Jump to Recipe
Garlic Butter Chicken Tenders are one of the best chicken recipes you will ever have. Made with juicy and tender chicken tenders. Cooked in a flavorful and buttery garlic butter sauce. Ready in just under 15 minutes. Perfect easy, healthy and delicious dish to make.
Garlic Butter Chicken Tenders
These Garlic Butter Chicken Tenders are so easy to prep and are ready in just under 15 minutes. Cooked in a simple yet delicious garlic butter sauce. They make for flavorful, tender and juicy chicken tenders. This dish is so versatile as you can serve with with virtually any other side. Serve with rice, pasta, mashed potatoes, or veggies for a wholesome meal.
Ingredients needed to make Garlic Butter Chicken Tenders:
- Chicken Tenders– Use chicken tenders that are about the same size so they can cook evenly.
- Unsalted Butter– I like using unsalted butter so I can control the amount of salt in my food.
- Garlic– Lot’s of garlic!
- Spices and Herbs– Pink sea salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, Italian seasoning.
- Lemon Juice– Elevates the flavor of the whole dish and helps deglaze the pan.
- Fresh Parsley– For garnish.
Equipment needed to make Garlic Butter Chicken Tenders:
- 12-inch skillet– At least this big of a pan. If you don’t have a pan that’s this big, use a smaller one and just cook your tenders in batches.
- Tongs– To handle your tenders as they cook.
How to make Garlic Butter Chicken Tenders:
- Step 1– Place chicken tenders in a large mixing bowl, remove tendons, and pat dry. Sprinkle tenders with pink sea salt, black pepper, and smoked paprika and give a good toss making sure they are well coated with spices. Set aside while you mince garlic and measure out lemon juice.
- Step 2– Place a skillet on stovetop and turn heat to medium-high. Add in 2 of the tablespoons of butter and allow it to melt. Once skillet comes to a heat and butter has melted, carefully place chicken tenders and pan fry for 2 minutes. Flip over and pan fry for another 2 minutes.
- Step 3– Move chicken tenders to one side of the skillet and reduce heat to medium. On the other side, add in additional 2 tablespoons of butter and allow them to melt.
- Step 4– Once butter has melted toss in garlic and sprinkle with Italian seasoning. Sauté garlic for 1 minute. Drizzle lemon juice over garlic and use to deglaze pan.
- Step 5– Move chicken tenders to the side of garlic butter and give a good toss making sure tenders are well coated.
- Step 6– Serve immediately while garlic butter chicken tenders are warm. Enjoy!
Tips and Substitutions:
- Don’t overcook chicken tenders- Chicken tenders cook pretty quick. They only take about 2-3 minutes to cook per-side. I like cooking these for 2 minutes per side, as they will remain in the pan while the garlic is sautéed and then tossed together.
- Deglaze pan- This will remove the browning left on the pan which adds so much flavor to the dish.
- Don’t overcrowd pan- This will prevent chicken tenders from cooking evenly. If you don’t have a skillet that is at least 12 inches, use a smaller one. Just cook your tenders in batches.
- Try to use similar size tenders- So that they will all cook evenly.
- Don’t overcook garlic- Garlic cooks pretty fast. Don’t overcook it as it will easily burn.
- Use chicken breasts- You can also use chicken breasts instead of tenders. Use boneless skinless chicken breasts and butterfly them. Chicken breasts are too thick and will need too much time to cook on the pan. This will result in them being overcooked and not juicy.
- Substitute for butter- You can use ghee or dairy-free butter.
- Substitute for garlic- Use shallots if you don’t have or don’t like garlic.
Variations:
- Add some red pepper chili flakes- To add some spiciness.
- Make dairy-free- Use dairy-free butter for a dairy-free option.
- Use some wine- Add in some wine to deglaze your pan for some added flavor.
How to serve Garlic Butter Chicken Tenders:
These garlic butter chicken tenders are flavorful and super versatile. They can be served along with just about any side dish. Serve these tenders with pasta, rice, mashed potatoes, or veggies. They can be easily served with any other dish to make a complete wholesome meal.
What to serve Garlic Butter Chicken Tenders with:
- Oven Roasted Yukon Gold Potatoes
- Honey-Ginger Roasted Carrots
- Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts
- Garlic Butter Sautéed Mushrooms
- Grilled Summer Veggies
- How to Make Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes
- Instant Pot Creamy Mashed Potatoes
Garlic Butter Chicken Tenders FAQ’s:
Can I use chicken breasts for this recipe?
Yes. You can use skinless and boneless chicken breasts as a substitute for chicken tenders in this recipe. Just butterfly your chicken breasts and cut them into long strips.
What Is that white string on chicken tenders?
