailgates, and even weeknight dinners! The buttermilk marinade and simple seasoning makes these strips irresistible.

27. Chimichurri Chicken Tenderloins

Easy homemade chimichurri will act as both the marinade before you cook the chicken as well as the sauce to drizzle on top right before you serve! You’ll love the burst of fresh, bold flavor.

28. Chicken Ranch Casserole

Sometimes, you just can’t beat a creamy casserole. Combine the ingredients, pop it in the oven, and dig in! You can also add some crushed Ritz crackers, club crackers, french fried onions, or even corn flakes on top for crunch.

29. Copycat Chick-Fil-A Chicken Tenders

Nest time you’re craving delicious chicken on a Sunday or simply don’t feel like leaving the house, whip up this tasty chicken recipe right at home! Try serving with homemade Chick-Fil-A sauce, homemade Polynesian sauce, or BBQ sauce.

What to serve with chicken tenderloins?

Chicken pairs well with just about anything. Some of our favorites include sweet potato fries, curly french fries, simple side salad, and rice.

Which one of these chicken tenderloin recipes will you be trying first? Be sure to let me know in the comments.

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