Chicken Tenders (Lemon Garlic Butter)

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This Lemon Garlic Butter Chicken Tenders recipe is one of the best ways to make chicken strips at home. Flavorful and versatile chicken tenders cook fast and are ready to serve in just 15 minutes!

Suitable for Keto, Low Carb, and Gluten Free diets. Post includes Weight Watchers points.

top down view of the completed lemon garlic butter chicken tenders

If you need a fast and simple recipe that’s perfect for weeknights, look no further than this easy chicken tenders recipe. Cooked in a delicious lemon garlic butter sauce, these chicken tenders are ready in no time, can be paired with so many different sides, and your family will absolutely love them!

Easy Chicken Tenders

Cooking chicken tenders in a skillet over high heat means they are ready to serve in about 15 minutes. The perfect solution for quick lunches and busy weeknight dinners.

Like my easy Grilled Chicken Tenders, and Parmesan Air Fryer Chicken Tenders, these are super flavorful chicken fingers are a healthier alternative to the typical breaded and fried chicken strips, so you can make these every week and feel confident that your family is getting a healthy meal that tastes great.  

the completed chicken tenders inside the skillet

Why Make This Recipe

  • Fast – This chicken tenders recipe is done in about 15 minutes.  
  • Versatile – Chicken tender recipes are perfect for picky eaters and you can serve them with just about any of your favorite side dishes.  
  • Meal Prep – Make a big batch and keep these chicken strips on hand all week for an easy lunch. Pack them in lunch boxes or serve them over salad for a filling lunch option.

Ingredient Notes

  • Chicken Tenders – Purchase prepackaged chicken tenders or cut your own from chicken breast following our how-to guide below. 
  • Spices – Onion powder, salt, dried thyme, black pepper and smoked paprika combine to give these chicken tenders incredible flavor. 
  • Butter – Salted or unsalted butter will work here. 
  • Olive Oil – Or use any light, neutral-flavored oil. 
  • Garlic – Fresh garlic is much more flavorful than garlic in a jar. 
  • Chicken Broth – You can also substitute vegetable broth or even water in a pinch. 
  • Lemon – Fresh lemon juice adds a bright flavor to these chicken strips. 
the ingredients needed for making lemon garlic butter chicken tenders recipe

What Are Chicken Tenders?

Chicken tenders technically refer to a specific section of the chicken breast separated by a thin membrane. When you buy whole chicken breasts, this piece is usually still attached, or you can purchase a tray of chicken tenders from the grocer. 

Chicken tenderloins can be a bit more expensive than buying whole chicken breasts, so breasts are often cut into strips which are also called chicken tenders. Common names for the same thing may include chicken strips, tenders, tenderloins, chicken fingers, chicken fillets, goujons, and chicken tendies. 

top down view of the finished lemon garlic butter chicken tenders recipe

Ready to make this delicious garlic butter chicken tenders recipe? Gather your ingredients and I will show you…

How To Make Chicken Tenders

Get the complete ingredients list and instructions from the recipe card below.

  1. Place chicken and dry seasonings in a bowl, and toss to combine.
  2. Melt the butter and oil in a skillet.
  3. Add in the chicken and cook until it reaches an internal temperature of 165F / 74C.
  4. Transfer the chicken to a plate, then add garlic to the skillet and sauté until fragrant, about 30 seconds. 
  5. Pour in chicken broth and lemon juice and allow to simmer for about 5 minutes, or until reduced. 
  6. Return the chicken to the skillet and coat it with the sauce. Then serve and enjoy!
image collage showing the steps for making lemon garlic butter chicken tenders

How To Cut Chicken Tenders

  • Select boneless, skinless chicken breast and trim off the excess fat.
  • Slice against the grain and cut the breast into strips of equal length and thickness. 

How To Make Lemon Garlic Chicken Tenders In The Air Fryer

  1. Preheat air fryer to 400F / 200C. Place chicken and dry seasonings in a bowl, and toss to combine.
  2. Lightly spray the basket and carefully arrange the dry seasoned chicken, being careful not to crowd the tray.
  3. Cook for 5-7 minutes, flipping halfway though. Cook in batches if needed. 
  4. While the chicken cooks, prepare the sauce by combining butter, garlic, lemon juice and chicken broth in a skillet. 
  5. Remove the chicken from the air fryer and coat with the sauce before serving. 
close up view of the cooked chicken tenders inside the air fryer basket

Pro Tips

  • Use a knife and cutting board dedicated to poultry and wash it in hot, soapy water immediately after use. 
  • Combine the chicken and dry seasonings in a bowl or a zip-top bag. 
  • Discard any leftover seasoning that has come in contact with the chicken. 
  • Cook the chicken in batches to avoid overcrowding the pan. 
  • Tent the chicken with foil while the sauce cooks to help keep it warm.
  • When you deglaze the pan with the chicken stock, use a wooden spoon to scrape up all the flavorful bits from the bottom of the pan. 

