Easy and Juicy Chicken Tenderloins Recipe

Name: Easy and Juicy Chicken Tenderloins Recipe
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 15 min
Ingredients: 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper; 1 teaspoon garlic powder; 1 teaspoon onion powder; 1 teaspoon smoked paprika; 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley; 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil; 1 pound chicken tenderloins; 1 tablespoon unsalted butter; 1 teaspoon garlic (minced)

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This easy and juicy chicken tenderloins recipe is the best way to get a flavorful dinner on the table in 15 minutes! The tenderloins are seasoned, pan fried, then tossed with a garlic and buttery sauce. With simple ingredients and big flavor, this quick recipe will become your go-to dinner for busy weeknights!

Like delicious chicken tenderloin recipes? Try my air fryer chicken tenderloins next!

Golden brown chicken tenderloins with garlic butter sauce topped with fresh parsley in a skillet.

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Why You Will Love This Recipe:

Quick and Easy – This chicken tenderloins recipe uses simple pantry ingredients and requires only 10 minutes of cook time depending on how thick your tenderloins are. Perfect for a busy weeknight dinner or meal prep. No breading required!
Flavorful and Juicy – This recipe starts with well-seasoned chicken tenderloins that are quickly seared, locking in the delicious juices, and finishes with a garlic butter sauce. Juicy and tons of flavor!
Versatile – I love creating new recipes using chicken tenderloins! They're super quick and easy to make and there are so many ways to enjoy them. Some of my other favorite recipes include my air fryer marinated chicken tenderloins and my air fryer frozen chicken tenderloins.

A juicy chicken tenderloin that has been cut in half and dripping garlic butter sauce in a skillet with other golden brown chicken tenderloins.

How To Keep Chicken Tenderloins Juicy:

Wondering how to cook chicken tenderloins so that they aren't dry? There are three simple ways to keep chicken tenderloins juicy, and my recipe uses all of them to ensure you end up with delicious, tender, and juicy chicken - because no one wants dry, rubbery chicken!

Sear on a Hot Skillet: Searing the chicken tenderloins on a hot skillet helps lock in the juices right from the start.
Simmer in a Garlic Butter Mixture: This step not only adds incredible flavor, but also keep the chicken juicy and tender.
Let it Rest: After cooking, let the chicken rest on a plate for about 5 minutes. This allows the juices to redistribute evenly.

One final bonus tip: Don't overcook the chicken tenderloins. Remove them from the skillet as soon as they're done to keep them juicy and tender. Keep reading below for step-by-step instructions on how to make the best juicy chicken tenderloins on the stove.

A matte silver fork pressing into a juicy chicken tenderloin that's been cut in half and topped with fresh parsley in a skillet.

Dipping Sauce For Chicken Tenderloins:

As my husband likes to say, this recipe is so good you won't even need a dipping sauce! But if you love condiments, like I do, try my easy garlic aioli sauce or my bacon aioli recipe. Classic options like ranch, your favorite bbq sauce, or honey mustard work as well.

Q&A:

Can I use chicken breast for this recipe?

I prefer to use chicken tenderloins, but chicken breast can be sliced into 1-inch-thick strips and used in this recipe if preferred.

How do I know when chicken tenderloins are done?

Chicken is done when it has reached an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit. You can use a food thermometer to check the temperature. Visually, the chicken should be golden brown with clear juices.

What is the white thing on chicken tenderloins?

The white thing you may see on the side of the chicken tenderloin is the tendon. It's edible, but can be chewy. If you would like to remove the tendon prior to cooking, I recommend using kitchen shears to carefully cut them off. I've found that this is the best way to remove them without shredding the tenderloin.

Equipment Needed:

Skillet

Ingredients (Full recipe located in recipe card below):

Chicken tenderloins recipe ingredients in various dishes on a white marble surface: chicken tenderloins, salt, ground black pepper, garlic powder, dried parsley, smoked paprika, onion powder, butter, olive oil, and minced garlic.

Chicken Tenderloins
Salt
Pepper
Garlic Powder
Dried Parsley
Smoked Paprika
Onion Powder
Olive Oil
Garlic
Butter

Instructions:

Mix seasonings: To small bowl, add the salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, and dried parsley. Stir until well blended. Set aside.

Chicken tenderloin seasoning ingredients consisting of salt, ground black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, and dried parsley organized neatly in a white bowl on a wood cutting board.

Chicken tenderloin seasoning in a white bowl on a wood cutting board.

Pat the chicken tenderloins dry with and paper towel, then season them on all sides with the seasoning mixture.

Chicken tenderloins being patted dry with a paper towel on a white plate.

Chicken tenderloins seasoned on all sides on a white plate.

A hand pressing seasoning into chicken tenderloins on a white plate.

Heat 1 ½ Tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat.

Olive oil heated up and coating the entire bottom of a skillet.

Once the skillet is HOT, add the chicken tenderloins to the skillet and cook on the first side until golden brown, about two minutes. Flip and cook on the other side until golden, about two minutes.

Seasoned chicken tenderloins being cooked in a skillet with hot oil.

Golden brown chicken tenderloins cooking in a skillet with oil.

Move the chicken tenderloins to the outer edges of the skillet and add the butter and minced garlic in the middle of the skillet. Allow the butter to melt, then toss the chicken tenderloins in it. Continue to cook the chicken tenderloins until they have reached an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Do not overcook.

Golden brown chicken tenderloins in a skillet on the outer edges with butter and minced garlic in the middle of the skillet.

Pink tongs tossing golden brown chicken tenderloins in garlic butter in the middle of a skillet.

Garlic butter chicken tenderloins in a skillet.

Once done, promptly remove the chicken tenderloins from the skillet and let them rest on a plate for 5 minutes. Then enjoy!

Chicken tenderloins resting on a white plate with a side of green beans.

What To Serve With Garlic Butter Chicken Tenderloins:

Serve these on top of rice, pasta, or salad. These also go great with a side of fries, like these air fryer frozen crinkle cut fries. For an easy and hearty meal, serve with a side of these stove top frozen green beans and this easy canned corn recipe.

Garlic butter chicken tenderloins topped with fresh parsley plated on a white plate with a side of green beans.

Recipe Variations And Substitutions:

Lemon Chicken Tenderloins: Add a tablespoon of freshly squeezed lemon juice to the pan during the last minute of cooking.
Chicken Breast: Chicken breast can be used in this recipe by slicing a boneless chicken breast into strips. However, note that chicken breast is leaner, firmer, and not tender like a chicken tenderloin. For the best tender and juicy results, stick with using chicken tenderloins for this recipe.
Dairy Free: Make this recipe dairy free by substituting the butter for a plant based, dairy free butter.

Storage And Reheating Instructions:

Store leftovers in the refrigerator in an airtight container for 3 to 4 days.
Reheat in the microwave on a microwave safe plate and cover for 25 seconds at a time until heated thoroughly to 165 degrees Fahrenheit. These can also be reheated in the air fryer at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 2 to 4 minutes or until they warmed to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

Pro Tips:

After the chicken is done cooking, allow it to rest on a plate, undisturbed for 5 minutes. This allows the juices in the chicken to distribute throughout.
Make sure the skillet is hot before adding the chicken tenderloins. This ensures the best golden sear.
Chicken needs to be cooked to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit as measured by a food thermometer.
Don't overcook the chicken tenderloins as this can lead to dryness.