• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Bake It With Love

  • Grilling
  • Recipe Index
  • About
  • Cookbooks
  • Subscribe
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Grilling
  • Recipe Index
  • About
  • Cookbooks
  • Subscribe
×
Home » Recipes » Recipe Roundups

Last Updated: Mar 2, 2024 by Angela Latimer · Leave a Comment

Chicken Tenderloin Recipes

Jump to Recipe
Pin split image with text showing different chicken tender recipes.

These chicken tenderloin recipes are perfect for family dinners, and there's a wide variety. You can try many crispy coatings, as well as some other tasty options for making the most out of your chicken tenderloins. If you're tired of the same old chicken tenders, you've come to the right place.

My personal favorites on this list are simple baked chicken tenderloins and the copycat Cracker Barrel grilled chicken tenders recipe.

Square split image showing different chicken tender recipes.
Jump to:
  • What's The Difference Between Chicken Tenders And Chicken Tenderloins
  • 1. Baked Chicken Tenderloins
  • 2. Air Fryer Chicken Tenderloins
  • 3. Cracker Barrel Grilled Chicken Tenders
  • 4. Buffalo Chicken Tenders
  • 5. Buttermilk Fried Chicken Tenders
  • 6. Cheez-Itz Chicken Tenders
  • 7. Doritos Crusted Chicken Strips
  • 8. Honey Garlic Chicken Tenderloins
  • 9. Almond Flour Chicken Tenders
  • 10. Cornflake Chicken Strips
  • 11. Garlic Parmesan Chicken Tenderloins
  • 12. Coconut Chicken Tenders
  • 13. Potato Chip Chicken Tenders
  • 14. Bacon Wrapped Chicken Tenders
  • 15. Grilled Honey Mustard Chicken Tenderloins
  • Best Dipping Sauces For Crispy Chicken Tenderloins
  • 🐔 🍗 😋 More Tasty Chicken Recipes
  • 📖 Recipe Card
  • Best Chicken Tenderloin Recipes: Baked Chicken Tenderloins (+More Tasty Chicken Dinners!)
  • 💬 Comments & Reviews

If you are wondering what to make with those chicken tenderloins in your fridge, you might be surprised at how many options you have. Of course, you can stick with crispy fried chicken tenders, but you certainly aren't limited to them.

You can grill them, bake them, fry them, and you can even dice them up to add to other recipes. Even if you opt for crispy tenders, there are so many fun and tasty breading options you can try outside the typical breadcrumbs.

Once you've picked the perfect chicken tenderloin recipe, stop by my page on what to serve with chicken! There are tons of side dish suggestions to help complete your dinner!

What's The Difference Between Chicken Tenders And Chicken Tenderloins

Chicken tenders are small, boneless pieces of white meat that can be taken from any part of the chicken breast.

On the other hand, chicken tenderloins refer to a specific part of the chicken breast. They are the smaller, more delicate muscles that run along the inner side of the breast, closer to the breastbone.

Tenderloins are considered to be even more tender and flavorful than chicken tenders. It's not uncommon to see recipes made with chicken tenderloins called 'chicken tenders,' though you will likely never see chicken tenders advertised as 'tenderloins.'

1. Baked Chicken Tenderloins

If you're looking for a way to whip up some chicken tenderloins without breading, this is my go-to recipe. They have so much flavor you won't even care that they aren't crispy!

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!
Check out this recipe
Wide image of baked chicken tenderloins on a white platter.

2. Air Fryer Chicken Tenderloins

If you've got an air fryer, it's time to bust it out to make these wonderfully crispy chicken tenders! It couldn't be easier, and they are on the table and ready to eat in just 30 minutes.

Air Fryer Chicken Tenders
These air fryer chicken tenders are incredibly easy to whip up as a snack, appetizer, or main course for any night of the week! They're juicy on the inside, crispy on the outside, and super flavorful! You'll love that this recipe has almost no prep work before the air fryer takes over - plus, these tenders are a hit with kids and adults alike!
Check out this recipe
Wide image of air fryer chicken tenderloins.

3. Cracker Barrel Grilled Chicken Tenders

Cracker Barrel 'grilled' tenders are technically made on the stovetop, just like they do at Cracker Barrel restaurants! If you have some kiddos who are fans of their signature grilled tenders, they'll be head-over-heels for these!

