Grilled Chicken Tenders
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Grilling season calls for these quick and easy Grilled Chicken Tenders! Soaked in a smoky chipotle marinade, oh-so juicy on the inside, and breading-free, they’re a fantastic summer protein for simple weeknight dinners and meal prep.
Why you’ll love this recipe!
The perfect tenders – Swapping the breading for gorgeous grill marks and a flavor-packed marinade gives you classic chicken tenders with a smoky summer twist.
No bland chicken – They’re anything but boring thanks to the bold chipotle marinade. Every bite is juicy, zesty, and slightly smoky—YUM!
Super flexible – Swap the marinade, switch up the seasonings, and serve them any way you want—on a salad, with French fries, or piled onto a burrito bowl.
Table of Contents
Chicken fingers and fries girlies, listen up! When the weather is beautiful, we need to swap our usual baked chicken tenders for these Grilled Chicken Tenders. Marinated in a smoky chipotle marinade before they’re fired on the grill, they’re a step up from the tenders you ate as a kid.
You still get all that crispy-edged, juicy comfort you love, but with a punchy, outdoor barbecue twist. Just like my chipotle chicken, these tenders are amazing served over a loaded grain bowl with salsa and guacamole, or alongside a platter of French fries. Just don’t forget the dipping sauce (I like ketchup and honey mustard)!
Obviously, chicken tenders are the GOAT and easy to cook almost any way you like. If you love them as much as I do, try my pan-fried, air fryer, and Whole30 chicken tender recipes next!
Ingredients Needed
Chicken tenders – Of course! Buy boneless, skinless chicken tenderloins or slice large chicken breasts into 1-inch-thick strips with a sharp chef’s knife.
Spices – To take the char-grilled flavors up a notch, I marinated the chicken in a seasoned oil flavored with smoked paprika, garlic powder, cumin, and salt.
Chipotle seasoning – Just a pinch brings a kick of heat to the chicken marinade. Feel free to omit it if you don’t like spicy food, or just replace it with more smoked paprika.
This list is to provide further clarification on a few of the ingredients. See recipe card below for the full ingredient list.
Variations
- Change the marinade – Soak the chicken tenders in any one of these 5 chicken marinade recipes instead if you’d like. The BBQ marinade is one of my favorites for summer!
- Chipotle seasoning substitute – The marinade will be just as good if you swap the chipotle seasoning for a BBQ seasoning mix, blackened seasoning, poultry seasoning, or Italian seasoning.
How to Grill Chicken Tenders
Step 1: Season the chicken. Stir the spices and olive oil together in a small bowl. Pour it over the chicken tenders in a separate bowl and toss to coat.
Step 2: Marinate. Cover the bowl with the chicken and let it marinate in the fridge.
Step 3: Grill. Add the marinated chicken tenders to the preheated grill. Grill until the chicken is cooked through and has grill marks. Serve and enjoy!
Erin’s Tips and Tricks
- Take the chicken out of the fridge 20 to 30 minutes before grilling. Letting the meat come down to room temperature helps it cook faster and more evenly.
- For perfect grill marks and no sticking, grill the tenders undisturbed for about 4 minutes per side. Lightly greased grill grates also help with this!
- I always use an instant-read meat thermometer to make sure the tenders are cooked to a safe internal temperature of 165°F.
- Serve your grilled tendies with a platter of grilled zucchini, a big bowl of air fryer french fries, and a drizzle of homemade chimichurri sauce on top for a delish summer meal.
My Pro Tip
How Long To Marinate Chicken Tenders
Marinating the tenders for 30 minutes will infuse them with some flavor and heat. But if you want the juiciest chicken with the best flavors, let them soak for up to 24 hours before cooking. Just keep the chicken covered and in the fridge while it’s marinating to lock in those flavors.
Storage
Refrigerator: The cooled leftover chicken tenders will keep for 3 to 4 days in the fridge.
Freezer: Any leftovers will also freeze well for up to 3 months. Thaw them overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Reheating: To keep them juicy, reheat the tenders in a 375°F oven for about 10 minutes or in the air fryer for 5 to 8 minutes, or until warmed through. The microwave also works.
More Easy Grilled Chicken Recipes
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Grilled Chicken Tenders
Ingredients
- 1 lb. chicken tenders
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp cumin
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp chipotle seasoning, omit if you don’t want these to be spicy
- 1 tbsp olive oil
Instructions
- Add chicken to a medium bowl and set aside.
- In a small bowl, stir the spices and olive oil together, then scoop mixture over the chicken and toss to combine. Cover the bowl and let the chicken marinate in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes, or up to 24 hours. Bring chicken to room temperature before cooking.
- Heat grill over medium heat. Then, add the tenders and cook for 4 minutes, then flip over and cook for an additional 4 minutes. NOTE: remove chicken from the heat, then check the internal temperature to confirm they’re cooked through. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
