• Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • About
  • Contact Me
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter

Dinner at the Zoo

  • All Recipes
  • Dinner
  • Appetizers
  • Dessert
  • One Pot Meals
  • Slow Cooker
  • Asian Food

Home » Dinner » Grilled Chicken Tenders

Published: May 14, 2018 Last Modified: March 23, 2019 By Sara 56 Comments

Grilled Chicken Tenders

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email
Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
Grilled Chicken Tenders Recipe | Marinated Chicken | Lemon Garlic Chicken | Grilled Chicken #grilling #chicken #healthy #dinneratthezoo

These grilled chicken tenders are marinated in lemon, garlic, herbs and olive oil, then grilled to golden brown perfection. The ultimate easy main course for summer time!

Chicken tenders are inexpensive, quick cooking and are perfect to toss on the grill. Add an easy marinade to the mix and you’ve got tender and flavorful chicken that’s great as-is, or served on a salad or in a pasta dish.

Grilled Chicken Tenders Recipe | Marinated Chicken | Lemon Garlic Chicken | Grilled Chicken #grilling #chicken #healthy #dinneratthezoo Grilled Chicken Tenders Recipe | Marinated Chicken | Lemon Garlic Chicken | Grilled Chicken #grilling #chicken #healthy #dinneratthezoo

A pile of grilled chicken tenders topped with fresh herbs and garnished with lemon wedges.

We eat a LOT of chicken tenders in this house. I prefer them to chicken breasts simply because they cook so much quicker. Chicken tenders are also great for soaking up a flavorful marinade. In the summer months, I make grilled chicken tenders every week, we just can’t get enough of them!

How do you grill chicken tenders?

To grill chicken tenders, you’ll first want to soak them in a marinade for at least 20 minutes, or up to 8 hours. After the chicken comes out of the marinade, it’s grilled over medium high heat for about 3-4 minutes per side.

Raw chicken tenders in a marinade of olive oil, garlic, lemon juice and herbs.

Can you marinate chicken overnight?

Yes, you can marinate chicken overnight, in the refrigerated in a sealed container or heavy duty freezer bag. If your chicken marinade contains acid such as lemon juice, you’ll want to be careful not to over-marinate your chicken, as the acid can change the texture of the meat if it’s left to soak for too long.

How long does it take to cook chicken tenders?

It takes anywhere from 8-10 minutes total to cook chicken tenders on the grill. Be sure to flip your meat halfway through the grilling process to ensure even cooking.

While I typically make these grilled chicken tenders on a charcoal grill, I’ve been known to use a grill pan on the stove during cold weather months. You get a similar result without having to light a fire.

Chicken tenders cooking on a grill pan.

I typically serve these chicken tenders as-is, with a green vegetable on the side and some type of starch like rice or pasta. That being said, I often double this recipe so that I’ll have plenty of leftover chicken to use later in the week in other dishes like tacos and salads.

Grilled chicken tenders on a plate garnished with parsley and lemon wedges.

I typically finish my grilled chicken tenders with a squeeze of lemon juice and a sprinkling of parsley. If you don’t have parsley on hand, other great herb options are fresh dill, chives, thyme, green onions or mint.

I often serve these tenders with a dipping sauce, which makes them more kid friendly. My kids enjoy dipping their grilled chicken tenders into ketchup, hummus and barbecue sauce.

A plate of grilled chicken tenders topped with chopped parsley.

This recipe is a summer staple in my house, and it’s sure to become a favorite in your family too!

More grilling recipes

  • Grilled Asparagus in Foil
  • One Dish Grilled Chicken Dinner
  • Grilled Lemon Sriracha Shrimp
  • Hawaiian Grilled Chicken
  • Grilled Chicken Fajitas on a Stick
A pile of grilled chicken tenders topped with fresh herbs and garnished with lemon wedges.
Print Pin
5 from 37 votes

Grilled Chicken Tenders

These grilled chicken tenders are marinated in lemon, garlic, herbs and olive oil, then grilled to golden brown perfection. The ultimate easy main course for summer time!
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Marinating 20 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 196kcal
Author Sara Welch

Ingredients

  • 1 pound chicken breast tenders
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
  • 1 clove garlic minced
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 1 tablespoon chopped parsley
  • lemon wedges for serving

Instructions

  • Place the chicken in a large bowl or resealable freezer bag. Add the olive oil, lemon juice, Italian seasoning, garlic, salt and pepper.
  • Stir to coat chicken evenly. Marinate for at least 20 minutes or up to 8 hours.
  • Preheat a grill or grill pan to medium high heat.
  • Place the chicken in a single layer on the grill. 
  • Cook for 3-4 minutes on each side or until cooked through.
  • Remove chicken from the grill. Sprinkle with parsley and serve with lemon wedges if desired.