Cracker Barrel Grilled Chicken Tenders
These copycat Cracker Barrel grilled chicken tenders are just as good as the real thing, maybe even better! The secret is in the Italian dressing, honey, and lime marinade that keeps the chicken juicy and tender while adding flavor. Cracker Barrel's tasty marinated chicken tenderloins are an easy way to feed the whole family, and they are always a hit with kids and adults alike!
Check out this recipe
Tender, tasty Cracker Barrel chicken tenders are perfectly cooked marinated chicken tenderloins.

4. Buffalo Chicken Tenders

Tossing some crispy chicken tenders with homemade buffalo sauce is a great way to switch things up. Pair them with some homemade ranch dressing or blue cheese for dipping, and watch them disappear!

Baked Buffalo Chicken Fingers Recipe
These Baked Buffalo Chicken Fingers are perfect for an easy, tasty dinner, or an appetizer for a crowd. They’re quick, crispy, and delicious!
Check out this recipe
Baked Buffalo Chicken Fingers Recipe

5. Buttermilk Fried Chicken Tenders

There's nothing wrong with classic fried chicken tenders, and using buttermilk keeps them super moist and juicy. These restaurant-style tenders are great for dipping, or you can slice them up and add them to a leafy green salad!

Buttermilk Fried Chicken Tenders - Once Upon a Chef
TESTED & PERFECTED RECIPE – These chicken tenders are marinated in seasoned buttermilk and pan-fried to crispy, crunchy perfection.
Check out this recipe
Buttermilk Fried Chicken Tenders - Once Upon a Chef

6. Cheez-Itz Chicken Tenders

If you enjoy the flavor of crunchy cheddar Cheez-Itz, you'll be obsessed with these Cheez-Itz-coated chicken tenderloins. This is a kid-favorite recipe that is shockingly delicious, so you're sure to love them too!

Oven Baked Cheez-It Chicken Tenders Recipe - Food.com
This came out of a cookbook I bought for my daughter… but I have to admit that I really like it too! It’s a great recipe for your kids to help you ma
Check out this recipe
Oven Baked Cheez-It Chicken Tenders Recipe - Food.com

7. Doritos Crusted Chicken Strips

I love incorporating Doritos into different recipes, like my Doritos chicken casserole and Doritos taco salad. So naturally, I had to try Doritos-crusted chicken strips, and they did not disappoint!

Easy Doritos Chicken Tenders - Dancing Through the Rain
This easy Doritos Chicken Tenders recipe is the perfect way to get your kids to eat dinner or lunch! Adults will love them too!
Check out this recipe
Easy Doritos Chicken Tenders - Dancing Through the Rain

8. Honey Garlic Chicken Tenderloins

The sweet and sticky honey garlic sauce on these chicken tenderloins is finger-licking good! You can serve them over rice or noodles or just enjoy them on their own.

Honey-Garlic Chicken Tenderloins
It doesn’t get easier than this healthy chicken tenderloins recipe. Tamari, honey and garlic combine to create a sticky-sweet sauce that coats the chicken.
Check out this recipe
Honey-Garlic Chicken Tenderloins

>>>>See all of my recipes here<<<<

9. Almond Flour Chicken Tenders

Gluten-free chicken tenders can be so crispy and delicious that you wouldn't even know they were made with almond flour. Because they are baked in the oven, cleanup is a breeze, and there's no greasy oil to mess with!

Almond Flour Chicken Tenders
These almond flour chicken tenders are baked in the oven. They’re crispy and delicious and they are ready in about 30 minutes!
Check out this recipe
Almond Flour Chicken Tenders

10. Cornflake Chicken Strips

Coating chicken tenderloins with cornflake cereal is nothing new, but It is a must-try if you haven't already! Just replace the usual breadcrumbs with crushed cornflakes and bake until golden and crispy.