The white string on chicken tenders is the tendon. You don’t have to remove it as it is edible. However, the tendon can be tough and rubbery once cooked. You can easily remove the tendon from the tender by simply pulling it.
Are chicken tenders healthy?
Chicken tenders are pretty healthy as long as you prepare them and cook them in a healthy manner. These garlic butter chicken tenders are healthy and can make for a wholesome meal.
Why are my homemade chicken tenders tough?
If your homemade chicken tenders are tough, this means that they are overcooked. Tenders cook pretty fast. You want to make sure that you cook them for 2-3 minutes per side. Use a meat thermometer to read the inside temperature of your chicken tenders. Once they reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit, this means they are done.
How do you know when chicken tenderloins are done?
Use a meat thermometer to read the inside temperature of your chicken tenders. Once they reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit, this means they are done.
Meal Prepping it:
These Garlic Butter Chicken Tenders are great for meal prep. They are quick and easy to make as they take less than 15 minutes to prepare and cook. You can also easily double this recipe for a larger batch. Serve these with pasta, rice or mashed potatoes. Add some broccoli or asparagus and you have a wholesome and nutritious meal. Great for make ahead lunches or quick ready to serve dinners.
How to store and reheat Garlic Butter Chicken Tenders:
Place any leftover garlic butter chicken tenders in an airtight container. Keep your chicken tenders refrigerated for up to 4-5 days. Reheat in the microwave or by placing back on stovetop.
Did you like this Garlic Butter Chicken Tenders recipe? You may also like these other chicken recipes:
- Baked BBQ Chicken Breasts
- Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
- Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs
- Instant Pot Roasted Whole Chicken
- Orange Rosemary Chicken
Garlic Butter Chicken Tenders
Garlic Butter Chicken Tenders are one of the best chicken recipes you will ever have. Made with juicy and tender chicken tenders. Cooked in a flavorful and buttery garlic butter sauce. Ready in just under 15 minutes. Perfect easy, healthy and delicious dish to make.
Ingredients
- 1 lb chicken tenders
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter (divided)
- 1 tsp pink sea salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1.5 tsp smoked paprika
- 5 cloves of garlic
- 2 tsp Italian seasoning
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- chopped fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
-
Place chicken tenders in a large mixing bowl, remove tendons, and pat dry. Sprinkle tenders with pink sea salt, black pepper, and smoked paprika and give a good toss making sure they are well coated with spices. Set aside while you mince garlic and measure out lemon juice.
-
Place a skillet on stovetop and turn heat to medium-high. Add in 2 of the tablespoons of butter and allow it to melt. Once skillet comes to a heat and butter has melted, carefully place chicken tenders and pan fry for 2 minutes. Flip over and pan fry for another 2 minutes.
-
Move chicken tenders to one side of the skillet and reduce heat to medium. On the other side, add in additional 2 tablespoons of butter and allow them to melt.
-
Once butter has melted toss in garlic and sprinkle with Italian seasoning. Sauté garlic for 1 minute. Drizzle lemon juice over garlic and use to deglaze pan.
-
Move chicken tenders to the side of garlic butter and give a good toss making sure tenders are well coated.
-
Serve immediately while garlic butter chicken tenders are warm. Enjoy!
Recipe Notes
Tips and Substitutions:
-
- Don’t overcook chicken tenders- Chicken tenders cook pretty quick. They only take about 2-3 minutes to cook per-side. I like cooking these for 2 minutes per side, as they will remain in the pan while the garlic is sautéed and then tossed together.
- Deglaze pan- This will remove the browning left on the pan which adds so much flavor to the dish.
- Don’t overcrowd pan- This will prevent chicken tenders from cooking evenly. If you don’t have a skillet that is at least 12 inches, use a smaller one. Just cook your tenders in batches.
- Try to use similar size tenders- So that they will all cook evenly.
- Don’t overcook garlic- Garlic cooks pretty fast. Don’t overcook it as it will easily burn.
- Use chicken breasts- You can also use chicken breasts instead of tenders. Use boneless skinless chicken breasts and butterfly them. Chicken breasts are too thick and will need too much time to cook on the pan. This will result in them being overcooked and not juicy.
- Substitute for butter- You can use ghee or dairy-free butter.
- Substitute for garlic- Use shallots if you don’t have or don’t like garlic.
*Number of total servings in estimated. Actual number of servings may vary depending on your own personal preference in portion sizes.
**Nutritional values shown are general guidelines for 1 serving using the ingredients listed above. These numbers do not reflect and may vary depending on substitutions, additions and/or different brands and/or other ingredients that may be used.
**Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links and sponsored content. All the opinions are my own and I only recommend products I use in my own home with my own family.
