What To Do With Chicken Breast Tenderloins: 20 Delicious Recipes

Chicken breast tenderloins, also known as chicken tenders, are a versatile and delicious cut of chicken that can be used in all sorts of recipes. Tenderloins are long, thin strips of meat attached to the underside of chicken breasts. They cook quicker than whole chicken breasts, making them ideal for busy weeknight meals. Chicken tenderloins have a mild flavor and tender texture similar to chicken breasts. Their uniform shape also makes them perfect for breading and frying or threading onto skewers. Read on to discover 20 amazing ways to use chicken tenderloins!

Quick and Easy Meals

Chicken tenderloins cook faster than bone-in chicken pieces or thick breasts, so they are ideal for whipping up quick weeknight dinners. Here are some super speedy meals you can make with tenderloins:

• Air Fryer Chicken Tenders – Toss tenderloins in oil and breadcrumbs, then cook in the air fryer for crispy, crunchy “fried” chicken without the fat and mess of deep frying. Serve with your favorite dipping sauces.

• Sheet Pan Meals – Chicken tenderloins pair well with veggies and starches. Toss tenderloins with potatoes, carrots, Brussels sprouts or other produce and oil. Spread on a sheet pan and roast for an easy one-pan meal.

• Stir Fry – Slice tenderloins into bite-size pieces and stir fry with your choice of veggies and sauce for a fast and healthy dinner Try teriyaki, orange, or sesame ginger sauces.

• Fajitas – Sauté sliced tenderloins with bell peppers and onions Wrap in tortillas and top with guacamole, salsa and cheese for easy chicken fajitas

• Pasta Toss – Boil tenderloins until cooked through, then slice and toss with your favorite pasta, olive oil or pesto, and vegetables for a fast pasta dinner.

Fun Finger Foods

Chicken tenderloins are the perfect size and shape for breading and frying or threading onto skewers for fun finger foods and appetizers. Some tasty ideas include:

• Chicken Strips – The most classic use for tenderloins! Bread with flour, egg, and panko or corn flakes, then fry or bake until golden. Serve with dipping sauces like honey mustard, ranch, or barbecue.

• Chicken Satay – Marinate tenderloins in a blend of soy sauce, peanut oil, garlic, and ginger. Thread onto skewers and grill until cooked through. Drizzle with a peanut dipping sauce.

• Buffalo Chicken Tenders – Bread and fry tenderloins, then toss in Buffalo wing sauce. Serve with blue cheese or ranch dressing for dipping.

• Chicken Poppers – Stuff tenderloins with cheese, jalapeños or other fillings, bread and fry or bake until the chicken is cooked and filling is melted and gooey.

Elegant Entrees

While chicken tenderloins feel casual, you can also use them to make restaurant-worthy main courses for special occasions, like:

• Chicken Piccata – Sauté tenderloins in a pan sauce of lemon juice, capers, white wine, and butter. Serve over pasta or rice.

• Chicken Marsala – Cook tenderloins in a pan sauce of Marsala wine, mushrooms, and herbs. Pair with mashed potatoes or polenta.

• Chicken Parmesan – Bread tenderloins with Italian spices, fry, then top with tomato sauce and melted mozzarella cheese. Serve over pasta.

• Chicken Cordon Bleu – Stuff tenderloins with ham and Swiss cheese, bread and bake. Make a pan sauce from the drippings for serving.

Global Flavor

The mild taste of chicken tenderloins soaks up flavors from around the world wonderfully. Some globally inspired meals to try include:

• Jerk Chicken – Marinate tenderloins in Jamaican jerk seasoning of chili peppers, allspice, thyme and more. Grill or broil until charred and cooked through.

• Chicken Tikka Masala – Marinate tenderloins in yogurt and Indian spices like coriander, cumin, and turmeric. Cook in a creamy tomato curry sauce.

• Chicken Fajita Bowls – Sauté sliced tenderloins with bell peppers and onions. Serve over cilantro lime rice with beans, cheese, guacamole, and salsa.

• Thai Chicken Lettuce Wraps – Sauté tenderloins in a sweet and spicy Thai sauce with water chestnuts. Serve in lettuce leaf “cups” for a fresh appetizer.

Healthy Eats

Chicken is a lean, low-fat protein that fits well into a healthy diet. Turn tenderloins into nutritious meals like:

• Chicken Salad – Mix diced cooked tenderloins with celery, grapes, and a light dressing for a protein-packed salad.

• Chicken Veggie Soup – Simmer tenderloins in broth with carrots, onions, potatoes and greens for a hearty and healthy soup.

• Chicken Kebabs – Skewer tenderloins and vegetables like peppers, onions, mushrooms or zucchini. Grill or broil for a low-carb dinner.

• Chicken Caesar Salad Wrap – Stuff tenderloins sliced romaine, Parmesan, and Caesar dressing in a whole wheat wrap for an easy healthy lunch.

Family Favorites

Chicken tenderloins make great family meals because they appeal to both kids and adults. Some crowd-pleasing dinner ideas include:

• Tacos – Top warmed corn tortillas with sliced sautéed tenderloins, shredded lettuce, cheese, salsa, and more for an easy taco night.

• Quesadillas – Fill tortillas with shredded cheese, tenderloins, and other taco fillings. Grill until the cheese melts for quick quesadillas.

• Chicken Noodle Soup – Simmer tenderloins in chicken broth with carrots, celery, noodles and herbs for the ultimate comfort food.

• Crispy Chicken Sandwiches – Bread and fry or bake tenderloins. Serve on buns with pickles, lettuce and mayo for homemade chicken sandwiches.

Chicken tenderloins are so versatile. You can turn them into everything from fast weeknight dinners to gourmet restaurant-style entrees. Bread, fry or skewer them for tasty appetizers or incorporate them into healthy meals. Their mild flavor takes well to sauces and marinades from around the globe. However you choose to use them, chicken tenderloins are sure to become a kitchen staple!

Chicken tenderloins are versatile and can be used in a variety of dishes due to their small size and tender texture. They are great for quick meals like stir-fries, salads, and tacos, as well as appetizers such as chicken satay.