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Home » Recipes » Main Dish

Last Updated: Apr 22, 2024 by Angela Latimer · 6 Comments

Baked Chicken Tenderloins

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Pin image with text of baked chicken tenderloins on a white platter.

These baked chicken tenderloins without breading are perfect with just the chicken, butter, and a blend of seasonings! They are crisp on the outside, juicy on the inside, and packed with a ton of flavor! Since this chicken is ready to enjoy in just 30 minutes, it is a perfect dinner option for any night of the week!

Serve your chicken tenders with your favorite dipping sauces! I recommend some homemade ranch or mild buffalo sauce!

Square image of baked chicken tenderloins on a white platter.
These baked chicken tenderloins are moist, juicy, and super versatile!
Jump to:
  • 🥘 Ingredients
  • 🔪 How To Bake Chicken Tenderloins
  • 💭 Angela's Pro Tips & Recipe Notes
  • 🥡 Storing & Reheating
  • ❓ Recipe FAQs
  • 🍗 More Chicken Recipes
  • 📖 Recipe Card
  • 💬 Comments & Reviews

Chicken strips are one of the best finger foods for kids and adults. However, I'm not always in the mood to pull out the deep fryer. While the crispy breading is delicious, sometimes I just want a lighter meal.

That's where these baked chicken tenderloins come in! They are beautifully seasoned without all of the extra breading.

🥘 Ingredients

Tall image showing ingredients for baked chicken tenderloins.
  • Butter - ½ cup of melted butter.
  • Honey - 1 teaspoon of honey.
  • Paprika - 2 teaspoons of paprika.
  • Garlic Powder - 1 teaspoon of garlic powder.
  • Onion Powder - ½ teaspoon of onion powder.
  • Salt & Pepper - ¼ teaspoon of both salt and pepper.
  • Chicken Tenderloins - 1 pound of chicken tenderloins.

Be sure to see the free printable recipe card below for ingredients, exact amounts & instructions with tips!

🔪 How To Bake Chicken Tenderloins

No breading means that this recipe is extra easy! You'll need a baking sheet, some parchment paper, a couple of small bowls, and a meat thermometer.

This recipe is for 4 servings, but you can easily stretch that out by adding tasty, hearty side dishes!

Process image 1 showing patting chicken tenderloins dry.
1
Process image 2 showing melted butter.
2
Process image 3 showing chicken tenderloin in melted butter.
3
Process image 4 showing chicken tenderloins on a baking sheet.
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Process image 5 showing chicken tenderloins on a baking sheet with seasoning.
5
  1. Preheat. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. Melt the butter. Place ½ cup of butter in a small bowl and heat it in the microwave for 30 seconds to melt it. Once melted, stir 1 teaspoon of honey into the butter.
  3. Combine seasonings. Meanwhile, in a separate small bowl, mix together 2 teaspoons of paprika, 1 teaspoon of garlic powder, ½ teaspoon of onion powder, and ¼ teaspoon of both salt and pepper.
  4. Prepare the chicken. Pat 1 pound of chicken tenderloins dry with a paper towel and then dunk them into the melted butter, making sure they are fully coated. Then, place the tenderloins onto the prepared baking sheet.
  5. Bake. Season both sides of the chicken tenderloins with the seasoning mixture and then bake in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 25-30 minutes or until the internal temperature reads 165°F (74°C).
  6. Serve. Remove the baked chicken from the oven and allow it to rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Take a look at this list of what to serve with chicken for some yummy side dish recipes! Enjoy!

💭 Angela's Pro Tips & Recipe Notes

  • Customizing Seasonings: Feel free to add or swap your favorite seasonings to this recipe. For a bit of heat, try adding a pinch of cayenne pepper.
  • Meat Thermometer Use: To ensure your chicken is fully cooked, use a meat thermometer. Check out my post on chicken internal temperatures for detailed guidance.
  • Room Temperature Chicken: For best cooking results, bring your chicken out of the fridge 20 minutes before starting. This helps the chicken cook more evenly.
Wide image of baked chicken tenderloins on a white platter.

>>>See All Of My Tasty Recipes Here!<<<

🥡 Storing & Reheating

Allow your leftover chicken to cool completely before placing it into a storage container and keeping it in the fridge for up to 5 days. 

To freeze, seal it in a Ziploc bag or container and freeze it for up to 3 months. Allow the chicken to defrost in the fridge before reheating.

Reheating

Reheat them in the microwave or by placing them back in the oven.

❓ Recipe FAQs

What Is The Difference Between Chicken Tenderloins And Chicken Tenders?

A tenderloin is cut from a very specific area underneath the breast of the chicken. On the other hand, chicken tenders are typically the actual breast meat that has been cut into strips.

Can You Use Frozen Chicken Tenderloins?

Yep! You can cook your chicken straight from frozen. Prepare them as directed, but add about 3 minutes to the bake time. Make sure to check the internal temperature as well!

How Do You Keep Chicken Tenderloins Moist While Baking?

Since these pieces of chicken are thin and cook quickly, you don't have to worry about them drying out. However, make sure you don't overcook them!

Tall image of baked chicken tenderloins on a white platter.

