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!
Baked Chicken Tenderloins Without Breading
Chicken strips are definitely one of the best finger foods around for both kids and adults! However, I'm not always in the mood to pull out the deep fryer. While the crispy breading is absolutely 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.
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🥘 Baked Chicken Tenderloin Ingredients
If you don't already have all of these items on hand, you can easily grab them at any grocery store. Feel free to mix up the seasonings to suit your personal taste!
- 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!*
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🔪 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 on some tasty and hearty side dishes!
- Preheat. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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).
- Serve. Remove the baked chicken from the oven and allow it to rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Serve your chicken tenderloins with your favorite dipping sauces! I recommend some homemade ranch or mild buffalo sauce! Take a look at this list of what to serve with chicken for some yummy side dish recipes! Enjoy!
💭 Angela's Tips & Recipe 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.
🥡 Storing & Reheating
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.
Reheating Chicken Tenderloins
Reheat your chicken tenderloins either in the microwave or by placing them back into the oven.
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❓ FAQ
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.
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!
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!
🍗 More Chicken Recipes
- Boneless Chicken Wings - These delectable wings are fried and then tossed in your favorite kind of 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!
📋 Recipe
Baked Chicken Tenderloins
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
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.½ cup butter, 1 teaspoon honey
- Meanwhile, in a separate small bowl, mix together your paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper.2 teaspoon paprika, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon onion powder, ¼ teaspoon each, salt & 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.1 lb chicken tenderloins
- 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.
Equipment You May Need
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
Angela is an at home chef that developed a passion for all things cooking and baking at a young age in her Grandma's kitchen. After many years in the food service industry, she now enjoys sharing all of her family favorite recipes and creating tasty dinner and amazing dessert recipes here at Bake It With Love!
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