Air Fryer Cornflake-Crusted Chicken Tenders
The cornflake crusting takes chicken from drab to fab! With less than 8 ingredients it’s also fast to prepare and the air fryer cuts down on extra fat.
Check out this recipe
Air Fryer Cornflake-Crusted Chicken Tenders

11. Garlic Parmesan Chicken Tenderloins

I love an easy sheet-pan dinner because you can cook the main course and sides all at the same time! The crispy Parmesan coating on these tenders pairs perfectly with the roasted green beans and cherry tomatoes that are baked on the side.

Sheet Pan Garlic-Parmesan Chicken Tenders with Veggies - Cooking Classy
Here’s yet another one pan dinner you are simply going to love! This is the third one pan dinner I’ve posted in a row, I’m becoming slightly obsessed. If
Check out this recipe
Sheet Pan Garlic-Parmesan Chicken Tenders with Veggies - Cooking Classy

12. Coconut Chicken Tenders

Chicken pairs surprisingly well with the flavor of coconut, and you can make these as coconutty as you'd like! Use coconut oil for the most coconut flavor! Like the almond flour chicken strips, these coconut tenders are completely gluten-free.

Easy Baked Coconut Chicken Tenders Recipe - Paleo & Low Carb | Wholesome Yum | Easy healthy recipes. 10 ingredients or less.
These easy baked coconut chicken tenders are crispy and need just 6 ingredients! You won’t believe this healthy paleo coconut chicken recipe is low carb and gluten-free.
Check out this recipe
Easy Baked Coconut Chicken Tenders Recipe - Paleo & Low Carb | Wholesome Yum | Easy healthy recipes. 10 ingredients or less.

13. Potato Chip Chicken Tenders

If you've got an extra bag of potato chips on hand, crush them up and use them to coat your chicken tenders! You can even play around with different flavors like cheddar potato chips, salt & vinegar, or sour cream & onion!

Potato Chip Chicken Tenders
Get Potato Chip Chicken Tenders Recipe from Food Network
Check out this recipe
Potato Chip Chicken Tenders

14. Bacon Wrapped Chicken Tenders

Bacon makes everything better, and chicken tenderloins are no exception! They are low-carb, full of smokey and salty bacon flavor, and best of all, you only need 3 ingredients!

Baked Bacon Wrapped Chicken Tenders Recipe - 3 Ingredients | Wholesome Yum | Easy healthy recipes. 10 ingredients or less.
This easy baked bacon wrapped chicken tenders recipe needs just 3 common ingredients - chicken, bacon, and cheese! Ready in under 30 minutes.
Check out this recipe
Baked Bacon Wrapped Chicken Tenders Recipe - 3 Ingredients | Wholesome Yum | Easy healthy recipes. 10 ingredients or less.

15. Grilled Honey Mustard Chicken Tenderloins

Coat your chicken tenderloins in this sweet and tangy honey mustard sauce and pop them on the grill! They'll cook up delectably tender with a slightly smokey flavor from the grill. You won't even need any dipping sauce!

Grilled Honey Mustard Chicken Tenders
Made with simple pantry ingredients, this Grilled Honey Mustard Chicken is packed with flavor and is so easy to make! The honey mustard sauce is so sweet and tangy that you’re going to want to lick the plate clean. Perfect for a summer cookout or just as a weeknight dinner. Perfect on its own or as…
Check out this recipe
Grilled Honey Mustard Chicken Tenders

Best Dipping Sauces For Crispy Chicken Tenderloins

One of the best things about crispy chicken tenderloins is all the delicious sauces and condiments you can dip them in. Whether you coat your chicken strips in breadcrumbs, potato chips, or Cheeze-Its, they will still taste wonderful with any of these delectable dipping sauces!

  • Honey Mustard Sauce
  • Chipotle Aioli
  • Honey BBQ Sauce
  • Mild Buffalo Sauce
  • Ranch Dressing
  • Blue Cheese Dressing
  • Creamy Spicy Ranchero Sauce
  • Cajun Dipping Sauce

Stock up on chicken tenderloins and give a few of these family-favorite recipes a try! Let me know your favorite ways to cook with chicken tenderloins by leaving a comment below!

Best quick chicken recipes to make for amazing family meals and easy dinners.

