Chicken tenders can dry out quickly in the oven or on the grill, leaving you with a bunch of tough, chewy pieces of chicken. We’ve all been there – excited to dig into a crispy, juicy tender only to end up with a disappointing dried out mess.
But don’t toss those dry chicken tenders just yet! With a little creativity, you can transform those unappetizing pieces of poultry into something delicious. Here are 13 ways to make the most of leftover dry chicken tenders:
1. Chicken Salad
Chicken salad is a classic way to use up leftover chicken. Combine shredded dry chicken tenders with mayonnaise, celery, onions, grapes, and spices like salt, pepper, and paprika For extra flavor, try curried chicken salad with the addition of raisins, almond slivers, and curry powder Serve on bread, lettuce wraps, or crackers.
2. Chicken Pot Pie
Dry, shredded chicken is ideal for chicken pot pie fillings. Sauté onions, carrots, peas, and the shredded chicken. Make a simple sauce with butter, flour, chicken broth, and cream. Pour the filling into a pie crust and top with another layer of pastry. Bake until golden brown for a comforting chicken pot pie.
3. Chicken Enchiladas
Smother dry chicken tenders in enchilada sauce or green salsa and roll up inside corn tortillas with shredded cheese. Place the enchiladas seam side down in a baking dish and top with more enchilada sauce and cheese. Bake until hot and melty for a tasty Mexican-inspired meal
4. Chicken Soup
Transform dry chicken into a nourishing soup by simmering it in chicken broth with vegetables like carrots, celery, onion, and potatoes. Season with salt, pepper, and herbs and serve with bread or crackers. The long simmering time will rehydrate the chicken and infuse it with flavor.
5. Chicken Fried Rice
Dry chicken tenders are ideal stir-fried into fried rice. Dice the chicken and stir-fry it in a wok or pan with frozen mixed veggies, rice, soy sauce, sesame oil, garlic, and ginger. Scramble in a couple eggs for extra protein and serve topped with scallions.
6. Chicken Salad Sandwiches
Chicken salad is always a hit in sandwich form. Shred dry chicken and mix with mayo, celery, onion, salt and pepper. Spoon the chicken salad onto crusty bread, croissants or wraps and top with lettuce, tomato and avocado for a satisfying handheld meal.
7. Chicken Quesadillas
Jazz up quesadillas by filling them with shredded dry chicken, cheese, peppers, onions, beans, corn and spices like cumin and chili powder. Grill the quesadillas until the tortillas are crispy and the cheese is melted for an easy Mexican-style dinner or appetizer.
8. Chicken Alfredo
Dry chicken comes alive when coated in a creamy, cheesy alfredo sauce. Sauté the chicken in a pan with garlic and toss with fettuccine, Alfredo sauce, parsley and parmesan. The richness of the sauce moistens the chicken beautifully.
9. Chicken Tacos
Spice up dry chicken for tacos by marinating it in a mix of lime juice, chili powder, cumin and garlic. Cook the chicken in a skillet until heated through and serve in warm corn tortillas. Top with all your favorite taco fixings like shredded lettuce, pico de gallo, guacamole and cheese.
10. Chicken Casserole
A chicken casserole is a great way to transform dry chicken tenders into a one-dish meal. Combine cooked chicken with rice or pasta, cream of mushroom soup, veggies and cheese and bake until bubbly. The moisture from the sauce rehydrates the chicken.
11. Chicken Parmesan
Bread dry chicken tenders and sauté in olive oil, then top with marinara sauce and mozzarella cheese. Bake until the cheese is melty and serve over pasta for a quick chicken Parmesan dinner. The marinara sauce adds enough moisture to make the chicken tasty again.
12. Chicken Stir Fry
Dry chicken comes back to life when stir-fried Asian style. Toss cubed chicken in soy sauce, sesame oil and cornstarch. Stir fry with frozen stir fry veggies, garlic, ginger and teriyaki sauce. Serve over rice for a fast and easy chicken stir fry.
13. Chicken Fajitas
Marinate dry chicken tenders in a mix of lime juice, cumin, chili powder and oil. Sauté the spiced chicken with bell peppers and onions. Serve in warm tortillas or over rice with all your favorite toppings like guacamole, sour cream, shredded cheese and salsa for fajitas.