Delicious Variations

  • Swap Seasonings – Use an Italian seasoning blend or any of your favorite seasonings for the base of this recipe. 
  • Add White Wine – Add a splash of white wine to deglaze the pan before adding the stock and the lemon juice. It will give these chicken strips an amazing flavor. 
  • Make into Sandwiches – Pile these chicken strips onto a roll or bun for a tasty sandwich.
  • Use in Salads – Slice, shred, or leave whole and serve on top of your favorite salad. 
a serving of garlic butter chicken tenders on a dinner plate with utensils

Prep And Storage

  • Prep Ahead – Season the chicken up to 12 hours in advance. Slice the chicken tenders and freeze them in packets that you can defrost and cook later. 
  • Store – Leftover chicken tenderloins can be stored in airtight container inside the fridge for up to 3 days. 
  • Freeze – Follow the handy tips below for how to freeze;
    • Place uncooked seasoned chicken into freezer-safe bags or containers and keep in freezer for up to 6 months.
    • Defrost overnight in the fridge and then cook as directed.
    • Freeze cooked chicken strips for up to 3 months.
a plate of lemon garlic butter chicken tenders served with lemon wedges and utensils

FAQs

Are Chicken Tenders Healthy?

Chicken tenderloins are not only high in protein; chicken tenders are loaded with vitamins and minerals. Chicken breast strips are lower in fat than other cuts of chicken and using only a small amount of butter and oil is far healthier than deep frying.

Why Are My Chicken Tenders Tough?

Tough chicken is usually the result of overcooking. To prevent this, you should cut chicken strips in uniform sizes and always use a meat thermometer to check the temperature. It is safe to remove chicken from the heat when it reaches 165F / 74C.

How Long Do I Cook Chicken Tenders?

These chicken tenderloins will need to cook in the skillet for about 5-7 minutes total or 3-4 minutes on each side. Use the meat thermometer to check for doneness.

the finished lemon garlic butter chicken tenders served on a white plate

Serving Suggestions

More Chicken Tenders Recipes You May Like

top down view of the finished chicken tenders inside the air fryer basket

Weight Watchers Points

There are 4 Blue Plan SmartPoints in one serving of this.

Thank you for reading my chicken tenderloins recipe post. And please come visit again as I continue to slice, dice, and dream up affordable Air Fryer recipes, Instant Pot Recipes, Southern Recipes, and more. Thanks for supporting Recipes from a Pantry, food blog. 

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top down view of the completed lemon garlic butter chicken tenders
Print Recipe
5 from 2 votes

Stovetop Lemon Garlic Butter Chicken Tenders

Flavorful juicy chicken tenders ready in just 25 minuted!
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American, Western
Diet: Gluten Free
Servings: 6
Calories: 265kcal
Author: Bintu Hardy

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds (907g) chicken tenders
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon dried thyme
  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika powder
  • 4 tablespoons butter
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 3 cloves garlic peeled and finely chopped
  • ½ cup (118ml) chicken broth or vegetable broth
  • 1 lemon juiced

Instructions

  • Add the chicken, onion powder, salt, thyme, pepper and paprika to a large bowl and toss everything to combine.
  • Melt the butter and olive oil together in a large skillet over medium heat, then cook the chicken tenders in two batches for 5-7 minutes each time, flipping the tenders halfway through.
  • Remove the chicken from the pan and set aside. Add the garlic, stir, and cook for about 30 seconds or until it becomes fragrant.
  • Stir in the chicken broth and lemon juice and let it simmer for about 5 minutes or until it has reduced.
  • Add the chicken back to the pan, then flip it back and forth to ensure that it is coated in the lemon garlic sauce.
  • Serve with fresh thyme for garnish if desired.

Make In The Air Fryer

  • Preheat air fryer to 400F / 200C.
  • Place chicken and dry seasonings in a bowl, and toss to combine.
  • Lightly spray the basket and carefully arrange the dry seasoned chicken, being careful not to crowd the tray.
  • Cook for 5-7 minutes, flipping halfway though. Cook in batches if needed. 
  • While the chicken cooks, prepare the sauce by combining butter, garlic, lemon juice and chicken broth in a skillet. 
  • Remove the chicken from the air fryer and coat with the sauce before serving
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Video

Notes

  • Use a knife and cutting board dedicated to poultry and wash it in hot, soapy water immediately after use. 
  • Combine the chicken and dry seasonings in a bowl or a zip-top bag. 
  • Discard any leftover seasoning that has come in contact with the chicken. 
  • Cook the chicken in batches to avoid overcrowding the pan. 
  • Tent the chicken with foil while the sauce cooks to help keep it warm.
  • When you deglaze the pan with the chicken stock, use a wooden spoon to scrape up all the flavorful bits from the bottom of the pan.
  • Storage – keep cooked chicken tenders in an airtight container inside the fridge for up to 3 days. Freeze uncooked, seasoned chicken tenders for up to 3 months.
  • There are 4 WW Blue Plan SmartPoints in one serving of this.

Nutrition

Calories: 265kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 32g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 117mg | Sodium: 508mg | Potassium: 593mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 365IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 18mg | Iron: 1mg

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5 from 2 votes (1 rating without comment)

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One Comment

  1. 5 stars
    Although your article is about chicken tenders, reading this was really helpful for my own business. Very well written and worth reading this article. Thank You !!