🍗 More Chicken Recipes

  • Boneless Chicken Wings - These delectable wings are fried and tossed in your favorite sauce!
  • Sous Vide Chicken Breast - Chicken breast is perfectly cooked using a sous vide machine!
  • Air Fryer Chicken Breast - Make some last-minute chicken using your air fryer!
  • Baked Boneless Chicken Breasts - If you love these chicken tenders, make sure to try out these baked chicken breasts!
  • Grilled Chicken Tenders - These tasty chicken tenders are even better than the ones from Cracker Barrel!
  • Parmesan Garlic Mushroom Chicken - This chicken is cooked in a flavorful, rich, and creamy sauce!

See all my chicken recipes here!

Do you love a recipe you tried? Please leave a 5-star 🌟rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page.
Stay in touch with me through social media @ Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter! Subscribe to the newsletter today (no spam, I promise)! Don't forget to tag me when you try one of my recipes!

📖 Recipe Card

Wide image of baked chicken tenderloins on a white platter.
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5 from 113 reviews

Baked Chicken Tenderloins

These baked chicken tenderloins without breading are simply perfect with just the chicken, butter, and a blend of seasonings! They are crisp on the outside, juicy on the inside, and packed with a ton of flavor! Since this chicken is ready to enjoy in just 30 minutes, it is a perfect dinner option for any night of the week!
Author | Angela Latimer
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 344kcal
Prep 5 minutes minutes
Cooking 25 minutes minutes
Total Time 30 minutes minutes
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Ingredients
 

  • ½ cup butter (melted)
  • 1 teaspoon honey
  • 2 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • ¼ teaspoon each, salt & pepper
  • 1 lb chicken tenderloins

(Note: 2x or 3x only changes the ingredient list)

Help Us Out!If you love a recipe, be sure to come back and share your ratings. This helps future users, and allows me to continue sharing free recipes! Angela

Instructions
 

  • Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  • Place your butter in a small bowl and heat it in the microwave for 30 seconds to melt it. Once melted, stir the honey into the butter.
  • Meanwhile, in a separate small bowl, mix together your paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper.
  • Pat your tenderloins dry with a paper towel and then dunk them into the melted butter, making sure they are fully coated. Then, place the tenderloins onto the prepared baking sheet.
  • Season both sides of the chicken tenderloins with the seasoning mixture and then bake in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 25-30 minutes, or until the internal temperature reads 165°F (74°C).
  • Remove the baked chicken from the oven and allow it to rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

  • You can easily customize this recipe by adding or swapping your favorite seasonings. Add in a pinch of cayenne pepper for some heat!
  • Use a meat thermometer to ensure your chicken is fully cooked. Take a look at my post on chicken internal temperatures for more information. 
  • For best results, bring your chicken out of the fridge 20 minutes before you get started. This will help to ensure that the meat cooks evenly. 
  • To store: Allow your chicken to cool completely before placing them into a storage container and keeping it in the fridge for up to 5 days. 
  • To freeze: Seal your tenderloins in a Ziploc bag or container and freeze for up to 3 months. Allow the chicken to defrost in the fridge before reheating. 
  • To reheat: Reheat your chicken tenderloins either in the microwave or by placing them back into the oven. 

Nutrition

Calories: 344kcal (17%) | Carbohydrates: 3g (1%) | Protein: 25g (50%) | Fat: 26g (40%) | Saturated Fat: 15g (94%) | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 134mg (45%) | Sodium: 461mg (20%) | Potassium: 462mg (13%) | Fiber: 0.5g (2%) | Sugar: 2g (2%) | Vitamin A: 1236IU (25%) | Vitamin C: 1mg (1%) | Calcium: 17mg (2%) | Iron: 1mg (6%)
Did you try this recipe? Rate it below!I can’t wait to see your results! Mention @bake_it_with_love or tag #bake_it_with_love!
Course Chicken Dishes, Dinner Recipes, Entrees, Lunch Recipes, Main Course, Main Dish
Cuisine American

Originally published February 3, 2023

« Ham Steaks With Brown Sugar Glaze
Baked T-Bone Steak »

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Comments

    5 from 113 votes (109 ratings without comment)

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  1. Lamanda J Wright says

    October 20, 2024 at 12:05 pm

    This recipe looks great and simple

    Reply
  2. Jude says

    October 16, 2024 at 10:43 am

    5 stars
    Perfect, the family loved it

    Reply
  3. Lila Roenigk says

    August 20, 2024 at 7:52 am

    5 stars
    A very easy and tasty dinner option. I used 5 TBL butter vs entire stick. Might improvise next time and try olive oil/butter combo. Still, delicious as written!!

    Reply
  4. Cheerie says

    January 09, 2024 at 3:52 pm

    5 stars
    Absolutely Delish! Thank you😍.
    Can I use this recipe with chicken breasts?

    Reply
    • Angela @ BakeItWithLove.com says

      January 09, 2024 at 4:38 pm

      Yes, definitely! You can even cut the chicken breasts into tenderloin size strips and keep the same cooking time. If you do cook the whole breasts, make sure to check the internal temperature for doneness. I like boneless chicken breasts to be at least 165F and 180F for bone-in breasts. Thanks for asking!

      Reply
  5. Andy Schectman says

    December 13, 2023 at 10:52 am

    5 stars
    Fantastic, spot on recipe with the cooking times and seasoning. I love it!!!

    Reply

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Author bio photo with cake.

Hi there, I'm Angela

I am an avid vintage cookbook collector, cook, baker, and total foodie. I love sharing new, fun, creative recipes and great classic recipes, just like my Grandma used to make! Every recipe on BIWL is tested to ensure that cooks of any experience level can succeed.

Welcome to Bake It With Love. Enjoy!

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