Lemon Butter Chicken Tenders – small strips of chicken are tossed with herbs and spices and seared until golden brown, then finished with a simple garlicky, lemon-butter pan sauce. It’s a no fuss, super fast and easy to make chicken recipe that doesn’t disappoint!
Easy to Make Chicken Tenders for Busy Days!
Easy recipes like this are just the best go-to. These chicken tenders can be ready in 15 minutes!
You can still have a great tasting dish that all ages will love, with a only a handful of everyday ingredients and a quick prep.
Just load up the garlic, be sure to only use fresh lemon and parsley and don’t go skimpy on the butter (it makes up most of the sauce).
Pair them with a quick couscous, roasted vegetables, our favorite parmesan potatoes, no knead bread, or a simple side salad for a tasty weeknight meal.
Lemon Butter Chicken Tenders Ingredients
- 1 1/2 lbs chicken tenders or tenderloins (note that they may be smaller than those pictured, that’s fine)
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 1/2 tsp each dried oregano, thyme and paprika
- 1 1/2 Tbsp all-purpose flour
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 3 Tbsp unsalted butter, divided
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- 2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 3 Tbsp minced parsley
Substitute for Chicken Tenders
- Rather than using tenders or tenderloins you can slice chicken breasts into strips for this recipe.
- Slice chicken across on a bias into strips about 1-inch thick (if they are thicker chicken breasts cook time may need to increase slightly).
How to Tell When Chicken Tenders are Done?
- As with any chicken recipe the best way to test for doneness for tenders or tenderloins is to use an instant read food thermometer (rather than just judging by interior color).
- It should test to 165 in the center of thickest portion.
How to Make Pan Seared Chicken Tenders
- Preheat pan (for a better sear): Heat a 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat.
- Sprinkle chicken with seasonings: Season chicken tenders with salt and pepper. Then evenly sprinkle over oregano, thyme, paprika, and flour. Toss to evenly coat.
- Add portion of fats to pan: Add oil to the skillet along with 1 Tbsp butter. Carefully tilt pan to evenly coat.
- Pan fry chicken tenders: Add chicken to skillet, leaving a little space between them. Let cook until golden brown on bottom, about 3 minutes. Turn and cook 2 minutes or until nearly cooked through.
- Add garlic and butter: Once chicken is nearly cooked through (about 155 in center) add remaining 2 Tbsp butter and sprinkle garlic around the chicken (don’t sprinkle on the chicken or it won’t cook).
- Continue to cook until chicken is just cooked through (165 in center of each piece), about 1 minute longer.
- Add lemon and parsley: Remove from heat. Carefully pour in lemon juice and add parsley. Toss to coat then serve.
More Easy Chicken Recipes We Think You’ll Love
- Baked Chicken Tenders
- Chicken Nuggets
- Citrus Chicken Tenders (Skillet Recipe)
- One Pan Balsamic Chicken and Veggies
5 from 17 votes Review Recipe
Lemon Butter Chicken Tenders
Lemon Butter Chicken Tenders - small strips of chicken are tossed with herbs and spices and seared until golden brown, then finished with a simple garlicky, lemon-butter pan sauce. It’s a no fuss, super fast and easy to make chicken recipe that doesn’t disappoint!
Servings: 4
Prep10 minutesCook6 minutesReady in: 15 minutes
Ingredients1 1/2 lbs chicken tenders (or tenderloins)Salt and freshly ground black pepper1/2 tsp dried oregano1/2 tsp dried thyme1/2 tsp paprika1 1/2 Tbsp all-purpose flour1 Tbsp olive oil3 Tbsp unsalted butter, divided1 Tbsp minced garlic2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice3 Tbsp minced parsley
InstructionsHeat a 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat.Season chicken tenders with salt and pepper. Then evenly sprinkle over oregano, thyme, paprika, and flour. Toss to evenly coat.Add oil to the skillet along with 1 Tbsp butter. Carefully tilt pan to evenly coat.Add chicken tenders to skillet, leaving a little space between them.Let cook until golden brown on bottom, about 3 minutes. Turn and cook 2 minutes or until nearly cooked through.Once chicken is nearly cooked through (about 155 in center) add remaining 2 Tbsp butter and sprinkle garlic around the chicken (don’t sprinkle on the chicken or it won’t cook).Continue to cook until chicken is just cooked through (165 in center of each piece), about 1 minute longer.Remove from heat. Carefully pour in lemon juice and add parsley. Toss to coat then serve.
Nutrition Facts Lemon Butter Chicken Tenders
Amount Per Serving
Calories 320 Calories from Fat 153
% Daily Value*
Fat 17g26%Saturated Fat 7g44%Trans Fat 1gPolyunsaturated Fat 1gMonounsaturated Fat 6gCholesterol 131mg44%Sodium 201mg9%Potassium 684mg20%Carbohydrates 4g1%Fiber 1g4%Sugar 1g1%Protein 37g74% Vitamin A 699IU14%Vitamin C 10mg12%Calcium 30mg3%Iron 1mg6% * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Nutrition values are estimates only. See full disclaimer here.
Course: Main CourseCuisine: AmericanKeyword: Chicken Tenders Author: Jaclyn
5 from 17 votes
Review Recipe
Nutrition Facts Lemon Butter Chicken Tenders
Amount Per Serving
Calories 320 Calories from Fat 153
% Daily Value*
Fat 17g26%Saturated Fat 7g44%Trans Fat 1gPolyunsaturated Fat 1gMonounsaturated Fat 6gCholesterol 131mg44%Sodium 201mg9%Potassium 684mg20%Carbohydrates 4g1%Fiber 1g4%Sugar 1g1%Protein 37g74% Vitamin A 699IU14%Vitamin C 10mg12%Calcium 30mg3%Iron 1mg6% * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Nutrition values are estimates only. See full disclaimer here.
Nutrition Facts
Lemon Butter Chicken Tenders
Amount Per Serving
Calories 320 Calories from Fat 153
% Daily Value*
Fat 17g26%
Saturated Fat 7g44%
Trans Fat 1g
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
Monounsaturated Fat 6g
Cholesterol 131mg44%
Sodium 201mg9%
Potassium 684mg20%
Carbohydrates 4g1%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 1g1%
Protein 37g74%
Vitamin A 699IU14%
Vitamin C 10mg12%
Calcium 30mg3%
Iron 1mg6%
- Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Course: Main CourseCuisine: AmericanKeyword: Chicken Tenders
Author: Jaclyn
