These Garlic Butter Chicken Tenders are a family-friendly recipe that everyone will love! The chicken tenders are cooked in homemade garlic butter that makes every bite ultra juicy and flavorful. They’re ready in just 20 minutes with easy cleanup, making it the perfect recipe for busy nights when you need something quick, easy, and versatile!
My family loves this recipe so much that I automatically make double batch whenever I make it. We’ll have garlic butter chicken tenders for dinner with easy side dishes like mashed potatoes , veggies like roasted asparagus, broccoli salad and my 10-minute Air Fryer green beans. Then, we’ll have the rest for easy meal prep and snacks throughout the week.
I love to throw garlic butter chicken tenders in a big chicken avocado salad for a fresh and filling lunch. They’re also great in chicken meal prep bowls, wraps, and pasta, or just as a high-protein snack. This recipe is incredibly versatile, and I am always finding new ways to use the leftovers.
Key Ingredients You’ll Need
Chicken tenderloins — The tenderloin is a small muscle that runs beneath the chicken breast. It’s the most tender part of the chicken and cooks quickly, which is why I love using it for easy weeknight dinners. Of course, you can use chicken breast for this recipe too—I’ve made it that way, and it works just as well. Just slice the breasts into strips to make your own chicken tenders.
Seasonings — I like to start with my favorite spice blend of paprika, Italian seasoning, onion powder or garlic powder, salt, and pepper. It’s my go-to for chicken, and chances are you already have these seasonings in your pantry.
Garlic butter — The star of the show, and it couldn’t be easier to make! All you need is a good quality butter and as much fresh garlic as your heart desires. You can also whip up my homemade garlic butter ahead of time.
Garlic Butter Chicken Tenders In 4 Easy Steps
First: Toss the chicken strips and seasonings together in a large mixing bowl. I like to pre-mix the seasonings to get a more even coating.
Second: Cook the chicken tenders on the stove top over medium-high heat until golden brown and cooked through. Then, use tongs to set them aside.
Next: Add your butter and minced garlic to the same skillet to make the garlic butter. Sauté for just a minute, scraping up any bits from the bottom of the pan while you stir.
Finally: Bring the chicken tenders back to the skillet, coating both sides in the garlic butter sauce. Cook it for a minute or two so the flavors infuse into the chicken, and it’s ready to serve!
Olivia’s Recipe Tips
- Keep a close eye on the garlic, as it can go from perfect to burnt in a matter of seconds. If yours does burn, I’d recommend spooning it out and trying again since burnt garlic is super bitter.
- On the same note, the tenders also cook very quickly. If you’re concerned about overcooking the chicken, use a meat thermometer to tell when it’s done. Once the middle of the chicken hits the internal temperature o 165°F, it’s ready to go.
- I’ve made this recipe a million times, and it always turns out the best in my cast iron skillet. A regular skillet is fine, too, but the sear I get with a cast iron is just too good.
Have Fun With The Flavors
I’ve made garlic butter chicken tenders a thousand different ways since this recipe is so versatile. I love to make a lemony version with some lemon pepper seasoning and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice at the end. It’s so bright and SO good!
You can also switch out the seasonings for anything you’d like. I reach for my homemade Cajun seasoning when I want a little kick, or I’ll add whatever fresh herbs I have on hand as a garnish.
Garlic Butter Chicken Tenders
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Ingredients
- 1 pound chicken tenderloins chicken mini fillets
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- Salt and ground black pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 3 tablespoons butter divided
- 5 garlic cloves minced or crushed
- Chopped fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
- In a bowl, toss the chicken tenders with paprika, Italian seasoning, onion powder, salt, and pepper until evenly coated.
- Heat the butter and 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken in a single layer. Cook for 3–4 minutes per side, or until golden brown and cooked through. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- In the same skillet, reduce heat to medium. Add butter and the minced garlic. Sauté for 30 seconds to 1 minute, until fragrant (but not browned).
- Return the chicken tenders to the skillet and toss to coat in the garlic butter sauce. Cook for another 1–2 minutes to heat through. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley and serve hot. Great with rice, mashed potatoes, or a fresh salad!
Tips
- Use chicken tenders that are similar in size, so they’ll all be done at the same time.
- To get the best sear, let the chicken cook without touching it until it naturally releases from the pan. If it doesn’t want to flip, let it cook for a bit longer.
- Make sure to deglaze the skillet and scrape up all those bits, as that’s where the best flavor comes from.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.
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