Nutrition

Calories: 196kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 72mg | Sodium: 568mg | Potassium: 432mg | Vitamin A: 50IU | Vitamin C: 4.5mg | Calcium: 22mg | Iron: 0.8mg
Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @DinnerAtTheZoo or tag #dinneratthezoo!
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email

Filed Under: Dinner, Grilling

FREE TOOLKIT: 5 Secrets to Meal Planning

Learn my 5 Meal Planning Secrets & get my Meal Planning Toolkit...FREE!

    ​
    ​

    Still hungry? Follow Dinner at the Zoo on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest for more great recipe ideas!

    « Taco Pasta
    Ice Cream Sandwich Cake »

    Comments

    1. lise says

      August 14, 2022 at 9:39 am

      5 stars
      hi, just made this, and it’s going to be my to go chicken tenders…! thank you so much! by the way, love your recipes ;o)

      Reply
    2. Anna says

      July 21, 2022 at 1:35 pm

      Can you make these the day before and then warm in the oven to serve?

      Reply
      • Sara says

        July 22, 2022 at 8:05 am

        That should be fine!

        Reply
    3. Sue says

      July 12, 2022 at 2:57 pm

      5 stars
      I decided to pan fry these. After marinating. I made sure to drain most of the marinade off the chicken and to make sure the pan was hot so the chicken would brown nicely. I loved the lemony garlicky flavor and the spices. The chicken was really tender and delicious. Will definitely make this again and again. .

      Reply
    4. Martha Meguiar says

      December 4, 2021 at 1:40 pm

      Since it’s pretty chilly outside, thought I’d try using my grill pan for the chicken tenders. They will be marinating over night tonight. My question is, will they be tender and done throughout if I grill them this way?

      Reply
      • Sara says

        December 6, 2021 at 9:34 am

        Yes I often use a grill pan!

        Reply
    5. Gloria says

      October 26, 2021 at 9:29 am

      5 stars
      Amazing~ Thank you so much

      Reply
    6. Al C says

      October 16, 2021 at 3:23 pm

      5 stars
      I made this for a group and got very positive comments. I can’t eat chicken so I have to take their word for it. It was easy with no wierd stuff so i had alll the ingredients already. I will make it again.

      Reply
    « Older Comments

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating





    With 3 young kids, dinner can feel like feeding time at the zoo! I'm a mom on a mission to create easy, healthy and family friendly recipes ...Read More

    Game Day Snacks

    A mezze platter filled with dips, pita bread, vegetables, olives and cheese.

    Mediterranean Mezze Platter

    These southwestern egg rolls are loaded with a colorful variety of vegetables, chicken, beans and plenty of melty cheese, all wrapped up in a crispy roll. The ultimate party appetizer!

    Southwestern Egg Rolls

    A bowl of grape jelly meatballs served with cocktail forks.

    Grape Jelly Meatballs

    This Jalapeno Cheddar Cheese Ball is full of zesty Mexican flavor and takes just minutes to make. The perfect snack for game day! #KickUpTheFlavor Ad

    Jalapeno Cheddar Cheese Ball

    A serving bowl of Mexican shrimp cocktail which contains small shrimp, diced avocado, herbs and jalapeno.

    Mexican Shrimp Cocktail (Coctel de Camarones)

    A pile of crab rangoon wontons filled with a creamy crab mixture.

    Crab Rangoon

    More Posts from this Category

    Featured Recipes

    A serving bowl of cowboy caviar made with beans and veggies, and garnished with cilantro.

    Cowboy Caviar

    A quick and easy chicken taco soup full of beans and vegetables that's ready in just 25 minutes. #StockUpOnDelMonte #Safeway Ad

    Chicken Taco Soup

    A bowl of rice topped with Korean ground beef and mixed vegetables.

    Korean Beef Bowls

    Slow cooker pot roast served with carrots, potatoes and green beans.

    Slow Cooker Pot Roast

    FREE TOOLKIT: 5 Secrets to Meal Planning

    Learn my 5 Meal Planning Secrets & get my Meal Planning Toolkit...FREE!

      ​
      ​

      Categories

      Sites I am featured In
      PRIVACY POLICY ACCESSIBILITY STATEMENT © Sara Welch and Dinner at the Zoo® LLC, 2015-2022.
      • Facebook
      • Instagram
      • Pinterest
      • RSS
      • Twitter
      • About Me
      • Contact Me
      • All Recipes
      • Dinner
      • Appetizers
      • Dessert
      • One Pot Meals
      • Slow Cooker
      • Asian Food