As you can see, with a little creativity you can whip up a variety of tasty meals using dry leftover chicken tenders. Don’t let a few dried out pieces of chicken go to waste. Simply rehydrate them in sauces and broths or shred and spice them up in your favorite dishes. With these 13 recipe ideas, you’ll look at dry chicken tenders as an opportunity – not a setback!
How to Make Chicken Tenders
- Add olive oil and melt 1 tablespoon of butter in a pan/skillet over medium heat.
- Add the chicken tenders, season with paprika, salt, and pepper.
- Cook for 3 minutes on each side (season each side as you cook).
- Make room for the garlic, melt the remaining butter, and add the garlic. Cook for 30 seconds or until the garlic becomes fragrant.
- Season with Italian seasoning, and cook for one more minute.
- Add 2 tablespoons of water to the pan to deglaze it, and scrape off any bits stuck to the bottom of the pan (that’s where all of the good flavor is).
- Garnish with chopped fresh parsley or basil leaves, and serve warm.
- Don’t overcook the garlic. Garlic cooks very quickly (about 30-60 seconds), and burnt garlic tastes terrible so keep an eye on it as you cook.
- Don’t overcook the chicken tenders, they cook so quickly and if they’re overcooked they can turn out stringy, dry, and tough.
- To create a flavorful sauce, make sure to deglaze the pan with a splash of water as that’s where the flavor is.
What are Chicken Tenders?
Chicken tenders are known as chicken mini fillets in the UK. Many people think that chicken tenders are just thin strips of chicken breast. But a chicken tender is a cut of meat found underneath and attached to the chicken breast, it’s the most tender part of the chicken breast even though it’s so small. Every chicken has 2 tenders, they’re moist and tender when cooked properly.
You can find chicken tenders sold separately from chicken breasts in supermarkets on trays, so you can buy a tray with 10-20 chicken tenders to grill up, fry, or bake.
They are also known as chicken strips, tendies, and chicken fillets.
So if you’re like me, and you prefer home cooked food, grab a tray of chicken tenders next time you go grocery shopping and make this recipe!
- Chicken tenders – if using frozen, then thaw in the fridge overnight. You can use a boneless skinless chicken breast cut into thin strips.
- Butter and olive oil – Olive oil gives the tenders a great flavor, but can be substituted with any neutral oil.
- Garlic – fresh garlic and lots of it! If using jarred, use 1 and half teaspoon of jarred garlic for every garlic clove.
- Salt, pepper, paprika, and Italian seasoning – I always make my own homemade Italian seasoning blend, it’s so easy to make, healthier, and cheaper than store-bought.
Complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
Hot Honey Chicken Tenders (AIRFRYER) #chickentenders #airfryer
FAQ
What to do with dry chicken tenders?
Rescue dry chicken with plenty of sauce
These contain the moisture the meat is missing, so a quality sauce or gravy will cover a lot of your woes. In particular, a sauce that’s more sweet and bright will go well, because overcooking meat tends to bring out the salty flavors — sugar and acid help tone down that quality.
What can I do with chicken that is too dry?
Introduce some moisture to the meat by making a sauce to pour over it. Turn the chicken into an impromptu salad made with shredded meat. Add leftover chicken to a soup. Over low heat, add the chicken to a few tablespoons of water or broth and simmer for a few minutes to allow the liquid to penetrate into the meat.
How to soften up chicken tenders?
Slow cooking the chicken – Slow cooking your chicken is one of the greatest ways to achieve a tender piece of meat. The long cooking process allows for a tender and delicious chicken, giving the juices and flavor time to blend and fuse. You can choose to cook or smoke the chicken, depending on your recipe.Jan 16, 2023
What is dehydrated chicken used for?
Remember that dehydrated chicken can be eaten straight as it is already cooked meat preserved by dehydration. It’s a great way to add more protein and flavor to your dishes without adding too many calories. Dehydrated chicken can be used in soups, stews, casseroles, pasta dishes, tacos, burritos, and salads.