🐔 🍗 😋 More Tasty Chicken Recipes

  • Peanut Butter Chicken - If you love peanut butter chicken takeout, you'll love it even more homemade!
  • Spinach Stuffed Chicken Breasts - Juicy chicken breasts stuffed to the brim with a creamy mixture of spinach and cheese!
  • Air Fryer Chicken Leg Quarters - These juicy chicken legs are ready to eat in half the time it takes to make them in the oven!
  • Chicken Bacon Risotto - Tender chicken, salty bacon, and creamy risotto come together to make this delectable comfort food!
  • Chicken Enchiladas with Green Sauce - The whole family will devour these tasty chicken enchiladas with verde sauce!
  • Chicken Chorizo Paella - Smokey chorizo, tender vegetables, succulent chunks of chicken, and saffron-infused rice make up this show-stopping dish!

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 split image showing different chicken tender recipes.
Print Recipe Leave A Comment
Love This Recipe?Click On A Star To Rate It!
5 from 2 reviews

Best Chicken Tenderloin Recipes: Baked Chicken Tenderloins (+More Tasty Chicken Dinners!)

These chicken tenderloin recipes are perfect for family dinners, and there's a wide variety. You can try many crispy coatings, as well as some other tasty options for making the most out of your chicken tenderloins. If you're tired of the same old chicken tenders, you've come to the right place.
Author | Angela Latimer
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 344kcal
Prep 5 minutes minutes
Cooking 25 minutes minutes
Total Time 30 minutes minutes
Pin Recipe Share on Facebook

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
« Cold Side Dishes
Sausage Cream Cheese Crescent Rolls »

Share This Recipe!

  • Share
  • X
  • Flipboard
  • Threads
  • WhatsApp
  • Email

Reader Interactions

Comments

No Comments

5 from 2 votes (2 ratings without comment)

Thanks for coming! Ask anything - or let me know what you think: Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

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!

More About Me ->

Grilling Recipes

  • Tasty, easy cookout food ideas to make and feed a crowd this summer.
    Easy Cookout Food Ideas: Best Dishes To Bring To A Cookout

  • Square image of sliced Arrachera steak on a cutting board.
    Arrachera (Mexican Steak for Tacos)

  • Square image of sliced Denver steak on a cutting board.
    Denver Steak

  • Square image of grilled ostrich steaks.
    Grilled Ostrich Steaks

  • Square image of grilled pineapple.
    Grilled Pineapple

  • Square image of sliced grilled skirt steak.
    Grilled Skirt Steak

See more Grilled →

Tasty Dinner Ideas

  • A square collage of four images showing easy summer crockpot meals including tender London broil pot roast, green beans and potatoes, grape jelly meatballs, and pork carnitas tacos.
    Summer Crockpot Meal Ideas

  • Panda Express honey sesame chicken copycat recipe plated with rice and garnished with more white sesame seeds.
    Panda Express Honey Sesame Chicken

  • A square image showing a bowl of tender wok fried marinated chicken with celery, onions, and black pepper sauce.
    Panda Express Black Pepper Chicken

  • Best leftover lobster recipes page image featuring four favorite dishes in a square collage.
    Leftover Lobster Recipes

  • Square collage image featuring 4 tasty recipes using leftover hard boiled eggs.
    Leftover Hard Boiled Eggs Recipes

  • Spider taco ring on baking sheet with taco toppings in the body and sliced olives for eyes.
    Spider Taco Crescent Ring

See more Main Dish →

Footer

As Seen On

As seen on these popular sites: Mashed, Tasting Table, Parade, MSN, Yahoo, Delish, The Pioneer Woman, Today, Taste of Home, and more.

↑ back to top

About

  • Meet The Team
  • Photo Sharing
  • Privacy Policy
  • Work With Me
  • Accessibility Statement

Recipes

  • Dinners
  • Desserts
  • Breakfasts
  • Cookies & Bars
  • Videos
  • Articles

AI-Free

Everything on Bake It With Love is created by me, where I share my experiences, with help from my team members and family.

I promise that BIWL is 100% free of AI content.

Get Social

Visit us on your favorite social media platforms!

Copyright © 2016-2025 Bake It With Love

Rate This Recipe

Your vote:




Let us know what you thought of this recipe:

This worked exactly as written, thanks!
My family loved this!
Thank you for sharing this recipe

Or write in your own words:

A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required

Recipe Ratings without Comment

Something went wrong. Please try again.